It is time to replace my Craftsman $9.99 cheapo mulitmeter.
Would you remcommend this meter from Craftsman Professional
<SMALL class=xs>Sears item# 03481077000******** language=JavaScript>var omEvt="prodView";var omPrds=";03481077000";*********> Mfr. model# 81077?</SMALL>
<SMALL class=xs>http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&cName=&sName= or</SMALL>
Craftsman Professional True RMS Auto-Ranging Multimeter http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&cName=&sName==
<SMALL class=xs>Sears item# 03481079000******** language=JavaScript>var omEvt="prodView";var omPrds=";03481079000";*********> Mfr. model# 81079, Can this one be used in cars?</SMALL>

 

Personally I recomend and use either Fluke or Omega, I do own and use Craftsman tools But I trust my life to these 2 multimeters, when dealing with Electricity especially high voltage.

 

The highest voltage would be around 20 volts
I plan to use them to work on my cars/trucks.

 

There have been a few discussions like this, and a lot of folks ( me included ) really like Fluke.

However, most stuff these days is pretty accurate -- at least when it's new. I bought 3 HF DVMs for around $5 each. They all read the same as my Fluke 77.

That being said, I suggest that you go look at the meters. The HFs I mentioned had plastic cases that were obviously brittle. I also suspect that the workmanship on the electronics may not have been the best.

IMHO you should look for
Tough durable case -- for when you drop it
Convenient controls -- if it auto ranges, can you turn it on and off?
Easy to read display
Rugged controls -- do the switches feel solid?
Readout speed -- my Fluke 77 has a little bar graph that updates faster than the digits -- it helps when you're trying to probe cruddy connections -- lets you know when you're 'on'
Good probes -- the lead wire should be flexible and tough. The banana ends should be nice and springy. Both ends should be well plated.
-- you might try just probing on the ohms scale. Probe the meter leads together, and maybe any likely looking metal lying around the store. Should be easy to make solid reliable contact.

In short , it should be a good tool. Most meters today seem to be pretty accurate. The cheaper ones aren't as rugged or as easy to use. However, you should be able to find something suitable for a reasonable price.


Good Luck,

ford2go

 

HF multimeters used for 20? years now on auto and light residence work, good enough my use and the price is right. Fluke's one of the best, used in the Navy but i can't afford 'em.

{When main-wiring the house and shop i got a heavierduty generic w/ cable clamp, but too bulky for truck work.)

The Craftsman you linked ought to work fine {Sears is down now so couldn't see them.}
,

 

fluke is the best name in multi meters. i have 2 that i "aquired" and i have a cheapo one. they all get used about as much as each other, rarely. the cheapo one is very small so i like that, but the fluke is more rugged. and the fluke ones i have are digital readout, not analog like the cheapo one. if i had to choose id pick the fluke, its easyer to read

 

Analog meters have their uses!! It is good to have both digital and analog I used to
have the big craftsmen analog until a ex friend dropped it while I was working on his
car rrrrrrrr!! A guy I worked with had the craftsmen with the Scope feature and he
said he would never go back to fluke after that meter especially with the price difference. More than likely they are made by the same factory I never had the money
for a Fluke even the ones in pawn shops are overpriced, So if you have one and know
someone with a craftsmen take them apart and see what is inside. You get what you
pay for either way, the probes are what really should make your choice for you, since
a probe that cracks when you put it on a wire can kill you it is wise to make sure it
has thick and strong insulators.

 

I have a fluke but I also have a yellow one can't remember the name but I got it at a electrical store it has one feature that is great its a clamp on amp meter for DC which is rare. Great for checking amperage draws and battery going dead issues. It was about 50.00 or so. I'll get the name.


Dick

 

Fluke makes the best meter by far. I would think the Craftsman meter would do fine for your application though.

 

I think it is a UEI this is it...
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-UEi-DL49-Dig...QQcmdZViewItem

 

This is the Balkamp one I have had for years from NAPA. $230

 

I will go with the first one multimeter in my first post
Thank you all!

 

I concur. And my Fluke 78 has both a digital readout and an analog bar graph readout.

 

This is what I have for meters and I would not want anything else...



Just your basic volt meter and amp clamp. Good for checking voltages etc. but not so great for checking the SWEEP of something like a TPS, watching a temp sensor as the motor heats up, the switching of the O2 etc. etc. For doing all that stuff I use the scopemeter which I really like to use with a breakout box. Thats the best way to get data that I know of.

 

Another vote for Fluke multimeters. They are rugged and reliable and work when you need them to work.

An extra set of long leads is handy when doing electrical work on a full-size truck. Isn't that the normal use for our multimeters?

Lou Braun

PS: Never loan out your Fluke meter.