Dunno who it was who recommended this one, but it is a really nice multimeter

I splurged and ordered five, different than yours (no capacitance but loaded battery-test), ugly bonbon-red, but I was amazed at their accuracy. So I showed up at a client and had one of them in my briefcase because you never know whether they can spare a meter. And at $3 it's not so bad if one gets busted or is lost. They wouldn't believe it to be accurate, compared it to their Fluke, and then instantly ordered five as well :-)

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

20 amp range is unfused. OK, if there isn't any possibility that someone absent minded is going to stick one across an industrial 3-phase supply with the red lead in a current socket. It happens, that's why we carry stock of Fluke fuses.

There is/was a video on the Gossen site of TüV doing tests of a similar nature on a cheap meter. Lots of flames, which only stopped when they shut the test rig off.

Should be OK for you, Joerg. You're the kablouiemeister around here ;-)

--
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence 
over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."
                                       (Richard Feynman)

My company won't move from buying 'approved' Fluke 87s at £350 a pop .... No even for use as a simple continuity tester or ' is there any volts there' ? Bummer :(

Then they are making a big mistake, leaving lots of money on the table.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

size,

I look at it this way: If I ever did that I could look at the meter as a "$2.99 fuse" because that's how much it had cost. Ok, in reality it was $3.22 because of the sales tax.

I have killed very few meters over my career. Usually when the transistors inside a bench supply welded shut during a long test series while I was in another room. TUNGGGGG ... phsssss ... couldn't get there fast enough.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Why? They don't have to worry about someone getting hurt, or starting a fire when the leads catch fire. Not everyone is well trained in the use of test equipment, and their liability is lower if they make the effort to reduce the chances of an accident. they also have the advantage of stocking a single item, and the ability to take them from simple tasks, if needed. If the only lab grade meter fails or is out for calibration, 1000 cheap meters won't do a damn thing to get product out the door

--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense.

From engineers and technicians I expect that they know not to use a cheap meter or whatever for calibrated measurements, and it has never been a problem at my clients. What is a problem is this: Only three $400 meters in the lab, all in use. You stand there behind a guy, wishing he'd hurry up alright, because you are stuck with your work until you get "his" meter. But there are already two other guys in line in front of you. Management sez there ain't no budget for more meters right now but they won't let any Harborfreight deals into the building. That is what makes product not getting out the door.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

The real worry is that an employee could be seriously injured using one of those cheap-ass meters.

NOT typically a problem if they only ever see a few volts, but a huge potential issue if they are ever used on mains (especially industrial mains) supplies.

Can you imagine the field day that the a severely injured plaintiff's lawyers would have if a company was shown to have cut corners and saved a few dollars by getting offshore $10 meters?... perhaps with fake CAT III markings.. that could result in the company closing its doors permanently. I am always VERY conservative when it comes to this sort of recommendation.. no telling what kind of stupid things a small fraction of people will do- it only takes one slip by one person... and safety of people should be our first priority.

A good meter should last many years, even with heavy use.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

--
"it's the network..."                          "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

So how much is the 20 amp Fluke fuse?

(...)

9 bux (3 cheap meters)

My 79 III also uses the 11 A fuse at 12 bux (4 cheap meters).

--Winston

there'

Sigh. It's not up to you to set their polices. They said 'continuity testing' which implies production, not test or engineering. A business with only three DMMs is a very crappy, under funded company. We had about 40 spare 3.5 & 4.5 digit DMMs on the shelf in the cal lab at my last job. Lost downtime costs a hell of a lot more than spare equipment at the end of the fiscal year. I had three 4.5 digit and one

3.5 digit on my bench, which is more that your example had in total. Some of the engineers had six or seven on their benches. We had over 250 working meters, and a dozen or so in the cal lab boneyard. Mostly meters that were damaged off site while in transit or at a customer's site.

--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense.

I carry a FLuke 289, kind of bulky but close enough!

With that, I can buy lots of cheap meters.!

Jamie

there'

TTMan wrote, quote "No even for use as a simple continuity tester or " is there any volts there"". That sure does not sound like production.

Courtesy of the taxpayer or ratepayer?

Strange. I never had any downtime cause by a low cost meter. It's been about 25 years and counting.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

there'

Take a look at photo 7. Guy working on a panel without full eye protection. That is against the safety rules. Blows my mind that the "Electrical Safety Authority of Ontario" put their name on it.

Quote "Seek tougher regulations ..." Wot nonsense. Those guys seem to need to go back to school.

I employ common sense. Sometimes people think I am nuts when I sit there powering up a board wearing eye protection.

The nutso legislative environment, tort law and all that is most likely why I just heard that a major local employer will move pretty much all of production to South America. I am certain they will not cut corners regarding safety but that makes most of the other hurdles simply go away. Unfortunately it also makes a lot of local jobs go away.

Mine all do, cheap ones as well as expensive ones.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

We have the 'Golden' calibrated tape measure where I work. A plastic yellow Stanley retractable, calibrated. Some sort of UL requirement. I don't think anyone uses it. Every piece of test equipment has a tag, and cert. The certs run about

20 cheap meters each;)

And damm those Fluke fuses are $$$$

I only fried one in my life time, hey it happens.

Cheers

there'

Umm.. look more carefully.. it's a test dummy, not a guy, and it's obviously part of a safety course-- to show folks what could happen if they don't follow proper procedures.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

--
"it's the network..."                          "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

there'

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The author obviously failed show that.

I know it's a test dummy. Why do they use a test dummy with a blatant safety mistake and not even mention that? Look more carefully :-)

Search for the word "eye" in that write up. Not one instance. Sorry, I can't take those guys seriously. It is sad that they seem to have authority to influence your legislation.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

P.S. My favorite safety video (on forklift safety):

There must be another (probably not so funny) part to this- aside from those struck with a forklift, most forklift deaths are due to tipping, and they didn't really cover the dynamic stability regions at all.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

--
"it's the network..."                          "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

Here is the Russian version:

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/