Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations

[Searcher7@mail.con2.com]

He bought cheap used high end meters that were probably abused and
having problems to begin with and that's why they were cheap, what does
one expect? I have a couple cheap DMM's and they work fine as second
meters, but they're all pretty much the same, and none of them are worth
having fixed when they fail.

Ok. So you're saying that a used Fluke 8060A gotten from Ebay is not
worth a cheapo meter from Radio Shack, correct?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[James Sweet]

They were working when I got them.

Are you now suggesting that the previous owners somehow knew that the
meters would fail soon, or that Fluke meters are garbage?

You are referring to one of the same two meters we were discussing when
you said that you would "gladly take one off (my) hands", correct?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Yes because I'd send it to Fluke and have it repaired and calibrated,
it's a lot cheaper than buying a new one and it has true RMS which is a
feature all of my meters lack and it's very handy when working with HID
lamps and ballasts.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the
first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap
meter with basic functions.

I have the same negative experience with Fluke stuff. One day when I
get sick of looking at my dead PM97 Scopemeter (AUD$2750) I'll take
out my frustrations by stomping on it.

Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria).

Buy a cheap meter, any cheap meter, and calibrate it to +-/0.02% with
a precision reference circuit costing ~$5.

You can build your own single-chip precision voltage reference using
Maxim's MAX6350 (5.0V), MAX6341 (4.096V), or MAX6325 (2.5V):
http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/MAX6325-MAX6350.pdf

"The MAX6325/MAX6341/MAX6350 are low-noise, precision voltage
references with extremely low, 0.5ppm/°C typical temperature
coefficients and excellent, ±0.02% initial accuracy. These devices
feature buried-zener technology for lowest noise performance.
Load-regulation specifications are guaranteed for source and sink
currents up to 15mA. Excellent line and load regulation and low output
impedance at high frequencies make them ideal for high-resolution
data-conversion systems up to 16 bits."

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Searcher7@mail.con2.com]

Yes because I'd send it to Fluke and have it repaired and calibrated,
it's a lot cheaper than buying a new one and it has true RMS which is a
feature all of my meters lack and it's very handy when working with HID
lamps and ballasts.

Well, that is not what I need a meter for. And as far as cheaper than
buying a new one. That's a new Fluke. I was looking for a reliable
cheap meter that is relatively accurate so I won't have to spend money
on a "new Fluke" for the simple purposes I need a meter for.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[stickyfox@gmail.com]

Don't Fluke meters have a lifetime warranty?

(Well, if you buy them somewhere other than eBay)

That'd be a big attraction for me. I have a $20 multimeter I can use
when it's off being repaired.

 

[Charles Schuler]

Junk? I never said anything negative about the company. You need to
re-read my opriginal post.

Well, you did use the word "crap".

Lots of electronic stuff with intermittent problems winds up on eBay.

The two meters I have just happened to crap out on me, so I concluded
that they are not worth spending all that money on(initially or to get
repaired).

For any one serious about electronics, a Fluke meter is a good investment.
Sorry that you had bad luck.

 

[Bob Shuman]

To me, the answer to your question is that it depends on what you plan to do
with it and what features you require. Based on what you have stated, I
would think a cheap DMM from Sears or RS would meet your needs just fine.
You just will need to make sure you double check your function before you
connect your test leads since they will not offer any overvoltage protection
(measure voltage or current on the resistance setting for instance.)

Bob

 

[JANA]

Fluke are the best meters on the market today. The people who sold them,
probably dumped them to get new ones, due to them failing.

Fluke will service their products at a reasonable rate, in respect to their
value. They have a high quality produce and will make sure that their
products are properly calibrated before shipping them back out to their
customer.

If you want a new good meter, the Fluke should be of the first
consideration. They are very stable and accurate. If the meter is properly
taken care of, and not abused, it should last many years and maintain its
accuracy.

--

JANA
_____


My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the
first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap
meter with basic functions.

Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria).

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Do Little2]

If you want a new good meter, the Fluke should be of the first
consideration. They are very stable and accurate. If the meter is
properly taken care of, and not abused, it should last many years
and maintain its accuracy.

True, and the same principle holds for plenty of other meters.

But unlike Fluke, there are (or were) manufacturers that
will include a circuit diagram of the meter with the sale.

Another good point to consider is that for most basic electronic
servicing anything beyond 1 - 3% accuracy is not required and
that makes many Fluke's a waste of money!

 

[Mike Berger]

The only knowledge you have of the condition of those two units
is from the sellers. I wouldn't jump to conclusions about Fluke
based on that. Maybe they sold them for a reason besides just
not needing them anymore.

 

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Another good point to consider is that for most basic electronic
servicing anything beyond 1 - 3% accuracy is not required and
that makes many Fluke's a waste of money!

There is such a big choice on the market no one is forcing you to buy
Fluke. Personally, I find mine a delight to use - same as any well crafted
tool. In the same way as my Makita cordless drill does over a 20 quid
Chinese one that still drills holes or drives screws after a fashion. ;-)

If all you want of a DVM is occasional use then it makes no sense to pay
for a Fluke - but use it a lot and it starts to make sense.

 

[Do Little2]

message
[snip]

If all you want of a DVM is occasional use then it makes no sense
to pay for a Fluke - but use it a lot and it starts to make sense.

.... And about as much sense as limiting oneself to one manufacturer.

There are many good manufacturers out there with excellent meters.
For multiple input recorder/meters, Westronics (now Thermo) beats
Fluke any day.

As per subject line: In my opinion Extech, Wavetek, Instek all have
nice meters that are a lot cheaper than Fluke and just as good. For
even less expensive meters visit "The Source" formerly Radio Schack
and your local hardware store may also stock some useful meters.

--- Expensive does not always mean that it is the best!

 

[Chuck]

My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the
first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap
meter with basic functions.

Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria).

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

How about a Fluke 12? It can take an over voltage hit that wiil
destroy lesser meters and it costs a little over $100.00 new. Chuck

 

[Franc Zabkar]

Don't Fluke meters have a lifetime warranty?

(Well, if you buy them somewhere other than eBay)

That'd be a big attraction for me. I have a $20 multimeter I can use
when it's off being repaired.

3 years for the PM97.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Doug McLaren]

| My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the
| first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap
| meter with basic functions.
|
| Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria).

It sounds like cheap is the #1 criteria ...

If so, go down to your local Harbor Freight Tools, and find their
digitial meter that's usually on sale for $2.99, and buy 10 of them.

I suspect I'll get a lot of flack for even suggesting them, but I've
had nothing but good results from them. I've found them to be
accurate within 1% and I've never had one break except when they were
physically abused.

And at $3 each, I can have them all over the house, and if I do break
one, just throw it away.

Mostly I use them to do low voltage DC measurements, low amperage
measurements and simple resistance checks, and they work extremely
well for that. They don't have the features that better models have
(like true RMS) but they're pretty good, and awesome for the price.

 

[John-Del]

......and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap
meter with basic functions.

Count me in as another in the minority with bad Fluke experience. I
had an 8060 die, and an 87. My current 87 was making constant beeping
noises, as if the probe was installed in the amp jack while in volt
mode. I took it apart and snuffed the beeper, and it's still running,
but that's what my other 87 was doing for about a year before it
croaked. I have a 77 as a backup, and it's been troublefree.

The best meters I ever used were the old Beckman meters when they were
still made in USA. I still have a Beckman 100 and the yellow HD100
version. They both work perfectly, but I'm spoiled by the autoranging
of my Fluke (not to mention the recording function which I use almost
daily). The Beckmans were also able to read the DC value on a high
pulse (like a horiz out) when the Flukes would spazz out. The newer
Flukes work ok in this regard.

BUT, when all is said and done, I will still replace my dying 87 with
another Fluke.

John

 

[James Sweet]

Well, that is not what I need a meter for. And as far as cheaper than
buying a new one. That's a new Fluke. I was looking for a reliable
cheap meter that is relatively accurate so I won't have to spend money
on a "new Fluke" for the simple purposes I need a meter for.

You obviously don't need a high end meter, just go buy a cheapie, all
the cheap meters are pretty much the same so get whatever one you find
on sale that has the features you need, which most any meter will have.