Decent Multimeter / Handheld Scope?

[Ashley Burton]

My cheap chinese Multimeter has severed its purpose. But looking to upgrade with a budget of £100-200

Would consider Fluke, Also seen Autel AL539

For my budget I'm probably looking at a decent Multimeter rather than a Scope.

Something like a Snap On Vantage Pro would be nice, But most probably out of my budget.

The Hantek Scope's seem cheap, But you need to use a laptop with them. Would rather be one complete unit.

Open to ideas/options

Would like a permanent backlight display & a min/max display recording would be great!

Before anyone mentions I understand that a Scope is more accurate than a Multimeter

Many Thanks

 

[WorkshopChris]

What will the main use of the meter be Mains or Vehicle? CAT II, CAT III ?
Amps AC or DC?
Capacitor Test
Hertz

 

[Parm]

I’m no electronics expert but I would say both units serves different purposes.

If it’s just for general hobby use and you’ve got a decent budget stick to a Fluke multimeter.

I’ve got a Fluke 75, it must be 20 years old. It does all I need as a hobbiest. Dunno how much they cost these days

 

[Ashley Burton]

What will the main use of the meter be Mains or Vehicle? CAT II, CAT III ?
Amps AC or DC?
Capacitor Test
Hertz

Will mainly be using it for Automotive work.

Ideally I would like a scope, But if budget is the issue, Then I would settle for a decent Multimeter

 

[waddycall]

I decided to treat myself to a decent multimeter a few weeks ago and bought a fluke 115 from city electrical. It didn’t work so I took it back and bought a cheap one which works perfectly!

 

[WorkshopChris]

Will mainly be using it for Automotive work.

Ok that counts me out have not got a clue what would suit modern automotive, all i can say is i wouldn't ever use a cheap meter on mains.
I once used a generic cheap DMM to test for continuity on a earth cable that had a live to earth fault, 230v through the resistance range the thing went bang and burst into flames in my hand.
Never again now its always CAT II, CAT III from a trusted company.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Ok that counts me out have not got a clue what would suit modern automotive, all i can say is i wouldn't ever use a cheap meter on mains.
I once used a generic cheap DMM to test for continuity on a earth cable that had a live to earth fault, 230v through the resistance range the thing went bang and burst into flames in my hand.
Never again now its always CAT II, CAT III from a trusted company.

Yeah I've had one of those moments in the past you can't gamble with mains electrics!

 

[zx9]

I bought one of these when CPC were clearing the remaining stock.
https://uk.farnell.com/tenma/72-10179/oscilloscope-pc-2-ch-60mhz-afg/dp/2146568
I did not pay anything like the list price, it has been interesting to play with on the bench and I assume you could look at automotive wave forms, injectors, pulse modulation that sort of thing.
So far it has not been near the car so can not recommend for that purpose and I bet you can buy similar from China for a fraction of the price.

 

[Maker]

Would you consider second hand? A used Fluke 87 V can be had for under £200.

 

[brightspark]

I decided to treat myself to a decent multimeter a few weeks ago and bought a fluke 115 from city electrical. It didn’t work so I took it back and bought a cheap one which works perfectly!

there normally good quality and rarely give trouble it must have been a fluke

 

[J1nx]

If you need a scope then stump up, cry once and all that.

If you just fancy a scope then save money and get a decent DMM, the 87 is great as mentioned above. I use a 123 (or 435 for more advanced stuff) and a 87 day in, day out and unless I need the scope I would always use the 87. The 123 can’t be beaten when it’s needed but for every other task it is crap.
The scope has poor battery, it’s heavy, slow, complicated etc etc and just not what you want for basic measurements.

 

[brewdexta]

I had an ancient fluke from my old BT days plus a cheap eBay meter. They both eventually died. I had a good look around and settled on a Brymen 869 for the bench, seems to be similar quality to fluke but more features for the money. I've since bought a Brymen 161S clamp meter too to shove in the tool bag, no complaints. Having said that they don't get a hard life.

 

[WorkshopChris]

The RS Pro range are worth a look for the money.
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-multimeters/1231938/

 

[daleyd]

Pretty much all of my gear is fluke but I use (most of it) it for a living so I can justify the expense. To be honest though , there is some really good kit out there at a fraction of the price - if your buying new then RS pro is some seriously good gear (I think it used to be called iso-tech) for a lot less than the equivalent fluke.

Secondhand fluke stuff can make sense, just make sure your getting the real stuff and not knock off.

As has been said above a scope and meter should be treated separately - a decent meter will do the majority of what most people need, and get a cheap secondhand bench scope to do what it can’t. Unless you can justify what a scopemeter can do then it’s a lot of money tied up for little use - I have a fluke 123 but it very rarely gets used.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

If you need a scope then stump up, cry once and all that.

If you just fancy a scope then save money and get a decent DMM, the 87 is great as mentioned above. I use a 123 (or 435 for more advanced stuff) and a 87 day in, day out and unless I need the scope I would always use the 87. The 123 can’t be beaten when it’s needed but for every other task it is crap.
The scope has poor battery, it’s heavy, slow, complicated etc etc and just not what you want for basic measurements.

'The scope is heavy'
A tradition CRT one is, a modern TFT isn't.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/263655604296

 

[Ashley Burton]

'The scope is heavy'
A tradition CRT one is, a modern TFT isn't.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/263655604296

These look too good to be any good?!

Think I might head down the Pico route, As I want a scope that works.

 

[Barking Mat]

What is catII and catIII purely out of interest, seen it on meters, but never understood what it meant.

And whilst I'm here, asking stupid questions, those plugs, with 8 or 10, little holes, in a circle? Calibration?

Thanks.

 

[WorkshopChris]

What is catII and catIII purely out of interest, seen it on meters, but never understood what it meant.

And whilst I'm here, asking stupid questions, those plugs, with 8 or 10, little holes, in a circle? Calibration?

Thanks.

https://www.fluke.com/en-gb/learn/b...hy-ruggedness-matters-in-a-digital-multimeter

The various category's refer to the safe working voltages.
The meters are designed to be a safe to use as possible.
I would be happy putting a fluke set on resistance range across 415v phase to phase terminals and expect nothing more than a bleep or on screen warning, try the same with a built to a price basic meter and in all probability as a minimum it will just give a false reading, more probably just go bang or pop.
CAT III-600 V
CAT III-1000 V.

 

[Barking Mat]

Thanks mate, good to know.

 

[Barking Mat]

And very interesting link, thanks again!