Multimeter Preference

[S33k3r]

I am about to trouble shoot some cab roof marker lights that do not work, and I was wondering if you folks could recommend any multimeters. The last one I had -- years ago -- bravely sacrificed itself to an over god to let us know we had failed to depower the circuit. :-(

Thanks!

 

[Rocket Man]

Fluke hands down. I used to be an electronic tech and that’s what everybody used. I still have one and it works awesome after 20 years.

 

[OR VietVet]

Like @Rocket Man said, Fluke, hands down. I have used them for lots of years in my shops and when wrenching and now at home. I had one that dropped and got some fluid in it and stopped working. The one I replaced it with is 10 years old and works flawlessly.

I forgot to say that I recently had some money to burn and bought a newer one which is this.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-115-Co...MCGSWKRF8H4&psc=1&refRID=P4FR59H296TCR5E1JA4W

 

[96-2D-Hoe]

I have a 20 year old Fluke that works great too.

 

[PG01]

Fluke dvom for the trifecta...mine is probably 25 yrs old and still works like brand new..

 

[PG01]

Fluke dvom for the trifecta...mine is probably 25 yrs old and still works like brand new..

Dammit I missed @96-2D-Hoe ‘s post....

Well for the Quad-fecta

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I must be the odd man out here. I have an Ideal that's worked great for me for over 20 years.

What I would recommend in general, though, buy one that is contractor tough, as things can happen at any time in your shop (like falling off the front fender onto the concrete floor). Mine has a thick rubber casing over it, making it almost indestructible.

 

[89Suburban]

I just got one of these gonna see how it works out.



https://www.amazon.com/KAIWEETS-Aut...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WT1JM124YTRM3S45RVXP

 

[wjburken]

Fluke is by far what I consider the Industry Standard and is what I provide my employees at work. That being said, I have had good luck with my GB brand multi-meter.

 

[OR VietVet]

I must be the odd man out here. I have an Ideal that's worked great for me for over 20 years.

What I would recommend in general, though, buy one that is contractor tough, as things can happen at any time in your shop (like falling off the front fender onto the concrete floor). Mine has a thick rubber casing over it, making it almost indestructible.

My Fluke that fell and got wet was out of the protective rubber case at the time. I was basically upside down reaching way down in the engine compartment and the case kept the meter from fitting in a small area that I wanted it to be able to read it. I remove the case and thought I had it balanced where it sat but it slipped off, right in to a pan of coolant. If I recall it was a BMW I was looking at for some stupid reason. I was pissed because I had to borrow a meter from a tech to proceed and I got crap from him and a couple other techs because I never borrowed tools because I had gobs of money invested in my own. It took two days to live that shit down.

 

[S33k3r]

Thanks. Would something like this be good? https://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-15B-...913673?hash=item4b40469109:g:KaAAAOSwo~1azCxY

 

[OR VietVet]

I don't see why it would not do for you what you need. This the one that I have now.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-115-Co...MCGSWKRF8H4&psc=1&refRID=P4FR59H296TCR5E1JA4W

I also bought this at the same time

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-MAX-Th...WAPBJMXQ6DR&psc=1&refRID=78AEFQ2CKKXPEQGHG110

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks. Would something like this be good? https://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-15B-...913673?hash=item4b40469109:g:KaAAAOSwo~1azCxY

Yessir

 

[S33k3r]

Thank you! I appreciate the assistance.

 

[Rocket Man]

No problem, I love helping people spend money.

 

[Fless]

Fluke makes great products. Call me old school and laugh all you want, but I use a 35-year-old Simpson 260xlm, owned since new. The analog meter is awesome for checking variable resistors for dead spots, and it's big enough NOT to fit in a typical hand. For digital accuracy I find that a cheap Hazard Fraught one works fine.

About a year ago I mistakenly smoked the Simpson and had to send it in for repair. Turns out the service center was about 30 miles away from where I went to high school in NC Illinois. Anyway, for a flat rate they repaired it, put a new mirrored meter movement in it, and calibrated it.

 

[Rocket Man]

Fluke makes great products. Call me old school and laugh all you want, but I use a 35-year-old Simpson 260xlm, owned since new. The analog meter is awesome for checking variable resistors for dead spots, and it's big enough NOT to fit in a typical hand. For digital accuracy I find that a cheap Hazard Fraught one works fine.

About a year ago I mistakenly smoked the Simpson and had to send it in for repair. Turns out the service center was about 30 miles away from where I went to high school in NC Illinois. Anyway, for a flat rate they repaired it, put a new mirrored meter movement in it, and calibrated it.

View attachment 253676

That’s the one I learned electronics on. That and an old Tektronix oscilloscope with a vacuum display.

 

[S33k3r]

It's nice to "know" folks who predate digital-everything.

 

[iamdub]

I am about to trouble shoot some cab roof marker lights that do not work, and I was wondering if you folks could recommend any multimeters. The last one I had -- years ago -- bravely sacrificed itself to an over god to let us know we had failed to depower the circuit. :-(

Thanks!

For cab roof marker lights, you could use any dirt cheap DVOM or even test light. If you were testing current draw or high, life-threatening voltages (110VAC house power included) and needed utmost accuracy, then I'll add my vote for a FLUKE to the list. I have Cen-Tech DVOMs all around the house since I got them free with other purchases at Harbor Freight and they're perfectly fine for testing batteries or for continuity. I have a few $20-$40 ones from the big box stores and Radio Shack around the garage and shop that serve my needs just fine. For any automotive use, especially cab lights, a $20 DVOM would be plenty over-equipped for your needs.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Fluke makes great products. Call me old school and laugh all you want, but I use a 35-year-old Simpson 260xlm, owned since new. The analog meter is awesome for checking variable resistors for dead spots, and it's big enough NOT to fit in a typical hand. For digital accuracy I find that a cheap Hazard Fraught one works fine.

About a year ago I mistakenly smoked the Simpson and had to send it in for repair. Turns out the service center was about 30 miles away from where I went to high school in NC Illinois. Anyway, for a flat rate they repaired it, put a new mirrored meter movement in it, and calibrated it.

View attachment 253676

Wow! Looks just like my first multimeter, which I got used from someone, back in the 60's. It was great for working on electronic assemblies, particularly the very sensitive Ohm resistance scale, as before semi-conductor technology was introduced, precise resistance measurements were much more critical in maintaining oscillator circuits, as well as other circuits.