Looking for a a good used multimeter

[tweedlestan]

I'm in the market for a higher end used multimeter, I assume Fluke would be easy to find. This will mainly be for automotive use, and occasionally 110v stuff.

My budget is $50, which seem to be the going rate for an older Fluke 77 on ebay. I don't care if it's not the newest model, I just want something high quality and durable.

 

[zkling]

Fluke 27/FM. Damn near bullet proof, seriously, they were designed for the military. Nothing can touch them for quality/durability/accuracy for the price. I have.... a few. YEAAAA, they use to be SUPER cheap. They are getting a bit more spendy, but you should still be able to get a kit shipped for <$50-60.



I guess I should ask, what all features do you need? The 27 is just a basic meter (no cap or freq/duty %). But for the average user it should do everything they need.

 

[tweedlestan]

Thanks, and since I'm editing anyway I may as well mention that I looked up that model and it looks like exactly what I want.

I just need AC/DC voltage, amps, and continuity. I guess ohms could come in handy, but I'm not exactly the most well versed person in electricity and electronics...

 

[zkling]

Please delete the 1st line, or at least the 2nd word in your above post.

Multimeters really aren't designed for reading lots of amps. More like 10A and less. If you want to measure a bunch of amps, a clamp is what you will want. After the 27, I'd suggest an 87 and that will do about everything one could need a multimeter for. After that the scope comes out and $hit starts to get serious.

 

[tweedlestan]

I'm not sure I'd ever need to read amps anyway...

Mainly I'm looking for a replacement for the free HF meter that I lost the probes for.

The 27 looks like what I need. It's auto ranging, right? The 87 would be the ultimate to me, but I don't know I'd ever need all of those features.

Heck, I was considering one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-8021B...833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e2b00cd1

 

[zkling]

The 27 looks like what I need. It's auto ranging, right? The 87 would be the ultimate to me, but I don't know I'd ever need all of those features.

Yea it is auto and manual ranging. It is just a good basic meter.

General specs.
http://www.tequipment.net/FlukeDigital27MultimeterSP.html

They still make the 27, I'm not sure what the military is using these days. Probably the 87, but I'm not sure.
http://www.fluke.com/fluke/usen/digital-multimeter/Fluke-27.htm?PID=56055

 

[tool_scrounge]

Fluke 27/FM. Damn near bullet proof, seriously, they were designed for the military. Nothing can touch them for quality/durability/accuracy for the price. I have.... a few. YEAAAA, they use to be SUPER cheap. They are getting a bit more spendy, but you should still be able to get a kit shipped for <$50-60.



I guess I should ask, what all features do you need? The 27 is just a basic meter (no cap or freq/duty %). But for the average user it should do everything they need.

+1 on the Fluke 27/FM. It is true RMS and has min/max hold capability. They are oring sealed and rated for mine use. Or check out its predecessor - the Fluke 8025b

Zkling - I am curious on how many "a few 27 fm" meters is - just to guage if I have too many

 

[Sureshot]

A little more money but I just bought a Fluke T5-600. Smaller and has amp capacity. You can also put your lead through the jaw and get amps. I like being able to mount the probe right to the meter so it is not falling etc especially for 110v stuff as the probes are never long enough to reach the floor. Here is a link that has pics of the uses. I just got mine for $86 shipped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-FLUKE-T...881?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd5f02501

I had been and will still use a Simpson 260. I like the 10k ohm setting looking for tiny leaks. The analog is nice for wiggling wires looking for issues that are hard to identify with digital readouts. The used Simpsons have been going up in price. I think it is that analog is better for some stuff and people are appreciating these good old meters.

 

[tweedlestan]

Thanks for the help, looks like the Fluke 27/FM is the one for me.

I also plan on buying a Simpson 260 in the future.

 

[zkling]

Thanks for the help, looks like the Fluke 27/FM is the one for me.

I also plan on buying a Simpson 260 in the future.

If you're patient, keep an eye on ebay. You should be able to get a "kit" shipped for <$60, or just the meter and leads for <~$40. The kit and case is knida nice, but really not needed. Same with the standard HV probe. Unless you for see a need for that. Basically they are all gov surplus and private people are just selling them off after they get them at gov auctions. A few years ago you could get them for ~$20 per kit, back when I got mine. Now they have risen a bit, but still are about the best bang for the buck in a general multimeter. If you do get one, wait till you actually hold it. They have a very good heft to them. Makes the cheaper meters feel like a toy

But that is just my recommendation. May want to see what others have to say.

 

[Fordman7795]

I got a fluke 23 at an auction for $20. It does everything i need and the price was right

 

[JoeFin]

I also plan on buying a Simpson 260 in the future.

That is what I was going to say in the first place.

Maybe I'm just old, and yes I use digital test equipment daily, but I miss the needle of a good Simpson 260/270. Some times I am as concerned with how it got there as with the amount of voltage.

I found one at the flea market in good working condition and gave it to my 24 yr old, who immediately thumbed his nose at it because it wasn't digital

 

[ndoran]

I had been and will still use a Simpson 260. I like the 10k ohm setting looking for tiny leaks. The analog is nice for wiggling wires looking for issues that are hard to identify with digital readouts. The used Simpsons have been going up in price. I think it is that analog is better for some stuff and people are appreciating these good old meters.

Your point about the analog meter is totally correct. I have an old AVO 8 and a couple of other meters for just this purpose - and other fault finding tricks.

Strangely enough I only have one Fluke meter at home and it is for reading high current values. Their meters are good but there are other makes that get the job done for a lot less money. For measuring capacitance I prefer a capacitance meter and if it is an electrolytic capacitor you want to check you need to measure the ESR so you really need an ESR meter.

Someone has also mentioned a scope and that is another discussion completely.

 

[cdods]

Not to dirgress to far from the OP, but does anyone have any experience with the OTC 3980 750 Series multimeter? As a DIY the Fluke 88 is kind of expensive, but the specs on this look pretty good for the price. Any other suggestions in this price range?

My cheap meter does fine for 99% of what I use it for, but doesn't have some of the auto specific functionality like RPM & dwell that I need for from time to time, and my cheap one is too slow to catch a lot of the fast changing signals/voltages.

 

[zkling]

but I miss the needle of a good Simpson 260/270. Some times I am as concerned with how it got there as with the amount of voltage.

Good meters, but I personally think a basic DMM is a bit handier in this day and age. I have one of the Simpsons and love it, sits right next to my RCA Voltohmyst, both never leave the bench . My grandfather was a RCA television repair man after WWII, so I somehow tend to acquire vintage electronic test equipment.

Someone has also mentioned a scope and that is another discussion completely.

Read specifically what I wrote, again. I was trying to impart progression steps for test equipment. Not suggest the guy get a scope. So many times I feel people purchase parallel use meters, when they really should be purchasing something to help progress them forward.

Not to dirgress to far from the OP, but does anyone have any experience with the OTC 3980 750 Series multimeter? As a DIY the Fluke 88 is kind of expensive, but the specs on this look pretty good for the price. Any other suggestions in this price range?

My cheap meter does fine for 99% of what I use it for, but doesn't have some of the auto specific functionality like RPM & dwell that I need for from time to time, and my cheap one is too slow to catch a lot of the fast changing signals/voltages.

They are decent meters. You may also want to check out the Craftsman pro meters which are actually rebagged extech meters. I got one for ~$50 a few years back and call it my poor man's 87. They offer other ones that will do tach and dewll and the like. Or you could just get an auto specific meter that does just tach and dwell. PDI is another one, and a few that I can't recall off the top of my head. Do a search on here for fluke 88 and you will see some of the alternatives.

 

[kendogg]

I just bought an Amprobe AM240 on Amazon for $35 NEW. Comes with nice leads, and a thermocouple, AND reads duty cycle (which is 90% of the reason I bought it).

 

[TJJP77]

I have this one, which is good for automotive use:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kal-Equip-A...rue&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557#ht_122wt_945

I know that auction is ended, but I think this guy lists a new one every few weeks or so, always for the same "buy it now" price. For $59, it's a heck of a meter.

 

[Mr onetwo]

+1 on the Fluke 27/FM.I bought one on Ebay after getting recomendations on GJ.It is a fantastic meter...very accurate and rugged.

 

[metaldad]

Fluke 27 . I have.... a few.

Zkling - I am curious on how many "a few 27 fm" meters is - just to guage if I have too many

Ok.............. how many do you have?
i have 3 27's.

 

[Sureshot]

If I could have only one meter it would be analog.

 

[treimers]

The analog is nice for wiggling wires looking for issues that are hard to identify with digital readouts. The used Simpsons have been going up in price. I think it is that analog is better for some stuff and people are appreciating these good old meters.

I totally agree on this one -
Been a ham operator for 30+ years, network engineer for 25, and
use analog meters all the time in both.

Digital is good for accurate voltage and current readings when you really care about tenths of a volt.

But analog absolutely CANNOT be beaten for finding weird voltage fluctuations, loose wiring, etc

Even just a little meter can help.

This is the best and cheapest large meter I've seen -
Good and accurate too, and doesn't have the Simpson name brand problem.
When I was 10 or 11, I built one of the kit version, and then loaned it to someone, forgot who, and now I can't get it back.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ARCHER-KIT-Range-Doubler-Multitester-KIT-43-RANGES-/251237756201?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7eefed29

Except by one of these two -
they are way overkill for most folks though...


Used to use these at my previous job...

or my other go-to for even weirder voltage and frequency problems,
used to use this way up on a tower where it was a little inconvenient to have a bench scope...

 

[tool_scrounge]

Ok.............. how many do you have?
i have 3 27's.

Nice collection of yellow Fluke meters. I wish I had more of the yellow one as they are easier to find. Is the one on the left a Fluke 233 with the remote display? I am sorry I passed on one of those a bit back.

Since posting the question I rounded up the ones I had. It turned out to be a larger number than expected - so I should probably divest of a few.

 

[Steinmetz]

A little more money but I just bought a Fluke T5-600. Smaller and has amp capacity. You can also put your lead through the jaw and get amps. I like being able to mount the probe right to the meter so it is not falling etc especially for 110v stuff as the probes are never long enough to reach the floor. Here is a link that has pics of the uses. I just got mine for $86 shipped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-FLUKE-T...881?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd5f02501

I had been and will still use a Simpson 260. I like the 10k ohm setting looking for tiny leaks. The analog is nice for wiggling wires looking for issues that are hard to identify with digital readouts. The used Simpsons have been going up in price. I think it is that analog is better for some stuff and people are appreciating these good old meters.

Two thumbs up on the Simpson Model 260. The Tripletts were easier to use, though. I still use both. I use DVMs where high impedance is required, although I still use a vacuum tube voltmeter on occasion.

 

[metaldad]

Nice collection of yellow Fluke meters. I wish I had more of the yellow one as they are easier to find. Is the one on the left a Fluke 233 with the remote display? I am sorry I passed on one of those a bit back.

Since posting the question I rounded up the ones I had. It turned out to be a larger number than expected - so I should probably divest of a few.

wow! 7.
i wanna grey one!

 

[zkling]

Ok.............. how many do you have?
i have 3 27's.

Uhm, well...3x27FM "kits" w/ case, probes, manual, HV probe, just sold one to a friend a while back that needed a meter, then 2x87's one a III and the other a VI, a cman pro aka extech meter, a few analog meters (some batt some plug in to wall) a few super accurate bench meters (HP and the like) a scope or 3, some freq gens. Yea.... I use to be an electronics nerd. My grandfather repaired TV's for a living after WWII, so electronic testing got instilled pretty heavily at a young age. The only meter I purchased new was the Cman pro that was ~$150 on sale for something ~$45 IIRC. It has been a few years. Good meter for the sale price. All others were bought used. For pennies on the dollar or given to me by senior mentors in the field. O, and there is a clamp amp meter or 3 thrown in there. One I actually dug out of a dumpster at work. The ***** PO didn't know enough to change the battery.

Actually I was helping fix the neighbors car the other day, couldn't find a bad switch. His new geen meter just bought at lowes was giving some goofy readings. Ran home grabbed a 27, ran back. He had the audacity to laugh at the "ancient brick" as he so call it. Good thing I had my temper in check other wise I may have bashed him in the head with it. No doubt the 27 could easily take that impact.

wow! 7.
i wanna grey one!

I want a yellow one. Actually are all of the yellow ones True RMS? I'm pretty sure I have read where some civilian (yellow) 27's were and some were not True RMS meters.

For all those complaining about not seeing the trend in the digital like on the analog needle. How do you feel about the bar graph on the meters like the 27? I realize for certain things it is not as good as a true needle/analog meter. But it seems to be pretty dang responsive. At least on the 27 the bar graph is much more responsive than the continuity tone in my experience.

 

[metaldad]

Uhm, well...3x27FM "kits" w/ case, probes, manual, HV probe, just sold one to a friend a while back that needed a meter, then 2x87's one a III and the other a VI, a cman pro aka extech meter, a few analog meters (some batt some plug in to wall) a few super accurate bench meters (HP and the like) a scope or 3, some freq gens.



I want a yellow one. Actually are all of the yellow ones True RMS? I'm pretty sure I have read where some civilian (yellow) 27's were and some were not True RMS meters.

For all those complaining about not seeing the trend in the digital like on the analog needle. How do you feel about the bar graph on the meters like the 27? I realize for certain things it is not as good as a true needle/analog meter. But it seems to be pretty dang responsive. At least on the 27 the bar graph is much more responsive than the continuity tone in my experience.

just checked my 2 older ones. they are not rms. my newer one is at the jobsite.
as far as the bar graph, that's also used for checking if there is capacitance, not the value of.

 

[3xpendable]

Ok.............. how many do you have?
i have 3 27's.


Fluke 27/fm x2
Fluke 8020a
Fluke 83
Fluke 113

 

[tool_scrounge]

I want a yellow one. Actually are all of the yellow ones True RMS? I'm pretty sure I have read where some civilian (yellow) 27's were and some were not True RMS meters. ch

From what I have read, if it was labeled 27/FM on the LCD bezzel and it has a dark case, it is a true RMS meter. If it is just labeled 27, it is not.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Look for some older/old stock automotive meters made in the mid to late 90s. IMHO, those meters were well made compared to today.

I've got a KalEquip KM3002 meter from late 90s; well made. Also had a UEI ADM 4200 automotive meter that got stolen.

On ebay,someone is selling new/old stock Sperry Automotive multimeters ADM 88 for $79 (includes shipping) One of the techs in the shop ordered one and it was brand new. Looks exactly like an older OTC 600 meter another guy has in the shop.

Here's the ebay link to the Sperry meter: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ideal-A-W-S...307?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4850233a6b

 

[zkling]

From what I have read, if it was labeled 27/FM on the LCD bezzel and it has a dark case, it is a true RMS meter. If it is just labeled 27, it is not.

That is what I heard as well. Then I also heard that some yellow 27's are true RMS, but are only labeled on the back side if they are RMS or not. Good job Fluke.

 

[skruft]

The Fluke meters are fine - but don't buy one of the very old ones with a row of buttons down the side. I have seen many failed ones (including mine when I had one).

 

[TJJP77]

I've got a KalEquip KM3002 meter from late 90s; well made. Also had a UEI ADM 4200 automotive meter that got stolen.

This is the same one I have that I linked to earlier. It's been a great meter and for $60 the price couldn't be beat.

 

[Steven67fr]

+5 on the FM27, a great spec multimeter for the price. Lots of accessories available through Fluke as well. I've had mine for at least 5 years and it works excellently every time I take it out! Though my electrical work is limited to automobile repair and basic DC stiff around the house... lighting, switches, appliances, etc.

 

[Oldsmobile]

Your intended use sounds like mine--fairly simple, when compared to all these electrical engineers who know more than I ever will.

But I appreciate good tools too. I have a Fluke 27, some of the HF free meters, a Simpson 260, but the one meter I tend to grab for simplicity of use is my Fluke 12B. It answers all my questions for 12VDC, 120VAC, and the occasional 240VAC ("are both legs hot?")

I think the 12b is discontinued, but I would venture such a thing could be found on ebay.

 

[nanofrog]

I think the 12b is discontinued, but I would venture such a thing could be found on ebay.

Yes and Yes.

One claimed to be new & in it's original packaging, has a "buy it now" price of $91 w/ free shipping.

 

[Oldsmobile]

Wow....$91 for a 12b. I found mine for fifteen bucks, new in package, via craigslist. I have been nothing but pleased with it.