Recommend a good multimeter

[benoit]

I know there are a few threads about this but I hope to get a little more info. I just realized my cheapo craftsman is no longer reading reliably and am looking for something new (or at least new to me). I'd don't need to test caps but would like to be able to. I am on a bit of a tight budget but I'm open to any suggestion. Part of me wants to just go cheap again but part of me wants to make sure I get accurate readings for many years to come.

[Blindog]

Can't really go wrong with a Fluke IMHO. I don't know what your budget is, but this looks like a good price http://mcmelectronics.dirxion.com/aug08/Main.asp

It's on page 47, a Fluke model 110 for $89.95. I have a 111 and I love it.

Mark

[dobbhill]

+1 on Fluke. I've picked up 85, 75II, & 175 for $50 or less each in pawn shops.
Good luck.
D

[Wayne]

+1 +1 on the Fluke. I've got a model 12 that has served me well for years. I do, however like to have a couple of cheap pawn shop meters around - considered "disposable". Great for working in dirty locations - car, boat, etc, and also for doing things that might threaten a meter (I'm thinking shunt biasing)

W

[Phil_S]

+1 +1 on the Fluke. I've got a model 12 that has served me well for years. I do, however like to have a couple of cheap pawn shop meters around - considered "disposable". Great for working in dirty locations - car, boat, etc, and also for doing things that might threaten a meter (I'm thinking shunt biasing)
W

I don't mean to be disagreeable, but I feel obligated to disagree with Wayne. Shunt biasing is absolutely the time you want to be using your Fluke. You want to use it 1) because it will stand up to the task, and 2) its accuracy on a low impedance winding probably can't be beat. IMO, worst case is that you will blow a fuse on the meter. Not cheap to replace, but well worth the risk.

[ampdan]

Fluke.

[Wayne]

+1 +1 on the Fluke. I've got a model 12 that has served me well for years. I do, however like to have a couple of cheap pawn shop meters around - considered "disposable". Great for working in dirty locations - car, boat, etc, and also for doing things that might threaten a meter (I'm thinking shunt biasing)
W

I don't mean to be disagreeable, but I feel obligated to disagree with Wayne. Shunt biasing is absolutely the time you want to be using your Fluke. You want to use it 1) because it will stand up to the task, and 2) its accuracy on a low impedance winding probably can't be beat. IMO, worst case is that you will blow a fuse on the meter. Not cheap to replace, but well worth the risk.

I guess the other thing I should mention about my Fluke 12 is that it doesn't actually measure current.

You're probably right - when you're floating both leads of a meter 5 or 6 hundred V above ground, you want quality gear. There are, however, situations that I wouldn't want to expose the #1 meter to.

As an alternative to shunt biasing, what I've taken to doing is measuring resistance across each half of the primary, then floating the meter to measure voltage across it, all this of course after a bit of a burn in to heat the tranny up to operating temps. This seems to me like a more accurate way to measure plate current. Anybody else do this, or care to comment about it as a method?

W

[iknowjohnny]

On a related subject, i have a 110 and the one thing i take issue with is it's ability to read capacitance. Is this because the meter isn't as good as the higher priced flukes or is it just typical that reading capacitance is not reliable with any meter? i guess you might say i've been considering a upgrade because of this and wonder if it would get me much better cap reading ability. Any thoughts? And what is the cheapest fluke that measures capacitance and current?

[Structo]

I have a Meterman 37 which is comparable to a Fluke.
Somebody told me they were made by Fluke or had something to do with them.
I very rugged meter geared toward the service sector.

[billyz]

After blowing up a few other meters I finally bit the bullet and got a Fluke 27 I think , then found a great deal on a used 77. Then found a 87. I abuse them regularly, Wrong setting to measure current etc. Save your money and get a good used Fluke, and get some good test leads/ with removable alligator clips for doing those Shunt Bias measurements.

[selloutrr]

Fluke

I use a 70 series at work it's grey and basic but good for general testing
87 series is a nice unit see alot of them with electricians ($400?)
8060 series is the old tech standard and comes in a bench or handheld
at home I use the 867B it's over kill for almost everything but it is extremely accurate and can log data. Meters aren't cheap but they pay for them selves quick and get a lot of mileage.

[Phil_S]

I guess the other thing I should mention about my Fluke 12 is that it doesn't actually measure current.

As an alternative to shunt biasing, what I've taken to doing is measuring resistance across each half of the primary, then floating the meter to measure voltage across it, all this of course after a bit of a burn in to heat the tranny up to operating temps. This seems to me like a more accurate way to measure plate current. Anybody else do this, or care to comment about it as a method?

Actually, I don't own a Fluke and there was one instance where I lost focus and nearly <bleep'd> my meter. Since that time, I'm a big fan of using the plate voltage and the resistance of the secondary winding to calculate the amps. This is different from what you describe. As long as your meter is reasonably accurate, this is probably a very reasonable approach. If I'm working with a particular amp, I make a lookup chart in Excel, with a range of relevant values so that I don't have to stop and punch numbers into a calculator.

[muchxs]

On a related subject, i have a 110 and the one thing i take issue with is it's ability to read capacitance. Is this because the meter isn't as good as the higher priced flukes or is it just typical that reading capacitance is not reliable with any meter?

For capacitance I prefer my Sencore LC75. A handheld won't give accurate leakage readings on high voltage caps. Coupling caps that test fine on a handheld often fail miserably at 400 or 600 volts on the Sencore.

A DMM is nice but I prefer my old Micronta analog multimeter. I have several of them. The FET version is a poor man's VTVM. Digital is more accurate but for many applications the display jittering between readings is really annoying.

Buy the Fluke. I still like my old Microntas, I can blow them up, beat them up and throw them out. I pay more for shipping than I pay for the meters on eBay.

[skyboltone]

As mentioned before, I spent my working life as an electrician. The Model 87 is the shite. That being said, I've got a 29 too that does just about all of it.

I've used the 87 in Arctic way sub zero conditions and in turbine rooms where the temp is 120F. Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'

[sliberty]

I love my Tenma 72-7750

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/72-7750