Inventive1
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2007
- Messages
- 52
What brand of electrical test meters are well made today?
Electrical test meters
- Thread starter Inventive1
- Start date
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Fluke
What are you gonna be using it for?
What are you gonna be using it for?
Ditch
Banned
I have a fluke for things that need to be really accurate
but
I have a bunch of HF freebies laying around for quick checks and they are just fine
but
I have a bunch of HF freebies laying around for quick checks and they are just fine
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Fluke, Keysight (Agilent), ExTech, Brymen, Amprobe and Uni-T all make fine multimeters. The Fluke and Keysight meters will be at the top of the pack.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you asked this on one hundred forums, the most prevalent answer would be Fluke. Buy once, cry once. I've got a model 73 that is at least 34 years old. I've changed the battery twice - once because I had too after twenty years and once because I thought it might be a good idea about ten years later.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Fluke. I have changed my battery a few times. It might have something to do with SOMEONE keeps forgetting to turn it off.
OP
Inventive1
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- Jul 24, 2007
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How does Klein meter compare to the others that American Locomotive mentioned? (The ones I looked at are made in a country with a reputation for low quality.)
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Sorry but that's par for the course for any electronics test gear. Many Fluke products are also made in China.
What's more important is the company behind the product. Fluke, Agilent/Keysight and other high-end brands have strict QC to ensure consistent product quality.
TheEquineFencer
Well-known member
TheEquineFencer
Well-known member
Check CL. I found a good friend an almost new Fluke 87V, deluxe leads and all, with the calibration certificate! (yeah I'm still kicking myself in the ****, he got it for $125) . Flukes come with a lifetime warranty.
I used to work with a guy that dropped his and it quit working... two story drop....Fluke repaired it for free.
I used to work with a guy that dropped his and it quit working... two story drop....Fluke repaired it for free.
matt_i
Well-known member
There's a really basic "Fluke 101" that is Cat 3 / 600v rated. Has the functions I would want, AC, DC, and continuity/buzzer. Around $50 from what I see. That would be my choice if I didn't have a 77 and a T5 tester already. The T5 tester gives you a sort of open jaw current measurement function that could be useful at times but the downside is the fixed/attached probes are slightly too short in my estimation.
TheEquineFencer
Well-known member
That's a cool little meter, I may have to get one! And it does Hz! It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a 87V but for "basic" it looks a step above a HF type meter. You can check Capacitance and Hz, but does not have a record function. I use that feature a lot.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
In this case, its not just about the country of origin but the company behind the product.
Cant vouch for the others but fluke stands behind their meters so no worries there.
IMO, Fluke 87V is my first choice for a go to meter...
Yes the 87V is a great meter.
I have an 87V. 10+ yrs old. Still works great.
However, unless the OP is doing commercial and industrial electrical, a $400+ 87V is overkill.
Fluke has several cheaper models that im sure would fit the bill for the OP.
Unfortunately, we still dont know the OPs application so this is all speculation.
Damn!
Thats a $300+ savings!
Yeah Id be kicking myself too!
And you gotta wonder why the seller sold it for so low...
Last edited:
TheEquineFencer
Well-known member
try more than that, it was a CALIBRATED METER, WITH DELUXE LEAD KIT AND HARD CASE.!
The seller was the engineer for the job and just wanted to get rid of it. Mike said he "was tired of looking at it lay in his office."
PhysicsDude
Well-known member
Most electronics technicians in my company use Klein meters since we can buy them at Home Depot on our corporate account. I've been very impressed with them. I would make sure to buy the auto-ranging ones, they're $60-$100 and very well built.
I can't imagine very many scenarios where a homeowner would need a meter that measures voltage more accurately than +/- .3%
I bought a magnetic holder for my Klein meter for $11 on Amazon. Its so dang convenient I don't know how I lived without it.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
TheEquineFencer
Well-known member
Then there was the Mag clip, hard case, and a few other goodies...I went back and pulled it up on Flukes website...It still hurts to look at it.
But the guy, Mike, that has it, is good man. I was out snow plowing for another now former "friend" and was left hung out without a way home after 36+ hours, Mike picked me up, drove me over an hour home after buying me breakfast. Keep in mind it was snowing....Now that a real friend.
But the guy, Mike, that has it, is good man. I was out snow plowing for another now former "friend" and was left hung out without a way home after 36+ hours, Mike picked me up, drove me over an hour home after buying me breakfast. Keep in mind it was snowing....Now that a real friend.
prostreetamx
Well-known member
I had several coworkers recently that purchased the newest Klein meters. They all read high in the amp clamp mode. I heard there is a recall for that model. It has the magnet built in. Personally I use a Fluke and use it a lot at work.
aircommuter
Well-known member
I use a Fluke, but for the dollar UEI is very good meter.
OP
Inventive1
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2007
- Messages
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I'm back!! Should have checked back in, but have been busy.
The meter will typically be used for general home and automotive repairs. It will probably only be used every few weeks. My previous meter was a Craftsman that lasted for 15 or 16 years.
In the future, I MAY be involved with repairing electronic equipment and / or computers. This is just a personal interest that may or may not work out. If it will cost considerably more for a meter suitable for this type of work, a cheaper meter will be just fine for now.
The meter will typically be used for general home and automotive repairs. It will probably only be used every few weeks. My previous meter was a Craftsman that lasted for 15 or 16 years.
In the future, I MAY be involved with repairing electronic equipment and / or computers. This is just a personal interest that may or may not work out. If it will cost considerably more for a meter suitable for this type of work, a cheaper meter will be just fine for now.
rlitman
Well-known member
Interesting that you mention that.
I have a service technician who uses a Klein clamp meter, because it is one of the most affordable DC clamp meters out there. We often compare readings against my Amprobe, and his generally reads around 5% higher than mine on DC. Then again, his seems to have a faster sampling rate.
The Klein recall should be unrelated to this:
http://www.kleintools.com/clampmeterrecall/us
because the DC clamp ammeter is not included in the recall, and the recall was for a problem with the banana plugs causing the leads to become disconnected, which would cause a (near) zero voltage reading.
rburke65
Well-known member
Automotive mfg. maintenance electrician and Fluke was all that was ever purchased for us at the plant. Very well made.
sberry
Banned
I actually used 2 a while back, one clamped on each leg. I finally got most of them in one pile the other day, 2 Amprobes and a Fluke and a couple others. Found one under the seat of a truck I have been looking a couple years for.