Decent Multimeter?

[TimDaToolMan]

I would buy USA, but the only ones I know of are Fluke, and that's too much $$$.

Need something with autorange and temperature.

 

[ATC]

Have you looked at the Craftsmans? I have one of their smaller ones ($30 or $40) and I love it. The quality is suprisingly good.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Check out EEVBlog, he's done numerous testing on multimeters and other kinds of meters with teardowns and whatnot. Some surprising stuff you find on those ciruitboards sometimes.

Edit: Well he does have hundreds of videos, so here's some relavent ones:

$50 multimeter shootout

$100 multimeter shootout part 1

$100 multimeter shootout part 2

Good viewing anyways just to see some things to look out for.

 

[Subyroo651]

Check out EEVBlog, he's done numerous testing on multimeters and other kinds of meters with teardowns and whatnot. Some surprising stuff you find on those ciruitboards sometimes.

Edit: Well he does have hundreds of videos, so here's some relavent ones:

$100 multimeter shootout part 1

$100 multimeter shootout part 2

Good viewing anyways just to see some things to look out for.

Forgive me but I skipped to the tail end of his part 2. Which meter did he pick out of the $100 range?

 

[rlitman]

Have you looked at the Craftsmans? I have one of their smaller ones ($30 or $40) and I love it. The quality is suprisingly good.

They're made by Extech (Flir). Very good stuff.

Look for a 4000 or more count display. 2000 count displays are ****.
Look for true RMS if you can afford it.
Look for a fuse on the current reading.
Look for better Cat II or III ratings (do not buy a multimeter without a Cat rating).

That shootout is a LONG video, but the $50 comparison has the details all in a chart:
http://www.eevblog.com/files/EEVblog_50_Dollar_Multimeter_Shootout.pdf

 

[Paul Bee]

Klein has their name on Multimeters at Home Depot. Some models are very affordable.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Have you looked at the Craftsmans? I have one of their smaller ones ($30 or $40) and I love it. The quality is suprisingly good.

I second that !

It is amazing how good meters in the $20-$40 range are these days. Get one with a rubber outer housing/case.

The biggest issue will be probes. You will probably spend more on a good set of probes and accessories than on the meter.

 

[Dimitri]

I would buy USA, but the only ones I know of are Fluke, and that's too much $$$.

What do you mean too much money?

Fluke's low end includes the Fluke 114 "Electricians" or the Fluke 116 "HVAC" at $125, or what I think might be the best option for Automotive on a budget is the Fluke 115 "Field Service Tech" at the same $125 figure.

Fluke's mid range such as the Fluke 175 at $275

To the Fluke 88V Automotive Multimeter at $475.

All the way up to my Fluke 287 (which is similar to the 88V but allows graphing etc) at $525.

And there are some more expensive then that, but my point is Fluke covers a very wide range and you might take a look and see there may be one that fits your needs and your budget. Especially that "One-teen" series I first mentioned, if you really would like a Fluke.

Edit ... Also what he said ...

The biggest issue will be probes. You will probably spend more on a good set of probes and accessories than on the meter.

Except factor in that initial set of extra $30-40 expense as "Free" with the Fluke, most Flukes, even the cheapies come with leads that are miles head of the ones they give in discount big box store DMM packages.

Unless you want to get into their new replacement head DMM leads, then that also can become a race to the moon ($170 for Fluke's TLK282 kit).

Dimitri

 

[theknurl]

Fluke......Period

 

[zkling]

Yep, the craftsman professionals are really nice. I have checked mine against a calibrated bench meter and it is always right on. You should be able to pick one up for under $60 on sale with all of the features.

Up from that, the Fluke 87 is kinda the industry standard. I have one, but it doesn't leave my box or house unless it is in my hand and my hand only super accurate meter, but a bit above what the general home mechanic needs.

 

[pipsters]

FWIW I bought the $30 14 function one at Harbor Freight after reading this electrical engineers' review on the rebrand he bought:

http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6767

He paid around $80 though...normally they are on sale at HF for $40 minus the 20% so around $32...

 

[bran1har]

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-1-digital-multimeter-98674.html

Best meter I've ever used. Very intuitive and has every option you could wish for. Oh and did I mention it cheap. IT has temp and autorange. Buy it now, its so good.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have the Klein MM2000 true RMS meter from home depot. I also bought the CL200 ac/dc clamp meter. Both are true rms and at a nice price. They are as accurate as my buddies fluke 117 true rms meter. We get the EXACT readings

 

[pipsters]

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-1-digital-multimeter-98674.html

Best meter I've ever used. Very intuitive and has every option you could wish for. Oh and did I mention it cheap. IT has temp and autorange. Buy it now, its so good.

That is the one I was referring to. Question, do all leads interchange? I would like to buy some new leads for it as I want some small thin ones and some clip ones.

Also, I need a new 10 amp fuse as I blew it doing an amp reading...wondering where to get those as well. Of course HF does not sell them...

 

[TimDaToolMan]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050LVFS0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Looks the same, but does this one do temp?

 

[Brownsfan]

The Klein MM2000 I recommended also does temp. I believe it was 109.99 or less.

 

[TimDaToolMan]

Does it come with a temp probe?

 

[bcradio]

That is the one I was referring to. Question, do all leads interchange? I would like to buy some new leads for it as I want some small thin ones and some clip ones.

Also, I need a new 10 amp fuse as I blew it doing an amp reading...wondering where to get those as well. Of course HF does not sell them...

Yes leads will interchange for most all meters including this one.

I have this meter and it is pretty good for the price. I use it for quick measurements and such. If you are doing AC work though, it does not have true RMS measurement so not what you want if doing this extensively. I use my Fluke for most AC stuff since it does have RMS. In the 12v DC automobile world the Mastech rebrand is just fine though.

 

[pipsters]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050LVFS0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Looks the same, but does this one do temp?

That isn't the same as the HF 14 function one. Doesn't have as many features.

 

[j.c.whitney]

Google Alerts is your friend. Set one up and you can get into a Fluke cheaper than you might think. There are occasional deals on ebay if you are patient.

 

[pipsters]

Yes leads will interchange for most all meters including this one.

I have this meter and it is pretty good for the price. I use it for quick measurements and such. If you are doing AC work though, it does not have true RMS measurement so not what you want if doing this extensively. I use my Fluke for most AC stuff since it does have RMS. In the 12v DC automobile world the Mastech rebrand is just fine though.

What is the benefit of RMS? How would it help in a homeowner situation? The most I use mine for is something like HVAC.

 

[bcradio]

What is the benefit of RMS? How would it help in a homeowner situation? The most I use mine for is something like HVAC.

RMS will measure the true root-mean-square of the AC wave whereas the non RMS meter will only measure peak-to-peak which is not the true AC voltage. I have noticed up to 4v difference between my true RMS fluke and the HF meter. Not a big deal for a typical homeowner.

In short, I would not worry about true RMS unless you NEED exact AC measurements.

 

[rlitman]

I've seen over 30V differences in AC voltages between a true RMS and a cheap digital in weird situations. In one case, I was measuring the voltage from neutral to ground on a 120V circuit downstream from a 3 phase transformer where the ground was not connected correctly. The floating ground had some truly strange harmonics that gave a way high voltage reading on the cheap meter.

That being said, while I wouldn't get any meter without true RMS, it isn't a necessity. I also wouldn't buy a car without four wheel disc brakes.

 

[larryq]

I may as well ask...I picked up a Fluke 187 last year cheap that was made in 2002. Shamefully, I haven't put it to much use yet, been using the $20 Craftsman out of habit.

I got the Fluke because of the name and because it was still in the box and still had the screen protector on it. I doubt it had been used a dozen times before I got it. How long do multimeters last if treated well? 15 years? Decades?

 

[rlitman]

Depends on how they're made. A digital's downfall is often either exploded batteries, or corrosion of the contacts behind the dial (which can be pretty easily cleaned up).
The ones I've had for decades are all just fine.

 

[fordnut85]

I would second the Fluke 115, had one for a long time and for the price they just can't be beat. IMHO the temp thermo couple is a feature I can live without. I can't think of a time i needed it that my IR thermometer didn't fill the need.

 

[nanofrog]

OP, you're going to have a very hard time finding a DMM made in the US. Fluke is the only one that does this these days, and not even all of their line is US made. Of those made in the US, they're not inexpensive either, so if you're looking at the ~$100 mark new, you'll be out of luck.

Used, perhaps, and for an older model (unfortunately, eBay's gotten crazy on used Fluke pricing). A good deal does surface occasionally, but you'd have to be very patient.

For a new Fluke in your price range that will do what you need, would be the Fluke 17B. It's made in China, but is actually a decent meter (Fluke actually designed it, so it's not something else with a Fluke badge thrown on like most companies do, such as Klein, Extech, and Mastech).

Check out EEVBlog

+1

Loads of threads on the topic in the forum, and they have more recent information vs. what Dave reviewed in those vids.

Forgive me but I skipped to the tail end of his part 2. Which meter did he pick out of the $100 range?

As per those videos, they're out of date at this point due to newer products that have released.

They're made by Extech (Flir).

Extech is a rebrander, so they don't actually make their own meters.

And unfortunately, despite the claims, not all meters actually meet their claimed CAT ratings (i.e. claim whatever, open it, and find 250V glass fuses rather than the CAT rating Voltage in an HRC bodied part).

For those that don't know, HRC = High Rupture Capacity, which is meant to keep it from exploding in your hand up to it's rated burst current (10 or 20kA for example).

What is the benefit of RMS? How would it help in a homeowner situation? The most I use mine for is something like HVAC.

RMS gives a proper AC voltage reading when the wave form isn't a true sine wave. So if you're poking around anything that might be running on an SMPS, is controlled by a PWM or VFD (i.e. motors, charging circuits) sorts of power systems, then TRMS would be needed.

Given how common these sorts of power circuits have become, I'd recommend getting this feature (Fluke 17B has this). Even for HVAC.

 

[TimDaToolMan]

So fluke is outsourcing now too? Man this **** pisses me off.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Peak-to-peak Voltage = Square Root of 2 (1.2121212) X RMS

 

[Duster346]

I've had the same multimeter at work for over 15 years. It's a blue point with the orange protective cover. Works great, although I don't believe they make it anymore.

For my shop, I went to sears and bought the Fluke 115. Very nice meter for a nice price. I do believe it was more than $125, though. Maybe $150-$175? Just checked their site, and it's $200.

They come up cheap on craiglist often!

 

[Dimitri]

So fluke is outsourcing now too? Man this **** pisses me off.

Fluke can purchase say their custom chips from American sources, however most electronic component manufacturing is outside of the US today. And this holds true for any electronic piece of Equipment that you buy, whether or not it says "Made in USA". Even the military's advance Stealth Planes, and nuclear weapons are using parts (IC's, passives and actives) imported from China/Malaysia/Taiwan/Korean chips now, there is just no other choice.

It's fact of life, we don't want that messy, dirty and polluting industry here in the West so the EPA and other agencies slowly pushed it out by tighting up regulations.

By the way the Fluke T5-600 I got (for free due to Fluke's 65th anniversary deal), is made in China. It is just as well built from playing around with it before I gave it to my brother as he wanted one. IIRC the plant in China is owned/ran by Fluke themselves and not just offshored to some random manufacturer over there.

But regardless if you buy a Fluke that is "Made in the USA", or not, the same NIST approved Quality Control system is used to verify proper operation. Something that cannot be said for virtually all the other DMM's on this thread.

Dimitri

 

[IndyGarage]

I have a fluke and about a $40 Gardner Bender with a rubber outside case.

I wouldn't walk across the room to get one over the other.

The fluke does seem to be made with a few small features that make it better for frequent use, but 95% of the time there's no difference.

 

[TapperMan]

I picked up a surplus Fluke 27 FM off eBay after reading recommendation here, and I've been very happy with it. I think I paid about $40 for it. There are currently ones listed for sale.

 

[Jim Diesel]

I agree, I own the Fluke 115, and been using it professionally for years. I don't think they are to expensive by any means. For the quality and features they should be worth a lot more.

Bought mine on Ebay on sale and paid around $100. Buy right, Buy once.

 

[djcslice]

I have this Innova. It serves me well with the few occasions I use it. At some point I will buy a 'white glove' multimeter for rare occasions.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EVYGZA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

My Craftsman DMM is a few years old and was maybe $30-40... has done everything I've needed (auto, moto, electronics, building circuits/amps/etc...).

I've wanted to "upgrade" to a Fluke, but this old Cman just works.

 

[johninct]

Which one to buy with a DC app Clamp?

 

[gungatim]

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-1-digital-multimeter-98674.html

Best meter I've ever used. Very intuitive and has every option you could wish for. Oh and did I mention it cheap. IT has temp and autorange. Buy it now, its so good.

I've got the model under it
http://www.harborfreight.com/ac-dc-digital-multimeter-37772.html

Helluva meter for $20, rubber case decent probes and has temperature and comes with the temp probe.

it's my go-to meter unless I need inductive, but for that I use the like new Fluke T5-600 I got at a yard sale for $8

 

[dclassical]

Peak-to-peak Voltage = Square Root of 2 (1.2121212) X RMS

You do mean 1.41421...

 

[engineer2]

They're made by Extech

Most Extech products are made in Taiwan or Hong Kong.
I would look for a used Fluke if you want quality or work on electronics.
I inherited a $10 Craftsman multi-meter which has been fine for household use.