Multimeter recommendations please :)

[George Farra]

Hi All

I'm looking for a reliable AC/DC multimeter that will run me under $100. My uses are general household tasks and automotive tasks. I like the Fluke meters, but none are in my price range.

Thanks

George

[Rich Riddle]

I have the Hioki 3804. It's a true RMS meter and can also meter capacitance for air conditioners. Most can't do that.

[Mike Henderson]

You don't say what you plan to use it for, but if just testing voltage and continuity, a cheap meter from maybe Harbor Freight will do the job.

Mike

[Myk Rian]

I use my free HF meters more often than my Fluke and Protek meters.

[Rich Riddle]

I started out in electronics in the military and they sufficiently scared us away from cheap tools and multimeters. We used Fluke #77 multimeters back then. Today I own the Hioki 3804, a Simpson 260, a Fluke 77, and a Metra 22S. When I met with Rod Sheridan last year he looked at the meters and liked the Metra. It's Canadian and European approved and always the one I first reach to use, but it's more than $100. All of the meters except the Hioki cost more than $100, that is why it was recommended. I don't remember the exact reasons the military hated cheap multimeters, but here is a great video on how to and just as importantly how "not" to select a meter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh1n_ELmpFI

The voltages I meter at times inspire me to at least have a decent tool. But I spend lots of time fixing electricity for some reason. Good luck.

[Mike Cutler]

I don't remember the exact reasons the military hated cheap multimeters.
.

They were part of your title "B" locker inventory. They were also NIST traceable.

Don't ever get rid of that Simpson 260. Very valuable.


To the OP

Don't buy a cheap multi meter. Fluke Triplett, Metra, are all good meters. Many older, obsolete, models can be found on eBay. You can get a used Fluke 8060A that fits your price range. Rock solid little meters. I also see some new in package model 110's for $125.00. Hioki makes some nice DMM's with clamp on amp meters built in. Little bit more $$$, but a clamp on amp meter is a nice option when working house wiring.
If you're going to be messing about with house wiring, you need to have confidence in that meter when doing a "live, dead, live" check.
It's a one time purchase.

[Dan Hintz]

Electronics is my life (and my bread and butter). I use quality Flukes at work, but for home/auto stuff I stick to my $15 Radio Shack unit I bought 20+ years ago. There is simply no need for anything more than that, and if anything happens to it, I'll probably grab a Harbor Freight freebie.

[Gordon Eyre]

I still have a Heath Kit multimeter that I built around 50 years ago and it works great. For simplicity I bought a cheap meter from Radio Shack a few years ago and it does everything that I need.

[Keith Outten]

Northern Tools has a Klein meter on sale right now for #39.00

[Art Mann]

I am with Dan. I am a 30 year veteran electrical engineer and have used the best and most expensive instrumentation available. At home I use a Harbor Freight 98674 multimeter I bought several years ago. It has a few more features than some meters but it is still very much an off brand. I had it checked by our calibration lab when I bought it and the accuracy was better than the published specifications. I have used it a lot since then and it has always performed well. I should probably check the calibration again but I don't do much work requiring that level of accuracy any more.

[Chuck Wintle]

for general hobbyist and occasional home use obe of the cheapies on ebay should do the job. If any kind of precise measurement is needed then i would buy a Fluke.

[John K Jordan]

looking for a reliable AC/DC multimeter

By "reliable" do you mean functionally reliable, accurate, or lasts a long time?

I occasionally buy a spare meter when I see a sale on Amazon. These are in the vehicles, house, barn, etc for quick checks and debugging while the Fluke (87V) gets used when I need to know the voltage (or capacitance, test diodes, etc) and even then I check periodically with a voltage reference. To prevent death by AC wiring I use two electronic proximity voltage detectors, test both before every use and double check every time. I like the Fluke for this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EJ332O) and it's pretty cheap.

Here's one cheap one I've been using and it seems OK:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVYGZA

BTW, if you use a meter to check batteries get one tests under load.

JKJ

[Rich Riddle]

Lots of us seem to have entered the electronics field in the 1980's; heck to be more experienced than that we'd have to have someone with a key, string and kite discussing meters. Good luck with whichever meter you pick. I don't pay a fortune for tools seldom used, but for some reason I utilize meters quite a bit.

[Chris Padilla]

Way back before college I entered a trade school for electronics and as part of my kit, a Fluke 77 was included. Still using it today but I got a freebie analog from Harbor Freight one time.

One thing to keep in mind if your meter starts acting funny: change the batteries! One day I was reading like 203 V across a breaker box and like 99 V on the split-phase and I was wondering what the heck was going on as I was troubleshooting something. I sure wasted a lot of time and effort until I decided to change the battery. I then got 240 V and 120 V and moved on in the correct direction troubleshooting.

A digital meter is fine (most of the time) but there are some good reasons a cheapo analog is nice to have as well.

[George Farra]

Hi All,

Sorry for the delayed response regarding my needs. Reliability for me = accuracy and functionally reliability. I'm not an electrician, but I do occasionally replace outlets, switches, and wall fixtures in my house. I also tinker with cars a lot. So I want a meter that I can rely on the show my AC and DC readings to ensure that I have power, have no power when switched off, have power again after my work....whether its 110v AC or 12v DC.

Back in the day I used to build speaker systems for as a hobby and I used my MM to check resistance and ohms. I don't do that anymore and nothing I do electrical at home or with my cars doesn't require it either.

I also one of those geeks that believes in buying a quality tool that my pocket can afford.

Thanks

George