Multimeters

[Specialist]

I have had a Sanwa analogue, good, but nicked! Sanwa digital, expensive crap, still use my old faithful AVO 8 analogue, need a wheelbarrow to carry it, but reliable, temperature stable (which many digitals aren't) and all WW resistors, so probably good for another 30 years, which I am certainly not! ok so it isn't quite as accurate as digital are supposed to be, but I carry a standard 1 Meg test resistor in my kit, and when any spasrky laughs at it, I get them to check therirs against it! Sorts the men from the boys.

Not too long back, i was asked to do some workshop repairs for a Catering equipment company so I decided to take my 8 with me. The engineers there just looked at me stupid, 1 of the younger ones asking me what it was supposed to be & when I explained i was called a Dinosaur. Having said that, when I saw the Multimeters they were useing I nearly choked with Laughter.

 

[telectrix]

dinosaurs ruled the earth for far longer than man has.

 

[Specialist]

dinosaurs ruled the earth for far longer than man has.

 

[The Finch]

Yep Meterman make some nice stuff, the 34XRA in my Avatar is what I use on the bench & it's a really nice bit of kit especially considering they're quite reasonably priced.

Just been looking online look good one link took me to eBay for a 34xr $99 they have got the magnet strap on the back which I had to purchase seperate for my fluke

 

[oldAL]

Fluke 77, and an old analogue robin,
but, for fault finding my first port of call is a neon., fastest tool known yet to find a vast majority of faults.

 

[Specialist]

Fluke 77, and an old analogue robin,
but, for fault finding my first port of call is a neon., fastest tool known yet to find a vast majority of faults.

A Neon ? wash your mouth out:tounge_smile: Seriously though I carry what's called a Junior Testoscope in my pocket all the time, which is an expensive Neon. Only thing is we're not actually supposed to use them any more for H/S reasons.
When I started in the trade a Neon & AVO were the only thing you carried for general fault finding, if you wanted the Megger you had to tell the Boss why & sign for it & in all the years i've used them i've never had a shock through a Neon.

 

[Specialist]

Just been looking online look good one link took me to eBay for a 34xr $99 they have got the magnet strap on the back which I had to purchase seperate for my fluke

Yes mate: For what they do & the build quality they're well worth the money. Mag strap & Temp probe included in the price, if I had to replace the 8037 for any reason i'd buy another 34 XR.

 

[Guest123]

The first DMM I ever had was a Newlec own brand one, NLDMLC was the part number. Big yellow thing in a rubber case. Good piece of kit was that, cheap too.

 

[The Finch]

Yes mate: For what they do & the build quality they're well worth the money. Mag strap & Temp probe included in the price, if I had to replace the 8037 for any reason i'd buy another 34 XR.

Can you recommend any uk suppliers?

 

[The Finch]

Can you recommend any uk stockists?

Thanks

 

[Specialist]

If you take a look on ebay ther'es 1 on there at the minute for £58 + £12 carriage, it's a US firm but a good saving.
If you want a uk firm then I find the Instument Centre good to deal with & very reliable.
Address: 44 Argyle street, Newport, Gwent, NP20 5NE. Tel: 01633 853803.

Hope that helps mate.

 

[The Finch]

Do you have a link please? Am on my phone at the moment tried quick search but only brought up a couple of clamps

Thanks

 

[Specialist]

Hi mate: Your best bet would be to give them a ring, think the site is playing up at the moment.

 

[kung]

I carry 3, a cheap maplin clamp meter £12.99 small and not a bad meter, a maplin gold also cheapish and not a bad meter and a fluke 73 III series.

 

[The Finch]

Hi mate: Your best bet would be to give them a ring, think the site is playing up at the moment.

Meant more the eBay one mate, il look later when I get home

Thanks again

 

[Specialist]

Oops, sorry mate: Messed that 1 up did'nt I lol.
Go to ebay & put the item number in the search box: 220794632020. Listed as £58.07 + £11.84 carriage.

 

[The Finch]

No worries but yeah if you have a link be appreciated might be a late crimbo pressie lol

 

[netblindpaul]

Wow this has run quickly!

I carry a Fluke 87 in my tool case for every day fault finding, this is an old version mind, about 20 yrs old.
I also have an 8060A like Lenny pictured of the same vintage.
I have my trusty AVO9, unfortunately could not get a good version of an 8 when I needed it, so went for the 9.

Day to day I also carry a Fluke 337 clamp, a KEW 1710, a Fluke Voltstick, a Fluke 1653B, a DiLog DL6507 leakage clamp & my LEME HEME Analyst 2060 single phase power clamp.

Still shopping for more kit though, LCR meter is a must, will look into one of those ESR meters, looking for a portable DSO, probably 4ch, a Ductor, & 3Ph power analyser, and an earth clamp tester for now!
Have come unstuck on a couple of jobs recently and could have paid for the kit in the jobs easily!

 

[The Finch]

Thanks specialist

 

[Specialist]

Well Paul: Did'nt know you were a Test Gear Yuppie:tounge_smile: :icon14:

 

[Specialist]

Thanks specialist

Your welcome mate.

 

[netblindpaul]

Well Paul: Did'nt know you were a Test Gear Yuppie:tounge_smile: :icon14:

Dunno about Yuppie, Junkie perhaps!
Most of my work is fault finding, and I&T to be honest.

 

[hermetic]

A Neon ? wash your mouth out:tounge_smile: Seriously though I carry what's called a Junior Testoscope in my pocket all the time, which is an expensive Neon. Only thing is we're not actually supposed to use them any more for H/S reasons.
When I started in the trade a Neon & AVO were the only thing you carried for general fault finding, if you wanted the Megger you had to tell the Boss why & sign for it & in all the years i've used them i've never had a shock through a Neon.

I never had a shock through a neon either (unless the toerags I worked with swapped the resistor for a lower rated one!), and still use one. the H/S concerns are utter rubbish. went to a job once where a light would not turn off, soon diagnosed a nailed switch wire (rentokil had been doing woodworm treatment upstairs) .Took the bulb out and went over the nailheads with a neon, took about 5 mins to find it! (TRS- no earth wire) pulled the nail, repaired the cable and out the door.
Phil

 

[Specialist]

Know what you mean mate, i've allways been the same. I've got test equipment for all sorts of stuff lol, the ESR meter by the way is a good investment. I bought the Blue ESR meter from www.electronicrepairguide.com in kit form. Simple to build / test & a lovely bit of kit.
You'll have to tell me 1 day the sort of stuff you spend your days fault finding on.

 

[Specialist]

I never had a shock through a neon either (unless the toerags I worked with swapped the resistor for a lower rated one!), and still use one. the H/S concerns are utter rubbish. went to a job once where a light would not turn off, soon diagnosed a nailed switch wire (rentokil had been doing woodworm treatment upstairs) .Took the bulb out and went over the nailheads with a neon, took about 5 mins to find it! (TRS- no earth wire) pulled the nail, repaired the cable and out the door.
Phil

Nice 1 mate, I used to love the Neons supplied to the Electricity board boys, easy to see even in strong sunlight. Made by a company called NEO but it seems they don't exist any more, did see an apprentice get a shock through a Neon once but the idiot was useing it in the Rain so deserved it lol.

 

[hermetic]

Solid gold link mate! thats gone in the bookmarks!!

 

[Specialist]

Solid gold link mate! thats gone in the bookmarks!!

Not a problem mate, thanks for showing appreciation.

 

[grantr37]

Wow this has run quickly!

I carry a Fluke 87 in my tool case for every day fault finding, this is an old version mind, about 20 yrs old.
I also have an 8060A like Lenny pictured of the same vintage.
I have my trusty AVO9, unfortunately could not get a good version of an 8 when I needed it, so went for the 9.

Day to day I also carry a Fluke 337 clamp, a KEW 1710, a Fluke Voltstick, a Fluke 1653B, a DiLog DL6507 leakage clamp & my LEME HEME Analyst 2060 single phase power clamp.

Still shopping for more kit though, LCR meter is a must, will look into one of those ESR meters, looking for a portable DSO, probably 4ch, a Ductor, & 3Ph power analyser, and an earth clamp tester for now!
Have come unstuck on a couple of jobs recently and could have paid for the kit in the jobs easily!

If you want a 4 channel portable scope, I would go for a Fluke one if you are willing to spend around 3K :rolleyes2: same for the power analyser......

 

[netblindpaul]

grant,
Thanks, it is Fluke I am looking at.
My power analyser is "now" Fluke, just before they bought the company for the technology!
The Techtronix scopes are quite good, but I am used to Flukes as this was what I had supplied when I was using one regularly.
I will spend the £3k if I have to!

 

[Specialist]

I was looking at the Agilent series of Multimeters the other day, they've got a nice Orange Backlit display. Real Puurty lol.

 

[netblindpaul]

Like Agilent, part of HP, or were.

 

[Specialist]

Yep looks like good kit, but at the minute i'm going to stick with what i've got.

 

[Engineer54]

Perhaps we should start another thread ''What's Test Kit do you have to hand'' !! Otherwise this thread is going to get side tracked from time to time...

I must admit, i'm a collector of test equipment, and have a pretty extensive collection, some of it i'll probably never use again, and realistically should be sold on. lol!!!

 

[netblindpaul]

E54,
I may be interested!

 

[alarm man]

Perhaps we should start another thread ''What's Test Kit do you have to hand'' !! Otherwise this thread is going to get side tracked from time to time...

I must admit, i'm a collector of test equipment, and have a pretty extensive collection, some of it i'll probably never use again, and realistically should be sold on. lol!!!

i can see a 'during the war' speech coming on..

 

[netblindpaul]

40 years ago wen I were a lad!

 

[RodMan50]

40 years ago wen I were a lad!

Young Un LoL !

 

[telectrix]

can't remember the war. not quite that senile.

 

[Specialist]

can't remember the war. not quite that senile.

Nor me, but my Grandad told me about it:tounge_smile:

 

[telectrix]

my dad was in it. 39-45. best time of his life, he used to say.

 

[Specialist]

Yeah my Dad was in the Second too, don't think he thaught it was a good time though. He lost the front of his foot in an Accident aboard ship.

 

[telectrix]

my old man was lucky. a few near misses, but he came through unscathed. lost some good mates, though.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Seen a few in Aldi / Lidl & for basics like Resistance / Continuity they'd probably be ok but I would'nt trust them for Voltage testing on AC systems to be honest.

Dont underestimate stuff from Aldi, the wife works for them and i have had loads of kit from there, never had any problems, and they always honour their 3 year guarantee. Aldi are german owned, and wont sell crap, be it tools, food or whatever. I got 10 soldering iron kits for the college where i work and change out of £100, and they have had some proper hammer, and they are still as good as new.

Cheers...........Howard

 

[RodMan50]

I missed the war to be honest, born 1950

 

[fuzzydunlop]

Dont underestimate stuff from Aldi, the wife works for them and i have had loads of kit from there, never had any problems, and they always honour their 3 year guarantee. Aldi are german owned, and wont sell crap, be it tools, food or whatever. I got 10 soldering iron kits for the college where i work and change out of £100, and they have had some proper hammer, and they are still as good as new.

Cheers...........Howard

Aldi, Lidl and Tchibo all buy stuff from German manufacturers then rebrand it as there own, all top quality gear

 

[Specialist]

Dont underestimate stuff from Aldi, the wife works for them and i have had loads of kit from there, never had any problems, and they always honour their 3 year guarantee. Aldi are german owned, and wont sell crap, be it tools, food or whatever. I got 10 soldering iron kits for the college where i work and change out of £100, and they have had some proper hammer, and they are still as good as new.

Cheers...........Howard

Howard: I don't underestimate stuff from Aldi's, but we were talking about Multimeters purchased from them & the point still stands: I would'nt trust 1 for anything other than Basic tests, I certainly would'nt be useing 1 for testing Mains AC. There are many Badge engineered meters like these on the market & having seen 1 blow up in someones hand I would'nt entertain them.

 

[Specialist]

Aldi, Lidl and Tchibo all buy stuff from German manufacturers then rebrand it as there own, all top quality gear

Fuzzy mate: Next time your in 1 of them & you see a Digi meter on sale, take a close look at it. Then go to any of a hundred other places including local saturday markets & you'll see the same meter badged under other names. Most if not all are mass produced in China or Hong kong & just badged with the different companies brand name, which is why they're so cheap. If you troll the internet a bit you could buy them in yourself & have them branded as Fuzzymeters:tounge_smile:

 

[steve50]

i use the Iso-TECH IDM63

 

[spark 68]

Fluke 87V multimeter
Fluke 79 series 2 multimeter
'el cheapo' analogue multimeter
Iso Tech ILCM 06 EL clamp meter
Tenma 400A clamp meter
Hameg HM203-6 20MHz oscilloscope
Peak Atlas ESR meter
Martindale Approved voltage indicator & Proving unit

as well as my Megger LRCD 220 and MIT 320

 

[Specialist]

i use the Iso-TECH IDM63

They're a nice meter mate, don't see how RS call them a pocket meter though lol.