Right now it's auto diagnostics for a car project I have yet to start, and hobbyist electronics; no mains electrics, or hybrid batteries, or anything else that can turn me into a smoking cinder.
I'm figuring (having done the reading only) that I'd need something digital that can do both auto and manual ranging, and 15-20A. There are other features I could probably do with, but accuracy and reliability are what I guess I'm paying for.
Thing is that Fluke are considered the snap on of multimeters, and it's like no one knows of anything else here, which is why I asked in the first place. With tools like ratchets and screwdrivers you have snap on and the decent japanese, german and other makes. Lots of people use them, and while they look the same, and do the same thing, between experience and branding, people know about them. On the other hand though, if you knew nothing about them, they all look the same... so how do you tell?
Unless you're a pro who has worked with heaps of brands etc. (which I'm not), multimeters are literally the same to me, and if anything, more generic, just a dial and display since they come from the same factory. So after that it's features, accuracy and reliability/toughness, but again, how do you tell? Ask around though, and all I hear is fluke fluke fluke, everything else is Chinese rubbish that will **** out (apart from the Fluke 115's and 116's that are manufactured in China for the Asian market).
I've no issue with buying a used fluke off of eBay, but if it breaks though, I imagine I'll have to biff it, as it looks like it will cost as much to repair as to buy another used one (and no, buying a new one is not an option for me!). But I'd like to find out about other decent makes - I cannot believe that Fluke are the
only decent brand on the market...
On the one hand, I would like to know if there is any decent reliable brand that isn't going to cost me a kidney to buy, so I can learn this stuff on something good, and trust the results. On the other hand I'm thinking that I'm over-thinking things, should just settle down and buy a halfway decent one from the local electronics store.
While it's my first port of call, I'm not worried about what I can get here in NZ, I'm considering overseas too if I can get a really good one. I want what everyone wants, as much as I can get for as little as possible! lol
(note the smiley face, I realise that quality costs!)
[goes off to have a sit down and a cup of tea, as his head hurts with all this talking and whatnot]
