My dear old friend of 20 years has passed away. Looking for a replacement of the Realistic digital MM which finally scarfed it's last electron.

Looking for AC/DC, Ohm, Auto Range at a minimum. And my price range is ~$50.

Luxury items would be thermocouple, tone, IR temp, something other than 9V transistor style battery.

The price range severly limits brands like Fluke or Greenlee. What other brands are there out there that are good bangs for the buck?

 

Either Radio Shack or Sears will be able to fit the bill.

Check their web sites.

Steve

 

Harbor Frieght has under $10 meters that are amazing for the price. The leads/probes are junk, but the meter itself is good, even has a transistor tester built in.

Jim

 

Get one that uses a 9v battery. They last a long time and seldom leak. An audible
continuity indicator is a handy feature. And make sure the test leads use banana type
sockets. Another good place to get a meter is a pawn shop. (with a return guarantee)

 

Harbor Frieght is mostly made in china crap, if you keep buying crap made in china, you have to get your next job there.

 

There's nothing wrong with buying a used fluke meter, if you want something that fancy/industrial without the price.

Many years ago when ebay opened up I did exactly that - for about $40 plus shipping I got myself a really nice meter - AC/DC to 600V, digital display, resistance to 10M, current to 1A and 10A depending on the selection switched, fully fused in every way (four fuses total), and it runs on two AA batteries. It's my primary meter.

For automotive work however, have a box of cheap $20 digital "fold up" radio shack meters which I bought on sale about 6 years ago for $9.95 each. I bought 5 of them, and replaced the lead ends with mini insulated alligator clips. I find these VERY useful for troubleshooting EFI electrical problems because I can monitor multiple voltages by using more than one meter - and with alligator clips I don't have to hold all these leads in place.

Here's a tip for you if you're into complex EFI/ALDL/OBDII wiring troubleshooting - also get yourself from a craft or sewing store a box of incredibly tiny safety pins.

When you want to monitor say, the TPS voltages while it's still connected to the car, you identify the sensor out lead and push a safety pin into the insulation, which makes contact with the wire core inside. Then clip your meter to that, and the ground meter wire to ground and monitor voltage, real time, while the harness is plugged in.

If the safety pins are small enough, the insulation will self-seal when you pull the pin out.

This is why I have 5 of these little meters - I can monitor TPS, MAP/MAF, O2, CTS, and EGR status all at the same time

 

I would get a Fluke. They are excellent meters.

 

Can't go wrong with a Fluke;have used them for 25+ years. You definitely get what you pay for in this case.

 

Agree with the Fluke are expensive but if you use for the job worth every cent

 

One more vote for flukes. Started with a 8060a in 1983, bought a first model 77 for
home in 1988 (still works great). Using a 77 III at work. Antique Radio Supply sells
the military probe set with the interchangeable tips,clips,forks and banana plugs.
( www.tubesandmore.com )

 

I have a Fluke 78. Money very well spent.

 

Fluke 77 and 87 here besides a couple of old Simpson 260's.
One quality meter will more than pay for replacing many
El Cheapo's besides the accuracy factor.

 

I appreciate all the input.

I found a gently used Fluke 112 in my price range.
I do need to snag some leads for it. But, I can make do with what I have till THAT opportunity arises.

Thanks.

 

Congrats you have great meter just make sure it doesn't grow legs.

 

> I found a gently used Fluke 112 in my price range.

Great!

FWIW: I have tested those cheap DMM and they are highly inaccurate (just like the Actron dwell/volt/tach meter they sell at Autozone) when run side to side with another -real- meter. Pretty bad when you can't use a meter to get the proper voltage on a simple AA battery.

I don't see how you can use them to set even a TPS !