Please Recommend A Multimeter

[Le Chaud Lapin]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

TIA,

-Le Chaud Lapin-

 

[Joerg]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

Never happened here. But we also have a Rottweiler and a Shepherd.

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

I'm afraid you hafta.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

Nope :-(

 

[Jim Stewart]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

No.

Try ebay. You can usually find the Fluke
you want for about 30-40 percent off.

 

[Charles]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

I'll call you a dreamer. The Flukes are not flukes but the cheep DMMs are.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluke

 

[Ben Jackson]

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel

You can get an Extech with the same features, and you can read the
online specs and look at pictures all day and it will seem fine, but
you will get it and it's just not a Fluke. It's a lot cheaper,
though!

 

[Ecnerwal]

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

You're a heretic; happy?

We've run some terrible cheapies in the classroom, but they certainly
lack the Fluke feel (not to mention the fitted rubber armor that helps
so much with drops). I personally gagged on the price of Fluke clamp-ons
that would measure DC amps and bought a Triplett, but I also try not to
drop the thing, as it was in the $200 ballpark itself, and lacks a
rubber jacket.

You can certainly try FLeaBay, if only to see if your local set of legs
is flogging your very own meter.

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

You won't get a top quality brand new unit for much less.

Plenty of 2nd hand Flukes on eBay for less than $100. It's possible to
get an 80 series 3 Fluke for around $100 in as-new nick.

For the $50 you mentioned you could get a newer series 70 meter on
Ebay.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

The Meterman units (now owned by Fluke) are a lower price bracket with
more features than the Flukes.
Build quality is very good.
The Meterman 37XR is a bit over $100.

Dave.

 

[Jeff Liebermann]

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

That's why I leave a cheapo Harbor Freight $10 DvG (digital volts
guesser) laying around in plain sight. The professional equipment
borrowers tend to grab anything and run, thus leaving my various Fluke
DVM's alone. I think I've lost about 5 of the $10 decoys.

I've had my Model 77 since I stole it from work in 1980, and my Model
10 since I stole it from a non-paying client in about 1995.

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

What model Fluke were you considering? How may digits do you need?
Accuracy? True RMS?

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

Nothing close. Buy the Fluke, but also buy the $10 decoy.

I must confess that I also have a variety of Sears/Craftsman DVM's. No
clue who actually made them (Made in China). They all have a slip on
rubber drop protector and seem to be surviving my abuse quite nicely.
I've never checked the accuracy. Some are auto-ranging, while others
require that I remember to set the range BEFORE applying the probes.
I use them for non-critical applications, such as continuity testing,
vehicle repair, and filthy work locations. Several have banged around
my truck for about 2 years without damage. I think the most I've paid
was about $40.
<http://www.sears.com/shc/s/KeywordS...DER&viewItems=80&pageNum=1&keyword=multimeter>
I'm not sure I would actually recommend these meters, but if you must
cut corners, and don't care about accuracy, then they'll suffice.

 

[Anthony Fremont]

You can get an Extech with the same features, and you can read the
online specs and look at pictures all day and it will seem fine, but
you will get it and it's just not a Fluke. It's a lot cheaper,
though!

I like my Extech MM560 just fine.

 

[D from BC]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

TIA,

-Le Chaud Lapin-

I bought the TPI 153 from Digikey.. Can't complain yet..$71.00US..
http://www.testproductsintl.com/products/dmms/LTAWDMM-0506.pdf
Combined it with a small parts order to dodge the min order handling
charge.
Came with boot so it can bounce off the floor and into the high speed
mechanics


D from BC

 

[Andrew]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

TIA,

-Le Chaud Lapin-

I have units going up to the top end of HP/Agilent but the best
multimeter investment I ever made is my cheap well $A80 Digitech QM-1530
does AC DC Volts ohms diode and continuity( the scales I find myself
constantly using organized in that order), then nF uF Hz hfe uA mA A the
scales I hardly ever use. it does have Data Hold but again I never use
it, it has a rubber case. Also When I blew my first one up by putting
3000 Volts into it, Jaycar were nice enough to replace it for me. I do
have a Fluke 110 which does have the Auto off function (very useful for
service) it has the same first scales as the Digitech and it is smaller
but considerably higher in cost. Since you have a French surname I
would assume you were not from Oz, but you may well find a similar
product with a different brand stamped on it in your part of the world.

This page has some related models
http://jaycar.com.au/productResults.asp?FORM=CAT

the QM-1536 seems very similar, while the QM1462 has dataloging via USB

regards Andrew

 

[Tom2000]

Nope :-(

Paraphrasing Charlton Heston: "They're gonna have to pry my Fluke out
of my cold, dead hands!"

 

[Glen Walpert]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

I have been favorably impressed with my Extech Mini-Tec 26 which cost
me $40 US. It has a rubber impact boot, and comes with a thermocouple
and a *much* better capacitance test function than my Fluke 87, but
lacks true RMS and Hi-Z input and is slightly less accurate. It has
been more durable than my Fluke, which is on its second LCD and
already missing segments again after less than 2 years, in spite of
the fact that the Fluke stays on my bench and has never been dropped
while the Extech goes out in the field and has been dropped several
times and used in the rain a few times too.

IMO you really have to want the higher accuracy and true RMS to pay
the big bucks for a Fluke, and most of these features are available
from others at lower cost, with the possible exception of the very
handy Hi-Z mode. So if I only had 1 meter it would still probably be
the Fluke 87 or whaterver their current equivalent is, despite the
poor reliability.

 

[Joerg]

Paraphrasing Charlton Heston: "They're gonna have to pry my Fluke out
of my cold, dead hands!"

Paraphrasing our Rottweiler: "Don't get between me and the Fluke meter!"

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Paraphrasing our Rottweiler: "Don't get between me and the Fluke meter!"

Are you sure he didn't say 'Bite? Me'? ;-)


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Joerg]

Are you sure he didn't say 'Bite? Me'? ;-)

He's not much of a talker. Normally very friendly (except to cats) but
if someone does mischief there will be one loud woof. Then you better
stop or run.

 

[PopMed]

Hi All,

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

TIA,

-Le Chaud Lapin-

I love my Protek 506 which has never failed me in more than 10 years
of use. It is slightly larger and heavier than a Fluke 77 but does a
great deal more and is hell-for-stout. It has just recently been
discontinued but is still available on the net for $145 which will get
you an autoranging 3 3/4 digit DMM (and the digits are huge as well as
optionally backlit), true RMS, Fluke-like solid construction/feel,
holster, temp range (type K thermocouple and adapter included), RS232
(optically isolated), signal source, freq counter to 10 MHz, limited
cap and inductance range. It has a real on/off switch so you can
leave the function knob on a frequently used position. It has real
auto power off, not like the auto display off on my Fluke 77 which
reduces power function by only ~20%. I primarily used my Fluke until
I got the Protek and the Fluke is now stowed away as a spare.

I see a refurbished Protek 506 on eBay which apparently failed to sell
yesterday (start bid $90) and was relisted today at the same price. I
don't have personal experience with the current Protek models but I
can vouch for the 506!

David PopMed.com

 

[Rich Grise]

After 15+ years, my cherished Fluke DMM grew legs and walked out of my
garage. Arrgg..!!

I don't want to pay $200+ to get a new one.

Call me a heretic...but are there any multimeters that are more
reasonably priced (~50) but have that Fluke feel, something that
won't come apart after a few drops?

Mind the wrap:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fluke-8500A-Dig...ryZ58275QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Jim Stewart]

Mind the wrap:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fluke-8500A-Dig...ryZ58275QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

As long as we're pulling up antiques, go all the way
and get a genuine differential voltmeter...

http://cgi.ebay.com/FLUKE-931B-AC-D...ryZ25411QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Anyone else remember these suckers?

 

[David L. Jones]

I love my Protek 506 which has never failed me in more than 10 years
of use. It is slightly larger and heavier than a Fluke 77 but does a
great deal more and is hell-for-stout. It has just recently been
discontinued but is still available on the net for $145 which will get
you an autoranging 3 3/4 digit DMM (and the digits are huge as well as
optionally backlit), true RMS, Fluke-like solid construction/feel,

It's hardly Fluke like construction or feel!

For less than that you can buy a very nice rugged Meterman 37XR for
example.

holster, temp range (type K thermocouple and adapter included), RS232
(optically isolated), signal source, freq counter to 10 MHz, limited
cap and inductance range. It has a real on/off switch so you can
leave the function knob on a frequently used position. It has real
auto power off, not like the auto display off on my Fluke 77 which
reduces power function by only ~20%.

Since when?
The 70 series have famously low sleep current.

I primarily used my Fluke until
I got the Protek and the Fluke is now stowed away as a spare.

I have a Protek 506 that gathers dust. Wanna buy it?
At my old job I had no less than 4 Protek 506's in my draw that
gathered dust, no one wanted to use them over the Flukes.

I see a refurbished Protek 506 on eBay which apparently failed to sell
yesterday (start bid $90) and was relisted today at the same price. I
don't have personal experience with the current Protek models but I
can vouch for the 506!

Too bad about the horribly clunky range switch. It's just awful.

Dave.