LFS Good Multi-Meter for Beginning electronics hobbyist  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Connly33
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 01, 2013, 04:04:46 pm
content: i just joined the forums , iv been meaning to do it for awhile , I am an Electronics hobbyist and im recently starting to take it a little more seriously.Anyway more to my point of making this thread, I was wondering what would be a good semi professional Multi Meter that is decently priced, recently the cheapy Craftsmen one i had died, if anyone could help and tell me if its worth just getting another cheapy one or maybe suggest a higher quality one if not i would greatly appreciate it.Thank in advance to anyone who is willing to help

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 01, 2013, 04:23:08 pm
content: What country are you from? How much do you want to spend?

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2013, 04:23:51 pm
content: You'll get a range of opinions, here.Full disclosure, I'm partial to Fluke because that's what I know. There are drawbacks that proponents of other meters will surely bring up. It really depends on what you want to do, what type of electronic projects will you be working on? Also, what is your philosophy - do you like a new item or a used one? Knowing your location will help, as meters vary in price due to your country.For just "general electronic use," my recommendation is a used Fluke 87, if your budget allows. A used Fluke 25 or 27 can be had very inexpensively - better bang for the buck, but missing a few features. If you can live without microampere measurement, or can live with limited measurement, a used 179 or even an old 29 or 79 may be useful. At least, they are good, inexpensive second or third meters that you might eventually want to consider.For new, budget meters, there are a lot of models that get mentioned here, but I'm not familiar with them. Brymen gets mentioned quite a bit.As Dave says, "horses for courses" and what may be completely unacceptable to one person may be just fine or overkill for another. For my automotive electrical work, my Fluke mini-meters (8,10,11,12, and 16) do fine, but they are not suited for anything but the most basic of electronic work.Edited for grammar only.

author: Napalm2002
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2013, 04:37:29 pm
content: U have to give us a price range. I would stay with fluke though. Cuz pretty much whatever u buy is good quality. C'mon guys I'm waiting. For the most part quality is there.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2013, 05:57:12 pm
content: I wouldn't describe a Fluke DMM as a 'semi professional meter that is decently priced', which is what the poster is after. There are plenty cheaper good quality meters to chose from, which would satisfy a serious electronics hobbyist, without breaking the bank balance.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 01, 2013, 06:44:05 pm
content: Until we have an idea what the OP wants to spend and where he is there is no point making any recommendations. I wish Dave would make it mandatory to include country in the profile.And I agree with Wytnucls, Fluke is NOT the best buy for many people. Fluke certainly isn't the best featured and priced brand for electronics and especially beginners.

author: Seg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2013, 07:22:20 am
content: If you're looking for cheap, I'd say find a used Fluke 27/FM or 8050A on eBay or whatever, for under $50 US. Both are True RMS, if you get a 27 that actually says "27/FM" on the front. 8050A has an extra digit, but isn't auto ranging.I also have an 8600A I rather like. 4 1/2 digits, LED display and auto-ranging, but the calibration is a little off and unstable. It is not true RMS. The power supplies in the 70's bench DMMs were... very primitive. I wonder if re-working them with modern regulators will stabilize them...The 8000A is okay if you get them for $10 or less but beware ones with the battery pack option, the batteries are used for voltage regulation and they're probably long dead. IMHO it's really not worth replacing the batteries, if you need batteries use a 27.You can never have too many DMMs, am I right?We really need a "building a lab" guide on a the wiki.

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2013, 08:40:27 am
content: I also recommend the Fluke 27/FM.Reason:1) Safe, very safe2) Can take a beating, you can probably drop it in a swamp with no ill effects3) Affordable and stableI *love* mine; it was the first "pro" meter I purchased and I use it all the time still (especially when there's a chance of destructive failure).I've even considered marrying it.

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 03:08:07 pm
content: Go to the EEVblog videos herehttps://www.youtube.com/user/EEVblogand watch the multi-meter shootouts Dave has done. I think he did one for the $50 range and the $100 range.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 06:59:12 pm
content: It looks like this is the first and last post from the Connly33. No answer to two simple questions in order to hep him/her better. I think we are wasting our time.

author: Seg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2013, 05:00:57 am
content: The mention of the Craftsman brand indicates they're likely American. After all, it is Americas Most Trusted Tool Brand.http://www.craftsman.com/As Dave points out, anyone serious about electronics has at least two DMMs. Get a 27/FM, and whatever else newfangled thing you want.My advice stands. As a red blooded American, it is your patriotic duty to own a military surplus Fluke 27/FM. There's just no reason to not own at least one.