Multi meter where to buy?

[whitetailhntr]

Looking for a Fluke multi meter for ac and dc voltage. Any suggestions on a model to get or where to buy?

 

[kd3pc]

the 115 is available on Amazon from several buyers at <$150 this past week...several of my classmates bought theirs this past week.

It is a good all around meter for the most part. It is class lll rated at 600v.

 

[whitetailhntr]

Am I wrong to say that fluke is one of the best brands out there?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Fluke is good, but there a lot of other meters out there, that are a LOT less expensive, that are more than adequate for the average DIYer. The most important thing is a rubber "boot" to protect the case when you drop it. The second most important thing is good set probes and jumpers.

 

[dogdog]

Am I wrong to say that fluke is one of the best brands out there?

It's a tool

Dependent on what you are using for , how you are using it matters more....... and your budget.


I got my Rigol oscilloscope from these ppl....site looks cheesy but it's actually a site lots of folks get their stuff from... .maybe call them to see if they have student discount....if you are a student.... unofficially. I think they offer some discounts if you are a member of that aussie guy's site. Price wise they are pretty competitive. They do sell Multimeters....

www.tequipment.net

 

[dw1]

Looking for a Fluke multi meter for ac and dc voltage. Any suggestions on a model to get or where to buy?

search Fluke T5-600 or even T5-1000 you should be able to get the 600 for under $100 and the 1000 volt model for about $120. This is a good all around meter, it will read AC/DC volts-amps (up to a #2 will fit in the fork part of the meter) reads continuity.

 

[zkling]

There needs to be a sticky on multi meters. The T5 series is terrible for the home mechanic as it has very low resolution.

 

[Katodog]

Get a Klein CL800 clamp meter, built tough and does DC amps. Low price compared to a Fluke too, only $140.

 

[dw1]

There needs to be a sticky on multi meters. The T5 series is terrible for the home mechanic as it has very low resolution.

I threw the T5-600 in there because it was cheaper$$, never had one, I do have 3- T5-1000 (In several different toolbags/vehicles) and they are a durable meter. I have one that has quite a few years on it, kind of beat up, but still works well.

 

[whitetailhntr]

The few recommended have the amp meter clamp,as homeowners what are you guys using amp meters for?

 

[FigureItOut]

Fluke 115 on Amazon is a great, all around meter for just over $100 last time I looked. I may be mistaken, but I believe it's their most basic that's still in the higher quality lines, and not made for the budget shopper. There's a 114, and it escapes me which common function is missing, maybe ammeter, for not a lot of savings. If you want a DC clamp also in the same meter, the Klein that Katodog mentioned would be my choice. I think that's the one I've had in my Amazon cart for a while.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[whitetailhntr]

Amazon the best deal for meters?

 

[ptschram]

There needs to be a sticky on multi meters. The T5 series is terrible for the home mechanic as it has very low resolution.

Curious.

I use mine all the time. It's my go-to for most things.

 

[bcradio]

Amazon the best deal for meters?

no, eBay

 

[kd3pc]

Amazon the best deal for meters?

likely not the best deal, but they are easy, price competitive, and have a great customer service bunch - that really tries to make things right..

Better "deals" can likely be had at eBay, CL and the like, but you may not get what you expect and their service is sketchy.

Equipment dealers, like dogdog mentions are great, but you may pay a premium.

Local box stores often have Klein and Keithly and others at well under $100 - regular price and not too long ago HD had the Keithly at $50. Some of the last class bought theirs then.

check around.
YMMV

 

[BreeStephany]

All depends on where you are. You can generally find some pretty good prices on Ebay / Amazon, but I guess I'm always one to buy local when the price is right.

If you are in the northwest / west coast, Platt Electrical supply generally gives pretty awesome discounts on tools - Klein, Ideal, Greenlee, Fluke - about 5~10% over their cost, which is generally better priced than you can find online.

 

[Finky198]

Its hard to beat a fluke my 77 is 20+ years old now.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

At work I have a couple of Flukes (87V, 1587), but at home I still have my "broke student" Craftsman meter I grabbed at Sears, which can do everything you'd need around the house or on a vehicle. I've been using it for 5 or 6 years now. I used the amp clamp part at work up until around a year ago when I got a Fluke clamp.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-digital-clamp-on-ammeter/p-03482369000P

If you're sticking with Fluke a 115 or 77/87 series will do all the basics.

 

[Woz]

You will never regent buying a Fluke but here is link to a series of YouTube videos of under $100 multi meters. I found the comparisons helpful

 

[Brownsfan]

What are you primarily using it for? Budget? All will matter.

 

[whitetailhntr]

What are you primarily using it for? Budget? All will matter.

School and home use

 

[nanofrog]

School and home use

Can you be more specific?

For example, will you be using it on AC mains (wall receptacles, switching and such)? Or just low voltage DC?

Budget? Features?

Also, as mentioned, there are other brands that are excellent meters, and some are less expensive than Fluke.

 

[KMdef9]

Fluke is very nice. It's options are great and tolerances are good too.

Amazon has good prices, with fast shipping and great customer service. You're not getting that with most sellers on eBay and none on CL.

Buy more/different test leads (don't have to be Fluke brand), I like the small clamping ones like the ones in the bottom of this set that I purchased:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012VWUI6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you go with another brand, make sure it's auto-ranging. Saves lots of time with resistance reading.



It's my recommendation if you're going to be using this meter for the rest of life and can afford it, buy the Fluke. By from Amazon if you need it soon.

 

[whitetailhntr]

How does auto ranging work?

 

[Brownsfan]

School and home use

Automotive? Electrician? Both?

 

[cvairwerks]

I keep both digital and analog meters in the shop. Digital for exact measurement requirements, and the analog for quick checks for approximate values. For one task, it's hard to beat an analog meter, and that's chasing wires in a bundle or harness. I can ring out a big wire harness way faster with an analog, as all I need to see is meter movement. It takes a digital a couple of seconds to settle down before you can tell if there is continuity. The beep function on a digital is great if you don't have a TDR and are trying to chase an intermittent in a harness or bundle.

I have a Fluke 8010A on the radio bench and a couple of cheap digitals in the tool boxes. There is a RS knock-off of a Simpson 260 in the garage and couple of dirt cheap analogs floating around too. I grab what is appropriate for the task at hand.

Since you are in school, I'd suggest buying something close to what you have in class, and hold off buying a top grade meter until you are in the work world. What you need there, if you have to provide your own tools, may be quite a bit different that what you needed for class. There are all sorts of features geared towards certain needs on different meters, and buying one with features you would never need, can be rough on the budget.

 

[Roddyo]

I've always wanted a Fluke 27 but I'm still rocking with my craftsman troubleshooting trucks and heavy equipment.

I would start out with a craftsman and upgrade when I hit its limits. That's what I did and I still have my craftsman.

 

[whitetailhntr]

Industrial maintenance and home use

 

[whitetailhntr]

What's the thought on Milwaukee meters? They look like fluke controls

 

[Itinerant]

School doesn't have meters to use on the labs/projects? Has the school given you any suggestions or guidelines for purchasing your own?

If the answer to the above questions is no, then sit down with your program director and find out exactly what you're going to need for class. Once you know what features and degree of resolution are required you can start shopping.

 

[FigureItOut]

How does auto ranging work?

On manual ranging meters you must set the range to what voltage you expect, and it generally adjusts the resolution accordingly. For example, my Fluke has 6, 60, and 600. If I was working on circuit boards I might set it six, for automotive 12&24 volt systems I'd set it to 60, and so on. Auto ranging meters don't require this setting adjustment.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[trackwelder]

I have a Fluke 78 automotive meter that could use a new set of leads. Is it worth staying with the Fluke leads or is there something else that's comparable?

 

[KMdef9]

Ive use several other brands with no issues.

 

[bmwrd0]

I have a Fluke 78 automotive meter that could use a new set of leads. Is it worth staying with the Fluke leads or is there something else that's comparable?

Get Pomona leads, they are owned by Fluke, but are cheaper.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Get Pomona leads, they are owned by Fluke, but are cheaper.

I second the Pomona leads. I have the kit with the alligator clips and sharp probe tips.

 

[Ross]

As far as price you might also check Zoro with their discount codes they can be less expensive. I have bought a couple Fluke meters from them a 289 and a 323 most recently.

 

[md21722]

As far as price you might also check Zoro with their discount codes they can be less expensive. I have bought a couple Fluke meters from them a 289 and a 323 most recently.

I like the advise about finding out what you need in the job world unless you have to buy a meter today. You don't want to be the guy rocking a Harbor Freight meter when everyone else has paid money for Fluke's, and you don't want to be showing up with a Fluke when everyone else is rocking a Craftsman. Part of the real world is fitting in with company culture/your coworkers. If you show up with a meter that has 5% better accuracy when it doesn't matter, you're like the girl in high school who drove a BMW because her parents were rich. Just trying to give you some real world perspective on this. Find out what matters and then buy. There is no reason to have the best brand name, its a tool and it needs to do its job. Nothing more.

 

[kd3pc]

How does auto ranging work?

auto range works differently on meters, sometimes even in the same brand...the Keithly that HomeDepot carries is advertised as "autorange" which it does, but it goes to a factory default mode...ie it goes to AC milivolts when you really want to measure a 12v car battery. You hit the button twice and it then shows VDC and you can use it.

I was only involved on the side of this issue but all three meters my schoolmates had, did the same thing. They said there was no way to reset the "default"????

On most of the FLukes, the meter "automatically" selects the number of decimal points to show and the mode (AC or DC). Some of the SnapOns do the same thing.

Best to play with it a bit, if you can...to make sure it is what you want to do. Or ask questions of the vendor.

 

[cvairwerks]

Industrial maintenance and home use

Industrial covers a very wide range of needs, depending on which direction you go. Are you wanting to go power distribution or machine maintenance type work?

If you go power distro, you are working more as an electrician than anything else. Meter needs are going to be more along the lines of volts, amps, phasing and load information, as well as hot stick testing. Working AC voltages will be all the way to 135Kv depending on the job. You won't be buying personal gear once you go past 440 VAC, as it takes specialized tools and safety equipment and training. We've got 135Kv coming into our facility and anything major work that is at 4160VAC or above gets farmed out.

Machine maintenance is going to be some electrician stuff, but more DC and logic work, with some frequency stuff for VFD's these days. You might be working with voltages from 440 3p all the way down to millivolts DC and lower.

For now, I would suggest a mid level meter, of a known good brand that will cover everything around the house and wait until you get a handle of what direction you are going to go job wise. Once that is clear, then spend the money on the best quality meter or meters that will meet your needs and not break the bank.

 

[Brownsfan]

These have to some of the most vague answers giving by a poster followed by very random questions