On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 16:32:53 +0000, colin wrote:

"DaveC" wrote in message
news.net...
Not that there's anything wrong with Flukes, inherently, but I like having
choices.

Are there other brands that are considered as good quality as Fluke?

Thanks,
--
DaveC

Ive had quite a few (cheap) multimeters in the past, then I got a second
hand fluke 77 fairly cheap, its far beter than all the others ive had put
together and its lasted ages. probably atualy works out cheaper in the long
run (and the battery lasts ages too). I like flukes and this model in
particular, it was the one to go for at the time at work especialy if you
didnt have to pay the price tag, however im not sure what else is around
that can match it in terms of being nice to use reliable and rugged.

I agree. I've had Fluke 77s for fifteen years. The only reason I bought
a bunch of $4 HarborFreights was that my Flukes had a habit of taking a
walkabout. One hasn't been seen in 12 years. THe HF's can now go walk.
BTW, I've only replaced the batteries in the 77s once in those fifteen
years. They still work quite well.

Incedently I saw a project for a home made power supply on the web where
the insides of a multimeter were used as the volt/current readout, some
are so cheap they are actualy cheaper than a proper panel mounting
digital meter.

Sure. At $3-4 each...

--
Keith

Thus spake Keith:

I agree. I've had Fluke 77s for fifteen years. The only reason I bought a
bunch of $4 HarborFreights was that my Flukes had a habit of taking a
walkabout. One hasn't been seen in 12 years. THe HF's can now go walk. BTW,

I've only replaced the batteries in the 77s once in those fifteen years.
They still work quite well.

OP, here.

I have 73 and 77. Both work quite well, also. The only reason I'm looking for
another meter is that neither of these are true RMS reading meters. Mfr of
equipment I'm servicing is spec'ing pulsed DC voltage as an RMS value. I
can't accurately measure this with these meters.

I've been quite happy with these meters, but I need true RMS measurement, and
my eyes would appreciate larger display and a backlight. I've been eying the
Fluke 87, but would like to at least see what *doesn't* measure up to the
Fluke before I plunk down the $$.

Thanks,
--
DaveC

This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group

In article ,
Keith wrote:



Let's go back! The OP's bitching because he bought a FLUKE, with Company
B's label on top. He *DID NOT* buy a Fluke. The IBM deal is quite like
the GE deal. They're selling their name as part of the unit sold. The
name is worth money. ...and they're still servicing the products *THEY*
sell. I suppose you don't think GoodYear should sell tires under the
GoodYear name in Sears.

Nope, the OP simply asked whether there were alternatives to Fluke, of
comparable quality. Someone opined that Omega was good. I offered that
Omega doesn't make things.



You're wrong. He was claiming *FRAUD* (until I challenged this
absurdity), which clearly it's not.

If you're talking about me, and again, I'm not the OP, you're right, I
do think it's fraudulent. Legally fraudulent, maybe not. Morally
fraudulent, yes. That's my opinion, and there's not one damn thing
"absurd" about me having an opinion, even though it's one you clearly
don't share, most of the time, except in certain circumstances.

Smitty Two wrote in newsrestwhich-
:

In article ,
Keith Williams wrote:



No contradiction at all. In the US it is illegal to put a "Made in
&country." sticker on a device that's only &country. content is the
insertion of a battery. I can't imagine this being kosher in the
EU. It has nothing to do with re-branding.



Actually, it seems to me that your logic is flawed, your position is
nebulous, and your analogies irrelevant.

But just clarify this one issue for me, and then I'll let it drop.
Suppose I buy a chassis made in Japan, some electronic components made
in China, a blank PWB fabricated in Maylasia, a battery made in Mexico,
and a can of spray paint made on the moon. And I put it all together
into a product. Now, can I say it was made in America?

And if so, where and when do I cross the line to illegality? You say
that if all I do is add the battery, I can't claim I made it here. What
if all I do is add the battery and spray paint it? What if all I do is
add the battery, install the assembled board into the chassis, and paint
it? What if all I do is add two components to the PWB, install the
board, paint it, and add the battery?

And how is this different than re-branding? One company can take another
company's product and stick their name on it, but one country can't do
that with another country's product?

Your standards are indefensible, because they're undefinable.


I'd say that at least 51% of the content(labor and parts) must come from
the country of "manufacture".

How is it set for the auto industry?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
news
In article ,
Keith Williams wrote:



No contradiction at all. In the US it is illegal to put a "Made in
&country." sticker on a device that's only &country. content is the
insertion of a battery. I can't imagine this being kosher in the
EU. It has nothing to do with re-branding.



Actually, it seems to me that your logic is flawed, your position is
nebulous, and your analogies irrelevant.

But just clarify this one issue for me, and then I'll let it drop.
Suppose I buy a chassis made in Japan, some electronic components made
in China, a blank PWB fabricated in Maylasia, a battery made in Mexico,
and a can of spray paint made on the moon. And I put it all together
into a product. Now, can I say it was made in America?

And if so, where and when do I cross the line to illegality? You say
that if all I do is add the battery, I can't claim I made it here. What
if all I do is add the battery and spray paint it? What if all I do is
add the battery, install the assembled board into the chassis, and paint
it? What if all I do is add two components to the PWB, install the
board, paint it, and add the battery?

And how is this different than re-branding? One company can take another
company's product and stick their name on it, but one country can't do
that with another country's product?

Your standards are indefensible, because they're undefinable.


Honda takes a bit of tin, bashes it into shape, installs a Japanese engine
with all
made in Japan electronic components. A Japanese radio, Japanese brakes.
and calls it " Made in North America"

"Spokesman" wrote in
:



Honda takes a bit of tin, bashes it into shape, installs a Japanese
engine with all
made in Japan electronic components. A Japanese radio, Japanese
brakes. and calls it " Made in North America"





I hate to break it to you,but Honda makes auto engines for US Hondas in
their Marysvale,Ohio plant,they have been for a long time.

US Hondas have greater US content than many "Detroit" autos/SUVs,some of
which are made wholly or partly in Mexico or Canada.
Some of the Japanese US auto plants are shipping US made autos to Japan.
IIRC,only the West Coast gets Japanese-made Honda autos.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Bud-- wrote:

Smitty Two wrote:

In article ,
Keith wrote:



Let's go back! The OP's bitching because he bought a FLUKE, with Company
B's label on top. He *DID NOT* buy a Fluke. The IBM deal is quite like
the GE deal. They're selling their name as part of the unit sold. The
name is worth money. ...and they're still servicing the products *THEY*
sell. I suppose you don't think GoodYear should sell tires under the
GoodYear name in Sears.


Nope, the OP simply asked whether there were alternatives to Fluke, of
comparable quality. Someone opined that Omega was good. I offered that
Omega doesn't make things.


Seems to me like an entirely reasonable observation. I was surprised
when I figured out some 'Omega' equipment was from other manufacturers
and cheaper under the manufacturers name. My impression is that Omega is
a convenient source for a wide range of stuff but you pay more for it.

bud--


Not only that, but some of the manufacturers only sell in large
quantities so its actually cheaper to go to a distributor for small
orders.

I got a brand new Fluke 87 about 15 years ago and had nothing but
trouble with it . I dont use it all that much and its always stayed on a
workbench . It looks like brand new still .
It had wierd problems not turning off and making clicking noises when
switched off . Now the AC reads 25 volts low when testing an outlet .
My used Fluke 73 has neverhad any problems .

The Harbor Freight auto ranging DMM that looks alot like the Fluke 83
,same size even has a yellow rubber case thingy is sure a nice meter for
20 - 30$

Thus spake Ken G.:

I got a brand new Fluke 87 about 15 years ago and had nothing but
trouble with it . I dont use it all that much and its always stayed on a
workbench . It looks like brand new still .
It had wierd problems not turning off and making clicking noises when
switched off . Now the AC reads 25 volts low when testing an outlet .
My used Fluke 73 has neverhad any problems .

The Harbor Freight auto ranging DMM that looks alot like the Fluke 83
,same size even has a yellow rubber case thingy is sure a nice meter for
20 - 30$

Looked at the Wavetek (owned by Fluke) MeterMan DMMs. I like them. I think I
might buy a $150 one. I'll keep my Fluke 73 & 77 for everyday measurement
(they never quit), but when I need "true RMS" I'll use the MeterMan.
--
DaveC

This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group

I have a question. Why do they make lap tops so you have to keep the
battery installed to run it? I have an old compaq, that doesn't have a
transformer, and it doesn't care if the battery is in there or not. Is
there a way to bypass this problem?

"Dana" wrote in message
x.com...
I have a question. Why do they make lap tops so you have to keep the
battery installed to run it? I have an old compaq, that doesn't have a
transformer, and it doesn't care if the battery is in there or not. Is
there a way to bypass this problem?

Your Compaq has a transformer, inside.

As far as I know, not all modern laptops require a battery to be installed
in order to run from their wall transformer.

You may have a rather low-powered transformer that can charge the battery
but cannot always run the laptop by itself. It uses the battery like a
holding tank for moments when the laptop requires more current. What kind
of laptop are we talking about?

It is a toshiba. If you take the battery out, it won't power up. I thought
there might be a way to bypass and just use the wall transformer. I am a
blind person, so don't work on theese that much, but don't want to pay
$100 for a battery either.

"Dana" wrote in message
.com...
It is a toshiba. If you take the battery out, it won't power up. I thought
there might be a way to bypass and just use the wall transformer. I am a blind
person, so don't work on theese that much, but don't want to pay $100 for a
battery either.


I wouldn't recommend trying to make your laptop work without a battery. Not
worth the risk. There are a number of battery suppliers on the web that will
sell you a battery for your computer for much less than $100. You might post
the laptop model, and if possible, the part or model number on the battery. We
can probably find a battery that will be easier on your bank account.

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

Some days you're the dog, some days the hydrant.