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.

There are many options but the Fluke is made in the USA. That's a good enough reason to buy one IMO.

I've had a Fluke 16 for over 20 years. I used it in HVAC for troubleshooting. It never let me down.
I retired 5 years ago so I may use it a few times a year.
I also have the clamp on meter which I hardly ever used.

Okay - you've got some 'splainin to do! I go and select that same link for the cheaper Fluke alternative - and look at what shows up as ordered together frequently! Weren't you asking about those cell signal boosters a little ways back? So did you order the pigmented eyeshadow too?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1606705710.JPG

I have a Fluke 323 True RMS Clamp meter. It's what I use 90% of the time. I don't see how anyone could call it "overkill". Fluke makes multimeters that definitely would be overkill, like the one that Tony Stark is using on the helicarrier in "the Avengers" movie.

If you don't want to pay Fluke prices, check out the FLIR brand multimeters. I have one of those and a larger Fluke with clamps.

I went digital a few years back when I was chasing down an intermittent no run issue on the 911. That was worth the 30 bucks I paid, and it did the job. It is a lot easier for me just read ohms as a number than off a needle on a dial.

I don't think I've had an analog multimeter since, the 1980's...

I'm not posting these photos to brag but to help make a point.
And this could be interpreted as "political" so I apologise in advance just in case.

I've done pretty well in life so I can make choices like this. In fact that's one of the main reasons I've worked so hard and I've always done jobs not many people would do on the side for extra money.

My Fluke multi-meter and Starrett calipers. Both made in the USA. Do either of them have Chinese components on the inside? Probably yes but that's unavoidable today.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1606708806.jpg

And the best wire strippers ever made!
Again US made and they were about $75 AUD with additional dies. The Chinese knock offs are about $15.

Does anyone here think I regret buying these tools? - ;)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1606708931.jpg

I’ve used my Fluke for over 20 years since I bought it at Grainger. I was about to pay $100 for it when they asked for my company. I whipped out my ID card for the local utility and my cost dropped to $80 ��

I'm thinking no. :)

Not for a moment.

At some point in the future I will simply my life so I'll sell most of my tools and guess what, they'll still have value so in a way I think of them as an investment. ;)

+1, Doesn't everyone have a Simpson 260?


Digital?, Fluke 77




.

Yeah, I buy nice stuff and I think "Why not."

Actually... GF criticized me for buying some expensive items she knows I probably never use. I just said "It's going to e one hell of an estate sale." and laughed.

Geebus... My ex wife recently said that to my eldest daughter. Not funny. (lol ;))

Vash, post pictures of the damaged probes. They sell replacement probes which have accessories like alligator clip tips, etc.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0012VWUI6/

I used to do a lot of factory electrical engineering work, with a fair bit of meter based troubleshooting. I always used a Fluke, primarily because I wanted a 100% reliable meter, but also because I trust my Fluke meters with 600 VAC.

At home? I have five or six Flukes, but I also have a Harbor Freight meter I bought on sale for $4.99. The HF meter works as well as my Flukes, and if i have to measure amps I would always use the HF meter. No big deal if I burn up a $5 meter. I grab the HF meter as often as I grab a Fluke.

I would NOT use my HF meter over 250 VAC, but for home it's absolutely fine. Yes, Fluke is good, there are lots of other cheaper choices for home.

I have a 30 year old Fluke that works perfectly. Probably way overkill for my needs.

My old Fluke 73 just keeps plugging along.

I have mentioned this before about cheap meters is that they are poorly fused.
If you screw up with them on A/C volts you could have a smoking melted pile of plastic in your hand.

The fusing in a Fluke meter is great and while it is not impossible to damage one by misuse or misadventure, the fuses protect the user too.

I think the last calibration date on my meters was back in 1997. I have gone a wee bit over the interval.

If you don't know what meter to buy, you probably shouldn't be measuring amps...

I prefer to have professionals deal with 600VAC.

One of the "Stupid" things in solar, they are upping the DC voltage. 600VDC used to be the standard. They moved to 1000VDC and are now going for 1500VDC. This is to lengthen the solar panel strings and reduce the number of Grid-tied inverters.

MOST electricians are only good for household wiring. (240VAC)

MOST industrial electricians are only good for "low voltage" (600VAC)

Very very few are trained for Medium Voltage and above. And they are usually in the power generation/power transmission industry.

I think the solar industry is putting a LOT of electricians at risk with Medium Voltage strings.

The threshold of Medium Voltage is where human skin resistance is no longer a factor. Above 600 volts skin no longer plays a significant role in resisting current flow through the body.

One other thing. Electrical meters are supposed to be calibrated every 2 years. My Fluke 87 was, while I was a field engineer. I was going to get my replacement calibrated, but it was going to be over $100. It was cheaper to buy a NIST traceable calibrated meter.