Author Topic: If you only had one meter?  (Read 13812 times)

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Offline Gyro

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #25 on: October 24, 2022, 08:44:09 pm »
If I was going to be shipwrecked on a desert island, I would probably go for a Fluke 25 or 27. Firstly they can swim (or at least not drown), they would probably withstand crashing on the rocks, and of course the 10k hours battery life would hopefully last me until rescue or death!
« Last Edit: October 24, 2022, 09:18:18 pm by Gyro »
Best Regards, Chris
 
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Offline BeBuLamar

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #26 on: October 24, 2022, 09:38:24 pm »
I owned the original 87 but not the 87V but I use it a lot at work. I own the 189, 287 and 289. The 287 and 289 offer functionality not found on the 87V but it's a pain for quick measurement. Slow start up and slow autoranging in resistance mode. I think if I can only have 1 meter I would choose the 189. I own it for a long time but not using it much. I am now semi retired so I do stuff at home more often and I found I like the 189 a lot.
 

Offline Excavatoree

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #27 on: October 25, 2022, 12:55:42 am »
fluke 23 (ie, a yellow 77)



reasons: safe, simple, reliable, long battery life.


cheers,
rob   :-)

One of my favorites. 
 

Offline Xandinator

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #28 on: October 27, 2022, 09:05:09 am »
You can live pretty good with only one multimeter, e.g. the 87V: The 117 counts as voltage checker, 289 & U1282A are loggers, DAQ6510 is a daq, 34470A & DMM7510 are digitizers, 1507 is an insulation tester, 789 is a calibrator, B2987A is an electrometer, RTH1004 is a scope. Apart from that they of course all can do voltages and other stuff.
 
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Offline ci11

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #29 on: October 27, 2022, 11:05:11 am »
My "Desert Island" choice would be the Fluke 867B.

It's my pick over a 289 because it has the same 0.025% DCV accuracy but it can be AC-powered for extended logging. The waveform display (to 1,000V!) and graphical component tester (like a mini-Huntron) come in pretty handy too. It will soon be supported by Shimazaki-san's fabulous Ts Digital Multi Meter Viewer software for real-time monitoring and extended logging on a Win 10/11 PC, much better usability over the DOS-era FlukeView 860 that can only be run under WinXP or earlier. What's not to like? Its "lots-to-love" size, having been discontinued for sometime and not cheap on the used market.

Plan B would be the Gossen MetraHit 29S.

Made in Germany, 310,000 count, 0.02% DCV accuracy on a 1-to-3 line LCD in a smaller package than the 867B with all the high-end bells and whistles. It can also log to Gossen's MetraWin 10 PC software and can be AC powered. The LCD is not backlit although its current version, the MetraHit Energy, is. Runs on 2 AA's for a long time. Although discontinued for some time, they can be found but definitely not cheap due to its popularity smongst the cognoscenti.

 
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Offline TopQuark

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #30 on: October 27, 2022, 11:22:29 am »
Fluke 87V for sure.

Have a BM869s on my desk next to the Fluke 87V, and the BM869s is objectively better in most if not all ways.

But if I can only pick one, I'd still go with the 87V, because it is Fluke yellow :P
 

Offline reagle

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #31 on: October 28, 2022, 02:05:51 am »
I have way more than one DMM, but my daily go to is a Meterman 35XP even though Agilent U1252A is right next to it..

Offline rfclown

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #32 on: October 28, 2022, 03:44:23 am »
AVO 8 Mk5.  :P

What it won't do my scope does better.

Yeah, I hardly use  my meter when I have a decent 'scope.
That said, although I'd love an AVO8 just for old time's sake, I'd go with my Fluke 77, because that is all I had for long periods of time.
I brought it to one job, where its beat up appearance was sneered at, till I proved that their "you beaut" new UNI-T was lying to them!
That model UNI-T seemed to give large resistance reading errors as the battery voltage dropped with discharge, from a point  well before the "batt" symbol appeared.

I might also choose my Fluke 77. The desert island thing kind of falls apart... If you pick a hand held, the battery runs out. If a AC plug in, no AC. So forgetting the desert island scenario, if I had to choose one meter I'd have to choose between things I've actually used. Reviews don't count like actual experience. I'm an old man who's gone through piles of cheap meters (low price too tempting to pass up). My free Harbor Freight things have been great for working on the car, but I wouldn't pick them for my one and only. The reason for quoting this other reply is the mention of bad resistance readings on crap meters. If I squeeze my ANG8008s (I have two), the resistance reading changes because it's a large function of the battery and battery contact resistance. Choosing from what I have, the question would be bench versus handheld. For bench, I'd take the Agilent 34401A. I don't question the readings. That's my criteria for picking "only one" meter. Features don't matter to me as much as trusting the V,A,R measurements. That's what I use a DMM for. That's also the reason I'd probably pick my Fluke 77 for a handheld. I've had it a LONG time, and I don't question the readings. Ever. I did clean the elastomer once to make the display more readable.  I have an Agilent U1242A, but for whatever reason don't usually use it. My most recent acquisition is a Fluke 189 that needs calibrating. I don't think my Fluke 77 will ever need calibrating.
 

Offline unknownparticle

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #33 on: October 31, 2022, 10:41:44 pm »
Good grief, I've tried to ignore this thread, I really have, but I can't :-// 
So, I'm now thinking about it, I have more than several and it must be like trying to choose your favourite child, even though I don't have any!
DC coupling is the devils work!!
 
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Offline srmahaffy

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #34 on: November 08, 2022, 12:42:10 am »
Without a doubt, I would choose a Fluke 87 V as well!!
 

Offline David Hess

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #35 on: November 08, 2022, 03:02:25 am »
I have no complaints about my Tektronix DMM916, which was a competitor to the Fluke 87.
 

Offline BeBuLamar

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #36 on: November 08, 2022, 03:27:04 am »
Is this the one Tektronics got sued by Fluke for infringed their trademark color scheme?
Tek and Fluke later became sister companies so the lawsuit was settled. Tek no longer makes handheld DMM. And Fluke I think now stops making bench top DMM to leave the market to Keithley which is a division of Tek. 
 

Offline Ed.Kloonk

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #37 on: November 08, 2022, 04:23:14 am »
the jaycar analog multimeter
favourite range audible continuity

Is the question If you only had one -type- of meter?

You might get 10 good years out of a whole crate full of those awful things.


And when we say one meter, can it be a Fluke with the leads from a Agilent?

Or did I just blasphemer some great metrology deity?
iratus parum formica
 

Offline David Hess

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #38 on: November 08, 2022, 02:19:58 pm »
Is this the one Tektronics got sued by Fluke for infringed their trademark color scheme?
Tek and Fluke later became sister companies so the lawsuit was settled. Tek no longer makes handheld DMM. And Fluke I think now stops making bench top DMM to leave the market to Keithley which is a division of Tek.

That is right, although mine came with a blue sleeve so I think it was made after the lawsuit.

I think APPA actually made these multimeters for Tektronix, but unfortunately they are not available in the US.
 

Offline Finderbinder

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #39 on: February 28, 2023, 10:58:11 pm »
Plan B would be the Gossen MetraHit 29S.

Made in Germany, 310,000 count, 0.02% DCV accuracy on a 1-to-3 line LCD in a smaller package than the 867B with all the high-end bells and whistles. cognoscenti.

Not 30M (with 1,200,000 count) is/was the top?
 

Offline Finderbinder

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #40 on: February 28, 2023, 11:02:43 pm »
And if benchtop and more functional? Would it be Keithley DAQ6510 ?

BTW is there any reason to choose DMM6500 when DAQ6510 is available?
 

Offline tooki

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #41 on: March 01, 2023, 07:54:42 am »
And if benchtop and more functional? Would it be Keithley DAQ6510 ?

BTW is there any reason to choose DMM6500 when DAQ6510 is available?
The $900 difference in price comes to mind…
 

Offline Electro Detective

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #42 on: March 01, 2023, 09:45:57 am »
"If you only had one meter?"

Where and under what conditions?  :-//

Lab job, home, shed, under car, dead boat and radio in gale force wind waters,
suspect non labelled 3 phase mains switchboard,
PCB with bloated and 'normal appearance' monster caps,
rich no-life scum cheapass clients hassling you to find problems left by the last tech/s who 'worked cheap' etc

At this point it's 2 meters/meters/? (200cm/2000mm/78.74 inches) of decent quality or nothing for me

Why risk it on one meter that may fail, get dropped/driven over/drowned
or batteries go flat?

That said two AVO8-mk5 analogue needle pointers in a briefcase won't let you down
(especially if shipwrecked on Earth, or spacewrecked on Moon or Mars)
and don't need batteries,
passive features only,
and up to 3kv if you like living terminally dangerously

Active features can be handled by digital Fluke beaters
with 'installed and removed on the day of use' batteries,

assuming there is squeeze room for them in the briefcase,
and no one at interstellar flight control checks the weight   :popcorn:

 

Online Psi

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #43 on: March 01, 2023, 09:53:19 am »
Only 1 meter, hmm.. can probably fit 10-15 multimeters alongside each other within your 1 meter requirement.

That should be plenty.
Greek letter 'Psi' (not Pounds per Square Inch)
 
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Offline M0HZH

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #44 on: March 01, 2023, 09:53:58 am »
I guess I'd be happy to have my Fluke 287 as the only meter. It is slow and eats through batteries, but it does everything I need.
 

Online Psi

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #45 on: March 01, 2023, 09:54:55 am »
I guess I'd be happy to have my Fluke 287 as the only meter. It is slow and eats through batteries, but it does everything I need.

I'm picturing a skeleton sitting at a desk waiting for the 287 to start up.
Greek letter 'Psi' (not Pounds per Square Inch)
 
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Offline AndyC_772

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #46 on: March 01, 2023, 09:56:21 am »
My 'travel meter' - the one I take with me to customer sites when I suspect I'll end up measuring something but aren't sure what - is my Fluke 289.

It lives in its case, with a dedicated set of probes and accessories, so I know all I need to do on a field trip is grab that case and chuck it in the back of the car. When I get to site, I know I have everything I need, and won't ever find myself in a situation where I could have measured something useful if only I'd brought a different DMM.

I don't really use it in the lab at all, though - partly because it's slow to boot which is a pain, and partly because I have a Keysight 34465A on my bench.

Offline armandine2

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #47 on: March 01, 2023, 11:01:29 am »
PROVA 903 comes to mind as one to have, maybe not if you've got one  :-\


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Offline vk6zgo

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #48 on: March 01, 2023, 11:04:20 am »
"If you only had one meter?"

Where and under what conditions?  :-//

Lab job, home, shed, under car, dead boat and radio in gale force wind waters,
suspect non labelled 3 phase mains switchboard,
PCB with bloated and 'normal appearance' monster caps,
rich no-life scum cheapass clients hassling you to find problems left by the last tech/s who 'worked cheap' etc

At this point it's 2 meters/meters/? (200cm/2000mm/78.74 inches) of decent quality or nothing for me

Why risk it on one meter that may fail, get dropped/driven over/drowned
or batteries go flat?

That said two AVO8-mk5 analogue needle pointers in a briefcase won't let you down
(especially if shipwrecked on Earth, or spacewrecked on Moon or Mars)
and don't need batteries,
passive features only,
and up to 3kv if you like living terminally dangerously

Active features can be handled by digital Fluke beaters
with 'installed and removed on the day of use' batteries,

assuming there is squeeze room for them in the briefcase,
and no one at interstellar flight control checks the weight   :popcorn:

AVOs need batteries for the ohms ranges & things like Fluke 77s last for up to years on a 9v battery.
Your "use & remove" batteries would probably not last much longer, as they would run into "shelf life" problems.
 

Offline coromonadalix

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Re: If you only had one meter?
« Reply #49 on: March 01, 2023, 11:49:58 am »
The prova  dual meter is interesting,  but  it share a ground between the 2 channels  if i recall,  to me it become a no no

The Fluke 189  is by far a good contender

I have the Gossen 28-29  and yes they are a high end meters BUT  the display refresh is a bit "killing them"  for a day to day use,  but  they are  tough to beat, even  the auto detection input mode , ac-dc or ohm mode  is by far the most practical ever seen

They are expensive to calibrate, cost as much as an 6.5 digit meter  soo ....

So   Fluke 189  is the go to
I have Amprobe Am-140    based on FSxxxx  meter mcu(like many other brands), with the somewhat usefull 500,000 count (gimmick)      As useful as the Fluke 189, but i hate it when a fuse blow

Once again i go to the Fluke 189  loll

Never played with the Chauvin Arnoux top series .... but seems pretty good too, and yes expensives ....

But you wrote one meter  lolll         in my case it will be  tough to choose, you gain and or loose at some point,  an overdriven  refresh rates of the Gossens 28-29 would make them perfects  loll
 


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