What's a good choice when buying a Multimeter? - Page 5

Soundguy · 01-13-2009, 04:10 PM

I'm going to repost a section of the original poster's message as i think many may have missed it:

Quote:

but I don't want to spend more money than I have to. I will use it for general tests aroung the house and farm, and when troubleshooting on my tractors

soundguy

skidoo · 01-13-2009, 04:13 PM

I have used and calibrated meters from analog VOM, to the most precision lab equipment for decades. That said, I would say that Fluke is a great value for handheld meters, and HP is great for bench lab meters. Some years ago, a new HP model came out and our lab purchased one.

I kept that meter powered up 24/7 for over 5 years straight and monitored its accuracy daily. It varied no more than a couple parts per million! Very reliable. That said, most people would not know the significance of all those extra digits for their purposes and frankly don't need them.

If one is just checking 12Vdc vehicle systems or household ac, then an inexpensive 3.5 digit meter is fine. I like Fluke for hand held meters and HP for benchtop meters, but I would have no problem using an Extech for that purpose. A wall mart meter would be fine for an inexperienced user or occasional and casual use or just for your emergency tool box. As others have said, if you make a mistake and damage it, not much lost.

But, if you need to use one a lot and get experienced with its use, I would stick with a Fluke or Extech. If you need higher precision or accuracy, know the difference, and can benefit from the better measurements, I would recommend a properly specified Fluke or HP meter.

Bird · 01-13-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Can I assume the neighbor didn't get hurt? when his 'cheap' meter flamed out?

Chris, that little episode was hilarious. He and I had just installed a subpanel and a window unit air-conditioner with heat strip for another neighbor. So there were 5 of us there at the time and the first time we turned on that air-conditioner, nothing happened. So the one guy asks if anyone has a multimeter and one of the other guys immediately speaks up to say his kids gave him one for Christmas that he's never used and he hurried home, got it, and came back. Neither of them bothered to look at it to see what it was, but it had a couple of leads and a gauge. So the first guy just immediately touched the power with the leads - one big pop, sparks, smoke, etc. No injuries or damage to anything else, but completely fried that instrument.

And then we found the only problem with the air-conditioner was that the guy had not properly tightened one of the connections in the breaker panel; just didn't have a good connection.

boxygen · 01-13-2009, 05:00 PM

Id say for your needs based on the original post, sears will have what you need. Sure, Fluke and GreenLee are definitely the best but not necessary for causal use. If you want to see if your tractor battery has a dead cell in it or if a wire has continuity from one end to another, $25 dollars is all you need to spend. The 25 dollar model even has an option for temp probe which can be very handy. I've even used it to take temp of meat on the grill

I don't endorse craftsman for a lot of things but a very well put together package that is reasonable quality and is fused for not much money.

Scooby074 · 01-13-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundguy

As i said..

Find a unit with a UL tag.

soundguy

If you trust the UL label on a cheap China meter then I got some Milk and Dog food to sell you.

SnowRidge · 01-13-2009, 08:06 PM

I guess most of you recommending Flukes missed this part of the original post:

There are many models to choose from, but I don't want to spend more money than I have to.

There is absolutley no need for a casual user to purchase a Fluke meter. For the average person occasionally chasing 12 volts on a car or tractor or measuring AC line voltage, it is a waste of money.

Flatheadyoungin · 01-13-2009, 08:09 PM

fluke, greenlee, radioshack, sears are all good...yes, fluke and greenlee are no doubt finer pieces of equipment......

don't over-look Fieldpiece......when i took some HVAC courses these seemed to be the ones everyone carried.......they are up there with fluke and greenlee, in my opinion.....i wound up with two of the same model (asked for one for Christmas and wasn't patient enough to wait

)

i'd want no less than:
an amp clamp
an audible continuity tester
temp lead: you'll use it more than you think...you'll find uses for it
capacitance check: again, more than you think

while you're at it, and they aren't very much, and i use probably use it more than the meter when i'm in the house working with 110 is one of those little probes that tells you if there is voltage present......they are quick and very handy....(non-contact ac voltage tester) $10-20

skidoo · 01-13-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowRidge

I guess most of you recommending Flukes missed this part of the original post:

There are many models to choose from, but I don't want to spend more money than I have to.

There is absolutley no need for a casual user to purchase a Fluke meter. For the average person occasionally chasing 12 volts on a car or tractor or measuring AC line voltage, it is a waste of money.

I personally like Fluke hand held meters, but for this purpose, I agree with you...

GaryE · 01-13-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by actionaj

Get a Fluke buy it once and you will have a good safe meter that will probably last you a life time.

Well Maybe!!!! I have gone through several Flukes over the years. They seem to have one design flaw.

When used on a job, they grow feet.

Any time someone needs a meter, they seem to grab the nearest Fluke. And it never seems to find it's way back home. Whether intentional or not, it seems to find a new home.

Never seems to happen to my Radio Shack meters... And 90% of the time they do the job just fine.

For "Geek" work... what ever that is suppose to mean????

I use my Simpson 260 or 280....

To answer the original posters question, you can purchase a descent meter for well under $50 from Radio Shack or the like... And it won't kill you!!!

But I would stay away from HF..... Joust my $0.02