Wanted: Old Multimeters for... umm... some blogging fun

One of my video blogs about cheap multimeters really got a lot of interesting feedback, so I got to thinking it would be fun to do some "torture tests" on a bunch of multimeters for a future blog. i.e. are Fluke's really as rugged as they claim?, will a $20 cheapie actually survive some horrid treatment etc

So I was wondering if anyone has any old digital multimeters they'd like to donate for testing? It's ok if it's got dodgy screen segments or is out of spec of whatever, so long as it works repeatabily on say DC volts, and works well enough to give a reliable before/after pass/fail test. Ideally I'd like to get a couple of Fluke's, a couple of no-name cheapies, and maybe a couple of mid-range units. I'm on my way, but the more the better. Happy to pay postage of course.

And of course, ideas for testing accepted!

My reply email address is real.

Thanks Dave.

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Reply to
David L. Jones
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I always found you could smoke a Lutron on the 1000VDC range well before 1000V due to board arcing and tracking

Reply to
Mark Harriss

:One of my video blogs about cheap multimeters really got a lot of :interesting feedback, so I got to thinking it would be fun to do some :"torture tests" on a bunch of multimeters for a future blog. i.e. are :Fluke's really as rugged as they claim?, will a $20 cheapie actually survive :some horrid treatment etc : :So I was wondering if anyone has any old digital multimeters they'd like to :donate for testing? It's ok if it's got dodgy screen segments or is out of :spec of whatever, so long as it works repeatabily on say DC volts, and works :well enough to give a reliable before/after pass/fail test. :Ideally I'd like to get a couple of Fluke's, a couple of no-name cheapies, :and maybe a couple of mid-range units. I'm on my way, but the more the :better. :Happy to pay postage of course. : :And of course, ideas for testing accepted! : :My reply email address is real. : :Thanks :Dave.

The very first test you should conduct is the old "drop test" from 1.2M or thereabouts to simulate knocking it off the work bench. After that you may not have to carry out any further testing.

Reply to
Ross Herbert

"Ross Herbert"

** One of the big advantages of DMMs is they tolerate such dropping very well - I think the distance would have to be way more than 1.2m and the landing be onto concrete or similar to get a result.

Often it is the simplest things that catch out poorly designed meters.

Try these:

With the meter set to AC or DC volts, apply the probes a few times to a source of 600 volts AC or DC.

With the meter set to read 200mA, connect the probes across the 240 volt AC supply.

Same with the meter set to read " ohms" .

The wearing of goggles and thick gloves is recommended.

..... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

Especially with the rubber holster meters of course. I have several tests somewhat beyond 1.2m in mind...

Yup, any of those would pretty much snot most of the cheapie meters.

Dave.

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Reply to
David L. Jones

**I have a brand NOS, Russian made, analogue meter, which dates to around 1980. It's kind a fun thing to have around (I never use it) and the instruction 'book' was worth the cost of the thing. It is packed in an aluminium case, but is made from a brittle, cheap plastic. I'm still considering sending it to you or putting it on eBay. I also have a couple of very nive, wood cased, mirror scale jobbies. You ain't getting them.
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Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au
Reply to
Trevor Wilson

I have a fluke 79 that suffered a cracked screen after i knocked if of a wheelie bin. I bough a new LCD from Prime Electronics and fixed it, then knocked it of a wheelie bin a week later (at the exact same place). Its been about a 6 years since I broke it and I have not fixed it. It still works, but the auto power of does not work anymore, I need to replace the battery each time I use it because I alwasy forget to turn it off.

Fluke, well not so tough. I wont give it to you but I will send you some photos.

Reply to
The Real Andy

Here's a meter story, apparently true.....

Way back the world experienced a widespread failing of analog panel meters, at a time when the main OEM suppliers were in Japan. It turned out that the tiny coils were corroding. Further investigation revealed that the corrosion was due to contaminants that were introduced from the fingers of the women doing the assembly, specifically during their menstruating period. Apparently sweat composition changes during menstruation. I can't recall whether the solution was to reschedule the workers, or to arrange for gloves, or something else. You can imagine all sorts of politically incorrect solutions here.

Reply to
Bruce Varley

Oh, and if you want to know where I dropped it, it was at the boral roof tile plant at Wacol in Queensland. Dropped when working on the scale that measured how much conrete powder was in the silo. The scale indicator was in a meter box on the wall, the same height as a wheelie bin!

Reply to
The Real Andy

**Interesting story. I can tell you that, having visited Japan, I am certain the that term 'politically correct' has no meaning in Japanese.
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Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au
Reply to
Trevor Wilson

How about the story. The truth is that some people, not just women, have different skin oil composition; aka "rusty fingers" as it is called in the metal working trades. Just look around any place where metal is worked on and you will see finger. palm, hand, skin prints where the oil from some people has caused surface corrosion.

Reply to
terryc

and a little OT, how some with dry skin anecdotally experience more ESD zaps.

Reply to
Dennis

"Trevor Wilson"

** That only shows, yet boringly again, the TW congenital defective has no idea what the term even means.

The Japanese are one of the most " politically correct " peoples on earth !!!

To them, good manners are everyth " Don't mention the war. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it all right. "

..... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

Yup and the menustrating women are also blamed for bad motor rewinds as well, I guess ya gotta blame someone who isnt in the gravy chain and who cant answer back.

Rheilly P

Reply to
Rheilly Phoull

In public maybe, they also understand the need for "the truth" otherwise they would never have been as successful in many areas that they were/are.

Reply to
terryc

We used to have a bloke at work, who said in all seriousness that you could not have female butchers because once a month any meat they touched turned black

Reply to
F Murtz

I once worked with a Lebanese guy wiring guitar amps. Whenever he touched a chassis (some of you out there will know what a chassis is :-) an imprint of his finger was left on the cad? plating. Naturally I never let him touch my skin!

David

Reply to
David

**I suggest you pay a visit to Japan and observe how women, specifically Chinese (and other Asian) women are treated. When I visited Japan, in 1987, my then, girlfriend (who is of Chinese descent) accompanied me. I was treated deferentially and very well. She, OTOH, was treated as if she was something stuck to the shoe of Japanese men. They were rude, arrogant and just plain nasty to her. As soon as I appeared, they simply ignored her and spoke directly to me. She was clearly considered completely insignificant. She was, however, treated quite well by Japanese women, who I found to be charming and generally very demure.
**Indeed. They go out of their way to pretend that they were the aggressors in WWII.
**Please contact me with a functioning email address, or your 'phone number.
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Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au
Reply to
Trevor Wilson

"Trevor Wilson"

** The Japanese are often very racist.

But that has NOTHING to do with your original assertion above.

They are extremely "correct" when dealing with each other.

Loss of " face " is their worst fear.

** Insane crap.

** Get lost.

..... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

Shit I wouldn't try it with an expensive meter *I* paid for either!

MrT.

Reply to
Mr.T

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