Electrical test meters,,,got one ?

[Willl]

I didn't want to get into testing anything other then our tractors.

Just makes it more confusing for some and I'd really feel bad if somebody got hurt with higher voltages.

 

[Mighty Dodge]

I'll second Fluke meters. I have an older model, nothing fancy but it does the job.

 

[ETpilot]

I have an assortment of meters from the less expensive to the more expensive. While using them to read the value of the measurements is important, I find that more often I just want to know if I have voltage or continuity. So I made a tester, with a horn, that lets me test voltage and continuity. The nice thing is all I have to do is listen for the result. Since I work on 24volt systems the tester works from 1 volt up to 28 volts. I have about 4 of these units and I use them often before I grab that meter. If I need to read a test value I use the meter.

 

[Bird]

I guess Fluke may be the industry standard, but before I knew that, I paid $165 for an ExTech digital AC/DC clamp meter with temperature probe almost 22 years ago and it still works just fine.

 

[BigBoyinMS]

I have 6 now with 4 being cheapies and two being mid-line. I do need to spend the bucks and get a really good meter with a tach option for use on my motorcycles.
Some mentioned the continuity buzzer on some of the meters. 30+ years ago I took a seatbelt buzzer out of a Chevy and made a continuity buzzer. Great thing to have.

 

[jonyyuma]

Fluke, Simpson 260 and radio shack here...

 

[BobRip]

Too many to count. I have been collecting them for 54 years.

 

[grsthegreat]

Nope, i dont have one. I have six HA

 

[BobRip]

Given the positive response of multimeter owners, let's hear reasons why people don't own one or more.

 

[crazyal]

I like my Flukes. Very large LCD display and back lit display make for very easy reading. One thing people often forget with the newer digital meters is most auto scale. When measuring voltage you need to make sure you're reading volts, not millivolts.

The cheap ones are just fine but I would spend a few bucks more if it had a nicer display.

 

[LarryD]

I really like the audible continuity buzzer on one of digital meters,I invariably end up lying on my back unable to see the readout when I am chasing electrical shorts on my vehicles. .....Craig

I have this Wavetek (as well as a FLuke 77) that I can usually see the display is awkward places. It's the older model but the new ones are less that $60. AC/DC/Ω and a continuity beep.

 

[RidgeHiker]

I have an old one that I never really learned to use very well. You all, having a tractor for the first time, and getting ready to put work lights on are probably inspiring to learn more. Just what I need, another thing to do...

 

[kebo]

Fluke, Simpson 260 and radio shack here...

Ahhhh.... A good old black Simpson 260, the classic analog meter of choice! I "grew up" in tech school with that one. If you got one (and I don't) hang on to it! :thumbsup:

 

[kebo]

Given the positive response of multimeter owners, let's hear reasons why people don't own one or more.

I'm in the crowd that has one, but I would suspect the biggest reason for those folks who don't own a meter is simply because they just don't know how to use it. Once you learn how to use it, you never go back lol.

 

[rasimmo]

I have a couple Flukes and a cheap Radio Shack one that gets used a lot. I have not had any trouble with any of them. At work all we have are Flukes. Some of them can get pretty expensive. The last one I bought (with company CC) was about $3500. That things has more keys than this keyboard. I still have not figured out how to use all the functions on it, but I like playing with it.:thumbsup:

 

[WM75Guy]

Many years ago I bought an Extech 400 amp DC clamp on meter. Used it for working on fire trucks and ambulances with up to 300 amp alternators. Really great for quickly testing alternator output or to see what load a piece of equipment is pulling.

 

[jenkinsph]

Many years ago I bought an Extech 400 amp DC clamp on meter. Used it for working on fire trucks and ambulances with up to 300 amp alternators. Really great for quickly testing alternator output or to see what load a piece of equipment is pulling.

I have a Fluke clamp meter with 600amp AC/DC but felt this is a little more meter than most would buy for their tractor trouble shooting. A combination current clamp and dvm is a good choice though for home and vehicle work.

A very simple and inexpensive meter would suffice for 95% of trouble shooting the average Joe would do on his tractor, checking voltage, continuity and resistance measurements. I have a newer Fluke dvm that replaced my older 87V and usually don't need to pull it out except for frequency checks on the gensets. Most of us that have the better meters today always wanted the better equipment but the truth today is there is very little you can fix at the component level. Everything is disposable for the most part so not alot of need for the higher priced meter's capabilities.

 

[grsthegreat]

All of my meters are clamp on..but none are DC AMP meters. That would be REAL nice to have in a meter for tractors.

I know fluke makes them...but i don't ever need them in my work (electrician).

 

[jenkinsph]

All of my meters are clamp on..but none are DC AMP meters. That would be REAL nice to have in a meter for tractors.

I know fluke makes them...but i don't ever need them in my work (electrician).

I seldom do any commercial electrical work anymore, most of my current clamp needs are checking on air conditioning compressors during the summer months, for this work the simple Fluke T5 600 has a 100 amp ac clamp and is good enough. I use to install primary and secondary equipment for federal jobs, now I don't need much for residential work either.

 

[grsthegreat]

I seldom do any commercial electrical work anymore, most of my current clamp needs are checking on air conditioning compressors during the summer months, for this work the simple Fluke T5 600 has a 100 amp ac clamp and is good enough. I use to install primary and secondary equipment for federal jobs, now I don't need much for residential work either.

its so slow now... i dont do much of ANY work :laughing:. but i do have 3 new 3500-3800 sf customs that i just signed up...maybe things are finally turning around??