 What's a good and affordable multimeter?, Trying to trace some electrical gremlins |
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| SirAndy |
 Jun 29 2017, 08:15 PM
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#1
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Resident German  Group: Admin Posts: 42,469 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California  |
I'm finally getting around to looking at some minor electrical gremlins and I remembered that my great Fluke multimeter heroically died several years ago.
Really no need for another $450 item, so what are my cheaper options. Seems there's a huge selection out there but which ones do work well while still being affordable? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) |
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| boxsterfan |
Jun 29 2017, 08:30 PM
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#2
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914's are kewl Group: Members Posts: 1,776 Joined: 6-June 03 From: San Ramon, CA Member No.: 791 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(SirAndy @ Jun 29 2017, 07:15 PM)  I'm finally getting around to looking at some minor electrical gremlins and I remembered that my great Fluke multimeter heroically died several years ago. Really no need for another $450 item, so what are my cheaper options. Seems there's a huge selection out there but which ones do work well while still being affordable? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I have this <$20 one from WalMart. Innova 3300. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Innova-3300-Equu...13=&veh=sem |
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| toolguy |
Jun 29 2017, 08:41 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,276 Joined: 2-April 11 From: San Diego / El Cajon Member No.: 12,889 Region Association: Southern California 
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The free one from Harbor Freight is actually a good meter. . also has a battery tester function. .
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| bigkensteele |
Jun 29 2017, 08:44 PM
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#4
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Major Member Group: Members Posts: 2,200 Joined: 30-August 04 From: Cincinnati, OH Member No.: 2,660 Region Association: South East States
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QUOTE(toolguy @ Jun 29 2017, 06:41 PM) The free one from Harbor Freight is actually a good meter. . also has a battery tester function. . (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Probably not what you would need to work on a motherboard, but I wouldn't know how to do that anyway. For automotive stuff, it should be fine. |
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| gereed75 |
Jun 29 2017, 08:56 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,425 Joined: 19-March 13 From: Pittsburgh PA Member No.: 15,674 Region Association: North East States
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Ive used this one. Works and is reliable. There is an auto off one for a few bucks more. worth it. Available at Ace Hardware or bunches of other places.
Gardner-Bender-GDT-3190-Gardner-Bender-GDT-3190-14-Range-4-Function-Manual-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter-With-Rubber-Cover |
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| jimkelly |
Jun 29 2017, 09:16 PM
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#6
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Delaware USA Group: Members Posts: 4,969 Joined: 5-August 04 From: Delaware, USA Member No.: 2,460 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
fluke 101
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| ConeDodger |
Jun 29 2017, 09:18 PM
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#7
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Apex killer! Group: Members Posts: 24,396 Joined: 31-December 04 From: Tahoe Area Member No.: 3,380 Region Association: Northern California
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A couple years back, I lost a fair quality craftsman multimeter. I went out and bought a new one. Yesterday, I found the lost one. Want it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Hold up. I just put new batteries in it. Nada. Guess it might be toasted... |
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| Costa05 |
Jun 29 2017, 09:25 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 320 Joined: 27-October 16 From: Phoenix, Arizona Member No.: 20,535 Region Association: Southwest Region
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I like my Klein from Home Depot. $70 or so. Does everything I need.
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| draperjojo |
Jun 29 2017, 09:45 PM
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#9
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sixstrings Group: Members Posts: 411 Joined: 26-December 05 From: Salt Lake City Utah Member No.: 5,317 |
I have a number of meters, but really like the used Fluke 87V I bought off Ebay. Just used it today at lunch to troubleshoot a friends RV that wouldn't show full charge on the batteries.
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| MarkV |
Jun 29 2017, 09:57 PM
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#10
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Fear the Jack Stands Group: Members Posts: 1,493 Joined: 15-January 03 From: Sunny Tucson, AZ Member No.: 154 Region Association: None |
I have a $100 fluke that I bought new 15 years ago. Usually when I am figuring something out on the car there are only two features that are important.
It needs to make an audible tone for continuity....best feature for me. The cheap ones don't have that feature and I use it all of the time. The second feature that is nice is auto range but less for working on the car. |
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| bigkensteele |
Jun 29 2017, 10:39 PM
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#11
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Major Member Group: Members Posts: 2,200 Joined: 30-August 04 From: Cincinnati, OH Member No.: 2,660 Region Association: South East States
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Not trying to be a jerk or provoke a debate, but I am seriously curious as to what can be accomplished with a $400 multi-meter that cannot be accomplished with a $6 multi-meter on a 40 year old car.
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| Dtjaden |
Jun 29 2017, 11:11 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 232 Joined: 25-May 13 From: Morgan Hill, CA Member No.: 15,915 Region Association: Northern California |
Two options for you:
From your local Frys- http://frys.com/product/6449882?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG From your local Home Depot - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Elec...8301A/206177756 Either one will be sufficient for automotive use. I prefer manual rather than auto ranging because the casual user will find it less confusing. |
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| cary |
Jun 29 2017, 11:36 PM
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#13
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,900 Joined: 26-January 04 From: Sherwood Oregon Member No.: 1,608 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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| porschetub |
Jun 29 2017, 11:51 PM
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#14
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,064 Joined: 25-July 15 From: New Zealand Member No.: 18,995 Region Association: None |
Spend the $$$ and buy a decent one ....end of story ,mines 15yrs old and still go's ,think it was 100nzd.
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| mbseto |
Jun 30 2017, 06:49 AM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,257 Joined: 6-August 14 From: Cincy Member No.: 17,743 Region Association: North East States |
I got an Actron too. Unless you do circuit boards for a living, can't see why one would spend the dollars on a Fluke.
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| stugray |
Jun 30 2017, 07:11 AM
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#16
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,825 Joined: 17-September 09 From: Longmont, CO Member No.: 10,819 Region Association: None |
I have about 6 cheap meters. The craftsman for ~$30 has been solid for years, but I bought one for my brother that failed in two years.
The cheap HF or Walmart units will work fine for basic troubleshooting, but they cannot take any abuse (drop once, turn knob too hard, etc.). The ONLY reason to buy a Fluke is that they are seriously durable. You could probably drop a Fluke 87 from a 20 foot ladder and it would be fine. Look at the Harbor Freight units cross-eyed, and they will break. And be sure to get a unit with auto off. |
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| 76-914 |
Jun 30 2017, 07:34 AM
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#17
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Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist Group: Members Posts: 13,876 Joined: 23-January 09 From: Temecula, CA Member No.: 9,964 Region Association: Southern California
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QUOTE(bigkensteele @ Jun 29 2017, 09:39 PM) Not trying to be a jerk or provoke a debate, but I am seriously curious as to what can be accomplished with a $400 multi-meter that cannot be accomplished with a $6 multi-meter on a 40 year old car. 40 + years of service is what you'd expect from a quality meter vs a POS. The Auto range feature means no more blown fuses or burned boards on your VOM. That's about the only difference. The thing with cheap VOM's that bugs me is the cheap assed leads. They become loose and wobble very quickly. If you accidentally yank the leads they break. I would buy a used Fluke before I'd frustrate myself with a Chinese VOM. JMHO, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
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| N_Jay |
Jun 30 2017, 07:54 AM
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#18
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Member Group: Members Posts: 283 Joined: 2-March 16 From: Chicago NW Burbs Member No.: 19,720 Region Association: None |
QUOTE(toolguy @ Jun 29 2017, 09:41 PM) The free one from Harbor Freight is actually a good meter. . also has a battery tester function. . +1 It is a good meter and a great meter for the price. (Well, actually +4 not +1 for the number of them I have.) As for the drop it and it breaks comment, none have broken yet. Yes, an audible continuity tester is a big help, sop they lack that. If you are going to spend money, these are good for general weork https://www.amazon.com/Uni-T-B4Q094-UT210E-...eywords=UNI+210 and for automotive work https://www.amazon.com/UNI-T-UT105-Automoti...tive+multimeter |
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| jd74914 |
Jun 30 2017, 08:45 AM
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#19
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Its alive Group: Members Posts: 4,875 Joined: 16-February 04 From: CT Member No.: 1,659 Region Association: North East States |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/hide.gif) I'd buy a used Fluke 87. Around hear at least you can find them on Craigslist for ~$30 with leads, etc. They never really die, and the calibrations stay quite well. The POS leads on the cheap ones really bug me. Not important for cars, but I don't trust the dielectric withstand ratings on cheap ones for doing higher voltage work.
QUOTE(Dtjaden @ Jun 30 2017, 12:11 AM) I've used this one too and it's really quite nice for the price. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
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| jd74914 |
Jun 30 2017, 08:47 AM
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#20
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Its alive Group: Members Posts: 4,875 Joined: 16-February 04 From: CT Member No.: 1,659 Region Association: North East States |
QUOTE(jimkelly @ Jun 29 2017, 10:16 PM) fluke 101 Wow, those are pretty inexpensive. I thought the lowest cost meter Fluke made was the 115. |
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