multi meter advice

Dunckel

Dunckel

Active Member
Jan 16, 2007
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Hey. So I am looking to buy a multi meter. I don't need one right now, but I'm sure I will in the future. I will only use it for the car. So I have a few questions.

1. What is the difference between a $200+ meter, and a $20 meter. (besides $180)

2. Do I need a really expensive unit to use only on the car, or will a cheaper one suffice. Price doesn't matter, I just don't want to pay more for something that does the same thing as a cheaper version.

3. What brands do you prefer, and where to get them.

thanks all,
dunckel
 
slidebabyslide

slidebabyslide

Starting FRESH !!!!
Dec 17, 2006
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Flukes are ok, yeah,yeah....Every one always tells you get a Fluke. I have had Blue point, fluke,mac radio shack and other's. You can get some nice ones that have hold with temp and a tach ac/dc, with milliamp's and all the other good stuff for about 180 or 200
 
90T04

90T04

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Mar 30, 2005
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www.azsupras.com
Depends on how or where you are going to use it, and what features you are looking for.

I have a Fluke 88 that I use at work, but my home one is just a $60.00 craftsman one.

The fluke is nice because it can do so much more. Like Hertz, duty cycle, pulse width measurments, etc. Also has Min Max and Avg value testing. Its also more accurate, and has a faster sample rate (the craftsman one sometimes wont pick up really fast fluctuations in voltage or resistance or whatever you are reading.)

Some other things that are nice to have are auto ranging (most have that now), an auto OFF feature so you dont kill your battery constantly, a backlight, a thermometer probe, and an inductive clamp for ignition testing.

I went through probably 6 meters before I broke down and bought a fluke, even the 200 dollar ones from Snap on werent holding up from every day use.

Hope this helps.

Ryan
 
B

Blackfin

Beach Bum
Jun 16, 2005
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John's Pass, Florida
Just get a cheap one. When it no longer meets your needs then upgrade. The $180 you loose up in the interim is much more valuable than a sweet multimeter sitting unused in the toolbox.
 
I

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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I come from a land down under
You wouldn't hear it would be my guess?
Deaf.gif
 
Dunckel

Dunckel

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Jan 16, 2007
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I'm just looking for something i can do some testing on my car with if i ever need to.

Another edit::eek3dance I'm the 12,000th thread ::w00t::
 
Last edited:
Justin

Justin

Speakers?
Mar 31, 2005
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all the cheap meters (under 20 dollars) are not worth the fucking money. They are worthless.

Go buy a Fluke 111, or a 112 if you want backlight ( worth the 20 bucks ) for 100-120 at Sears, or online. Its a GREAT meter, I use mine everyday at work. I have an 87III which is about a 300 dollar meter that I use rarely but it does more than I could ever need.
 
Dunckel

Dunckel

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Jan 16, 2007
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Justin said:
Go buy a Fluke 111, or a 112 if you want backlight ( worth the 20 bucks ) for 100-120 at Sears, or online. Its a GREAT meter.
Click to expand...

Does it beep?:biglaugh:

Thanks all. I will seriously consider the Fluke.
 
jetjock

jetjock

creepy-ass cracka
Jul 11, 2005
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What Justin said. You could do worse than John Fluke. Much worse. The 87V is my current favorite but you can go cheaper. Whatever you get study up on how to use it. And yes, most Flukes beep. I had one beep just before it exploded in my lap...
 
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