Is a Fluke multimeter overkill?
 

I’m a regular guy. I’ll check my car battery occasionally. I will however, check my other batteries quite often. My kayak fish-finder battery quite often. (The voltage counter on the fish-finder appears to read high). Plus that cool-ass contraption RedBeard gave me.

I have a $30-$40 Craftsman multimeter. It’s fine so far. But my cat has chewed the cords a bit. It would be nice to use that min/max feature on a Fluke as a (sort of) car battery load tester. Mine unit will need replacement pretty soon anyways. The metal tips on the probes are all bent. I’m reluctant to try to straighten them at this point. They will probably snap off.

A $150+ multimeter is tough to justify. Is this a multimeter better suited fir someone in the trades?

Any other options?

They are a good quality meter, I have had mine for 25 +years. But for occasional use I would say its overkill, I have some $30 ones that still work well after years.

A Fluke will cause you to catch bigger bass :D

Noooo!


I’m looking at the Fluke 115

I have had an Amprobe for years. Not sure what the price difference is now, but it was cheaper than the Fluke when I got it.

I've been using an old skool Simpson for 30 years...really.

I have one of these. It replaced my Fluke when it died. They are around $110, but I remember paying about $75 a few years back.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B001ULFROW/

But

This is my "backup" meter. It is $20 and a good meter.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B06ZZG2F2N/

I bought my Fluke used. I have never heard of one failing. You can drop them off a roof. I just wish I had bought one that could test for current. Mine just checks diodes and measures resistance and AC or DC voltage. Sure, I can understand wanting to avoid overkill, particularly if you are just a casual user like I am. But on the other hand, the older I get the more I like quality stuff, particularly tools. I recently bought a set of Snap-On screwdrivers. My screwdriver drawers already had several dozen Craftsman, etc., but I just got tired of looking for a screwdriver with a good tip and not finding one. If a Snap-On tip stops making me happy, I'll call the Snap-On guy. Buy quality, and buy once.

I've had 2 fail over the years. Too costly to repair these days. And I still have several Fluke meters, so I am not denigrating them. But they are not infallible.

If you're going to go the Fluke Route for "The Best", generally, this is the one: Fluke 87 - $399

https://amazon.com/Fluke-FLUKE-87-V-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B0002YFD1K/

The $110 one I suggested will do everything the Fluke 87 does.

I got this one. First one lasted five years and digital display started breaking up as I probably dropped it. Second one have had about three years now.

I use it for basic stuff. I do have a smaller Fluke which has fewer functions but the freight one is always laying on the work bench.

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html

My 'goto' meter has a feature to measure DC amps by clamping around the cable. Not all clamp-on are DC, many are AC only. I find it great for debugging battery draw, charging, etc.

Often I don't even break out the meter. A continuity tester and 12v probe are handy tools to have available also.

I have a fluke and a $40.00 craftsman. The craftsman is the one I reach for most . It does 90% of what I need on a day to day basis in the shop .
My next fluke purchase will be this one
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&ua ct=8&ved=2ahUKEwisz-Xl96jtAhWl1FkKHU6wDmAQFjAGegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F %2Fwww.fluke.com%2Fen-us%2Fproduct%2Felectrical-testing%2Fdigital-multimeters%2Ffluke-233&usg=AOvVaw2zQpxRV0QSNyiHHvWFhP43

Your backup has the max/min thing! Sweet. I’m gonna order one.

When I say "backup" it means I have a couple of them, one in the house and one in the truck incase I don't have a good meter with me.

I buy a new "good meter" every few years, since it is cheaper than sending the meter off for calibration.

A Fluke gives you more cred' when talking with electrician types.

It's just like a Colt Python makes you a better shot than a guy with a S&W.

Maybe the proper question is
What does the Fluke do that the $16 kind does not?

I've only used my basic Craftsman to measure voltage, continuity, and amps.

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-8-function-18-range-digital-multimeter/p-A028300107

Fluke supplies tech schools & comm. colleges - there are a lot of used ones that get ebayed due to that, but I dunno if the peak hold ones are in that group

they are to multimeters what Tek is to scopes
or was...

My main MM is a Fluke 115 which I've had for at least 5 years now and it's still on the original battery. I love that thing.

Fluke also makes a tiny basic MM called the 101 that retails for around $40. Not officially offered in the US so all of them on amazon are grey market or fakes.

If you can swing it - of course it's a good deal.

Buy right, cry once...

Amazon has some on sale... I was considering one until I thought about all the times I used my el-cheapo tester.