I need a new digital Volt Ohm Multi Meter.

My ancient Fluke, early 1990-ish manufacture, seems to have met its demise. I don't know if Fluke repairs older models or if parts are even still available. I have a cheapie freebie Harbor Freight, and it works, but the leads are quite short, not replaceable, and I don't trust it anyway.

A new Fluke is outrageously expensive and I hate to buy chinese crap.

My needs are modest, just things around the house, automotive related, various ham radio projects, nothing professional, just normal layman stuff. I want replaceable interchangeable leads of various more usable lengths, decent quality, easy to use, reliable and with repeated accuracy, etc. A frequency counter mode is required.

What can I buy for $100-ish? Thanks

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OKCGene,

Check pawn shops. You might find a Fluke in good shape.

Or maybe ebay.

I have a Fluke 87 that I use all the time but the cost would not fit your needs. I have a Beckman as a backup. Last year one of my sons bought one of the other ones a Craftmans DVOM. It looks like it would do everything you need it to do.

Jim

Fluke meters, new on eBay - just saw a model 15B new for 99.99

Pretty good price.

Thinking of your old one, they do service their meters. An email might tell if they will fix yours.

I think I'll call them Monday.

It's not been abused, it looks like it's brand new, no scratches dings dents stains etc. I take care of my stuff. Pretty good for a close to 30 year old unit. I like old stuff that still works.

I doubt you're going to get a new DMM of Fluke-level quality with frequency-counter capability for $100.

My Fluke 115 is currently $150 at Amazon. I think it meets all your criteria save price.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I doubt you're going to get a new DMM of Fluke-level quality with frequency-counter capability for $100.

My Fluke 115 is currently $150 at Amazon. I think it meets all your criteria save price.

Thanks. Just pulled it up on Amazon. $175.99

Go retro, go Simpson P260!

A good comparison video of meters:

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I doubt you're going to get a new DMM of Fluke-level quality with frequency-counter capability for $100.

My Fluke 115 is currently $150 at Amazon. I think it meets all your criteria save price.

Thanks. Just pulled it up on Amazon. $175.99

Fluke 115 Compact True-RMS Digital Multimeter
There are various options. This is the "standard" option.

Look around for a used Fluke. A good used Fluke 77 should be within the budget.

I have relied on a good meter for most of my adult life so I don't like to skimp. I have a Fluke 88 and a 77 in the garage. A good Fluke test lead set runs like $20-$40 or so on Amazon and can be used with many different meters.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I doubt you're going to get a new DMM of Fluke-level quality with frequency-counter capability for $100.

My Fluke 115 is currently $150 at Amazon. I think it meets all your criteria save price.

Thanks. Just pulled it up on Amazon. $175.99

Fluke 115 Compact True-RMS Digital Multimeter
There are various options. This is the "standard" option.

I would go with the 115, it's great value for what it does. This is my EDC does not have nearly the same features, but for basic trouble shooting it's perfect. Give you voltage 12v-600v, continuity, and resistance, but I only use it for voltage and continuity anything more serious I break out the more expensive testers (once a year or so).

Pay the money and get another FLUKE. Amortized over the lifespan of a reasonably cared for meter, they're a bargain. I think one of the biggest threats to them these days is the current generation of shitty, leaky alkaline batteries. Lose track of how long one of them has been in the meter and you may wind up with an irreparable mess and a ruined meter.

Or, as suggested above, the factory may be able to restore yours for a reasonable price.

Good luck.

quote:

I think one of the biggest threats to them these days is the current generation of shitty, leaky alkaline batteries. Lose track of how long one of them has been in the meter and you may wind up with an irreparable mess and a ruined meter.

Ugg. My pet peeve was a meter with bad batteries. I made a point to always use the Fluke issued to me because I made a habit of changing the batteries regularly. Too many times I would be using someone else's meter and I would get crazy resistance or millivolt readings, to the point where I was like "WTF no way". Yea, it was a weak battery. I tried to institute a program of changing batteries AT LEAST annually before I left, but I know it fell off.

Anyway battery-meter rant off lol.

quote:

Originally posted by FRANKT:
I think one of the biggest threats to them these days is the current generation of shitty, leaky alkaline batteries. Lose track of how long one of them has been in the meter and you may wind up with an irreparable mess and a ruined meter.

Yup. Which is why I won't use them, at all, in anything, any more. It's either rechargeables, usually Eneloop, or lithium primaries for me.

I've got a dead weather alert radio. Three batteries. Two are Duracells, one Eveready. Guess which leaked? Badly.

I got it Working! Yea! I like old things that still work (like me)! Almost 30 year old Fluke 77. I opened it up, checked the battery and wiggled the contacts, wiggled the fuse around, and it powers up. I think it's still in calibration but I'll call Fluke tomorrow and ask what they think. Protected by a P238 workbench dweller and Boomer. Boomer is a stray who adopted me about 5 months ago, he was a kitten who appeared on my back fence.

First time using post image, I need to figure this out. Bracket s and pic size, I'm not finding out how to do this. What am I doing wrong?

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

Powered

Amprobe ACD14TRMS

https://www.globaltestsupply.c...oEAQYAyABEgL8ofD_BwE

Here is Boomer on Flickr:

Boomer by GaryBF, on Flickr

^^^^^^^ I'll move over Flickr, thanks.

ExCam, thanks, I like that! I'll order one.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
^^^^^^^ I'll move over Flickr, thanks.

ExCam, thanks, I like that! I'll order one.

See my post here:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...920069724#7920069724