Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Purchasing a new high end multimeter

M

Mike

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi - I've been using a fairly low end digital multimeter (Meterman
16XL) for many years now. It works fine - and gets the job done most
of the time. But it just isn't as accurate as I would like, and I
really wish it was auto ranging. Recently, I have been given some
money to spend on equipment. So - I have $500 to spend on a new
multimeter for myself.

Right now - I'm thinking Fluke 189:

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/1...FlukeUnitedStates&category=HMA(FlukeProducts)

Any opinions? I feel like Fluke is pretty much the ultimate when it
comes to multimeters - but then again, it's been a while since I've
bought any test equipment, and I've never purchased anything quite
this high end.

I'm not sure if I'd get the computer connection for it or not -
depends on how much extra that costs. It looks like without it the 189
goes for $400 or so. Not sure how much it goes for with it. Anyways -
where would I buy such a beast? I'm in Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Well, thanks for any advice you can lend me!

-Mike
 
A

artie

Jan 1, 1970
0
Mike said:
Hi - I've been using a fairly low end digital multimeter (Meterman
16XL) for many years now. It works fine - and gets the job done most
of the time. But it just isn't as accurate as I would like, and I
really wish it was auto ranging. Recently, I have been given some
money to spend on equipment. So - I have $500 to spend on a new
multimeter for myself.

Right now - I'm thinking Fluke 189:


http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/180+FVF.htm?catalog_name=FlukeUnitedStates&c
ategory=HMA(FlukeProducts)

Any opinions? I feel like Fluke is pretty much the ultimate when it
comes to multimeters - but then again, it's been a while since I've
bought any test equipment, and I've never purchased anything quite
this high end.

I'm not sure if I'd get the computer connection for it or not -
depends on how much extra that costs. It looks like without it the 189
goes for $400 or so. Not sure how much it goes for with it. Anyways -
where would I buy such a beast? I'm in Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Well, thanks for any advice you can lend me!

-Mike

If you don't need handheld, you can pick up used HP 3456a, 3457a, and
the occasional 3458a multimeter on eBay. The 57 and 58 have more
self-check and self-cal in them, but on any of them, if they turn on
and say that they're okay, they're okay! 4-wire ohms, programmable,
IEEE-1488 interface. The manuals are available for free on the web.
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm not sure if I'd get the computer connection for it or not -
depends on how much extra that costs. It looks like without it the 189
goes for $400 or so. Not sure how much it goes for with it. Anyways -
where would I buy such a beast? I'm in Champaign, Illinois, USA.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180085705823

I'd also look at IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. If the boss is paying, what the
hell. If you are paying, look for a deal.

http://www.idealindustries.com/IDEAL-EZ/products.nsf/ItemMasterLookup/p61-635?OpenDocument

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E

Eeyore

Jan 1, 1970
0
Mike said:
Hi - I've been using a fairly low end digital multimeter (Meterman
16XL) for many years now. It works fine - and gets the job done most
of the time. But it just isn't as accurate as I would like, and I
really wish it was auto ranging. Recently, I have been given some
money to spend on equipment. So - I have $500 to spend on a new
multimeter for myself.

Right now - I'm thinking Fluke 189:

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/1...FlukeUnitedStates&category=HMA(FlukeProducts)

Any opinions? I feel like Fluke is pretty much the ultimate when it
comes to multimeters - but then again, it's been a while since I've
bought any test equipment, and I've never purchased anything quite
this high end.

I'm not sure if I'd get the computer connection for it or not -
depends on how much extra that costs. It looks like without it the 189
goes for $400 or so. Not sure how much it goes for with it. Anyways -
where would I buy such a beast? I'm in Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Well, thanks for any advice you can lend me!

What are your actual requirements ? Do you need true RMS for example ? Is the 189 overkill for your
requirements ?

Flukes are good but don't overspend on what you don't need.

Graham
 
E

Eeyore

Jan 1, 1970
0
John said:
---
Interesting (albeit not unexpected) attitude.

With that lack of respect for the boss's interests, I don't think
you'd last long around here.

Rigid budgets that can't be allocated to other requirements encourage that style
of thinking unfortunately.

Graham
 
E

Eeyore

Jan 1, 1970
0
Thank you kindly !

It has nothing to do with budgets, it has to do with wanting to get
as good a deal for the boss as you want to get for yourself.

You've obviously never been in the situation where it's seen as a failure not to
spend your budget allocation.

For my own part I *always* seek out best value for my boss / client (and myself of
course) even when if means purchasing 'shop-soiled' or 2nd user equipment.

Graham
 
M

Mike

Jan 1, 1970
0
What are your actual requirements ? Do you need true RMS for example ? Is the 189 overkill for your
requirements ?

Flukes are good but don't overspend on what you don't need.

Graham

Hi - as far as numerical requirements - I don't really have any. I
would *love* for my multimeter to be more accurate than it is, though.
The accuracy of the 189 is my biggest attraction to it. I would really
like to be able to read in a sample at an exact moment and hold that
sample. I really want it to be handheld, too. Truth be told - most
everything I do is with DC, so AC features are not a priority. I like
the computer interface of the 189, though a feature like that is not a
priority, only a convenience.

Essentially I just want a really, really versatile multimeter that can
handle whatever I throw at it for the next 100 years. I figure the
time I would save from not having to second guess my multimeter (which
I do fairly often with my current one) is well worth the expense, no
matter how great. But I only have $500 to spend - so I gotta keep it
within that.

-Mike
 
M

Mike

Jan 1, 1970
0
If you don't need handheld, you can pick up used HP 3456a, 3457a, and
the occasional 3458a multimeter on eBay. The 57 and 58 have more
self-check and self-cal in them, but on any of them, if they turn on
and say that they're okay, they're okay! 4-wire ohms, programmable,
IEEE-1488 interface. The manuals are available for free on the web.

Ah - I've used those before. Good meters, though for me I'd really
like them to be handheld. I just don't want to give up that much bench
space!

-Mike
 
S

Shawn Holland

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi - I've been using a fairly low end digital multimeter (Meterman
16XL) for many years now. It works fine - and gets the job done most
of the time. But it just isn't as accurate as I would like, and I
really wish it was auto ranging. Recently, I have been given some
money to spend on equipment. So - I have $500 to spend on a new
multimeter for myself.

Right now - I'm thinking Fluke 189:

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/1...FlukeUnitedStates&category=HMA(FlukeProducts)

Any opinions? I feel like Fluke is pretty much the ultimate when it
comes to multimeters - but then again, it's been a while since I've
bought any test equipment, and I've never purchased anything quite
this high end.

I'm not sure if I'd get the computer connection for it or not -
depends on how much extra that costs. It looks like without it the 189
goes for $400 or so. Not sure how much it goes for with it. Anyways -
where would I buy such a beast? I'm in Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Well, thanks for any advice you can lend me!

-Mike

I've had an Extech scopemeter for years now and I love it. It has
sample-and-hold, offset, logging, good accuracy, etc. and are
reasonably priced. You can get a really nice Extech meter for under
$500.

http://www.extech-direct.com/Multimeters_s/26.htm

HTH,
Shawn Holland
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Rigid budgets that can't be allocated to other requirements encourage that
style
of thinking unfortunately.

Pretty much. I remember when we were 'helping' a government agency burn
through its end of year cash surplus by selling them a quarter of a
computers at a time to get past budget restrictions. Then they found some
more money and thought, "Pizza!"

At the moment I'm working on a project that should have been very doable for
less than $20,000. But then the board took over, ignored my advice, and now
we're over $100,000 and still going. And I still can't help haggling to get
$20 off a printer here and there for them. Go figure.


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K

Klaus Bahner

Jan 1, 1970
0
Essentially I just want a really, really versatile multimeter that can
handle whatever I throw at it for the next 100 years. I figure the
time I would save from not having to second guess my multimeter (which
I do fairly often with my current one) is well worth the expense, no
matter how great. But I only have $500 to spend - so I gotta keep it
within that.

Well, this is not exactly a very precise specification, but for what it
is worth I can tell you that I'm very satisfied with the Fluke 189. I'm
using one at work, and it is precise (not as precise as a bench
mulimeter, but excellent for a handheld). It is robust - I didn't manage
to kill it yet :). It is versatile, i.e. there isn't much I'm missing
desperately and it is easy to use.
In my opinion there are only two drawbacks, it is a bit power hungry
(batteries last not very long) and in order to select diode test, you
have to press the "alternate" button, because the main switch selects
capacitance measurement as default.
I use the logging functionality a lot and hence I'd recommend to invest
into the serial cable and the FlukeViewForms software (which might not
be the most straightforward software, but it is useful!)

Klaus
 
T

Terran Melconian

Jan 1, 1970
0
Right now - I'm thinking Fluke 189:

Some random thoughts on the 189:

Autoranging is a bit slow. I don't have figures, but my recollection is
that previous generation Flukes did better. You can end up in a
situation where a signal is changing at just the right speed that it
spends almost all its time ranging back and forth and you don't get to
see a reading unless you range it manually. I know Fluke is capable of
getting this right, and has done in their other products, so it's
disappointing that they dropped the ball on the 189.

There's just one setting for beep, and it's deep in a setup menu. I end
up turning it on when I want continuity testing and off otherwise. It's
a bit frustrating that the continuity beep isn't selectable separately
from the button-press beep or more easily toggled.

For temperature, realize it's going to be a few degrees off, because its
internal cold junction compensation thermistor is inside the box, and
the actual junction is outside. It's not a precision temperature
instrument.

It does draw more power than other meters - less runtime on 4 AAs than
they get on 9Vs, as I recall. I use rechargeables and that works fine.

It does not offer four-wire resistance measurement, which bench meters
generally do, but I am not aware of any competing handhelds which offer
it either.

Logging is well implemented and they clearly put a lot of work into it
(heuristics to break periods into smaller onces when rapid changes are
detected, etc). Nonetheless the applications of a one channel data
logger are limited, at least in my work.

The min/max/avg setting is very useful for me in applications such as
measuring power consumption of a circuit; I just used it this afternoon,
in fact. I was measuring across a high-side shunt resistor so a
floating meter like the Fluke is easier than the scope. The duty cycle
measurement is another of the more esoteric features which I often
actually use (for checking PWM outputs).

I haven't abused it much as yet so I cannot comment on how well it holds
up, either electrically or mechanically.

Other than the few issues mentioned above it's worked well for me
overall. I think I paid about $350 for it mail order without
any extra accessories. It's not perfect but I think it was a reasonable
value. If you do want the cable/software, buy it up front - you can get
a package deal for less than the combined cost of buying the meter then
buying the software later.
 
M

MassiveProng

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi - I've been using a fairly low end digital multimeter (Meterman
16XL) for many years now. It works fine - and gets the job done most
of the time. But it just isn't as accurate as I would like, and I
really wish it was auto ranging. Recently, I have been given some
money to spend on equipment. So - I have $500 to spend on a new
multimeter for myself.

Right now - I'm thinking Fluke 189:

If you want high accuracy, and do not absolutely have to have a
handheld, an HP bench meter is the best bet on E-bay at around $150
each. Good out to 5.5 digits, and you can STILL buy a good handheld
as well!

The model that has this accuracy is:

HP3478A

There are a bunch on ebay right now. You could buy three, and spend
the $50 on a nice set of test leads, and your lab would really be set
up then.
 
M

MassiveProng

Jan 1, 1970
0
If you don't need handheld, you can pick up used HP 3456a, 3457a, and
the occasional 3458a multimeter on eBay. The 57 and 58 have more
self-check and self-cal in them, but on any of them, if they turn on
and say that they're okay, they're okay! 4-wire ohms, programmable,
IEEE-1488 interface. The manuals are available for free on the web.


They do not "self cal". That is silly. They ALL self test though.

You could place 3 right next to each other and get the exact same
reading on all three. Not due to a self cal, just do to it being that
good. Even when calibrated, the cal tech merely verifies the
calibration the device already has.
 
M

MassiveProng

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm not paying. A good deal would be nice, of course. But quality is
more important than price.


Quality? You still can't beat the HP bench meters.
 
M

MassiveProng

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've had an Extech scopemeter for years now and I love it. It has
sample-and-hold, offset, logging, good accuracy, etc. and are
reasonably priced. You can get a really nice Extech meter for under
$500.

Except that he asked for high accuracy, not lo res LCD scope traces.

That thing is likely no better than a 3.5 digit MM.
 
M

Michael

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am so with John on this one!!!
Coming from former USSR where nobody gave a s...t about anybody's
else's interests but his/her own, I am surprised to see same attitude
in the US.
It's so simple: I (as an employee) save a buck for the company
(providing my paycheck), the company is more likely to prosper, I am
less likely to get a pink slip. How come so few people understand it?!
Why be wasteful???
I have made quite a few ebay purchases for work (working for big
companies).
 
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