Digital Multimeters

[Brother]

What is everyones feeling about buying a DMM?

Do you find that the 40 dollar craftsman is good or is the fluke 88V the only way to go?

[camgrinder]

my vote is for the Fluke

[addictionMS]

I have a harbourfreight one that cost $4.99 and it works great, bought one for the tool box, one for the track, and still only spent $10.

I also have the Craftsman that will clamp on to an AC line and tell you the current, but I never use it unless doing just that. At $4.99, it is almost a throw away.

Jim

[pwd72s]

I'd say there is no question that Fluke is the best. But any device to measure current is better than none. I carry a throwaway $5 sears unit in my trunk, for home testing I have a more expensive sears tester in the $70 range. Fluke is professional grade equipment & great stuff. Especially for the tech guy who tests every day for a living. I do have to wonder what the K-mart/Sears
merger will do to the quality of CRAFTMAN tools tho...I'd say if you're leaning that way, buy now.

[David]

I bought a Fluke at Grainger. Since they claim to be a wholesaler, they asked for my company's name. I happen to work for a large company that probably buys a lot from them and they knocked 20% off the price.

[randywebb]

one that beeps for 0 ohms is a good feature.

[Porsche_monkey]

For the home mechanic considering that a) you'll probably lose it before you wear it out and 2) you are not typically really concerned with accuracy, just gross numbers then you really can't justify the added cost of the Fluke.

[cowtown]

I've had the same Mercer DMM since 1987, and it has never let me down. I think it's probably closer to the $4 HF unit than a Fluke.

Beeping continuity test and the 0-20V range are my favorites for car work. The 0-500V AC comes in handy for house work.

[Brother]

Originally posted by PBH
For the home mechanic considering that a) you'll probably lose it before you wear it out and 2) you are not typically really concerned with accuracy, just gross numbers then you really can't justify the added cost of the Fluke.

Luckily I haven't lost any tools yet. I suppose I was impressed with the lifetime warranty and kit that comes with it. However, that aside, I could replace a cheaper one several times. I haven't paid for auto service for years and I don't intend to in the future so I think it is something I would keep and use. $400 vs $40 is the hangup.

[70SATMan]

Originally posted by randywebb
one that beeps for 0 ohms is a good feature.

Never rely on that feature. The Beep does not equate to 0 Ohms. That function is for measuring the polarity of diodes which have a junction resistance of around 1.5 kOhms. It's a threshold measurement. Below 1.5 kOhms....Beep. When checking grounds or actual continuity of a wire connection use the Ohms measurement reading.

For Auto wiring or ground continuity connections anything more than 2 Ohms and you have a problem somewhere.

[toolman]

I sell a brand called Electronic Specialties. (I sell Fluke too) They are the best bang for the buck, check out the ES-585K. They cost around $100 and have the same features as a $450 Fluke. They are very accurate and durable.

[Oldporsche]

I would put a plug in here for Beckman. They are almost industrictable. I did fry a Fluke when I was in the AirForce. It was a mistake on my part.

I have given the Harbor Freight Sales ones out a stocking stuffers for Christmas. Everyone that's recieved one seems to use them. This lets me know that they are of usefulness which is more important than "Bling".

David Duffield

[scottb]

For 99.9% of what us DIYers do, my Radio Shack digital multimeter is perfect. If the problem is that complicated that my meter can't help me fix it, Dave and the guys at TRE are gonna sort it out for me!

[Brother]

Originally posted by toolman
I sell a brand called Electronic Specialties. (I sell Fluke too) They are the best bang for the buck, check out the ES-585K. They cost around $100 and have the same features as a $450 Fluke. They are very accurate and durable.

Does the ES-585K have all the extra equipment (clips, wires, inductive pickup, thermocouples) that the Fluke 88V comes with? Do you have a website?

[fireant911]

I had an adequate digital mutimeter that I purchased from Pelican. Then I became interested in measuring temperatures also - so I purchased this one from Sears.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=03481079000

Not all may agree with the accuracy but it has certainly been great to have - the infrared temperature sensor is the feature that I have used the most. If your business depends on a high quality multimeter this may not be your best choice.

If interested, wait just a little bit longer because Sears / Craftsman always has some really good sales as Christmas approaches.

[camgrinder]

I bought my Fluke in 1990. It has worked excellent ever since. Battery life is good too.
A guy in school fried one by doing a voltage drop test with the meter set on ohms. I think Fluke fixed it, but charged him.

[911pcars]

I bought my Fluke from ebay (new) for about $100. They have so many models, not sure how to keep track.

Sherwood
PS: They claim a lifetime warranty on their products

[Grady Clay]

There is a purpose for all levels of MMs.
My newest (of 3) Flukes is 10 years old.
I think I have 15 or more, Including two
Heathkits that I built in the ‘50s.
There is the $5 kind and the expensive versions
that you use for calibration of the cheap-os.

Just like any tool, there are different levels
for different applications.



The Flukes are the Porsche of MMs.

Best,
Grady

[toolman]

Yes, the ES has the inductive clip, temp sensor, leads, probes, and case. No we do not have a web site as we sell strictly wholesale, most of the time, wink wink.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Spend a couple hundred bucks and get a Fluke.. of course it all depends on what you need it for..

I bought mine ten years ago, still going strong....