Gift Multimeter/Clamp Meter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: MAntunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 04:43:30 pm
content: Hi guys.I'm looking to buy a new multimeter/clamp meter as a gift to my father, who has been an electrician for more than 30 years.This multimeter is going to be used as his personal one. He his not going to use it for work purposes.He currently has a very old clamp meter (as can be seen in the picture below). But I don't know if I should buy another clamp meter or a regular one.He mainly works with mains voltage (230/400V) and sometimes with electronics for fixing broken home appliances.I would like to stay below 250€ but if it's worth it I can go up to 300€. I live in Portugal and I have no problem buying online, as long as within the EU.I've looked at Fluke, but they are much more expensive than the other brands and I'd like to stay away from chinese brands like Brymen or Uni-T, which I have nothing against, if I was buying for me I would definitely consider them.What are your opinions about Amprobe?If you recommend a clamp meter I would like it to measure DC current also.Thank you in advance.Miguel

author: anishkgt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 04:47:41 pm
content: I doubt the brymen is Chinese. I have the BM869s and it is worth it. Amprobe is an excellent one and so are Extech which is owned by Flir. The higher end would be a gossen.Www.Georgehobby.wordpress.comEquipments: DSO104z, Hakko FX888D

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 04:51:17 pm
content: Brymen is not made in China last I knew. Some of Amprobe products are made by UNI-T.I have not looked at any clamp meters outside the dirt cheap UNI-T UT210E (which I like a lot).

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 06:15:10 pm
content: Quote from: MAntunes on October 16, 2017, 04:43:30 pmNot necessarily. The Fluke 101 is a very nice multimeter for electricians/AC mains work for about $42 delivered. They're very safe meters and have have a nice solid heft to them, nothing like the feel of a cheapo meter. $42 sounds cheapskate but I'm sure he'd be very pleased with one. Sometimes simple/reliable is better.There's also Fluke 15B+/17B+ around the $100 mark. They're aimed more at electronics engineers than electricians but can do both.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 06:31:28 pm
content: Brymen is made in Taiwan, excellent quality, and highly recommended as easily equal to the likes of Fluke...Lower price is plus..

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 06:34:02 pm
content: The Fluke 175 is within your budget and good for electronics/electrician combo

author: BFX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 08:06:44 pm
content: This is your choice Fluke 117http://www.ebay.de/itm/Fluke-117-Electricians-Digital-Multimeter-New-in-Box-MSRP-215/282675131790200EUR NEW!You can buy also used for around 120EUR

author: MAntunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 08:35:08 pm
content: Hi guys, thank you for your recommendations.As I said earlier, if I was buying for myself, I would consider Brymen hands down.The Fluke 175 seems to be a good option for arround 230€ from amazon.de.As for clamp meters I checked the Fluke 325 for arround 250€ also from amazon.de. But is it normal only being able to measure current from the clamp and not the leads?From Amprobe I've looked at the AMP-320-EUR for arround 200€ at tme.eu.If you could give some more of your opinions it would be awsome!Thank you again.

author: bills
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2017, 08:58:26 pm
content: this is the one i used when I was working.Loved it.https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Electrical-Voltage-Continuity-Current/dp/B0006Z3GZU/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1508187367&sr=8-16&keywords=fluke%2Bac%2Bcurrent%2Bmeter&th=1

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 17, 2017, 05:39:16 am
content: Brymen is made in Taiwan and makes meters as an ODM for Amprobe, Extech, and some others.If you want to give him a good overall electrician's meter:https://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm089/meters-and-acdc-clamp-probes/brymen/If you want to do something a bit more general and useful for electronics, I would suggest a BM257S, BM525S, or even a BM869S. Thenyou can also get him a Uni-Trend UT 210E or UT211B as a clamp meter. It all depends on your budget.

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 05:46:46 am
content: Electricians (in the US) like Fluke, Fieldpiece and Klein. I don't really know what they see in Fieldpiece but they like them a lot.

author: oldway
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 07:06:22 am
content: For an electrician, a true RMS current clamp is mandatory.Unlike voltage, current is in most cases non-sinusoidal.The heating of the cables and the corresponding fuse rating is proportional to the square of the RMS current.A clamp that does not measure the RMS current gives erroneous and fancy results if the current is not sinusoidal.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 08:42:03 am
content: Just my $0.02 but...The whole approach of: "I must spend at least XXX and get the most awesome thing ever or they'll feel cheated" seems braindead.Me? I'd far rather have something that I'll enjoy owning and use a lot than something that cost a lot of money.eg. Everybody around here drools over Brymen BM257s and Fluke 87Vs but if he uses the current clamp a lot then one of those it will sit unused in a drawer. He'll keep right on using the old meter because it's more useful/familiar to him.Quote from: MAntunes on October 16, 2017, 08:35:08 pmI think it's important to find that out before looking atanymeters...Quote from: MAntunes on October 16, 2017, 08:35:08 pmYes. Not being able to pass current directly through the meter is abigsafety feature.Quote from: bills on October 16, 2017, 08:58:26 pmThat fits the job description posted here.(and also proves that people can enjoy using a sub-$100 meterandfind it very useful)

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2017, 06:32:10 pm
content: Quote from: BMack on October 18, 2017, 05:46:46 amFieldpiece has a loyal following because they only focus on HVACR. Seehttp://www.fieldpiece.com/aboutand from a bit of research I did a couple of years ago, they really listen to their customers and do the "right thing" when it comes to warranty and repair.

author: MAntunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2017, 12:07:11 am
content: This is supposed to be a Christmas gift, so I have lots of time to think about it.I am decided on aClamp Meter, this is a gift for him and not for me. And I'd like to use my budget to have the best and safest possible meter I can.These are the ones I checked so far:Fluke: Fluke 325Brymen: Brymen BM089Amprobe: AMP 320, AMP 330Right now I'm looking in the several European Amazon Stores and at tme.eu. If you could suggest more shop it would be nice.Also, if you have any more suggestions of clamp meters I would be very grateful.Regarding the Fluke T5600: my father has a similar one, although not a Fluke, and always uses the clamp meter I showed you.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2017, 12:42:42 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on October 16, 2017, 06:15:10 pmI wouldn't gift anything that isn't true RMS to an electrician.

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 19, 2017, 04:14:16 am
content: I'd lean towards the Fluke.It's nicer giving the top of the line brand as a gift rather than something that might be just as good on paper but is perceived as a tier two option.It's like all those grandmas who gave Zunes for xmas when the kid just wanted an ipod.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2017, 07:29:01 am
content: Quote from: Dubbie on October 19, 2017, 04:14:16 amIt isn't too late to casually strike up a conversation and ask why he prefers the old clampmeter. Maybe that would tell you what to look for.