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What multimeters do y'all like?

slomaro3.4

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My 10 year old HF multimeter finally bit the dust, the batteries leaked, but in my defense the battery compartment had a tiny phillips screw. I also never liked the automatic function aspect of it.

Not sure I have a budget really under $50 probably. Any recommendations? Almost exclusively auto and boat usage.
 
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Sbusmech

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At work we use Snap On DMM's, but for home use I bought a highly rated AstroAi DMM from Amazon, to replace my Bluepoint I was given at UTI. It has large easily readable digits that are backlit when needed. Also true RMS if that's what you need. Had almost two years and works well without having to spend too much dough. Should be under or around $40
 

Callelle

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I use a Mac EM721 pretty much daily at work. When that kicks the bucket, a Fluke will probably replace it if I don't find another 721.
 
OP
S

slomaro3.4

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Not really the guy to ask. I’ve got 2 old Fluke 77s likely 30+ years old. Sort of the old cry once and like the old Timex add says keeps on ticking.
IMG_5357.jpeg
If I were more of an electronics guy I'd probably be spending more coin on it.
At work we use Snap On DMM's, but for home use I bought a highly rated AstroAi DMM from Amazon, to replace my Bluepoint I was given at UTI. It has large easily readable digits that are backlit when needed. Also true RMS if that's what you need. Had almost two years and works well without having to spend too much dough. Should be under or around $40
A backlight would be awesome I'll give that one a look.
 

Steve_P

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I have mostly Flukes, but also an Astro AI that is all anyone needs for home use. It doesn't have a massive rubber boot like my 2 flukes, so I keep the Flukes in the garage where they're much more likely to be dropped, and the Astro upstairs.
 

MOS3522

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I have mostly Flukes, but also an Astro AI that is all anyone needs for home use. It doesn't have a massive rubber boot like my 2 flukes, so I keep the Flukes in the garage where they're much more likely to be dropped, and the Astro upstairs.


I relegated my Astro AI to alkaline battery testing after comparing some ohm readings vs my Fluke 87v. Way way off.
 

strutaeng

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I bought a Fluke 114 basic multimeter in 2018 (around $110). A few years later I bought a Klein for around $100 because I needed to use DC ammeter function.

Use mine for basic automotive diagnosing and simple home wiring. I think my BIL once talked me through how to test the capacitor on my AC condensing unit that had failed over the phone.

I think HF recently came out with a nice multimeter line and are very affordable.
 

ecotec

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I use a Fluke 117. While I would happily recommend it, the retail price has doubled since I have owned it.

I also use a 1990’s Craftsman multimeter that has been very good. I haven’t touched it in years. I should make sure the batteries in it are not leaking.
 

Sbusmech

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I have mostly Flukes, but also an Astro AI that is all anyone needs for home use. It doesn't have a massive rubber boot like my 2 flukes, so I keep the Flukes in the garage where they're much more likely to be dropped, and the Astro upstairs.
Agreed, those Astro Ai's have a lot of back for your buck and durable.
 

Murby

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Fluke when it's important.

When it's not important, I have a variety of other mid-quality meters I can use. Ideal, Gardner Bender, Harbor Freight, etc.
 

JohnX14

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Fluke. I have a number of Flukes. Some with more features than others. Last 2 I bought were Fluke 323's on Amazon. Last 2 were somehow only $119 each (within last 2 months). Today they are $189. Previously that's what I paid. I have no idea how they dropped to $119, but when they did, I scooped up one for each of my other vans.
 
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Outlier

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The absolute cheapest meter I would even give a shot to would be the AstroAI. Maybe some of the Klein or TPI meters in the $60-70 range.

Anything in the just over the $100 range, it's hard to recommend anything other than the entry-level Fluke meters, but I have been very pleased with my Matco MD257. You can find new ones on Ebay for $100. They appear to be Brymen/Greenlee based meters.
 

cgrutt

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I've had a Fluke 77 since 1985 its great and still works. But recently purchased a $50 Finrisi that was reviewed by one of the popular auto mechanics (want to say south main auto?) and it's all Ive been using (primarily on my boat but also some vehicle work). Does everything I've needed and seems as accurate as the old Fluke 77. Also has a built in amp clamp which is awesome. Highly recommended.


Believe I ordered a different set of leads for it based on recommendation in the YouTube review IIRC.
 

Torque&Recoil

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NE Ohio
Depends on what you need the meter for. If you just want to know if a 120v circuit is live, or if there is 12 volts at a turn signal socket - anything will work.

But... I probably own 5 DMMs, and when I compare them... guess what, I get 5 different answers. If you really want to know "The Real Answer", then there is only one brand to consider. Fluke. Buy once, cry once.
 

joecon

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I have the Klein with the amp clamp, it's nice for the price, and the amp clamp is worth the money. My Fluke 87 is 40 years old and is still working great if you calculate the cost over the years, it was cheap. You can also buy used.
 

Cruzan80

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But... I probably own 5 DMMs, and when I compare them... guess what, I get 5 different answers. If you really want to know "The Real Answer", then there is only one brand to consider. Fluke. Buy once, cry once.
Funny, I go to my HP/Agilent 34410.Not really portable like the others I have, though.

IYKYK...
 
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theoldwizard1

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Fluke meters are OVERKILL for the average DIYer ! They are common in industrial applications because they can be calibrated, which is required in some jobs.

The only thing I will say is spend a little more and get a meter with a built in AC/DC "amp clamp" and one that has a rubber cover.

One other feature to consider is a meter that has a low impedance (Lo Z) setting. It prevents "ghost voltage" readings.
 

willf650

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I've got about 8-10 different Fluke meters of different types and they are the standard in the electrical industry. A couple of them are 30 years old at this point.

Fluke makes meters at many different price points.

I also have Klein, Field Piece and UEI meters but they are at a different price point. Field Piece makes meters specificly aimed at the HVAC industry.
 

MovingAlong

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If you've been working with an HF meter for the last 10 yrs, I'd expect this $35 Klein at Home Depot to work very well for the 12vdc systems you primarily work on.

This meter also has manual ranging, which I strongly prefer. Some other nice features on this one as well. :thumbup:
 

Murby

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Flukes are nice but if your a weekender, a plain old Klein should work well.

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In your budget

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I have one of those Klein meters.. The temperature probe is 8 degrees inaccurate at 200 degreesF and there's no way to correct the offset, and the stupid safety plastic around the tips of the probes won't allow them to go into small places.
 

rkevins

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I have 2 UNI T meters
 

MovingAlong

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I have 2 UNI T meters

Their automotive meters (UT105+/UT107+) look really interesting!
 

bwringer

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I asked a similar question aeons ago, and ended up with the large display Klein MM450 ($80), which coddles my rheumy ancient eyes with giant bright numbers:


However, as others have noted above, having an amp clamp that works with DC is a real game-changer for vehicle work. (Mine is an ancient Craftsman, no longer made.) If I had to replace mine, I'd look at the Klein CL390 ($100) at Home Despot:

Or perhaps the Klein CL800 for $150, but that probably mega-overkill unless the OP needs some of the more esoteric functions:

Yeah, I know, Fluke Fluke Flukity Fluke... quite honestly if ya just gotta have yella, their pricing isn't Snap-On levels of insane. This is a basic AC/DC amp clamp for $140, but only a 300V rating. They go up from there.

I think the rock bottom would be the newer Doyle meters at Horrible Fright. They're actually quite skookum, and $65 will fetch you a DC amp clamp model rated at 600V:

Some of the older HF stuff was kinda skeery, but the newer stuff is quite nice.
 

gleman

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Michigan And Florida too!
I have one of those Klein meters.. The temperature probe is 8 degrees inaccurate at 200 degreesF and there's no way to correct the offset, and the stupid safety plastic around the tips of the probes won't allow them to go into small places.
Both of mine are pretty spot on. Did you try a different thermo-coupler?

The probes are pretty standard, not as nice as premium Pomona test leads but very serviceable.
 

Murby

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Both of mine are pretty spot on. Did you try a different thermo-coupler?

The probes are pretty standard, not as nice as premium Pomona test leads but very serviceable.
I just used the one that came with the meter.. I use it when we make Maple Syrup.. At 212 degrees, it reads 204..

I knew something was wrong so I brought a 2 quart pot of water up to a rapid boil.. 202/203 degrees on the meter.. Water at my altitude boils at 210.25..

I ordered the meter online from Home Depot so I took it back to my local Home Depot and exchanged it for another.. New meter, new probe in the box.. Back to the boiling pot of water and it reads the same.

I guess we could at least say that Klein is consistently inaccurate.

I had a spare Omron digital temperature controller in my shop with a Type J thermocouple.. it read the water at 210 degrees.

I still use the Klein meter for the maple syrup, I just have to adjust the math for that 8 degrees.
 

Ohio Andy

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I have found to be highly consistent over time. I ended up tossing three or four meters when I tested them and found them to be very out of spec. I tested them because I was not believing the results. Even my old abused flukes that I inherited stayed usable.

I finally reduced the number of meters but my main users are the 17B+ (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0779621KZ?tag=atomicindus08-20) with a few other models mixed in.
 

Citation

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I've answered a similar question a number of times.

1. Fluke is my favorite when someone else is paying the bills. I really like the 87-3, 87-5 and the 187. I don't care for the 113-117. My issues with them is the lack of Touch Hold which is a great Fluke feature. When you set the meter to touch hold it waits for a stable reading then freezes the display. This is great because that means you can keep your eyes on the probes, not the screen since the reading you want will be there when you remove the probes from the sparking bits. Most Fluke's also have very fast continuity checking. If you are willing to look used, sometimes the old (like sold when Regan was in office) Fluke 27's can be had on eBay. They are very robust and can be used as bricks if the need is there. The Fluke 101 may be a good deal if you want a very basic but very well made meter for likely $50-60. It will not do current ranges. Amazon's price is high but I think other sites have it for less.

2. Second to Fluke, and the meter family I typically recommend the most, is something made by Brymen. They are an OEM for many good meters including the Matco MD251 and MD257 (often very good deals used on Ebay). They also make the GreenLee MD820A I used in the garage. If you look at either their smaller or bigger family of meters (Matco is the smaller family, the MD820A is the larger) you will see the family resemblance. Any of those are very solid meters and all but equal to Fluke in terms of safety and accuracy. Only the lack of touch hold bothers me.

3. Depending on your uses and honestly, one I always suggest as a second meter is the Uni-T UT210E (must be the E version). This is a low cost clamp meter that can read AC and DC and down into the mA range. I will not claim Amazon has a good price, I recall these being ~$50 not the current asking price. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0188WD1NE?tag=atomicindus08-20
These are nice because you can measure current through a wire without breaking the circuit. Note, it measures net current so if you clamp it around an extension cord you will see zero net current even if you are clearly loading the cord. You can only measure one leg at a time. Anyway, thanks to having voltage, capacitance and resistance ranges it really does most of what you need. The electrical safety features aren't as good as those used by Fluke and Brymen but that is less important if you are doing mostly home/automotive (non-EV) work. Of the above options this might be the one I would get as an only meter so long as you know you don't need inline current measurements and you don't need temperature measurements. It, along with the Fluke 101 are the only ones that are available for around $50-60 new. The others are ebay searches.
 

Steel_Rain

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I have many and as others have said, Fluke, and Fluke for testing meaningful electrical diagnosis.

That said…my Sanwa is still my favorite general meter:

IMG_2404.jpeg

Made in Japan too 😉!
 
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