Multimeters

[BrokewrenchLS1]

from what i understand, normally when a DMM goes bang, it is the first pop when the fuses blow, this is what will get you. obviously anyone holding it is going to drop it after that point. one reason its not good to strap them to your arm i guess. and this scenario would also be much more likely with alligator clip leads.

wouldnt it be the current they held to it that smoked it? popping the fuse and arcing across internals smoking shunts etc..?

Not all DMMs are fused, which can lead to some issues. You can have a high current, but with low voltage you're not likely to see arcing across components; conversely, high voltage with very low current can easily arc.

Having blown a couple Extechs and one Fluke up (Fluke was repaired, Extechs went in the trash, I know exceeding the current rating when doing current draw tests popped the fuse on the Fluke, and that was it. No fuse, no current path, non-hazardous situation. Even if you left everything hooked up, nothing would happen after the fuse blew. The Fluke (87V) had an internal fuse that could be replaced; the Extechs just fried board components and smelled like ***. Neither did anything catastrophic - the Fluke just stopped reading current, and the Extech meters made a bit of a sizzling noise and died.

Having said that, the highest voltage I work with is 480Vac - I'm sure working with higher mains voltages is a completely different scenario, and equipment to work with over 600Vac and 1000Vac fall into a different safety testing and certification category than the average DMM most anyone would be using. I've never used one, so no input on that.

 

[TwoInch]

Not all DMMs are fused, which can lead to some issues. You can have a high current, but with low voltage you're not likely to see arcing across components; conversely, high voltage with very low current can easily arc.

Having blown a couple Extechs and one Fluke up (Fluke was repaired, Extechs went in the trash, I know exceeding the current rating when doing current draw tests popped the fuse on the Fluke, and that was it. No fuse, no current path, non-hazardous situation. Even if you left everything hooked up, nothing would happen after the fuse blew. The Fluke (87V) had an internal fuse that could be replaced; the Extechs just fried board components and smelled like ***. Neither did anything catastrophic - the Fluke just stopped reading current, and the Extech meters made a bit of a sizzling noise and died.

Having said that, the highest voltage I work with is 480Vac - I'm sure working with higher mains voltages is a completely different scenario, and equipment to work with over 600Vac and 1000Vac fall into a different safety testing and certification category than the average DMM most anyone would be using. I've never used one, so no input on that.

gotcha. im not very experienced with the electricity stuff when it comes to anything other than automotive, battery operated electronics, and household type stuff. nothing of high voltages like you mentioned, and nothing of heavy current.

i stay away from things that im not comfortable with, and can kill me with simple mistakes. i leave that stuff to the pros

 

[EOC_Jason]

I ended up getting an Extech, mine is an EX730... I was wanting something where the clamp-meter can do both AC & DC current...

Flukes are nice, but unless your business needs something like that they can be a bit overpriced for home use. You can find other brands that offer more features for the same amount of money.

 

[kc-steve]

gotcha. im not very experienced with the electricity stuff when it comes to anything other than automotive, battery operated electronics, and household type stuff. nothing of high voltages like you mentioned, and nothing of heavy current.

i stay away from things that im not comfortable with, and can kill me with simple mistakes. i leave that stuff to the pros

Think of electricity as similar to your household water supply. Voltage is the water pressure it takes to move the water (electrons), and current is the amount of water moving through the pipes.

And I wouldn't recommend using alligator clips unless you know what you are doing. I suspect that is why you won't see them supplied with most multimeters.

Steve

 

[losttechnician]

Have you guys ever seen a video of arc flash? That is the newest work hazard that the national fire protection agency and OSHA are regulating now. It has completely changed what we wear and who goes where at my work place. The videos of arc flash are frightful.

If you personally know someone who has survived a serious arc flash, you know how much damage it can cause.

2400V arc flash literally fried the exposed skin off a former co-worker of mine a few years ago. He survived, but a very long time later before he returned to work.

Incredibly serious stuff there. It has changed what we wear, and who goes where at my work place too, but the folks who saw how it affected him don't complain at all.