Digital Multimeter

[wlowe]

I'm shopping for a digital multimeter, decent quality but not super expensive, mainly for automotive diagnostics and around the house. Any of you electrical gurus have any suggestions as to brands or models. I know that Fluke is a good brand but probably too expensive for the usage that I will get out of it.



Thanks,

Bill

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

All the more popular brands seem to work quite well - I have a pair of Radio Shack auto-ranging meters - one in a work-bench size, the other a shirt-pocket job. Both are durable, accurate, and the auto-range feature allows you to measure most unknown circuit values without need for setting meter ranges OR polarity, if you get the probes reversed, all that happens is you get a negative value - and, they are reasonably priced...

 

[PHaller]

Digital VOM?

I agree with Gary, on an inexpensive Digital VOM. I have a Fluke and they are very good but for home a little expensive. I found a digital VOM that's auto ranging with a lot of features for about 45$ and it works well. I find that unless it has an auto off feature you'll eat batteries big time.

If you buy a Fluke you will not regret it but my experience at work says that you'll drop it, run over it, or leave it somwehere before you will ever wear one out.

-Paul R. Haller-

 

[emarsh]

my nephew just brought to my attention that the digital that I bought him for his college class is now on a super sale at Sears. Good unit for little cost. I also have a fluke but cannot justify the cost unless you use it often.

 

[E7mack96]

Fluke

Fluke is great equipment... Money well spent. Mine even had the temp probe attachment... Great for ac system work.

 

[Big White Beast]

Get one really cheap...........

At Harbor Freight, $10 bucks on sale. Does all the features needed for everyday trouble shooting. Only problem is that it's slow. Same with most of the lower end meters. If your trying to trouble shoot a swinger or intermittent problem you'll probably miss it with one of the cheaper models.



I don't care for the auto range meters for that reason either. In some cases it makes trouble shooting more difficult.



Flukes are for the most part what the industry chases. I would spend a little extra and get a lower end fluke for around $85 and know that you're covered.



Garrett

 

[JR2]

I bought a fluke about two years ago and have never looked back. It cost right at $100 and it was $$ well spent. If I remember correctly its a model 73. We use the same one at work and they are tough. I have dropped em, froze them and got em wet with out any problems.



John

 

[LSMITH]

I have beat the crap out of a Fluke 21 and 77 for the last 6 or 7 years. They have taken abuse/treatment that will make you cringe, JR2 is right that they are TOUGH!!! Both of the ones I have are around $100-125, and worth every cent. I have an amp clamp, several different styles of leads, and a temp probe for them also. I have tried some of the cheaper units and found them lacking, they are slow and inaccurate, no memory feature, no peak or valley record, no diode testing ablity, no accessories available, on and on. Buy a Fluke, it will last a lifetime and work right every day.



This is one of those things you can do right the first time, or the second, or ... ... ...

 

[zstroken]

Personal preference is a fluke 87

But they are pricey. The fluke 77,78,79 work pretty well. I just like the min,max record of the 87, and the backlight comes in very handy when your buried in a panel. The 87 has some features like frequency and so forth. Another model to consider is the T%-1000. It has pretty much the features of a deluxe wiggy. J/k. they are around $100 and have an AC amperage probe that is part of the unit. Only thing I don't like is you cannot specify AC or DC voltage and it is an autoranger, but the ac amperage probe comes in very handy

 

[QRTRHRS]

Re: Get one really cheap...........

Originally posted by Big White Beast

At Harbor Freight, $10 bucks on sale. Does all the features needed for everyday trouble shooting. Only problem is that it's slow. Same with most of the lower end meters. If your trying to trouble shoot a swinger or intermittent problem you'll probably miss it with one of the cheaper models. Garrett

You can pick up analog meters for cheap. Depending on what your doing, that needle will show you a lot.



About 20 years ago or so when digitals were starting to come out, my lab partner at school bought a Beckman and I bought a Fluke. That Beckman would just about keep up with an analog for response. By the way, my Fluke is still working just fine.

 

[cdpsrjc]

Fluke 77 accessories?

My dad just gave me a Fluke 77 he found at a pawn shop. Great Dad! Where would be the best place to order a new set of leads/different leads/accessories. I've looked at the Fluke website, but wondering if there is a better source. I'll just be using it around the house and autos. Lots of these things on Ebay.



Richard

 

[Crowhurst]

I use a $40 Metex brand #M3800, JAMECO part# 27115 from JAMECO, 1355 Shoreway Rd. , Belmont, CA 94002 (800) 831-4242. (www.jameco.com). The important aspects for me are the current rating up to 20 amps, the robust construction of the case, and of course that it's digital. The 20 amp rating is particularly useful for checking electric brakes on trailers. A great product. Nick.

 

[LSMITH]

Get your accessories for the Fluke at Grainger, the usually have them all in stock.





For really hardcore troubleshooting I still like to use an old Simpson 260 analog. It is simply THE BEST meter I have ever used, but big and heavy. It is also hard to see at tough angles when you are buried in a panel.

 

[damon]

I have a Fluke that I got over 15 years ago when I was troubleshooting irrigation clocks. I don't use it more than a few times a year now, but I am astonished that it still has the original battery(s) and the unit still powers up and works perfectly.



I wish I could say the same for my RV batteries !

 

[Shovelhead]

This is the one I use everyday.

http://www.metermantesttools.com/products/dm73b.asp

It's convenient 'cuz it fits in my tool belt.



I also have a large Fluke for the "special" stuff when necessary.

 

[JR2]

LSMITH- My Dad has an old Simpson that he got when he still worked in the oilfield. I bet that meter is at least 30 years old. If the prong on the lead had not broken off in the meter he would still be using it. When I was growing up I thought a multimeter was called a Simpson as that is what Dad always told me to go get... .



PS anyone know where to get leads for an old Simpson??

 

[Shovelhead]

Try here for Simpson parts.

http://my.execpc.com/~indelect/

 

[jtisdale]

Dont bash me too hard...

Fluke is the Bomb when it come to meters. We use them all the time at work, and they are the best, but I bought a Craftsman for around the house/garage stuff and I like it really well.

DCV 300mv-1000v

ACV 3v-750v

A DC 300uA-20A

A AC 300uA-20A

Resistance 300ohm-30M ohm

Freq 300kHz

TempF 0-1832

TempC -32 - 1000

Some of the features, I will never use, or even pretend to understand, but for less than 70 clams, I couldnt go wrong.



But if money isnt the issue, get a Fluke.

 

[shendren]

i own a pawnshop in columbus indiana. we normally have a couple of multimeters around. we see lots of flukes. usually pretty cheap. . <$100. typically one of those "can't give it away" items. don't know why. we usually get rid of them on ebay. call my manager, christy, at the office and tell her i sent you. 800-364-3844.

scott.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by JR2

LSMITH- My Dad has an old Simpson that he got when he still worked in the oilfield. I bet that meter is at least 30 years old. If the prong on the lead had not broken off in the meter he would still be using it. When I was growing up I thought a multimeter was called a Simpson as that is what Dad always told me to go get... .



PS anyone know where to get leads for an old Simpson??

I have not used a Simpson in a long time. Don't they use standard "bananas" on the meter end? You should be able to easily repair the broken lead. Leads are easy to make.



Re: digitals. I don't know about the newer meters but on the older ones, the LED's can deteriorate and get kind of smudgy looking. Someone correct me if I am wrong but I am thinking it is from sitting without being used often enough. I have seen this happen. It did not render the meter useless but made it not as "nice" to use.