HF Multimeters

[countrybumpkin]

Hey guys. Looking to get a new multimeter. Not sure if I want to pay up to a fluke just yet.

Does anyone use their newer range of meters?

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[rooster4321]

Heck yeah they're good when you're free

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[Briancapecoral]

What functions do you need? I needed one to check a capacitor on my ac, none of my cheap ones had the correct setting. HF was closed when I got off work, so I went to HD and got a similar Klien for $10 more. I was surprised that the prices were that close.

 

[countrybumpkin]

I want something that will test continuity. A clamp would be nice as well.

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[countrybumpkin]

Preferably AC/DC

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[Briancapecoral]

This is the one I bought, no clamp. The free ones at HF will check continuity. I have a few of those, the test wires are cheap and break but I've had no problems with the meters, but I don't use them professionally.

 

[Citation]

At least some of those meters are rebadged Uni-T models. Generally competent and unlikely to have any gross safety issues. Midline stuff but likely very service for most. Not sure if the prices are good or not for what they are.

 

[Citation]

Looks like others are Mastech
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-harbor-freight-multimeter-teardown-request/
Again, probably perfectly serviceable but no Fluke (or Brymen or Keysight)

 

[Zeke]

You can get a decent MM off Amazon with capacitance capability for around <$40 with a backlight and auto off.

 

[Falcon67]

I have had a couple of the yellow ones - decent for the money (or non-money) and only one caught fire. The one in the race trailer is a small thin Craftsman. I would go for a bit better level of quality.

 

[908Jim]

Brymen is a company out of Taiwan producing a decent quality meter at a good price. They rebrand their meters for Matco and Greenlee. I bought a rebranded Matco on eBay for $60 and it's dead nuts with the calibrated Fluke meters at work.

Do some research on EEVblog about them and you'll see they are quite popular for those not ready to pay for a Fluke. Keep in mind, only the highest end Fluke meters are USA made these days.

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[alfredeneuman]

You can get a decent MM off Amazon with capacitance capability for around <$40 with a backlight and auto off.

Any multimeter with a resistance range of 1K to 10K ohms can be used to test a capacitor.
The cap will initially show as shorted, and then taper off to infinity as the cap charges.