Meters with built in flashlight? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 04:54:36 am
content: Let's put this important question to bed once and for all.

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 04:59:17 am
content: How about with a built in soldering iron?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 05:04:09 am
content: Quote from: bob91343 on October 18, 2021, 04:59:17 amOnly ifbothprobes could heat up so I can solder both ends of a component at once.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 05:05:36 am
content: Probably less crazy than one with a Bluetooth speaker:https://youtu.be/AtIKU6wliYg

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 05:13:57 am
content: Anybody have tales of people who lost their front teeth during an electrically-induced spasm?

author: Zoli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 05:21:56 am
content: Here's one:http://content.amprobe.com/DataSheets/AM-510%20Digital%20Multimeter.pdfAnd is completeluy useless as a flashlight... As multimeter, is above Aneng, but way below Fluke(year-on-year stability).

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 05:56:36 am
content: I have a Mastech 2108 which has a "flashlight"bloody colonialsfor the jaws, and I can tell you it's bloody useful; when you're reaching in the bottom of an old panel board with those 400V tails bolted onto busbars, IREALLYwant to see where I'm putting my hand, tyvm!

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 06:08:36 am
content: DMM leads with built in lighting would be far more useful.No one heard of headlamps ?

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 07:37:42 am
content: Quote from: tautech on October 18, 2021, 06:08:36 amYou can sort of get that with some DMM's:

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 07:38:45 am
content: Quote from: tautech on October 18, 2021, 06:08:36 amI have some probe clip-on's in a draw somewhere with a LED (I think they are Fluke branded). Don't remember why I bought and I don't remember every having used them. I think they came with a probe set I bought for one reason or another.

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 08:08:42 am
content: I picked this up one day in a fit of madness:https://www.keysight.com/us/en/product/U1176A/led-probe-clip-light.htmlIt "works" if your workbench is a dimly lit dive bar, but otherwise it's laughably bad. It comes apart easily enough, so I have plans for an upgrade at some point...

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 08:49:40 am
content: Some light at the meter is not that bad. At least it can be made in a safe way. The cheap LEDs are isolating be default. Transistor test function usually comes with compromised safety - otherwise the function is not that bad.However for direct use while measuring the light at the meter itself is usually at the wrong place. Today most cell phones provide a light too, so the exrta light is no longer that much needed.Probes with light may be a nice idea, at least in come cases for more fine electronics.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 09:54:35 am
content: Quote from: Kleinstein on October 18, 2021, 08:49:40 amYep. You can hold s phone on the back of the meter and get a much brighter light.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 07:57:03 pm
content: Not that bad idea actuallyEven industrly heavyweights have "torch for your DMM" solutions:https://www.keysight.com/zz/en/product/U1176A/led-probe-clip-light.html

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 08:00:04 pm
content: Quote from: Kleinstein on October 18, 2021, 08:49:40 amThe light in the clamp jaws of my Mastech 2108 is inexactlythe right place, and means I don't need an extra hand for a phone or anything else, as my other hand will be keeping me from falling head first into the pit under the panel board in the LV side of the substation.I also have some probes with a light on the red one. I think it looks like the hunter-seeker from David Lynch's 1984 Dune film...

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 09:09:58 pm
content: These days there are tons of great LED headlamps and flashlights with magnets/clips. So if I'm doing real work I have no use for anything less.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 11:41:51 pm
content: I didn't vote because none of the choice fit my thought. I do not think such a meter is junk but I don't want it because flash light eats battery a lot and I don't want to change battery in my meter often.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 11:51:11 pm
content: Normally sparks fly when I use a meter so I don't need the built-in light.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2021, 02:53:41 am
content: My Fluke 771 Milliamp Process Clamp Meter has a tiny white LED built in, but to be honest if you can benefit from that tiny amount of illumination to see what you are doing you should probably not be working in the cabinet.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2021, 09:45:56 am
content: Quote from: AVGresponding on October 18, 2021, 08:00:04 pmI always wanted something like that for continuity testing , ie. the probe lights up when there's continuity.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2021, 05:19:28 pm
content: Quote from: Kean on October 19, 2021, 02:53:41 amYes well, sometimes you just have to get the job done. Very carefully.