I need some new meters for my main line of work. Currently I use older meters that I’ve been very satisfied with but well they are old and stuff and I’m out of back ups, so need to at least keep my eyes out for replacments.
I install and maintain pumps and pressure tanks for well water systems.
What I have now is:
A voltage tester. Simple two probe tool it covers 120-240. It reads 240 if I touch it to something higher like 440. I actualy need one that is accurate for up to 480 and would still give a reading if somehow something higher was present.
An amprobe. Non-digital
An Olm meter. It is very old. Non-digital has settings for ac 1x 10x 100x and 1000x and some dc ranges. I typicaly only use 1x and 1000x
I’m not very knowledgeable in what I should look for in these things. The prices on multi meters seam to have quite a range to them and don’t really understand the differences between some of them.
A multimeter that does everything is fine as long as it remains compact. I’m also ok with having different three meters around.
I prefer non-digital read outs but I’m willing to evolve if needed.
Durable is pretty important for me. I don’t beat on them of anything but I do climb in and out of well pits and such, so them dropping once or twice in their lifetime is a possiblity as is contact with mousture.
I’d also like a non-contact voltage tester. I’ve seen them as little pen like devices that you hold up to a socket and it will tell you if it is powered. that option on a multimeter or voltage tester would be good too.
I hope that gives anyone reading this an idea of what I need. Thanks in advance for any help you may provide
Try any of the big-name traditional test-equipment manufacturers: Fluke, Agilent (formerly the test and measurement arm of HP, and the part us electronics geeks all wanted to work at), B&K Precision. There are other brands, such as Wavetek, Amprobe, and others. Some are more specialised, some are less durable, precise, or expensive.
Check your local electrical supply wholesaler-sorry, but I haven’t a clue who’s big up your way. Ideal has been around for ages, and makes a very well-respected line of instruments. Some of their line is sold by the big-pox stores. If you’d like to go mail order, check out MCM Electronics in Ohio. Decent prices, broad selection, I’ve been buying from them for years and haven’t been disappointed. I’ve got a digital Fluke that’s been through much abuse and still works well. Since you like analog, there’s always the workhorse Simpson 260, but I wouldn’t subject that style meter to dropping or moisture. Mine stays in the shop for bench work-it cost too much!
I’d talk to local electricians if I were you. They can probably give you a good review on various instruments, especially durability and reliability. They’re as hard on them as you are (I work with both electricians and pump guys, but not closely enough to make recommendations myself.)
Get used to the idea of a digital meter. All the good meters sold today are digital. I have not seen a good quality analog meter is years. Sunspace mentioned all the major players in the field. My personal preference is Fluke. Their units are very rugged, and seem to last forever.
A Fluke 110 would seem to fit your needs, or perhaps a Fluke 73. The 73 will read AC current flow below 3A, the 110 won’t. Also the 73 has a touch hold system where you can take a reading without being able to see the meter. When the meter has locked in the reading it beeps. The reading is frozen on the screen for you to read. Very handy when you are working in cramped quarters.
Both of these units will read up to 10A current, and 600V both AC and DC. Higher amperages can be read, via an amp probe available as an accessory.
If the Flukes have a fault it is that they auto range, and if you are not paying attention, you can interpret the reading incorrectly. For example up to a little over 100 ohms the scale is X1. Meter reads 99 = 99 ohms. Somewhere above 100 ohms the scale changes to X1000. So a meter reading of .212 k =212 ohms, but because the K on the screen is small and easy to overlook, an inexperienced user might thing the correct reading is actually about two-tenths of one ohm. If I were the Fluke designer, I would make that damn K (and M) great big and flashing so the operator did not over look it.
I have heard very bad things about Radio Shack meters. I have heard of people get two and three out of the box dud in a row with their meters. Better to spend a few extra bucks now, and not have issues in the future. YM and pocketbook MV of course.
For the voltage tester, you’re looking for a Wiggy. Believe they’re good for up to 600 volts. Simple, rugged little beasts, and usually available for $30-40 or so.
“An Olm meter. It is very old. Non-digital has settings for ac 1x 10x 100x and 1000x and some dc ranges. I typicaly only use 1x and 1000x”
Ohm meter. Sounds like you’re after something like the classic (meaning, it’s older than I am!) Simpson 260 series. For around $300, the 260-8XPi sounds like it’ll do what you need.
You can get an AC amp probe for the Simpson, so that might be a bit cheaper and more compact than a stand-alone ammeter.
The Simpson tight-band analog meters are still available, and good if you need to peak or null something. Many of the digital meters have bar graph type things below the digits that aim to serve this purpose, but this is not much help IME.
An analog meter is also handy if the reading is changing a lot. You can average by eye.
Once you get the features you need straightened out, the thing to keep in mind is the number of divisions or counts. Better meters have a greater number of graduations. The lousy ones that IMO will tend to break have three 7-segment digits and one 1… in other words, there’s a maximum of 1999 divisions. Some of the better meters have 10 to 40 thousand.
Personally, I think the Flukes deserve their reputation in an industrial environment.
They are Canadian but will ship to anywhere in North Aamerica (your expense)… They carry a house brand called “POWER FIST” (dumb name, good basic products) . They feature surplus, no-name, and slightly outdated equipment at firesale costs.
I got a Dremel "knock off, with a full assortment of tools and a extention cable for $40 CDN! (Dremel price close to $175!!)
check em out!
Regards FML
(Note I do not work for them, or own any stock in the CO, I just think they have a great concept)
