Recommend me a good multimeter

[PeterW]

On the bike ?. Where it's actually useful ?.

I got a cheap and very small eBay meter, checked that it worked then filled the innards up with hot-melt glue. It weighs quite a lot more now , but it's been reliable and available since it lives on the bike.

For general use a second hand Fluke or a series of chinese meters would be my choice, probably about the same cost over ten years. Sorry, but for anything I do 1% accuracy is fine.

Pete

[hugemoth]

The only reason I have 3 Fluke meters is because I used them all day every day at work. For working on the bikes a HF meter works just fine. Consider going with the HF meter and taking the wife out to dinner, it may work out better in the long run.

[ragtoplvr]

for a bike the harbor freight is fine. They will last many years, and when they don't, get another. You will spend more on batteries and possibly fuses.

That said a cheap needle meter is often more useful. They usually draw more current, which is better for much troubleshooting, and you can see a needle wiggle when moving a harness that can often be missed on a digital meter.

Rod

[Twilight Error]

Fluke. Ive got a 73 III for my garage and home troubleshooting, it sips its battery - I've replaced it twice in 10 years. If youre handy with a soldering iron, the test lead possibilities are enormous. I carry a small Extech in the bike's toolkit, its a fraction the size of the fluke and is perfectly capable of doing wire checks and voltage tests.

[raypitter]

It all depends on what you want to spend. You can't go wrong with Amprobe, Extech or Fluke, any of which will cost you about $200.00 for the least expensive and probably won't have a temperature measurement. You can handle that two ways: buy the temp. probe accessory or a stand alone non-contact infrared thermometer for about $80.

[SPEIRMOOR]

Fluke T5-600 about $90. I've had this one since I was an apprentice. Great piece. Automatically switches from AC to DC which is its greatest advantage. One probe can be attached to meter case allowing for instant reading in your hand instead of looking at the meter on the floor all the time. Probes store in its housing too.

[wee-twin]

Originally Posted by das Motorradreiter

Saw a NIB Model 78 up there for $99 "buy it now" - told my wife about it and she voiced displeasure so I may need to come down to $50.
I did some reading on that model and it looks right up my alley.
What's the difference between the 77 and 78?

Also, any thoughts on this one?: http://www.amazon.com/Sinometer-Manu...pr_product_top

I don't know the difference between the 77 and 78, but here is my 77. Genuine Fluke leads are more flexible than the less expensive(Chinese) ones. I also use a clip on the end of the probe sometimes and again the fluke ones are better than a set I tried from RadioShack. I hold the manual, clips,leads and a jumper wire in a large Altoids tin so everything stays together and undamaged in my toolbox. I would go with a used Fluke over a new Chinese meter. I justify good tools by there is a job to get done and you need them to work or you end up paying someone else to do it. For less than one hour what a shop would charge to figure out an electrical problem you can get a used Fluke that you will pass onto your kids someday. I have used my fluke on 110v, I would not trust my life with a Chinese meter.

[das Motorradreiter]

Originally Posted by speedracertdi

Does she wear $50 shoes? Ask her how much she spent on hair and nails in the last month.

I cannot complain there - she had to buy shoes for a wedding last month - with the sale and coupon, she paid $9.00 for the pair!

[bomber60015]

If you have a Radio Shack nearby, that's another brick and motor source . . . .

I have a 10 dollar Radio Shack meter (likely chicom) in my tank bag, and an old fluke in the roll cab out in the Entropy Lab . . . . . the Chcicom meeter is good enough for 99% of what I do (is there more or less 12 volts present? Is there 0 ohm resistance, or higher), but the Fluke makes me smile to use it -- it's a nice tool.

[das Motorradreiter]

Originally Posted by wee-twin

I don't know the difference between the 77 and 78, but here is my 77. Genuine Fluke leads are more flexible than the less expensive(Chinese) ones. I also use a clip on the end of the probe sometimes and again the fluke ones are better than a set I tried from RadioShack. I hold the manual, clips,leads and a jumper wire in a large Altoids tin so everything stays together and undamaged in my toolbox. I would go with a used Fluke over a new Chinese meter. I justify good tools by there is a job to get done and you need them to work or you end up paying someone else to do it. For less than one hour what a shop would charge to figure out an electrical problem you can get a used Fluke that you will pass onto your kids someday. I have used my fluke on 110v, I would not trust my life with a Chinese meter.

Would $50 for a 77 be decent? I found one a little bit of a drive from me.

[Superfish]

I've had a Fluke 87 for about 20 years. The only time I ever had a problem with it was the time (brain fart) that I decided to hook it to my electric horse fence. After I got it back from fluke it worked fine again. Also have a cheep one on the bike.

[Cataract2]

Originally Posted by das Motorradreiter

I cannot complain there - she had to buy shoes for a wedding last month - with the sale and coupon, she paid $9.00 for the pair!

With you on that. My wife is the same way. Considering she got her wedding dress for $300. Yeah, I did well.

[Twilight Error]

Originally Posted by das Motorradreiter

Would $50 for a 77 be decent? I found one a little bit of a drive from me.

If you don't buy it, I will! Yes, $50 for a 77 is quite acceptable.

[gsweave]

Fluke 87v user.. Love it but it is overkill for home and bike.


But yes the fluke leads really make a cheap multimeter useable.

[groundrules]

bike mags often have coupons to get the HF one for free. can't really beat that.