Buy once cry once volt meter?

[Tinstar]

Use the cheapies on 12V stuff but for 120V and up, buy once, cry once. Fluke T5-1000. I mostly use it to test the load on pumps to see if they are failing.

 

[Landslide]

Buy once cry once - Fluke. Have several at home/work and have had no issues.

Yep, bought my first fluke 88 back in 1990. I did an upgrade for the digital readout. There’s a kit out there to fix it. It’s been perfect since then. I have another fluke meter I bought that’s more suited for house hold voltage/amperage usage. I’ll never be able to bring myself to buy a cheap meter after the years of service my flukes have given me.

 

[kf4zht]

Also if you are really serious you need a Simpson 260 or similar

It's not an everyday meter, but a really good analog is critical in some situations where a DMM will average out or smooth out the results

 

[RunningProblem]

I bought this. it covers everything I’ve needed. Harbor freight has an equivalent rated digital multi meter.

Klein Tools Multi-Meter, Voltage Tester and Outlet Tester Premium Electrical Tool Set 69355 - The Home Depot

Klein Tools Premium Electrical Test Kit includes a Manual-Ranging Digital Multi-meter (MM320) with right-angle test leads, Dual Range Non-Contact Voltage Tester with Flashlight, 12-Volt to 1000-Volt AC

www.homedepot.com

DM600 Compact Digital Multimeter

Amazing deals on this Dm600 Compact Digital Multmeter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Kriptonite]

Triplett I bought new in 76.
Still my go to meter, been rebuilt twice. Once due to a bad battery and again when I let someone else use it. Came back broken - I was pissed.
Still a good one

 

[SomeGuy]

The Fluke 87V is the industry standard for a reason....I'm still waiting to find a good deal on one to add to the collection lol but that would be my "buy once cry once" recommendation.

Anyway, this is what I rock, a 287 for the bench work, 325 for amperage (AC/DC clamps are awesome, can measure battery current draw on the vehicle), and a T5-600 for household electrical stuff (is awesome because you can clip the probe on one side to free up a hand). Plus of course the usual leads and probes and a volt stick and such. Reason I want an 87V (or really even a 117 or EVEN a 107) is the 287 is big and slow to boot, the trending functions are handy, but it's a bit overkill usually - the T5-600 is really only good for line voltage range, and the 325 though it can do simple voltage/etc readings isn't really meant for that.

 

[srf]

I bought a Klein CL320 for work, I needed a clamp and didn't want to shell out big $ for something that I was only going to use once. Had it for a couple years now and I use it all the time, mostly 480/600v stuff and it's worked great for me.

Then I noticed a CL380 in home depot, does AC and DC clamp so I bought one of those for home (mostly automotive stuff). Really handy to have around.

The last shop I worked at had a Fluke 115(?) in their box. It was definitely a nicer meter in every way, but I wouldn't pay for one for the twice a month I use them. If I was using it every day I absolutely would though.

 

[SomeGuy]

Fluke 11x series meters are quite affordable though relatively speaking and aren't total cheap meters like their 10x series. We're not talking the 87/88's that are 2-3 times the price.

 

[kf4zht]

The Fluke 87V is the industry standard for a reason....I'm still waiting to find a good deal on one to add to the collection lol but that would be my "buy once cry once" recommendation.

Anyway, this is what I rock, a 287 for the bench work, 325 for amperage (AC/DC clamps are awesome, can measure battery current draw on the vehicle), and a T5-600 for household electrical stuff (is awesome because you can clip the probe on one side to free up a hand). Plus of course the usual leads and probes and a volt stick and such. Reason I want an 87V (or really even a 117 or EVEN a 107) is the 287 is big and slow to boot, the trending functions are handy, but it's a bit overkill usually - the T5-600 is really only good for line voltage range, and the 325 though it can do simple voltage/etc readings isn't really meant for that.

I really want a 287 for the bench. Or one of the fancy bench meters that does the same trending/graphing stuff.

Been waiting to find a reason work needs to buy one for me

 

[SomeGuy]

I really want a 287 for the bench. Or one of the fancy bench meters that does the same trending/graphing stuff.

Been waiting to find a reason work needs to buy one for me

If work is buying, get the 289, it has a few more features. I only got the 287 because I paid 87V money for it (basically half price), otherwise I wouldn't even own it...though it has come in handy with the trending many times.

I might at some point add a Siglent bench DMM in the future (I have one of their scopes and power supplies) along with a waveform generator to complete the full setup.

 

[SomeGuy]

For anyone looking for a Fluke deal in Canada, $443 for a 179 + 323 kit. You're getting the 323 for free as a 179 is usually a $500-600 meter alone.

Amazon.ca

 

[Animalmother]

Step 1: Test known source of voltage.
Step 2: Perform critical voltage test (the one you're trusting your life to).
Step 3: Test known source of voltage again (to reduce the chance that the meter failed after step 1, but before step 2).
Step 4: Profit.

Even "Flukes" will fuck up, especially when your beat to shit leads break. By the way, test your leads by gently tugging them, if they're stretchy they're broken. Copper don't stretch. Pay attention around the ends.

Live dead live

I have a seperate meter just for that test that outputs a known voltage either ac or dc. Use it all the time during scheduled outages for building maintenance

 

[rattle_snake]

Like other tools can't just have one....

Just got an Fluke 87V at work. not cheap. does cap, freq, ect.

and a Keysight 34461, whole nother level of accuracy and cost.

 

[Gdogg]

I'm a guy that almost always buys the best, I have a Snap On box full of Snap On tools. I bought a Fluke 88 almost 30 years ago, I have 4 Power Probes and I also have a cheap Harbor Freight level DVM, I prefer the cheap DVM, no fuckin' around it is simple and fast. The Fluke I struggle with it, the numbers jump all over the place ... it's just more difficult to use and the only time I do use it is when I need to do an AMP draw test on a starter or alternator test.
So I'm happy using the cheap $25 DVM

 

[KB6Chris]

I bought a Fluke 114 Prolly 10 years ago because I got tired of cheap meters and more often the cheap leads that came with them. I was troubleshooting a water well in -10 degree weather and the coating on the fairly new cheap meter cracked from the cold temperature and I got shocked. It got thrown in the junk and went and bought a Fluke the same day. I do quite a bit of electrical diagnosis working on farm irrigation systems and I really enjoy the mag mount and many options for leads.

Normally we would buy new meters every couple years due to cracked leads, broken displays, or just non-op. All I did to the Fluke was new batteries. So, even though it was over $100 I have saved money as well as a lot of frustration.

I upgraded a couple years ago to the 117/323 bundle with more functions as well as amp clamp and gave my dad my old 114.

Not going to lie, as much as I dislike doing electrical work, I enjoy using my Fluke meter

 

[bgaidan]

I bought a Fluke 114 Prolly 10 years ago because I got tired of cheap meters and more often the cheap leads that came with them. I was troubleshooting a water well in -10 degree weather and the coating on the fairly new cheap meter cracked from the cold temperature and I got shocked. It got thrown in the junk and went and bought a Fluke the same day. I do quite a bit of electrical diagnosis working on farm irrigation systems and I really enjoy the mag mount and many options for leads.

Normally we would buy new meters every couple years due to cracked leads, broken displays, or just non-op. All I did to the Fluke was new batteries. So, even though it was over $100 I have saved money as well as a lot of frustration.

I upgraded a couple years ago to the 117/323 bundle with more functions as well as amp clamp and gave my dad my old 114.

Not going to lie, as much as I dislike doing electrical work, I enjoy using my Fluke meter

Cheap leads are an easy fix. Even my cheaper meters get a set of silicon leads from Amazon. I swapped the shitty ones that came with the 114 for these too.

I like these because the wires are just have banana plugs on both ends and the probes and attachments are interchangeable. Also handy is you can get add extensions for those times when you need longer leads.

I have a 114 and had a fluke clamp meter but left it on the tailgate of the truck when I was troubleshooting some trailer wiring a few years ago. Someone scored if it didn't get runover first.


I recently picked up the top one that HF sells and I'm actually pretty impressed with it. I needed a clamp and also to test capacitors on my RPC. Couldn't beat the features it comes with for around $100.

 

[Etyler2]

Got a Fluke at UTI in like 1990.

Loaned it out, still miss it.

I’m sure it would still be working to this day. Got a Craftsman $20 POS because I check go/no go or presence of voltage and that’s about it.