Multimeters?

hey everybody, just wondering if you've got recommendations for a multimeter you've been happy with. I've got an old junky one, need to upgrade to a more versatil digital one that's easier to read. I rebuild a lot of old woodworking equuipment, in addition to working on my vehicles, and I'll probably be building a 3 phase rotary converter here in a couple years, so I need one that's pretty versatile, but that also won't break the bank.

Suggestions?

Aaron

I have a Fluke 77 that I got from the military. Works like a champ and is pretty much indestructible.

Have 3 Flukes in different locations and have used them for decades as a tech. No failures or issues. They cost more but are made in USA. Buy a good one once.

Part of the answer actually lies with YOU. How much of what the multimeter does can you understand? Then you have the subtle differences between an RMS meter and a True Meter...this can get very deep and very confusing.

For my At Home meter I use a Fluke 79. It does everything I need and I honestly am willing to bet my life on it. In fact I routinely do exactly that. I bet my life on this meter and my ability to operate it properly.

At work I use a Fluke 787 most of the time. That one gives me the ability to source 24 volts or simulate a 24 volt transmitter. If you don't know what that means there is no point in spending the extra money for those functions.

My Fluke 79 is pretty old now, the tech that gave it to me has been dead for many years. But it still works and it is still as trustworthy as ever.

Bextreme04 said:

I have a Fluke 77 that I got from the military. Works like a champ and is pretty much indestructible.

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Haha
“there is only one thief in the Army, everyone else is just trying to get their **** back”

I agree with what @Redfish is saying. It depends on what you want / need. Back when I was getting into the auto repair business I bought a new MAC tool Multimeter, it was their equivalent to the fluke 78. BTW, if it matters to you, at least in those days the Fluke 78 was considered the gold standard in automotive multi-meters. I'm still using the Mac meter 30 years later, though it's quite beat up looking it still seems to be accurate. I bought all the goodies for it, the amp clamp, the temp probe, the RPM clamp and a few other things. I've also have a cheap harbor frieght multi-meter that I keep on the farm. Works fine and if it gets left outside I'm out $30 instead of $400. So there is another angle at what you want or need.

+3 or whatever were up too on the Flukes.
I'm not a hard core user by any means, but I've used them for various things over the last 30+ years at home and at work. I bet I end up using it a lot on this truck.

I have had a few Analogs from Radio Shack, Sears, Homie D and Lowes and several Flukes.

I've had all sorts of issues with every one of them except the Flukes.

Not sure what model mine are as I never really look ithe model #.
One of mine, slightly bigger than the other also has an attachment for checking Current/Amperage which is a serial type reading, not a parallel reading like voltage or other readings, so it takes a bit of a different tool or an add on to an existing one.

If mine died today, I'd be replacing it as soon as I could with another Fluke.

Picking which one you want/need is another story.

Like a poster above you said, if you don't understand or think you'll ever need all the extra bells and whistles, then maybe back off a model or two and save some cake. Then buy a second one if you outgrow the 1st. It never hurts to have more than one. Just in case you get readings you think can't be true, its nice to have a second reading/opinion. Or in case you lose or break one.

I have a fluke as well, I got it in the late 80s, early 90s. I’ve never done anything other that change the battery. Probably the same age as my truck. I guess I like to collect things that are 30yrs old, now where did that woman go?

Thanks for the advice, all. I was kinda getting the vibe, on my own research, that the Flukes were the gold standard, which you all have pretty much confirmed. As for what I'll be using it for, that was what I was saying in my initial post. Building an RPC is probably as complicated as I'm likely to get.

Aaron

PiutePete said:

I have a fluke as well, I got it in the late 80s, early 90s. I’ve never done anything other that change the battery. Probably the same age as my truck. I guess I like to collect things that are 30yrs old, now where did that woman go?

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Oh, and @ Piute: Are there any pics of your truck on the site? Looks like we've got exactly the same truck, so I ws just curious as to what your truck is looking like. my 89 V3500 should have the engine back in it in a month or so.

Aaron

newguy11 said:

Haha
“there is only one thief in the Army, everyone else is just trying to get their **** back”

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haha, so true! I actually didn't get this one while I was active. They made me give back all the ones I was issued. I got this one when I was a civilian contractor in Afghanistan. The marines had a ton of spare parts and tools in big containers and they just gave us a bunch of stuff they didn't want to do the paperwork on to turn back in to supply.

Another vote for Fluke, I cant remember which model mine is but its actually easier to use than my Radioshack meter I got when I was 17.

I have 2 Flukes, 2 Tektronix and 1 Heathkit. It all depends on how much $$ you want to spend. They're all great products.

I work on and calibrate medical equipment at work. The flukes are great there. At home, for voltage, amps, and ohms....I use the cheap ones.

Take care of your leads and test them before every use using the ohm function and it'll be fine for anything around the house/vehicles. ~$10 for a harbor freight model....multiplied by say 5 to last you the next 30 years (unless u use it on the ohm function on voltage...will blow the internal fuse), your only out $50.

But if you really want to spend the money, the Fluke 106 looks good for $76 on amazon. The only thing it doesn't have, that I might use once in a lifetime at home, is temperature. I've got an infrared thermometer for that.

Don't get me wrong, I love fluke.....I'm not gonna spend that kinda money for around the house and cars though.

[edit] actually now that I think about it, for less than $150 I would get a scope meter that does all the above. You'll have more of a visual (time lapse), see the wave form with spikes and such.

AaronW said:

Oh, and @ Piute: Are there any pics of your truck on the site? Looks like we've got exactly the same truck, so I ws just curious as to what your truck is looking like. my 89 V3500 should have the engine back in it in a month or so.

Aaron

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I have Rebuild page in "under construction" called The Blue Ox's build page. Don't get it confused with Rusty Nail's babe the blue ox because he will let you know. Should be some pics there unless something went sideways