Recommended multi-meter

[livemusic]

I guess mine bit the dust, has been acting weird and battery fit is sloppy. Adding a shim isn't working anymore, I can't get a reading now. What is a good one for general purpose use? TIA if you can recommend one!

EDIT: I just need it for general use around the house and ranch, am not a pro of any sort. Like today, needed to check battery on a John Deere Gator. Don't want to spend a whole lot. I would think less than $50.

EDIT2: I typed in "best multimeter" into amazon and saw this, looks ok to me... it has a place to store the probes, that's interesting...

Amazon.com

 

[m5guy]

The big question is what are you using for, I mean are you a trades person that uses a meter everyday, or are you a hobby person using it a few times a year? As an electrician, I have a fluke with way more functions than the average person needs. But in my toolbox at home I have a simple bk precision, it has basics enough for automotive and household stuff, and it's simple to use. Extech makes a good, reasonably priced meter. They are rebranded for Klein, ideal , and Milwaukee. If you need a meter to keep in the glove box or toolbox on the tractor, go to harbor freight and get the $10 job so if you lose it or break it, who cares.

 

[caver]

I have a couple Flukes but also needed a third one for some bench work. I like the Mastech MS8239C. They have variations depending on how fancy you want. It's cheap and so far reliable. I got it off ebay.

 

[scootr]

I have some FLUKE meters I bought slightly used on eBay for a good price. They are one of the best names... there are lots of models with varying capabilities to choose from. Use a lithium 9v battery for the best results.

 

[Roadworthy]

For your uses and criteria about any one you choose will be the right one be it from Amazon, Harbor Freight, or Walmart. Make sure it can measure ac volts, dc volts, and ohms. Fluke meters are probably the best but far beyond your $50 limit. The Klein you showed on Amazon will probably last you many years.

 

[JCoastie]

I was a 25yr electronic tech, we used flukes almost exclusively, mainly because they could be calibrated.
Long retired now, but when the display in my Fluke 87 started crapping out, they gave me a quote of almost $300 to replace the display. It now sits in a drawer and has been replaced by this $40 unit which I actually like a lot more, and it's just fine for around the house.

Amazon.com

I even bought a cheap oscope (was $80 from aliexpress, same unit as this on Amazon)

https://www.amazon.com/Oscilloscope-Bandwidth-Generator-Backlight-Waveforms/dp/B0B497T6HR?th=1

I really just wanted to see compare the signals from my conventional and inverter generators. Big difference!

 

[livemusic]

I was a 25yr electronic tech, we used flukes almost exclusively, mainly because they could be calibrated.
Long retired now, but when the display in my Fluke 87 started crapping out, they gave me a quote of almost $300 to replace the display. It now sits in a drawer and has been replaced by this $40 unit which I actually like a lot more, and it's just fine for around the house.

Amazon.com

If you come back to this thread... I know close to zero about electricity. I might be able to follow instructions to figure something out but about all I've ever done with a multimeter is figure out how many volts a battery has, lol. How would I do that on that device you posted? What would I turn the dial to? On the ones I have used and the last one I owned, I turned the dial three clicks to the left to "20" and that would give the v reading from the probes hooked to the battery. See, don't know much!

 

[ruffdog]

When testing vehicles, it is nice if the DC amps is at least 20a, otherwise you have to really be careful. My old meter from my shop days is like this old Suzuki mulimeter.

Suzuki Pocket Tester Multimeter Multi Meter Vintage Motorcycle GSX-R GSXR | #2096911688

 

[JCoastie]

If you come back to this thread... I know close to zero about electricity. I might be able to follow instructions to figure something out but about all I've ever done with a multimeter is figure out how many volts a battery has, lol. How would I do that on that device you posted? What would I turn the dial to? On the ones I have used and the last one I owned, I turned the dial three clicks to the left to "20" and that would give the v reading from the probes hooked to the battery. See, don't know much!

You'd put it on V for voltage, and press the red button on the left to select DC for battery type voltage.
If that's all you ever really check, a $5 harbor freight meter would probably be fine. DC 20 is probably all you'd ever need, the probes aren't great but its cheap and will probably be just fine for your needs. They used to give these away free with purchase, pre pandemic https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-59434.html

One of my neighbors is like you, I put labels on his meter, WALL and Battery so he knows where to put the dial. No biggie!

 

[JohnP3616]

I have a Craftsman that has served me well for probably 25 years. If it ever dies I will probably replace it with a Klein similar to the one you posted on Amazon. Klein has a good reputation and the prices aren’t through the roof. Home Depot stocks them if you want to get a hands-on look at them.

 

[JCoastie]

When testing vehicles, it is nice if the DC amps is at least 20a, otherwise you have to really be careful. My old meter from my shop days is like this old Suzuki mulimeter.

Suzuki Pocket Tester Multimeter Multi Meter Vintage Motorcycle GSX-R GSXR | #2096911688

Used to use old Simpson meters like that back in the day, when you just needed to see a pulse, not measure it, just see a quick pulse on a radar cal, the analog meter would deflect, and a digital meter wouldn't show anything. Good stuff!

 

[chim]

I have a Fluke that doesn't get used very much, a couple cheapies, miniature Radio Shack, etc. The favorite for the last few years has been a Southwire clamp-on 400A (AC & DC).

 

[WranglerX]

One in #1 post is more than sufficient for average person doing miscellaneous measurement around vehicle and house/barn....

Have two digital meters one cheap, one expensive....Have two analog meters, one cheap, one expensive... But for automotive/tractor work (no computers) I grab this first.....

 

[Williy]

Livemusic the harbor freight one is what you want $6.99:

willy

 

[grsthegreat]

Any old cheepo meter works good enough for utility power and battery power as long as its ac/dc. Personally i like a basic meter to be able to be a clamp on style ac and dc amps because its a great way to trace power thru a circuit without having to unhook wires.

now if your testing generator power, go fluke or go home. Chepo testers cant reliably read dirtier power from a generator correctly. Ive even had greenlee and klines give false readings on generator power.

 

[JCoastie]

now if your testing generator power, go fluke or go home. Chepo testers cant reliably read dirtier power from a generator correctly. Ive even had greenlee and klines give false readings on generator power.

An RMS meter is an RMS meter these days, just make sure it is a "True RMS" meter. You might have been comparing a True RMS meter to one that wasn't. You are kind of saying your Kioti and my LS can't move dirt as well because they aren't a Kubota. You do need an o'scope or a THD meter which is really spendy if you want more detail.

I'm with ya on the clamp meter though! I recently bought an inrush current clamp meter, that's nice to see.

 

[goeduck]

I have two Flukes and an analog with the old school needle. The needle is handy at times, like when tuning my generators.

 

[newbury]

I've a couple of Kleins and probably half a dozen HF freebies like

scattered around, (with the batteries OUT to prevent corrosion), so simple ones are relatively handy all the time.

 

[TN8Man]

The HF freebee works fine so why pay for one.

 

[FPGT72]

I have a roughly 30 year old Fluke 77. That thing has just flat held up. If anything happened to it I would buy the new version, but dog they are spendy.