Multi-meter recommendations, please!

[Francesca_Knowl]

My husband has mentioned a time or two that he wants a new multimeter. Seems like a perfect gift, but I know less than nothing about them so thought I'd ask you folks for recommendations.

Looking for something sort of all-around, if it's out there- he does auto/RV as well as home electrical stuff.....

Thanks!

[SCVJeff]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Leaning towards the Fluke- I notice there are "repair kits" out there for faded LED display- is that a common problem, even with the new models?

My oldest Fluke is a Model 85 III, since replaced with the Model 87/V and the display is as good as when I bought it. This is one of the better designs of the bunch IMO

[Francesca_Knowl]

Leaning towards the Fluke- I notice there are "repair kits" out there for faded LED display- is that a common problem, even with the new models?

[wa8yxm]

3 choices.. Harbor Freight has some decent ones in the 10-20 dollar range as I recall.. I actually have 2 of 'em one still on the card.

SEARS has some very attractive digital multi meters with current sensing clamps, Two of them are AC/DC.. one is just over 100 dollars as I recall and the other about sixty, #82369 is printed on it's face.. It comes with a nice zipper case,

Measures: AC AMPS 40 or 400 amp max, clamp on
DC AMPS 40 or 400 amps clamp on
Temperature with included thermal probe
Resistance and capacitance (Have not tried the capacitance yet)
VOLTS both AC and DC with auto sense and auto ranging.
And frequency (AC)

Has mode, hold and range buttons, Nice test leads.

And yes it is sitting beside the keyboard as I type.

[hypoxia]

Heisenberg wrote:
From an Instrument and Controls Technician. Buy him a Fluke 88, minimum. A harbor freight meter would be an insult.

At least make sure it is autoranging, auto off, measures capacitance etc. A clamp on ampmeter is a great thing but I don't want it on my main meter as it is too large. I have a bunch of Harbor Freight meters in strategic places to avoid trips but always grab one of my Flukes if possible.

[Heisenberg]

From an Instrument and Controls Technician. Buy him a Fluke 88, minimum. A harbor freight meter would be an insult.

[SCVJeff]

PS- I use my amp clamp as much or more than a DVM, but for reasons of size would never buy a combo, there's too many places a combo won't go. Mines a Tenma 72-6185 RMS meter. Dunno if it's even made anymore. Too bad Fluke doesn't make one in this size.. 😞

[SCVJeff]

If he's an engineer then it goes without saying to buy a quality instrument or you'll likely hear about it somehow later on. Fluke is the gold standard, it's tough, it's accurate, it's repeatable, has lots of accessories, and even though none are cheap, you have a wide range of instruments and pricing. I have several DVM's, but when I really want to trust what I'm seeing, I grab the Fluke.

[Francesca_Knowl]

camperpaul wrote:

I know a few people who have private museums of vintage test equipment; you might talk with hubby about early H-P or Tektronix gear.

:h

Well, thanks, "Camper Paul"!

Got any more condescending input for me and my obviously over-the-hill Husband?

Thanks anyway, folks!

[camperpaul]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

He's an Engineer that spent his whole career working around instruments ...

I want to surprise him with something that's the bees knees, meter-wise. Might have to resort to casually questioning him as to what that might be ...

I know a few people who have private museums of vintage test equipment; you might talk with hubby about early H-P or Tektronix gear.

For decades, H-P was the Rolls-Royce of the industry.

H-P divested themselves of their test equipment division a few years ago and the current products are manufactured and sold under the "Agilent" name. The quality is held to the same standard as the original equipment built in a garage in California in 1938.

Agilent Digital Multimeters

[dons2346]

I have a FLUKE but it is way overkill for what your hubby needs

[tplife]

+2 for the Klein MM200. Got one off the internet last year for a great price to upgrade my old analog meter...Harbor Freight is the last place I'd buy a multi meter, but then again, I could just throw it away after I used it. 🙂

[Francesca_Knowl]

WyoTraveler wrote:


Best suggestion I have seen. Buy the Harbor freight meter. Then buy him a couple of books about using the meter. Then later buy a better meter. He will know more exactly want he wants. I can do as much with that Harbor freight meter as many people that have those expensive ones and don't really know how to trouble shoot ckts with them. That is why a book is so important.

He's an Engineer that spent his whole career working around instruments; he's also owned/used his present meter for years. Believe-you-me, he knows his way around meters.

It's me that's the ignoramus- I want to surprise him with something that's the bees knees, meter-wise. Might have to resort to casually questioning him as to what that might be....

Better dust off the ol' feminine wiles so he'll be too distracted to get suspicious! :B

[Shadow_Catcher]

I have two, the Craftsman already mentioned and a Harbor Freight for knock around http://www.harborfreight.com/ac-dc-digital-multimeter-37772.html

[WoodGlue]

Fluke is the Gold Standard in Multi-meters! It's what electricians use. That being said, I bought another nice brand at Amazon:

MultiMeter

MASTECH AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter, MS8268 $23.95

It's a nice meter without being too stripped down or too fancy!

WoodGlue

[WyoTraveler]

donn0128 wrote:
Go to harbor freight and pick one. He will love it and it will work just fine for general RV use.

Best suggestion I have seen. Buy the Harbor freight meter. Then buy him a couple of books about using the meter. Then later buy a better meter. He will know more exactly want he wants. I can do as much with that Harbor freight meter as many people that have those expensive ones and don't really know how to trouble shoot ckts with them. That is why a book is so important.