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Whats your meter?

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Wolfram

Sun Apr 16 2006, 01:04PM

Registered Member #33 Joined: Sat Feb 04 2006, 01:31PM
Location: Norway
Posts: 971

A fluke 87 and a fluke 77 (they threw them out where my father works because they were broken, cleaned the LCD contacts and they worked perfecly). 2 or 3 older flukes, and 3-5 old bench units from fluke, some with LCDs damaged by cold.

vasil

Sun Apr 16 2006, 01:37PM

Registered Member #229 Joined: Tue Feb 21 2006, 07:33PM
Location: Romania
Posts: 506

http://www.geocities.com/gemaria_ro/measinst.html

cjk2

Sun Apr 16 2006, 03:28PM

Registered Member #51 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:17AM
Location:
Posts: 263

I have two DMM's of the Harbor Freight Tools variety. They both work fine, but their quality seems fairly low. At only $20 for the big one, and $4 for the small one, I think the price to quality ratio is pretty good. Also my most valuable tool is a Tektronix 475 analog 200mhz scope that I got on ebay for $80.

Self Defenestrate

Sun Apr 16 2006, 03:51PM

Registered Member #87 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 01:36PM
Location: San Jose
Posts: 191

I've got an el-cheapo ratshack multimeter, and a real old analog meter that does everything the el-cheapo does and measures to 1kv ac/dc. Still awaiting a good oscilliscope to replace many of those functions a bit more accuretly.

Wolfram

Sun Apr 16 2006, 11:43PM

Registered Member #33 Joined: Sat Feb 04 2006, 01:31PM
Location: Norway
Posts: 971

Since some people have mentioned their scopes, I thought I'd mention mine too. I have a cople of topward scopes, 7021 and 7046. Nothing too impressive, but they are good for most of the stuff I do. There are some problems with them though, both seem to have some bad contacts inside, as the trace can jump around sometimes.

I also forgot to mention my oldest voltmeter earlier, it is a Solartron LM1420.2 with nixie tubes (ZM1020 IIRC). I think it uses a VCO and a frequency counter to measure voltage.

Part Scavenger

Sun Apr 16 2006, 11:47PM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

Fingers or tongue if in a jam

LOL! You know how many batteries I've tested that way?

I've got the exact two that cjk2's got. I've got a pile of the 4 dollar ones that I can burn up, and one of the other. The big one is my primary meter, and the capacitance/resistor reading is suprisingly close to my $200 "BK Precision" LCR meter.

I've got a radioshack DMM that I hate; it's a total PoC. I have various other meters, but for everyday stuff, I really like the big HF meter. It measures volts to 1000V; Amps/20A; Fq/20Khz; C/20uF; R/20Mohms; and does transistor checking.

The little $4 one will measure up to 1999V if you're not worried about voltage breakdown in the meter. They do the job, but have no failsafes in them.

EEYORE

Mon Apr 17 2006, 01:14AM

Registered Member #99 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:10PM
Location: florida, usa
Posts: 637

Whats with the hating on radioshack?

Ive got a DMM from them, it was their 2nd most expensive one they had.

Its very nice, does it all but inductance.(who needs it)
Frequency counter is dead on too, as i checked it agaisnt my scope.

Scope is a B&K 10mhz dual chanll...Cant live without this stuff!
Matt

HV Enthusiast

Mon Apr 17 2006, 02:28AM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

There is nothing wrong with radio shack multimeters. They are typically made by the same overseas manufacturers as your other inexpensive meters from EXAR, BK Precision, etc... They just slap their own label on it.

Also, when shopping for multimeters, remember that the more functions it has on it, the less quality the meter!!!! Not to say the meters that have every function known to man are not good meters.

Part Scavenger

Mon Apr 17 2006, 03:06AM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

Woah there! I personally don't have anything against Radioshack. Other than their salespeople asking you if you need a cell phone or batteries(and the creepy guy with the 1/2" fingernails, no lie!), I like them just fine. I don't like the meter because the flip top broke off quite easily, and before that, the lead winder thing would pop out and you couldn't get the lid closed. I don't like the dial either. But then again, it measures just fine and batteries last forever. Not anything against radio shack for certain! I just find the meter to be a bit annoying to use.

Also, when shopping for multimeters, remember that the more functions it has on it, the less quality the meter!!!! Not to say the meters that have every function known to man are not good meters.

Sure. No debate there. I've got expensive meters, but I usually use the super-multi-cheap one unless I need something rather precise. That way I don't wear the expensive ones out, and I don't have to carry three special meters around. Cheapos are good enough for alot of the stuff I do, that's why I like them.

Self Defenestrate

Mon Apr 17 2006, 04:31AM

Registered Member #87 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 01:36PM
Location: San Jose
Posts: 191

More often than not, cheap multimeters are cheaper than even the ugliest analog panel meter. Something to keep in mind when you find that stash of tiny multimeters hiding in the surplus bins.

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