ideal 61-486 multimeter

[cameronmclagan]

I am an electrical technology student. Ideal and klien are coming out to try to sell us multimeters at discount. Most meters are going to be about 25% off. The ideal 61-486 is going to have a much better discount at about 130$ US. Has anyone had any experience with these or done a teardown? In the min or so I had to play with it I noticed the volt-sense feature didn't seem to work. I really don't want to spend my money on junk.

[retiredcaps]

Neither Klein or Ideal make multimeters.  They get other manufacturers to make them and slap on their label.

Most Ideal meters are made by Appatech.

http://www.appatech.com/appa_product.php?id=2005081003113623241

Some Klein meters are made by

http://www.finest.co.kr/pi.html#hd

In the $130 USD range, you have a lot of options including used meters (think Fluke, HP - i.e. companies that make test equipment).

If you have an idea of what features you might need, then we can make intelligent suggestions.  For example, do you need to measure temperature or require a backlight?

edit: Notice the resemblance to the Ideal?

http://www.appatech.com/upload/pdmodel/pdmodel_image113574215410260.jpg

edit2: The upgraded Appa 99III

http://www.avo.co.nz/products-mainmenu-64/multimeters/industrial-commercial-electrician/858-appa-99iii

[KGB]

Let me take this opportunity for a very short and cursory reviews. (and bad english, sorry)
I have a Benning MM7-1 multimeter. At first I thought it is an expensive German übertechnology. Wrong. It is a rebranded APPA 99III, such as the Iso-Tech IDM 99-III and the IDEAL 61-486.
Pros:
The backlight is nice even white light. Resistance measurement is very fast, the continuity test is immediately, really, and no scratching. It is a pity that this renders with that often but not always, when the continuity is interrupted beeps a second one. Confusing.
Cons:
Rotary switch have a curved shape grip, despite the rasp surface it slips and never usable with one hand. Moreover, the stand is unstable, the base of the holster is curved, falls over.
Voltage measurement is very slow, 2-3 seconds to be the display stabilizes.
The capacitance max 5  micro F.
The bar graph is nice curved and useless, it is just a graphical representation of the digital display. It is no faster than the digital display. Which refresh is about 2-3 / sec.
The Volt Sensor often completely works in reverse. Eg. the signal increases when moving away from the tension.
When use the LoZ function the meter overheats, after this action that can not be correct measuring about 30 minutes. In this case, with shorted probes shows about 20 Ohms or 60 °C temperature, and it decreases very slowly.
Eats battery. The normal consumption is 5 mA, 20 mA with backlight, when it is beeping 50 mA (200 mA peak short a while). Of course, who is beeping forever? Well this meter does, beeps for rotary switches action, buttons or just switch to current measuring and NO ANY probe is connected (not only when it is not plugged into correct jack, but when the correct connector is empty).

I do not like.

[HiPowerGuy]

It seems loads of OEM's are selling under several brand names. For example, the AEMC 407 is identical to the Gossen Metrawatt 87.

https://www.gossenmetrawatt.com/english/produkte/metraclip-87.htm#
&
http://www.aemc.com/products/html/moreinfo.asp?id=122&dbname=products

hence who then really make it for whom?