Multimeter choices....

[Pick Holder]

As some of you know I am a mobile technician for pinballs as well as music equipment.

I used to spend a lot of money on things like Fluke multi's but these days I tend to buy 'el-cheapo' from Amazon due to me;
1 - Having a rubbish memory and leaving tools in the bottom of customers cabinets.
2 - Wear issues. Yes its likely to be banged and dropped.
3 - I have a good quality workbench multimeter so do not need mega accuracy on site.

The problem I am having may be inherant to rubbish multimeters.....

When measuring ohms or capacitance it tends to take a while for the meter to settle down.

Does anyone have a fast reacting meter they can recommend for less than £100?

Do I just buy an old fluke 77 or something (I know the older flukes do not measure uF).

So guys - what do you use?

 

[stumblor]

I was recommended the Kewtech KT116 from my sparky and it's great.

You can pick them up cheaply on ebay easily enough.

 

[M4carp]

I’m an electrical and have only had Fluke, just couldn’t bring myself to have those cheap ones.
The Fluke 117 and 177 I use the most, depends which one‘s battery isn’t low
I don’t think I would keep on buying them though if I kept losing them.
I got these 2 meters brand new sealed for under half price on eBay a while back.
Look out for some bargains if that’s possible these days!

 

[Moonraker]

Really liked my duratool one, had it a few years now and still being made.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124686738470

 

[AlanJ]

i have this sealey one. love it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332685075138

 

[Pick Holder]

I’m an electrical and have only had Fluke, just couldn’t bring myself to have those cheap ones.
The Fluke 117 and 177 I use the most, depends which one‘s battery isn’t low
I don’t think I would keep on buying them though if I kept losing them.
I got these 2 meters brand new sealed for under half price on eBay a while back.
Look out for some bargains if that’s possible these days!

@M4carp - I was a sparky on site for many years and my Fluke ended up down a cavity wall.

 

[stumblor]

One thing none of these cheap ones tend to have (mine included) is a backlit screen. When working on pins that is a bit of an omission tbh

 

[M4carp]

@M4carp - I was a sparky on site for many years and my Fluke ended up down a cavity wall.

I’m pretty much done with it now before my knees are totally shot, got some nice tools though for a bit of DIY
Funny how you can get judged on your tool choice, I had a chippy do some work here for me who was using cheap tools and I’m used to seeing Festool etc being used by chippys but work was spot on and still not cheap

 

[Pick Holder]

I’m pretty much done with it now before my knees are totally shot, got some nice tools though for a bit of DIY
Funny how you can get judged on your tool choice, I had a chippy do some work here for me who was using cheap tools and I’m used to seeing Festool etc being used by chippys but work was spot on and still not cheap

Yes - you are quite right.

I gave up spending £40 on a pair of sidecutters when I had my workshop in a music store, as after a day off I would find that someone borrowed them and left them 'somewhere'.

I then bought £1.50 side cutters (5 sets at a time), and just used then. When they blunt after 3 months - chuck them.

 

[Paul]

I’m an electrical and have only had Fluke, just couldn’t bring myself to have those cheap ones.
The Fluke 117 and 177 I use the most, depends which one‘s battery isn’t low
I don’t think I would keep on buying them though if I kept losing them.
I got these 2 meters brand new sealed for under half price on eBay a while back.
Look out for some bargains if that’s possible these days!

I have the 177 alongside a Fluke 75 ( I know - oldschool!) and also an Avo 8 Mk6 (a PROPER meter)
I'm sure the 177 is a cheap china copy because it was brand new and cost was no-where near what it should have been... however it's put up with a massive amount of abuse over the last few years and still working nicely!

 

[Paul]

I gave up spending £40 on a pair of sidecutters when I had my workshop in a music store, as after a day off I would find that someone borrowed them and left them 'somewhere'.

Like my lovely lindstroms that someone used to hack their way through a 6mm cable... I wasnt impressed.... (and yes, they were completely foobarred!). Glad i didnt buy them... but they then got replaced with a cheap crappy pair..

 

[M4carp]

I have the 177 alongside a Fluke 75 ( I know - oldschool!) and also an Avo 8 Mk6 (a PROPER meter)
I'm sure the 177 is a cheap china copy because it was brand new and cost was no-where near what it should have been... however it's put up with a massive amount of abuse over the last few years and still working nicely!

Mine were from a guy with some other tools that he acquired, all packaging etc spot on but now I have to check
Pretty sure the real deal though.
Anyway of telling if fake?

 

[Pick Holder]

yes -
how to tell a fake fluke?

Try saying that drunk.

 

[M4carp]

yes -
how to tell a fake fluke?

Try saying that drunk.

Will try later, I’m working on it
Just had a good look at them, seem ok. Going to register them online to be sure