41 replies to this topic

[DurhamAppliance]

" A man with one meter knows exactly what reading an appliance is giving. A man with two, is never really sure."

quotes a man (namely me) with too many meters.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

We have lots of power quality issue around here: surges, sags, swells, transients, harmonics, and yes, frequent outages. It's like living in a frikkin third world country! These power quality problems generate much revenue for Samurai & Co. I use the Fluke 43B to nail 'em down and prove to the customer that it was the crappy power supply to their home that fried their appliance (usually bad pole transformers or near a commercial place that injects lots of harmonics into the power lines and messes with control boards).

Flukes rule; all the others drool!

[RegUS_PatOff]

... Fluke 43B
Flukes rule; all the others drool!

$ 3000
yes, Flukes are good

Harmonics

Power

3 Phase

Sags & Swells

Transients

Volts/Ampères/Hertz

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Wow, talk about inflation! I bought mine 6 years ago and paid around $1K. Yowzah!

Awesome meter, though.

[DurhamAppliance]

wow. but even my cheap made in china fluke 116 feels like quality. Although i must admit I trust the readings of the fluke more, I love the convenience and ease of use of the fieldpiece sc77 for appliance work. I can't wrap my mind around paying over 1k for a meter, but then again I am still trying to figure out what all those squigley lines mean.

I did re-learn a valuable lesson the other day. I was taking a reading on a fridge calrod heater. Normally I use my pocket amprobe meter. It's part of my "light tackle" outfit. Anyhow, decided to use the fieldpiece . Calrod was bad. Or so I thought. Didn't look at the readings, I just didn't hear the continuity tone. Picked up new calrod from local parts house and for some reason, I thought I'd better check out the old one (had it with me) again. Used the little amprobe and "beeeeeep"

Lessons learned and/or re-learned that day
#1 Always look at the readings and not depend on sound
If i'd looked at the readings I would have noticed 25.9 ohms....which is okay for the calrod

#2 Always read your instructions thoroughly
If I'd read instructions on the fieldpiece carefully, I would have read "audible indication when less than 25 ohms"

customer was happy though as the adc board was cheaper than the calrod. Now don't start lecturing me on why I should've tested the adc board first....don't wanna hear it

Edited by DurhamAppliance, 14 January 2012 - 03:02 AM.

[Bullstok]

Fluke 87v for me.

[Daveb1972]

me personally havent bothered with cap readings, easy enough to know its faulty and change the cap

NOPE! cannot agree with that one, remember new don't (always) mean good. Diagnosis is an art, parts changing doesn't get a clear understanding of the problem.

[JJSuperfly]

Fluke 289 for me. I think some of the relatively high list price is due to the data logging feature; not so useful for me. However, I found a very low price one on e-bay. I don't know which of the other models have the temperature reading capability but I find it very useful for checking when the roast is done. Can't be too accurate when chasing medium rare!

[Bentley]

I just bought a Fluke (brand new in box) T5-600 for $40! Anyone have any problems with the 1k ohms limitation? Is this a good appliance repairman's meter?

[DurhamAppliance]

You may also need to get an inexpensive meter so that you can test thermistors which require ohm readings above 1000k

[appl.tech.29501]

I had The same meter for years. its good for general testing but as DA suggests you need something that will go higher
in the OHMS.

[Bentley]

That's what I thought. Thermistor I tested said OL but sensor I tested said a little OVER 1K. I have another DMM. I thought there might be something I was missing. I want to get another Fluke later this week. Gotta have a matching pair.
Thanks

[DurhamAppliance]

That's what I thought. Thermistor I tested said OL but sensor I tested said a little OVER 1K. I have another DMM. I thought there might be something I was missing.

know the feeling. my first testing of thermistors was with an Ideal clamp meter with ohms <600. Was at a loss for a bit

[nickfixit]

Fluke 116 for me, got 2 of them.

[DurhamAppliance]

Fluke 116 for me, got 2 of them.

In my opinion, the best bang for the buck.

[atcherservice]

May have been mentioned but the sc series from Field Piece, has clamp amp head mfg ohms and temp reading new about 70-80 bucks had mine for a few years takes a liken but keeps on ticken

[kdog]

Have a Fluke 73 and a Fluke 77, the 77 has the data hold feature - have used it a few times on those "hard to reach" voltage measurements. Numerous guages and attachments are available to add on to these meters, can be used for almost anything!

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Gentlemen, please welcome the newest member to my Fluke Meter Harem: the Fluke 117/322 Combo Pack:

 

 

 

[Bullstok]

i have a 300 series clamp meter, don't remember what one. i REALLY wish it had a min/max capability. that is an ass saver. i have to use a clamp probe with my 87v to do min/max not that it is horrible, just inconvenient sometimes.

[Bullstok]

I would like a clamp meter that features peak-and-hold so I can measure inrush current. I have a Fluke 902

i could have swore the 902 i was looking at had a min/max button...