What Multimeter/Voltmeter to Buy?
What Multimeter/Voltmeter to Buy? I think I'm going to ask for a voltmeter/multimeter for x-mas this year after fighting with some wiring issues rcently.
So what do you guys use, and why did you purchase it?
Some of my wants:
- Sub $100 (i'm not and electrician, and won't use it but maybe 1x/month)
- Utility in ALL Applications (i'll use in for the car, but also at home (testing circuit continuity, batteries, etc))
- Maybe Self-Ranging (since I think it would make life easier)
- Digital Display
- Somewhat Compact (not a big deal, but it would be nice)
Recommendations?
So what do you guys use, and why did you purchase it?
Some of my wants:
- Sub $100 (i'm not and electrician, and won't use it but maybe 1x/month)
- Utility in ALL Applications (i'll use in for the car, but also at home (testing circuit continuity, batteries, etc))
- Maybe Self-Ranging (since I think it would make life easier)
- Digital Display
- Somewhat Compact (not a big deal, but it would be nice)
Recommendations?
Thanks for the advice, but I'm not willing to ask for a $150 Fluke. I'm sure they're great and reliable, but I'd really rather keep it around $50 for an item that will only get used about 1x/month.
You can get many flukes for sub $100 and I much prefer them. The EX470 is roughly $100-130 but is very nice and has alot of features.
http://www.galco.com/comp/sa090203.htm
I use the EX470 at work and it's pretty nice. Didn't come with a case though. Almost as rugged as my fluke but only time will tell it it will withstand. I've had my fluke since High School and it's still going strong.
http://www.galco.com/comp/sa090203.htm
I use the EX470 at work and it's pretty nice. Didn't come with a case though. Almost as rugged as my fluke but only time will tell it it will withstand. I've had my fluke since High School and it's still going strong.
I'm not too concerned with durability/name, so do the Fluke models have more features than others of equal price? Or do they basicly just offer durability?
Keep in mind I'm a novice user who won't play with it too often. Basicly, I'm just trying to find a gift for the guy who already has everything.
Keep in mind I'm a novice user who won't play with it too often. Basicly, I'm just trying to find a gift for the guy who already has everything.
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Launching!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, Washinton
Originally Posted by Brody
I'm not too concerned with durability/name, so do the Fluke models have more features than others of equal price? Or do they basicly just offer durability?
Keep in mind I'm a novice user who won't play with it too often. Basicly, I'm just trying to find a gift for the guy who already has everything.
Keep in mind I'm a novice user who won't play with it too often. Basicly, I'm just trying to find a gift for the guy who already has everything.
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Craftsman and even Radio Shack have sold reasonably good meters for years. You probably can't go to far wrong there.
However, I love my Fluke 16 (about $130 at Sears or any electronc supply house). I bought it when I was doing avionics work on aircraft and it has fallen off of more wings and such than I care to remember (not usually my fault, somebody would come up to the door when it was on the wing and kick it off because they didn't see it) and it is still flawless.
Have fun!
However, I love my Fluke 16 (about $130 at Sears or any electronc supply house). I bought it when I was doing avionics work on aircraft and it has fallen off of more wings and such than I care to remember (not usually my fault, somebody would come up to the door when it was on the wing and kick it off because they didn't see it) and it is still flawless.
Have fun!
I have a craftman one, I think it was about $50. Auto range, backlit, little stand/hanger, and came with a thermocouple (verifing that thermostat in the house was working). I don't konw what model it is though.
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Freehold, NJ
The Fluke 87 was bult by fluke for General Motors built to their specs. For automotive electircal diagnosis I would recommend the 87. It has a 1ms min/max record rate which is good for tracing intermittent problems and is also a high impedence ohm meter (I think 10,000 Ohms) so it will not damage any electronics when measuring resistance. The Fluke 88 is more money and isn't a high impedence (or as high as the 87) ohm meter and min/max is longer between frames..
The 87 is also a true RMS meter:
You can get the 87 for under $300. I payed $500 in 1998.
If you just want to check for voltage and measure simple current loads then go to sears.. No need to pay for what you don't need.
The 87 is also a true RMS meter:
Root mean square. The square root of the sum of the squares of a set of quantities divided by the total number of quantities. Used when monitoring ac (alternating current) signals. Many power supplies, for example, issue an ac signal. This needs to be converted to a dc (direct current) signal for the PC interface. The solution is a signal conditioning input that produces a dc signal proportional to the rms of the amplitude of the input signal. The rms operation means the reading will always be positive.
If you just want to check for voltage and measure simple current loads then go to sears.. No need to pay for what you don't need.
we have more multimeters than I can count
my dad still has a B&K vacuumtube voltmeter from the 60's that still works great
and still uses a UnitedDelco powersupply/V.M. from the same era
old fashioned, eh?
my dad still has a B&K vacuumtube voltmeter from the 60's that still works great
and still uses a UnitedDelco powersupply/V.M. from the same era
old fashioned, eh?
Originally Posted by onyxxtreme
we have more multimeters than I can count
my dad still has a B&K vacuumtube voltmeter from the 60's that still works great
and still uses a UnitedDelco powersupply/V.M. from the same era
old fashioned, eh?
my dad still has a B&K vacuumtube voltmeter from the 60's that still works great
and still uses a UnitedDelco powersupply/V.M. from the same era
old fashioned, eh?
I've used lots of meters in my life and only ever seen a few that were "questionable". It is hard to go wrong these days.
As for the FLuke 87, I didn't know they were that inexpensive now. I almost bought one about 5 years ago and didn't. I guess I may have to look again.
I feel that fluke is one of the best. The sample rate on most flukes are really fast and they can read unstable DC voltages rather well. I would suggest that you buy one with the yellow rubber case, I dropped my fluke 79 meter from about three stories with the rubber case and my meter was still fine. I have a fluke 79,87,1010 clamp on, and a fluke scopemeter 123 and love them all.
i reccomend a fluke.
I do not like the craftsman one, i bought one, works good most of the time, but sometimes, a 12 source, registers as 300 volts.....
This caused me to not keep my old autodimming rearview mirror from an old car, as i tested the voltage going to the mirror, it registered 300 volts, so i assumed it had a transformer elsewhere in the car.... when it was the meter taking a dump
Ryan.
I do not like the craftsman one, i bought one, works good most of the time, but sometimes, a 12 source, registers as 300 volts.....
This caused me to not keep my old autodimming rearview mirror from an old car, as i tested the voltage going to the mirror, it registered 300 volts, so i assumed it had a transformer elsewhere in the car.... when it was the meter taking a dump
Ryan.
I bought at Radio Shaft the other week, a little digital
with Hz and thermocouple as well as all the usual, and
it even had the thermocouple probe in the box. Like $29.
Little rubber protective boot too, and lighted LCD. You
can't beat that deal with a stick. It's now in my road
kit.
with Hz and thermocouple as well as all the usual, and
it even had the thermocouple probe in the box. Like $29.
Little rubber protective boot too, and lighted LCD. You
can't beat that deal with a stick. It's now in my road
kit.
