Cen tech multimeters

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I edited out my original comment. I had a flashback to my mother telling me that if you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say anything. Not that this has ever stopped me much before, but I wrote something really bad.
 
mdshunk said:
I edited out my original comment. I had a flashback to my mother telling me that if you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say anything. Not that this has ever stopped me much before, but I wrote something really bad.
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It didnt seem that bad, i did read it, apparently we are online at the same time. You did say, 'yeah top quality, (fingers crossed).. LoL at least thats what i somewhat saw.
 
In fairness, if you were teaching a class or something, and were buying a batch of these out of your own pocket for students, they'd probably be an okay learning tool. If you were actually considering using this yourself on the job because you're poor, I'll send you a Fluke meter myself if need be.
 
You get what you pay for..Car (MOST DECENT ONES) use Mac Tools (or other TOP quality tools) and are recognized as GOOD just by the tools they use, see a mechanic with J. A. PAN and Company tools and some would question his ability. Same with meters.
 
brian john said:
You get what you pay for
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I prefer to think of it as "you don't get what you don't pay for". I can layout a lot of money for a very high end meter that tests transistors, takes average samples, and can even be uploaded to my computer. If I don't want all theses bells and whistles why is it assumed I must buy "junk" just because I want a simple analog indicating meter.
 
As stated I use the cheap meters in class. In fact mine were less than 3 bucks.... I am using them in class this week and I just made a mental note to not get them again.

A few reasons why from using them in class:


The leads are crap, some break internally.
The lead connectors loosen up and give false resistance and even voltage readings

I find the auto ranging to be slow and and at times inaccurate depending on which individual meter I am using.

I own several professional meters flukes and "Wavetek" which I actually prefer over the trusty Fluke. My wavetek has a certification which I use to check the 2 dollar meters.
 
mdshunk said:
In fairness, if you were teaching a class or something, and were buying a batch of these out of your own pocket for students, they'd probably be an okay learning tool. If you were actually considering using this yourself on the job because you're poor, I'll send you a Fluke meter myself if need be.
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I'm poor, I mean really, really poor, and "need be" apply to me:D .

PM me for my shipping address.

"poor ole"
steve
 
jim dungar said:
If I don't want all theses bells and whistles why is it assumed I must buy "junk" just because I want a simple analog indicating meter.
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Thinking like that could ruin our whole consumer driven economy. Just think what would happen if everyone stopped buying things that they don't really want or need.

Aren't you afraid that the other PE's will make fun of you unless you have the most expensive meter made. I'm quite sure you will never get a date ( the girls all go for the man with the most expensive meter, a Big Fluke ). Have you even considered what the neighbors will think ( property values may go down)? Your children won't respect you and your wife will surely think less of you. We live in a materialistic society where the only way to feel good about ourselves is to spend more than our neighbors on anything. So get with the program and get those Bells and whistles.
 
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growler said:
the girls all go for the man with the most expensive meter, a Big Fluke
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I thought they went for the HP calculator on my belt.:D

Maybe I need to switch to an I-Phone instead.
 
Have you looked at the "Triplett" line of meters? I just bought a true RMS clamp meter from my local electronics store. AC/DC current to 1000 amps, AC/DC voltage to 600 volt, temp with probe, resistance, capacitance, HZ, Diode test and more for $129.00.
Back in the the years I used a Triplett analog meter during my apprenticeship, but was not sure about todays quality. But 1000 amps DC. I was sold. Only time will tell.
 
Ok, i hear everyone loud and clear. you get what you pay for. I suppose its good for once in a great while home stuff, but i would never use it on a job. (I have my wiggy thats rugged and tuff for out in the field). The Boss has the more expensive bells and whistles Flukes. i forget what model but it does everything, I think it even tells you your weight and how many calories you had today. ;)
 
In the end we get what we pay for. For me the final decider of what the truth realy is in a circuit is my Fluke. However I believe there are some good digital meters out there between the 3 dollar and the 300 dollar price range. Craftsman makes one and I think Radio Shack offers several. That being said I do admit to feeling extra manly when I "whip out my Fluke"
 
brother said:
whats your opinion of cen tech multimeters?? I see they are not made in the US and they are dirt cheap. I saw a digital multi meter for $3.00 . and They have a clamp on amp multimeter with a insulation test and carrying case for $10.00. Is this product any good??
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What does your life worth?

Any product that I would use that comes in contact with live parts would have to be UL listed and meters should be built to the category overvoltae protection that the circuit is expected to deliver in case of surges and overvoltages. There are many devices with fake UL labels.
 
jim dungar said:
I prefer to think of it as "you don't get what you don't pay for". I can layout a lot of money for a very high end meter that tests transistors, takes average samples, and can even be uploaded to my computer. If I don't want all theses bells and whistles why is it assumed I must buy "junk" just because I want a simple analog indicating meter.
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My Fluke 337 dosen't have any frills. Many lower quality meters have all the extra junk.

My Fluke is accurate and sturdy. It gives consistant readings, something cheap meters don't do. It can stand up to riding around in my pouch all day.

I get about two years out of a set of high dollar Fluke test leads. The cheap test leads, which come with cheap meters, wouldn't last a week.

I am a service man. I couldn't do my job efficiently, with out a top quality meter.

edit to fix grammer.
 
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I had a saying when I first got started and I noticed these 1/4 and 1/2 million dollar homes buying low-dollar fixtures..."You know what you get when you buy a $5 light fixture....A $5 dollar light fixture." Same goes with $3 dollar meters. I have and still do at times buy low because that was all I could do, and, as you said, at worst you are out $3, but a $3 meter is just that.
 
360Youth said:
I had a saying when I first got started and I noticed these 1/4 and 1/2 million dollar homes buying low-dollar fixtures...
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Funny... around some parts of the country that's exactly the price range where you would expect the cheap stuff to be purchased. $250K is the bottom of the single family real estate barrel around here (Boston region), while $500K is probably scraping the bottom in Silicon Valley.
 
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