Recommend me a multimeter
Discussion
Eldest lad has his birthday next month, he's employed as an apprentice HGV mechanic (albeit currently on furlough) and he's said that a multimeter would be useful for work.
Any ones that jump out and say "buy me?" Rugged would be useful as he's twice dropped his phone and smashed it leaning into the oily bits of trucks and coaches. No budget per se, but I would like to have money left to live till payday!
SD.
Any ones that jump out and say "buy me?" Rugged would be useful as he's twice dropped his phone and smashed it leaning into the oily bits of trucks and coaches. No budget per se, but I would like to have money left to live till payday!
SD.
Always used genuine Flukes. Expensive but I have had mine since 1988 and it still works perfectly.
Ebay for a slightly out of date but fully functional one would be my choice.
Like a true RMS 8060A
If its for a work environment, it will need fused test leads as well.
If you really want to get something cool, get an AVO 8
Ebay for a slightly out of date but fully functional one would be my choice.
Like a true RMS 8060A
If its for a work environment, it will need fused test leads as well.
If you really want to get something cool, get an AVO 8
n0AAOSwWi1f-zazI got a used Fluke 75 for dad in eBay one christmas. Actually bid on a few and got two!
Cleaned his up to look like new, kept the slightly less loved but still decent one myself.
Ten years on, he still works, but mine only lasted 5yrs and I'm now on a cheapy s
tter.
Also have an inexpensive DC clamp meter.
Cleaned his up to look like new, kept the slightly less loved but still decent one myself.
Ten years on, he still works, but mine only lasted 5yrs and I'm now on a cheapy s
tter.Also have an inexpensive DC clamp meter.
thebraketester said:
The obvious answer is Fluke. (copied version are available at a fraction of the price)
Buy once cry once.
Is the correct answer....Buy once cry once.
I bought my Fluke when I first started out as a Bike mech, still have today....
eta - 30 odd years ago....
Edited by Turn7 on Friday 22 January 00:56
Fluke.
I’m an Electrical Engineer and use one everyday. Have tried a (very expensive) Gossen Metrawatt and couldn’t get on with it, the fluke is ergonomic, easy to use and read and not fk up with. Loads of attachments and accessories available too.
For working on trucks I would imagine he’ll be fine with a Fluke 115 or 117, both sub £200. 175/179/83V if you want some bells and whistles but these will all be nearer or over £500 and most likely overkill for how he will use it.
I’m an Electrical Engineer and use one everyday. Have tried a (very expensive) Gossen Metrawatt and couldn’t get on with it, the fluke is ergonomic, easy to use and read and not f
k up with. Loads of attachments and accessories available too. For working on trucks I would imagine he’ll be fine with a Fluke 115 or 117, both sub £200. 175/179/83V if you want some bells and whistles but these will all be nearer or over £500 and most likely overkill for how he will use it.
If you don't mind stretching to £100, get him the Fluke. It's 4x the price but is as good as everyone says and he'll keep it for life. Like Snap On tools. If he loses and breaks things (like my son), this one is fine:
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Multimeter-MSR-C60...
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Multimeter-MSR-C60...
I’ve got an old fluke that i’ve had36 years, works but I dropped it and damaged the buttons.
I was looking at new flukes, but I recommend looking at Brymen - they are good quality, accurate and good value. I have the BM867s which is decent and outperforms the equivalent fluke.
I have the PC interface for the Brymen - handy for logging battery drain on cars!
The little Aneng an8008 is my everyday unit that I use to avoid damaging or loosing my big brymen, it was only about £15 but was tested by Dave Jones to be actually pretty good - BUT it’s not really suitable for testing mains voltage due to the cheap construction inside.
Dave Jones has done loads of comparisons of meters and sells a Brymen as his recommended meter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brymen-BM235-EEVBlog-Mu...
I was looking at new flukes, but I recommend looking at Brymen - they are good quality, accurate and good value. I have the BM867s which is decent and outperforms the equivalent fluke.
I have the PC interface for the Brymen - handy for logging battery drain on cars!
The little Aneng an8008 is my everyday unit that I use to avoid damaging or loosing my big brymen, it was only about £15 but was tested by Dave Jones to be actually pretty good - BUT it’s not really suitable for testing mains voltage due to the cheap construction inside.
Dave Jones has done loads of comparisons of meters and sells a Brymen as his recommended meter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brymen-BM235-EEVBlog-Mu...
Edited by eliot on Friday 22 January 07:58
ZesPak said:
Don't know about Fluke, but this is my >20yo Velleman DVM92.
Works great, think I've replaced the 9V in there about 3 times now.
Had one of these for 20 odd years. lives in my garage. I have 1 other fluke not sure what model that I have had for 10 years or so, used them for work for years and never had one fail.Works great, think I've replaced the 9V in there about 3 times now.
He’s a truck mechanic - he needs to measure 24V and occasionally 12V, he probably doesn’t need 3 DP of accuracy. A clamp meter would probably be useful. The only option is scope functionality, he either wants that or he doesn’t.
Any multimeter from Amazon will do the job, and not cause tears when it gets dropped.
Though I’d second the PowerProbe. Looks weird, has a childish logo, it is the most awesome tool in the box for nailing electrical issues.
Any multimeter from Amazon will do the job, and not cause tears when it gets dropped.
Though I’d second the PowerProbe. Looks weird, has a childish logo, it is the most awesome tool in the box for nailing electrical issues.
eliot said:
I’ve got an old fluke that i’ve had36 years, works but I dropped it and damaged the buttons.
I was looking at new flukes, but I recommend looking at Brymen - they are good quality, accurate and good value. I have the BM867s which is decent and outperforms the equivalent fluke.
I have the PC interface for the Brymen - handy for logging battery drain on cars!
The little Aneng an8008 is my everyday unit that I use to avoid damaging or loosing my big brymen, it was only about £15 but was tested by Dave Jones to be actually pretty good - BUT it’s not really suitable for testing mains voltage due to the cheap construction inside.
Dave Jones has done loads of comparisons of meters and sells a Brymen as his recommended meter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brymen-BM235-EEVBlog-Mu...
I'm not sure that you need a super accurate meter for auto work and something expensive like a fluke is likely to go missing.I was looking at new flukes, but I recommend looking at Brymen - they are good quality, accurate and good value. I have the BM867s which is decent and outperforms the equivalent fluke.
I have the PC interface for the Brymen - handy for logging battery drain on cars!
The little Aneng an8008 is my everyday unit that I use to avoid damaging or loosing my big brymen, it was only about £15 but was tested by Dave Jones to be actually pretty good - BUT it’s not really suitable for testing mains voltage due to the cheap construction inside.
Dave Jones has done loads of comparisons of meters and sells a Brymen as his recommended meter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brymen-BM235-EEVBlog-Mu...
Edited by eliot on Friday 22 January 07:58
I have an Aneng, like the one above, and it's excellent. Really cheap on aliexpress
A meter with a current clamp might be useful: https://www.amazon.co.uk/UNI-T-Current-Capacitance...
A set of fused leads would be handy too: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=multimeter+fused+lead...
I would go for a cheap Aneng for your son to use and figure out what he needs in a meter long term
Penelope Stopit said:
Dirt cheap Lidl multimeters do the job, once they've been run over by a trailer they can be binned and replaced without tears
Dirt cheap Screwfix multimeter - one in my garage (not professional workshop) at the moment - https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-mas830b-digital-mul... - £9.99!Oh, and I also have a Fluke 85 for Household duties (second hand off eBay a few years back)
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