Ideal Digital Multimeter

[r6_cannibal]

I've seen them around but I haven't actually put my hands on one. I'm looking for a meter to throw in my travel box, and can't justify a Fluke. I found an Idea 61-361 locally for 20 bucks, and it states it's true RMS but I can't find much feedback on these meters. It's good to 10amps and 600volts in both dc and ac. I'm getting the "too good to be true" feeling, and I'm wondering if this thing is just going to fall apart after a few months of use. A friend is also offering me a Fluke 18 for $20, so I can always fall back on that in case this Ideal DMM is no good, but the 18 is not true RMS.
So, Is this Ideal meter worth it or could someone recommend a decent multimeter as a backup/travel unit?

 

[lametec]

Depends on what you're gonna use it for.

 

[r6_cannibal]

The range is plenty good for what i'll be doing. This is to be a general multimeter I throw into a toolbox I take on the road sometimes when I have odd jobs to do. I have a good multimeter, this would just be a backup. from automotive electrical to circuit building(dc mostly) to house electrical. Pretty wide spread but still within the limits of this DMM. I'm just wondering if this Ideal multimeter I'm considering is worth the 20 bucks I'd pick it up for, if I should look at something better, or pick up the Fluke 18 my buddy has. I really don't know the Ideal brand at all, looking for some feedback on it. All help appreciated

 

[Major Ramifications]

Forgive my ignorance, but other than fooling with amplifiers and such, why would one need true RMS capability?

 

[Danglerb]

Wow, I hate to think you might spend $20 on a toolbox meter carelessly.

HF has one right now that is kind of tempting me at $34, but I have a $2 HF, and a $20 Craftsman, and a $30 pen probe in my toolbox now.

What holds me back the most is that I think we will shortly see more and more automotive specialty meters with more and more useful diagnostic functions. Temperature probe is what convinced me to buy the Craftsman, but tach and other functions are tempting.

That said, a used Fluke as long as it still works well might be the best choice.

 

[lametec]

Forgive my ignorance, but other than fooling with amplifiers and such, why would one need true RMS capability?

You dont' "need" true RMS, but it takes the brainwork out of it. You can just read the display and that's the RMS.

If you're measuring peak voltage, then when you stick your probes in the wall outlet you'll see 170VAC. With a True RMS meter you'll read 120VAC.

Since it's AC voltage, the peaks of the voltage are short. Not a whole lot of "work" being done at the peaks. RMS is a more "average" representation of the voltage, and a better indicator of actual power being used.

Of course, most multimeters will only display actual rms if you're measuring a sine wave. Anything else and they'll get confused (since the displayed voltage is a calculatied number off the peak voltage, but that formula is only good for perfect sine waves). That's where "true rms" comes into play, as they'll measure the correct rms when the waveform goes away from a pure sine wave.

 

[r6_cannibal]

Forgive my ignorance, but other than fooling with amplifiers and such, why would one need true RMS capability?

Amplifiers is one thing I would use it for, The main thing being variable speed motors. (steppers and servo)

Wow, I hate to think you might spend $20 on a toolbox meter carelessly.

That's actually a pretty good point, I don't know why I'm getting all bent out of shape for 20 bucks. Money is a little tight right now, but not that tight.

I guess it all boils down to figuring out if this multimeter is worth 20 bucks or not.
I'll just go check it out today or tomorrow and buy it if it feels solid.

 

[Danglerb]

I think most meters handle AC out of the wall fine, its pulsed DC or DC offset they puke on. IMHO if your are working on that type of circuit you need a scope.

Wow, do I have an itch for a small scope.

 

[Merkava_4]

A friend is also offering me a Fluke 18 for $20,

For $20 ... that's the way to go right there.

 

[toolnut]

If it covers all your needs than I would go for it. Looks like it has a rubber drop protection on it?

 

[GuidoK]

What's the rst setting? Is that some kind of multi phase power checker? (judging from the 3 input leads). That would be pretty cool (don't know what it measures though...)
Looks like a good value meter to me; the only thing missing is the temp probe, handy if you want to check airconditioning (although the supplied thermocouplers aren't usually that precise. A cheap thermometer does the job better).

But if you use your meter in a travel box, reliability is important. Big temparature changes, moist air, dirt etc are more likely to affect a tool on the road than in a lab enviroment (corroding switches etc). Thats where fluke etc come in (but they can go wrong too..)
I can't comment on if you need true rms or not; depends on usage
Quality dmm's usually have better test leads too.

 

[Fast Orange]

IMHO,Ideal makes a decent meter for the money-not as high quality as Fluke,and not a lot of accessories,but a good reasonably priced meter.
One thing that sets the meter you're looking at apart from the crowd is the built-in phase rotation meter-if you do any 3 phase work at all,you'll use that quite a bit.Used correctly,a roto meter saves a lot of time trying to wire motors to turn the right direction on start-up.If you buy the Ideal ,if the roto meter itself works properly,you've made a good deal.

 

[r6_cannibal]

I think most meters handle AC out of the wall fine, its pulsed DC or DC offset they puke on. IMHO if your are working on that type of circuit you need a scope.

Wow, do I have an itch for a small scope.

I have an old nicolet o-scope, 4049A if i remember correctly. it takes a while to warm up though and if i can get away with using a meter i'd rather not disturb the slumbering scope.

If you want to pick one up, these older ones are excellent scopes and can be had rather inexpensively, this one is a 4 channel 400mhz scope i picked up on craigslist for 40 bucks, with probes I can snap a picture of it if you'd like a peek at my trusty old vintage scope.

I decided to go with the Ideal and when I told my friend that I didn't need his multimeter he decided to give it to me, so i need to take him out for a few drinks.

Thanks everyone for your input. I don't do much 3 phase work, but i'll probably come up with an excuse to work on something 3 phase so i can learn how to use that function on the ideal.

thanks all