Date:         Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:37:02 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Multimeter recommendation
In-Reply-To:  <5c80974c0712171941s3ba0bfe5o9ba1fc1962b5f28c@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Second/third that. I make a living with my electronic test equipment and
expect it to last for years. But for automotive work 1% accuracy is close
enough, the build quality of lower priced instruments is robust enough,
and I don't see a reason to spend more. I've used Radio Shack, Sears,
Harbor Freight and they are all quite adequate.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR



On 12/17/2007 7:41 PM Sudhir Desai wrote:

> I recommend the $15 analog multimeter from radio shack. :)
> It's analog (need I say more?), reliable, cheap.
> I've had mine for 8 years, and it is still metering along.
> Sudhir
>
> On Dec 17, 2007 9:21 PM, tom ring <taring@taring.org> wrote:
>> All I have to say is, you get what you pay for.  A Fluke will last 10 to 1000
>> times longer than a 10 or 20 dollar meter, and will give you an answer you can
>> trust.  And leads that don't break.  And they aren't that expensive when looked
>> at from that perspective.
>>
>> How many here would buy a cheap torque wrench because a good one is too
>> expensive?
>>
>> I just now found a buy-it-now Fluke 77 model II for 59 bucks on ebay.  That is
>> a good meter.  And it looks beat up, but it's only the protective surround
>> cover that's beat up.  Others that look nicer are more, and other models can be
>> more.  As I said before, you get what you pay for, but Flukes are NOT
>> expensive.  Thinking that an electrical tool is something you can go dirt cheap
>> on is the same as going dirt cheap on wrenches and sockets.  It may let you
>> down when you need it most.
>>
>> tom
>> K0TAR
>>
>>
>> On 17 Dec 2007 at 21:38, Mike wrote:
>>
>>> Flukes are expensive.  I use one for work.  But for home/ automotive use, I
>>> would have to second the opinion on HF.  I recently bought this one on sale
>>> for 20 bucks, works great;
>>>
>>> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37772
>>>
>>> Mike B.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Paul Guzyk" <paullist@GUZYK.COM>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 9:20 PM
>>> Subject: Re: Multimeter recommendation
>>>
>>>
>>>> A must have feature IMHO is an audible continuity tester.
>>>>
>>>> i.e. when you touch both ends of the same wire you here a
>>>> beep...really handy for troubleshooting wiring issues and especially
>>>> handy for building/repairing wiring harnesses.
>>>>
>>>> Hearing the beep is way easier than looking at the screen of the meter.
>>>>
>>>> $10 multimeters at Harbor Freight even have this feature and are fine
>>>> for general automotive work.
>>>>
>>>> -
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Sears sells some digital Fluke meters, as well as Craftsman branded.
>>>>>
>>>>> Honestly, for a car 90% of what you will ever do is checking
>>>>> continuity or testing for 12V.  You don't need an expensive precision
>>>>> meter to do that.  Look for one with long leads that can be handy.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you need a more general purpose meter, I agree Fluke has a very
>>>>> good reputation.
>>
>>
>> -----------------------------------------
>> Tom Ring K0TAR, ex-WA2PHW  EN34hx
>> 85 Westphalia GL Albert
>> 96 Jetta GL The Intimidator
>> taring@taring.org
>>
>> What happens if a big asteroid hits the Earth?  Judging from realistic
>> simulations
>> involving a sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we can assume it will
>> be pretty bad.
>>                 - Dave Barry
>> -----------------------------------------
>>