General Purpose shop voltmeter

[RickP330]

Hey Gang,
I need a new-multi meter for my shop. don't feel like spending 300 bucks from the SO dude. Got any good suggestions?
RP

 

[jerryW]

Fluke. Available at most sears stores.


jerry

 

[RickP330]

The Electricians here at work suggest the Fluke 77 IV

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fluke+77IV.htm?catalog_name=FlukeUnitedStates

Any thoughts?
RP

 

[malibu101]

Can I guess you're working on autos? DC power?

That IS a nice meter. I have, use, and fully reccomend Fluke also.

I'm picking out DC current measuring.
That meter causes you to make the meter part of the circuit to measure amperage. edit-that meter is 10 amps DC max. That IS the most accurate way to get a reading. HOWEVER it is the hardest way.
A clamp meter will make current measuring a WHOLE lot easier but with a very little loss in accuracy. Something such as a 336 that I use almost daily is nice.
OR look at a Fluke accesory such as a i410. It is an amp clamp that the meter you initally asked about can use.
Can you tell I like to just clamp on for amperage measuring?

 

[malibu101]

Hey Gang,
I need a new-multi meter for my shop. don't feel like spending 300 bucks from the SO dude. Got any good suggestions?
RP

Waht do you do in you shop? What do you need the meter for, roughly?

Yes, do NOT buy an SO meter. For the SO money, a Fluke is a much better value.

 

[billymade]

x 2 on Fluke; they are the industry standard!

 

[Lightning]

I have a cheap $80 Mastech multimeter but it works well for the work I do.

 

[RickP330]

Hey Guys,
It is for general auto and home use. I don't use it professionally and I won't be using it every day, but I do have an infrequent need for something better then a radio shack special. That said I will be using it on cars and home electric projects. (Ac and Dc)

Still that Fluke 77 is close to 250 bucks. can I do better with a cheaper one?
Rick

 

[Lightning]

Hey Guys,
It is for general auto and home use. I don't use it professionally and I won't be using it every day, but I do have an infrequent need for something better then a radio shack special. That said I will be using it on cars and home electric projects. (Ac and Dc)

Still that Fluke 77 is close to 250 bucks. can I do better with a cheaper one?
Rick

If you are not using it every day, buy a cheaper brand. I decided to save some money and buy a cheap one because I do not use it all that often.

 

[rsanter]

I have a fluke we use at work...excellent

bob

 

[GDA]

used Flukes do show up craigslist and ebay at a very nice discount too

I picked up a near new (but used) Blue Point multimeter very cheap this way

 

[billymade]

In that case check out what Craftsman has; they are really reasonable!
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_1...meter&gobutton.x=0&gobutton.y=0&gobutton=find

 

[malibu101]

Can you get accurate measurements without a Fluke? Well of course. You are not measuring brain signals. Any reasonably good meter will give you the accuracy you probably need. You must know (or at least have an idea) of what you need to measure.....
AC-DC-Volts-Amps(ac or dc it matters on amps, just like volts)-Resistance-Frequency
AND to what levels
12 volts or 480 volts-1 milliamp or 100 amps
Buy a meter that fits what you need it for, only you can answer that. A meter that does everything is more costly than one that just does a few simple tests.
Look around at products by Amprobe, Extech, Greenlee, Hoiki, UEI. Many "house brand" meters are just rebadged units from the above manufacturers.

 

[Stuey]

For what it's worth, Craftsman multimeters are rebadged Extechs, a very decent brand. Watch out for 50% off sales.

 

[RickP330]

Thanks guys, that helps alot.
RP

 

[joshboogie]

I use a Fluke 117 and I do car electronics installation. It's the best meter I have ever used. It ran me about $190 at Sears. It has an auto ranging feature on it (that I never use). It's got a MIN/MAX feature which is invaluable. Here's the link to Flukes Site.

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fluke+117.htm

 

[Crasen]

If you want a dc clamp meter I would consider this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03473756000P I have not used one yet but I plan to buy this one when I decide to upgrade my meter. Someone at work has a ac/dc clamp meter made by amprobe and it is about the same price

 

[Coach James]

"...brain signals..." LOL!!!

I have two Craftsmans that I got on sale for half price. Each one was $9.99. I bought five Sperry multi meters for my students to use, 210 and 350 models, and they work fine.

My dad still uses the analog meter he bought 20+ years ago.

Coach

 

[RAYJAY]

I have a older fluke and its great. I need a automotive type meter for a couple of things and did not want to pay for a fluke meter, so i bought a Protek d-988from Tequipment great company and price was good to

http://www.tequipment.net/index.html


http://www.tequipment.net/ProtekD988.html

 

[Danglerb]

HF has a Centech on sale for $3 from time to time, and a clamp style for about $8. Fluke is worth it if you use one a lot, but something simple and cheap is 100% better to have around than nothing.

Specifically for auto work I bought a Masstech pen dmm, and so far like it pretty well. Its handy to have the probe and display in the same spot.

 

[eschoendorff]

For what it's worth, Craftsman multimeters are rebadged Extechs, a very decent brand. Watch out for 50% off sales.

Always wondered who made teh Cmans. I have one and it's really pretty nice....

 

[bigjon]

I use the Meterman 5XP.

http://www.metermantesttools.com/mm...XP+35XP.htm?catalog_name=MetermanUnitedStates

I don't recall it being very expensive (~AU$70).

 

[malibu101]

"...brain signals..." LOL!!!


My dad still uses the analog meter he bought 20+ years ago.

Coach

There is almost nothing wrong with a good old analog sweep dial.
Except

They (most analog I believe) are not "high impedance" meters.
A (I've never seen one that isn't) digital is high impedance meaning that the resistance of very high. It does not becomer part of the circuit. A low impedance D'Arsneval(sp?) movement can cause problems on microprocesor circuits like are found in automotive computer systems.