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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the
first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
what do you need to measure and how accurate? volts amps ohms ETC
wrote in message oups.com... My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
wrote in message oups.com... My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Why are you calling the Fluke crap ? That is a very good meter. I have one that I used at work for 10 years and now have it at home. It was replaced with a newer modle by Fluke. That is a $ 300 to $ 400 meter. What do you think cheap is ? Fluke seems to the digital meters as the Simpson 260 was to the analog meters. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
By far the most reliable and durable meter I have ever used in the low
cost arena was the Fluke 8060 and its replacement the 189. The 8060s all lasted well over 20 years before failure, so far none of the 189s have had any problems. I am not sure what you mean by cheap as the low end Fluke meters were inexpensive at around $300 new. No if you want one of those throw away Chinese made multi-meters of questionable accuracy, no built in idiot user protection, then go for it. After a few of those you will find out how reliable the Fluke meters really are. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
Funfly3 wrote: what do you need to measure and how accurate? volts amps ohms ETC wrote in message Mostly volts and Ohms. I don't see going much over 30 volts and only need to measure basic resistance so I can determining shorts and whether or not a circuit is open or closed. I also would like it to be digital. But the key is reliabilty.(I'd like to use it for a few years). Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
wrote in message oups.com... Funfly3 wrote: what do you need to measure and how accurate? volts amps ohms ETC wrote in message Mostly volts and Ohms. I don't see going much over 30 volts and only need to measure basic resistance so I can determining shorts and whether or not a circuit is open or closed. I also would like it to be digital. But the key is reliabilty.(I'd like to use it for a few years). Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. What's been the problem with the fluke as I have a ten year old one that's still working ?? |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
) writes: At least with a cheap one, you can throw it in the garbage without worrying about it being a big loss. Then, you just buy what's cheap and available. If you are only spending $10 or $20, you can also toss it in the garbage if it's not suitable. It's when you are spending big bucks that you need recommendations. I have a twenty year old Radio Shack that's still running, though I took it out of regular use for other reasons. The replacement, in 1996, was a Radio Shack too (I lusted after a bigger readout, and more functions, so I splurged), and it too keeps running. I suspect that is the case for most DMMs, unless someone is really careless. There are other issues when buying a DMM, but most of those come into play when spending hundreds of dollars, because you are going to an expensive meter for reasons of good calibration or something else that's not there at the cheap end. Have you actually checked to make sure that you have good batteries in the Flukes? Michael |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
So basically, you are calling the Fluke 8060 junk because you wound up
buying two bad units off an ebay auction. I don't think the Fluke meters are the REAL reason the project is way overdue. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
wrote in message
oups.com... No if you want one of those throw away Chinese made multi-meters of questionable accuracy, no built in idiot user protection, then go for it. After a few of those you will find out how reliable the Fluke meters really are. Obviously, you haven't seen some of the latest Chinese imports. They also have reasonable accuracy just like Fluke. Besides that they offer some conveniences that Fluke, apparently hasn't dreamed up as yet - at any price - such as: Reading the output values out loud and probes with buildin LED's. Two features that are frequently very handy. The overpriced Fluke's are facing some real competition! |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
James Sweet wrote: wrote: My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Thanks. What's wrong with the Fluke? If it's broken they'll repair and calibrate it for a reasonable fee, the cheap meters are all about the same and they're all relatively crappy, Fluke is the gold standard though some of their low end stuff is Chinese now. Fluke repair and recalibrate "for a reasonable fee"? It cost twice as much to get one of these repaired than it does to get a used one on Ebay. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
If you lose tools fairly fast or use them one or twice, chinese stuff
would be the best way to go. Don,t even think about a warranty. On the flip side, I found a craftsman (sears) vise grip pliers that were not working good and walked into sears and exchanged them for a new pair on the spot. Fluke has there manuals available in pdf fromat (just photocopied ones) for all models as a free download. Chinese stuff? Think "short term" . They put cheaper vacuum cleaner motors in things that require the more expensive continuous duty motors. won,t cover a abused burnt out motor. Pretty slick cache 22 argument. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
Well... I spent $20 on a RadioShack pocket DMM, works fine, and had one battery
change. Also use a Vellman DMM--same thing, cheap, wouldn't trust too much, but you know, it does the job. I, like everyone else, am surprised that you'd be having so many problems with Fluke meters. I mean... can I have one? :P If you're looking for something to just USE and get a quick test for diagnostics or something... yeah, go to a RadioShack or other electronics store, and don't expect to spend more than $10-20. I know both of mine are under $20 apiece. Just remember, you get what you pay for.... they may not be the most accurate things you can get. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
Doug Kelly wrote:
Well... I spent $20 on a RadioShack pocket DMM, works fine, and had one battery change. Also use a Vellman DMM--same thing, cheap, wouldn't trust too much, but you know, it does the job. I, like everyone else, am surprised that you'd be having so many problems with Fluke meters. I mean... can I have one? :P If you're looking for something to just USE and get a quick test for diagnostics or something... yeah, go to a RadioShack or other electronics store, and don't expect to spend more than $10-20. I know both of mine are under $20 apiece. Just remember, you get what you pay for.... they may not be the most accurate things you can get. He bought cheap used high end meters that were probably abused and having problems to begin with and that's why they were cheap, what does one expect? I have a couple cheap DMM's and they work fine as second meters, but they're all pretty much the same, and none of them are worth having fixed when they fail. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
James Sweet wrote: wrote: James Sweet wrote: wrote: My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Thanks. What's wrong with the Fluke? If it's broken they'll repair and calibrate it for a reasonable fee, the cheap meters are all about the same and they're all relatively crappy, Fluke is the gold standard though some of their low end stuff is Chinese now. Fluke repair and recalibrate "for a reasonable fee"? It cost twice as much to get one of these repaired than it does to get a used one on Ebay. But how great of a bargain was the used one off ebay that doesn't work? It was probably sold cheap on ebay for a reason, IIRC they're about $350 retail. They were working when I got them. Are you now suggesting that the previous owners somehow knew that the meters would fail soon, or that Fluke meters are garbage? You are referring to one of the same two meters we were discussing when you said that you would "gladly take one off (my) hands", correct? Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
James Sweet wrote: Doug Kelly wrote: Well... I spent $20 on a RadioShack pocket DMM, works fine, and had one battery change. Also use a Vellman DMM--same thing, cheap, wouldn't trust too much, but you know, it does the job. I, like everyone else, am surprised that you'd be having so many problems with Fluke meters. I mean... can I have one? :P If you're looking for something to just USE and get a quick test for diagnostics or something... yeah, go to a RadioShack or other electronics store, and don't expect to spend more than $10-20. I know both of mine are under $20 apiece. Just remember, you get what you pay for.... they may not be the most accurate things you can get. He bought cheap used high end meters that were probably abused and having problems to begin with and that's why they were cheap, what does one expect? I have a couple cheap DMM's and they work fine as second meters, but they're all pretty much the same, and none of them are worth having fixed when they fail. Ok. So you're saying that a used Fluke 8060A gotten from Ebay is not worth a cheapo meter from Radio Shack, correct? Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
On 30 Oct 2005 08:52:59 -0800, put finger to
keyboard and composed: My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. I have the same negative experience with Fluke stuff. One day when I get sick of looking at my dead PM97 Scopemeter (AUD$2750) I'll take out my frustrations by stomping on it. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Buy a cheap meter, any cheap meter, and calibrate it to +-/0.02% with a precision reference circuit costing ~$5. You can build your own single-chip precision voltage reference using Maxim's MAX6350 (5.0V), MAX6341 (4.096V), or MAX6325 (2.5V): http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/MAX6325-MAX6350.pdf "The MAX6325/MAX6341/MAX6350 are low-noise, precision voltage references with extremely low, 0.5ppm/°C typical temperature coefficients and excellent, ±0.02% initial accuracy. These devices feature buried-zener technology for lowest noise performance. Load-regulation specifications are guaranteed for source and sink currents up to 15mA. Excellent line and load regulation and low output impedance at high frequencies make them ideal for high-resolution data-conversion systems up to 16 bits." -- Franc Zabkar Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
James Sweet wrote: wrote: James Sweet wrote: wrote: James Sweet wrote: wrote: My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Thanks. What's wrong with the Fluke? If it's broken they'll repair and calibrate it for a reasonable fee, the cheap meters are all about the same and they're all relatively crappy, Fluke is the gold standard though some of their low end stuff is Chinese now. Fluke repair and recalibrate "for a reasonable fee"? It cost twice as much to get one of these repaired than it does to get a used one on Ebay. But how great of a bargain was the used one off ebay that doesn't work? It was probably sold cheap on ebay for a reason, IIRC they're about $350 retail. They were working when I got them. Are you now suggesting that the previous owners somehow knew that the meters would fail soon, or that Fluke meters are garbage? You are referring to one of the same two meters we were discussing when you said that you would "gladly take one off (my) hands", correct? Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. Yes because I'd send it to Fluke and have it repaired and calibrated, it's a lot cheaper than buying a new one and it has true RMS which is a feature all of my meters lack and it's very handy when working with HID lamps and ballasts. Well, that is not what I need a meter for. And as far as cheaper than buying a new one. That's a new Fluke. I was looking for a reliable cheap meter that is relatively accurate so I won't have to spend money on a "new Fluke" for the simple purposes I need a meter for. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
Don't Fluke meters have a lifetime warranty?
(Well, if you buy them somewhere other than eBay) That'd be a big attraction for me. I have a $20 multimeter I can use when it's off being repaired. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
Junk? I never said anything negative about the company. You need to re-read my opriginal post. Well, you did use the word "crap". Lots of electronic stuff with intermittent problems winds up on eBay. The two meters I have just happened to crap out on me, so I concluded that they are not worth spending all that money on(initially or to get repaired). For any one serious about electronics, a Fluke meter is a good investment. Sorry that you had bad luck. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
To me, the answer to your question is that it depends on what you plan to do
with it and what features you require. Based on what you have stated, I would think a cheap DMM from Sears or RS would meet your needs just fine. You just will need to make sure you double check your function before you connect your test leads since they will not offer any overvoltage protection (measure voltage or current on the resistance setting for instance.) Bob wrote in message ups.com... Ok. So you're saying that a used Fluke 8060A gotten from Ebay is not worth a cheapo meter from Radio Shack, correct? Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
Fluke are the best meters on the market today. The people who sold them,
probably dumped them to get new ones, due to them failing. Fluke will service their products at a reasonable rate, in respect to their value. They have a high quality produce and will make sure that their products are properly calibrated before shipping them back out to their customer. If you want a new good meter, the Fluke should be of the first consideration. They are very stable and accurate. If the meter is properly taken care of, and not abused, it should last many years and maintain its accuracy. -- JANA _____ wrote in message oups.com... My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap meter with basic functions. Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
"JANA" wrote in message ... If you want a new good meter, the Fluke should be of the first consideration. They are very stable and accurate. If the meter is properly taken care of, and not abused, it should last many years and maintain its accuracy. True, and the same principle holds for plenty of other meters. But unlike Fluke, there are (or were) manufacturers that will include a circuit diagram of the meter with the sale. Another good point to consider is that for most basic electronic servicing anything beyond 1 - 3% accuracy is not required and that makes many Fluke's a waste of money! |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
The only knowledge you have of the condition of those two units
is from the sellers. I wouldn't jump to conclusions about Fluke based on that. Maybe they sold them for a reason besides just not needing them anymore. wrote: The first of the two 8060A meters I have began to work intermittantly after the third time I used it.(I won it off of Ebay). And now doesn't power up. Because of Fluke's reputation I got another one(from a different auction), and that one was only used one time. Now when I power it on the display is very dim and doesn't do anything when I try to use the buttons. This Fluke was definitely checked and recalibrated before I received it, and the problem is defintely not the batteries. So that's two (rarely used)Flukes that stopped working within about 2 or 3 years. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
In article ,
Do Little2 wrote: Another good point to consider is that for most basic electronic servicing anything beyond 1 - 3% accuracy is not required and that makes many Fluke's a waste of money! There is such a big choice on the market no one is forcing you to buy Fluke. Personally, I find mine a delight to use - same as any well crafted tool. In the same way as my Makita cordless drill does over a 20 quid Chinese one that still drills holes or drives screws after a fashion. ;-) If all you want of a DVM is occasional use then it makes no sense to pay for a Fluke - but use it a lot and it starts to make sense. -- *Gaffer tape - The Force, light and dark sides - holds the universe together* Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message ... [snip] If all you want of a DVM is occasional use then it makes no sense to pay for a Fluke - but use it a lot and it starts to make sense. .... And about as much sense as limiting oneself to one manufacturer. There are many good manufacturers out there with excellent meters. For multiple input recorder/meters, Westronics (now Thermo) beats Fluke any day. As per subject line: In my opinion Extech, Wavetek, Instek all have nice meters that are a lot cheaper than Fluke and just as good. For even less expensive meters visit "The Source" formerly Radio Schack and your local hardware store may also stock some useful meters. --- Expensive does not always mean that it is the best! |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
On 31 Oct 2005 04:47:38 -0800, "
put finger to keyboard and composed: Don't Fluke meters have a lifetime warranty? (Well, if you buy them somewhere other than eBay) That'd be a big attraction for me. I have a $20 multimeter I can use when it's off being repaired. 3 years for the PM97. -- Franc Zabkar Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
In article .com,
wrote: | My second of two Fluke 8060A meters turned out to be crap(just like the | first), and it is becoming obvious that I just need to buy a cheap | meter with basic functions. | | Can I get recommendations?(Reliablilty being the number one criteria). It sounds like cheap is the #1 criteria ... If so, go down to your local Harbor Freight Tools, and find their digitial meter that's usually on sale for $2.99, and buy 10 of them. I suspect I'll get a lot of flack for even suggesting them, but I've had nothing but good results from them. I've found them to be accurate within 1% and I've never had one break except when they were physically abused. And at $3 each, I can have them all over the house, and if I do break one, just throw it away. Mostly I use them to do low voltage DC measurements, low amperage measurements and simple resistance checks, and they work extremely well for that. They don't have the features that better models have (like true RMS) but they're pretty good, and awesome for the price. -- Doug McLaren, Let's organize this thing and take all the fun out of it. |
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
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Advice Please: Cheap Meter Recommendations
Well, that is not what I need a meter for. And as far as cheaper than buying a new one. That's a new Fluke. I was looking for a reliable cheap meter that is relatively accurate so I won't have to spend money on a "new Fluke" for the simple purposes I need a meter for. You obviously don't need a high end meter, just go buy a cheapie, all the cheap meters are pretty much the same so get whatever one you find on sale that has the features you need, which most any meter will have. |
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