Can someone help me with my meter? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 06:46:56 pm
content: A while back I got a 40 dollar meter at home depot, it's no fluke but it had capacitance and frequency. For some reason the current setting does not work, it will not pass current, like it has a blown fuse... it only has a uA and mA setting. The meter is acommercial electricms8232B Digital Multimeterhttp://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Auto-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter-MS8232B/202571334#.UXGQCKK-qt8I cant find a manual for this thing anywhere, and the meter does not seem to come apart. Has anyone used one of these and replaced the fuse? The worst part is ive had this meter 6 months or so and never used it to read current....

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 07:15:02 pm
content: http://www.atel-electronics.eu/doc/04068ie.pdfpage 10 (15).

author: kfitch42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 07:35:12 pm
content: Front plate and manual (page 5) both list 600V. Then in the section on replacing the fuse it says "F500mA, H250V". Does this guy belong in this list:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/a-list-of-multimeters-that-do-not-appear-to-meet-their-claimed-safety-specs/

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 08:17:39 pm
content: Quote from: kfitch42 on April 19, 2013, 07:35:12 pmI've seen enough dodgy Mastechs to throw the whole lot on that list.

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 08:44:11 pm
content: Well the branding would explain why I could never find a manual!! How did you guys know it was rebranded? What exactly makes this a dodgy meter?? I plan on buying a nice Fluke or Klien soon, but this guy does nicely for non precision micro controller work.

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 08:46:30 pm
content: IDK whats going on but that link just takes me to a product page, and when I click the manual PDF on that page It links me to the same page.....

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 08:57:17 pm
content: Try using Internet Exlporer. For some reason that was the only way I could load the pdf too.Yes, Mastech is not the best of brands. Generally cheaply made with overstated safety ratings IMHO. The fact that it says CATIII/600V and it has a small glass 250V fuse should tell you something.Don't bother with Klein, they are just rebrands of other crap. Unless you know which rebrand and model you are ikely to get another POS like that Mastech.Fluke, yes, but not the best buy. When you want to get something new, ask here and get a flood of answers. If you aren't going to be poking around in wall sockets and fuse panels, then there are some choices. But if you want to play with wall sockets and more then the choices are more restricted if you care about your safety.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 09:02:45 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on April 19, 2013, 08:57:17 pmNot everyone has that option.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 09:04:57 pm
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on April 19, 2013, 08:44:11 pmMSxxxx part number.

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 09:06:36 pm
content: Well, Id like a meter for both. I am big in to hobby electronics and micros, but I am an electrician by day. Usually on the job I just use a standard wiggins style meter with spring loaded probes, but I think a nice meter with a ammeter clamp would be useful. Im looking for two different things for hobby and on the job though. For instance I don't need a frequency counter on the job, but it is helpful with electronics.

author: ilikepez
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2013, 10:53:32 pm
content: The Klein ones are kind of so-so in my opinion. I think they are rebranded meters too, UEI and one other company. But for hobby stuff that is low voltage you should just go ahead and get a new fuse and keep using that one. Just be aware of the limitations of it.I am an electrician too, I use a Fluke T5-1000 on the job. Although I really wish they would update it. It has some severe flaws. Love the size of it though.

author: kfitch42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2013, 02:51:10 am
content: Quote from: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin on April 19, 2013, 08:46:30 pmI had a similar issue, but if I copied the link and pasted it into the location bar, then it worked.wget also worked as well.Maybe their webserver is trying to do some "intelligent" thing with the referer URL?!?!?!??

author: rwgast_lowlevellogicdesin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2013, 02:58:07 am
content: I use chrome, and could not get that manual to download from clicking the link or pasting it in the address bar! I.E did work. The manual was not even that helpful, I still thought I was going to break the thing trying to get to the fuse. I got it swapped out though thank you guys very much, I would have never found this thing otherwise, not knowing it was rebranded and never even hearing of mastech before.

author: RedGrittyBrick
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 21, 2013, 10:04:40 am
content: So did replacing the fuse fix the problem with current readings? Did you take any photos of the innards when you opened it up?Personally, I decided to buy a second-hand beat-up oily fluke from eBay and spent an hour cleaning it up. You end up with a safe, accurate meter with some great features. YMMV. An old 70-series is adequate for general electrical work.