Multimeter recommendation

[Deleted member 2463]

Anyone recommend a multimeter?

 

[Julian]

Any Fluke multi-meter will do you, I've had mine >30 years!

 

[Arv]

Yeah has to be a fluke.

 

[Paul]

Thirded...

I have a very old Fluke 73... must be 20+ years old now.... Yes it hasnt got a transistor tester or a temperature sensor, however at the end of the day it's a meter... i have other things to test those!

 

[taz turbo]

I have a Fluke 179, we’ll two actually, one for my work mobile tool case one for bench work at home/pin shed.

One word of advice, buy from an approved supplier, plenty of knock offs and plenty that weren’t destined for our market, and in that case there is zero warranty from Fluke!

179 here…

FLUKE 179 | Fluke 179 Handheld Digital Multimeter, True RMS, 10A ac Max, 10A dc Max, 1000V ac Max | RS

uk.rs-online.com

If you do go Fluke I’d recommend the TL75 lead set, much better than all this GS38 approved cack they are typically delivered with. TL75 are of a sensible size and don’t have the GS38 approved huge insulated ends that are so large they won’t fit in many places!

I’d also recommend the fluke scopemeters if you wish to delve deeper into fault finding. They’re lovely things.

 

[Deleted member 2463]

TL175 or 75?

 

[taz turbo]

^ TL75

Fluke TL75-1 Test Lead Kit, CAT III, CAT IV, 10A | RS

uk.rs-online.com

The TL175 are GS38 and rather large!

 

[crsedgar]

I bought a uni-t ut60a from Maplin a few years go and still going strong, auto ranging and continuity buzzer.

My model seems to be discontinued, this looks like a good match though;

UNI-T UT139C Digital Multimeter AD/DC Voltage Current Tester with Resistance Capacitance NCV Test and Temperature Measurement https://amzn.eu/d/4RpEYA8

 

[russdx1]

What do you need it for and how often will you use it? A £450 meter might be bit extreme for occasional use?

 

[M4carp]

Get in the club Neil, hard to not find them plus you will look like you know what you are doing

 

[AlanJ]

Disagree with fluke recommendations unless you have silly money to burn. a Sealey mm104 is a much better value at around £70-£90.

 

[David Stephens]

Anyone recommend a multimeter?

I am a qualified electrician but now slightly past my sell by date "old but not obsolete" this will do the job https://www.screwfix.com/p/kewtech-ac-dc-multimeter-temperature-probe-600v/94916 good quality and have one myself.
I find auto ranging misleading at times and often prefer to use a manual ranging meter as is more stable but you need to know what voltage etc and set the meter to the correct range.
Here is one that does both https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-92433-Digital-Multimeter-Ranging/dp/B088NX7V5L/ref=sr_1_31?crid=3VGFVMDOTOIQL&keywords=multimeter+auto+and+manual&qid=1659263337&sprefix=multimeter+auto+and+manual,aps,208&sr=8-31
For general pinball repair I do not see the need to spend a fortune on a test meter.

 

[taz turbo]

The issue with ‘some’ of the cheaper multimeters is that they aren’t internally fused, or fused with the correct HRC fuses, should you try and test current across a dead short in error or by dropping a lead then the meters have a habit of going off with a very nasty bang, spraying you with vaporised meter and shards of plastic! The reality is this won’t happen when working on a pinball machine due to the fuse in the plug top. But try it (I haven’t, but have had to study the videos) when working on equipment fused in the 100’s of Amp’s, it’s very scary!

 

[Pick Holder]

On the bench. An old fluke.

Pinball repairs onsite. A £20 amazon job. It gets dropped, knocked off etc. get thru one every 18 months. I also have been known to leave them in the odd machine!!!!

Edit. Now £28……