Anyone familiar with Extech meters? My old Cornwell meter (585 made by Electronic Specialties) bit the dust recently. Looking in the Cornwell flyer this month I see an amp clamp and a multimeter on sale. Looking at the CW webpage they list ES as the OEM but the products don't match. The new Cornwells appear to be Extech products. The price seems reasonable but are they good products? I'm supposed to meet my old CW guy on Tuesday to check them out.
Extech Multimeters/ Amp Clamps/ Cornwell
- Thread starter SS5150
- Start date
Givl Reggin
Banned
Fluke is the industry standard - why would you consider anything else?
Extech makes (made?) meters rebranded as Craftsman too.
Extech makes (made?) meters rebranded as Craftsman too.
AE2
Well-known member
I have a craftsman clamp that I'm almost certain is extech. I bought it specifically because the clamp would do dc current. I haven't used it much but I don't trust it at all. I don't think it's accurate and I really think the selector knob if off a tooth or something. Mine is a few years old so and probably not the same model you were looking at. If it were me I would get a fluke.
They are a good meter at a hobby friendly budget. Fluke is not the only one that can produce a working meter. As mentioned above, Craftsman and a few others rebrand extech meters as their own. I've got a craftsman pro that is a rebrand and it reads spot on with my Fluke 87 and a bench standard at work.
trboxman
Well-known member
Extech makes damned fine meters, I have both Extech and Fluke meters and consider them largely interchangeable as long as the specs and features match what you're trying to do.
Fluke hasn't been quite the same since Danaher bought them...
Fluke hasn't been quite the same since Danaher bought them...
Last edited:
devoncoolman
Well-known member
If you need a meter you can trust buy a fluke. Extech is on the cheap side i honestly wouldn't trust it.
David C
Well-known member
I have an Extech EX505. It has always worked, has a lot of capability, and wasn't too expensive.
As Mr. Givl says Fluke is the best but I think, for equal capabilities, it cost more than 3x what I paid for my EXtech. I am not a pro and didn't know how much I would use it. I purchased the Extech as a reasonable compromise.
If you get into researching it you will find that even the (good) probes are quite expensive and that you can get injured with a cheap meter or cheap probes.
I found a guy on YouTube that did good reviews of this kind of equipment. I don't remember his name but he was from Down Under maybe NZ and you will recognize him because he always says "lets take it apaat". As I recall he goes into great detail explaining quality and features.
As Mr. Givl says Fluke is the best but I think, for equal capabilities, it cost more than 3x what I paid for my EXtech. I am not a pro and didn't know how much I would use it. I purchased the Extech as a reasonable compromise.
If you get into researching it you will find that even the (good) probes are quite expensive and that you can get injured with a cheap meter or cheap probes.
I found a guy on YouTube that did good reviews of this kind of equipment. I don't remember his name but he was from Down Under maybe NZ and you will recognize him because he always says "lets take it apaat". As I recall he goes into great detail explaining quality and features.
firebox40dash5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2012
- Messages
- 4,185
I've got a 520 meter and MA120 AC/DC amp clamp I've had for a couple years. The meter hasn't ever let me down, I did replace the leads themselves with nice Fluke silicone leads, but I'm still using the tips it came with, for all of $145.
The clamp is a little less awesome, but it does what I need, and was <$100 for a high capacity DC clamp. I use it for things like alternator output, starter (or whatever) draw, or seeing if there's a large parasitic draw I need to bust out the meter for.
The clamp is a little less awesome, but it does what I need, and was <$100 for a high capacity DC clamp. I use it for things like alternator output, starter (or whatever) draw, or seeing if there's a large parasitic draw I need to bust out the meter for.
rlitman
Well-known member
Fluke is nice, but Fieldpiece is nicer. There are plenty of good alternatives to Fluke and Extech is a good one of them. BTW, Extech is owned by FLIR.
I reach for my Fluke first over my Extech except in two situations. The Extech is smaller than my 27FM, the display is bigger, so cramped spaces the Extech is better. And if I need to take it away from home I will almost always grab the Extech since it fits in a bag better.
In my own place I will use the Fluke first. If you are choosing between something newer like an 87 or 88 there would be no question the Fluke every time.
In my own place I will use the Fluke first. If you are choosing between something newer like an 87 or 88 there would be no question the Fluke every time.
wild cowboy
Banned
Extech is a good low cost meter, but get it on amazon or similar discounter, not on the expensive ******** truck (or any other truck!)
Thanks for the feedback. I had never really heard anything about them. I'll have to take a closer look. Fluke is just so much more expensive. Most of the guys at work are using old Fluke 73s, which it doesn't look like they make any more.
Really I was looking at the Cornwell because of my past experience (my ES 585). I didn't know they changed suppliers but it sounds like they should work. I saw that Napa is selling some Extech products too. I'll have to do some research. Thanks all.
Really I was looking at the Cornwell because of my past experience (my ES 585). I didn't know they changed suppliers but it sounds like they should work. I saw that Napa is selling some Extech products too. I'll have to do some research. Thanks all.