Recommended testers for apprentice?

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ichimo23

ichimo23

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Phoenix , Arizona
I'm a residential/commercial apprentice looking to upgrade to a quality testing equipment setup. I do some troubleshooting etc, so my craftsman $25 multimeter just wont cut it anymore. Any suggestions for a good all-around multimeter and amp meter? I would prefer not to spend more than $300-350 for the pair. Is there any other testing equipment I should carry besides a multi/amp meter? I have a toner that has come in handy several times. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
ichimo23 said:
I'm a residential/commercial apprentice looking to upgrade to a quality testing equipment setup. I do some troubleshooting etc, so my craftsman $25 multimeter just wont cut it anymore. Any suggestions for a good all-around multimeter and amp meter? I would prefer not to spend more than $300-350 for the pair. Is there any other testing equipment I should carry besides a multi/amp meter? I have a toner that has come in handy several times. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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you can get the fluke 337. amazon has it for 299.50. its a high quality meter and you might like it. also the T+pro is a very good tester also but it doesnt do amp measurement it just replaces wiggys
 
Then You to can yell, "New Toy", New Toy"!!!

Then You to can yell, "New Toy", New Toy"!!!

I'm going to go with the Fluke T+Pro for $85.00 + . Then later a real Fluke in line with previous posts :wink: :wink: :wink:
 
ichimo23 said:
I'm a residential/commercial apprentice looking to upgrade to a quality testing equipment setup. I do some troubleshooting etc, so my craftsman $25 multimeter just wont cut it anymore. Any suggestions for a good all-around multimeter and amp meter? I would prefer not to spend more than $300-350 for the pair. Is there any other testing equipment I should carry besides a multi/amp meter? I have a toner that has come in handy several times. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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amprobe makes decent meters for the money, dont get caught up in trying to impress other electricians with a fancy meter, in my opinion, most electricians buy way more meter than they need. I have had craftsman, speery, amprobe, wavetek, and fluke, they all worked fine for what I use them for, the main thing I look for in a meter is good quality leads, an audible continuity check, and rubber armor is nice, if your looking for an ammeter, look for one with large jaws that are kind of oval shaped or oblong to one side, I think they are easier to get into panels... digital readouts are nice, but I like an analog meter for troublshooting, digitals can read noise and give false readings, and the analog needle is good for finding loose connections.... right now Im looking for a Megohmeter myself....
 
useful, almost-free test equipment

useful, almost-free test equipment

To avoid confusion, check the source impedance of the voltage you are measuring by using:

a 4 watt incandescent bulb across the source. It loads down the source slightly to check that what you're reading is not capacitively-induced voltage.

3% of 120 v at 20 amps is 180 milliohms of source impedance. A 10 amp load (a hair dryer) across this should drop the voltage 1.5%, down to ~118v. If there is a substantially higher drop then I guess there is a connection somewhere upstream that is getting very hot, very fast.
Or, the source you are measuring might be in series with some other load. The voltage drop will tell you the impedance of that load.

The meter for these tests doesn't have to be particulary accurate; you just need to see a difference of two volts.
 
I have had the Ideal 61-704 for about 6 months and like it a lot. You can pick one up for about $150.00

http://www.idealindustries.com/products/test_measurement/clamp_meters/700_series_clamp_meter.jsp


I also always carry my Knopp K-60. No batteries and they last forever... $50.00

http://www.knoppinc.com/


Ideal also has a reasonable priced circuit tracer, 61-534. $70.00

http://www.valuetesters.com/Ideal-Industries-61-534-Digital-Circuit-Breaker-Finder-Tracer.php


So you can get some pretty descent equipment all for under $300 bucks.

KC
 
kencaz said:
I have had the Ideal 61-704 for about 6 months and like it a lot. You can pick one up for about $150.00
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Welcome to the Forum KC.

I have the Ideal 61-774 and feel I wasted my money ($270). A short time later I bought 2 Greenlee CM 850's for my guys and its basically the same tool for $120. I highly recommend the Greenlee.
 
chris kennedy said:
Welcome to the Forum KC.

I have the Ideal 61-774 and feel I wasted my money ($270). A short time later I bought 2 Greenlee CM 850's for my guys and its basically the same tool for $120. I highly recommend the Greenlee.
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I have not had any exp with the 61-774. I liked the 61-704 because it had a shaker and Non-contact voltage as well as audible and visual. I work in a noisy environment and can't always hear the audible signals. That's why I like the solenoid testers as well. I don't ever need to look at it.

KC
 
LarryFine said:
How about $50? http://www.transcat.com/Catalog/productdetail.aspx?itemnum=45937EL&utm_source=google&utm_medium=base
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Two different models.

The T+ is ~$50. ($47.45 one one site googled)

The T+Pro is ~$85.

From one of the website's propoganda:
Added Functionality on the T+ Pro
* Backlit LCD Display
* Display resolution of 0.1 V, ideal for Troubleshooting low-voltage lighting
* Resistance (Ohms) to 9.99 kOhms
* Rotary Field Indication
* Display Hold for easier viewing in Hard to test areas
 
Get a Fluke that has enough amperage rating to handle anything you'll get into. I wouldn't spend $300 as an apprentice on anything for work.
 
Lxnxjxhx said:
To avoid confusion, check the source impedance of the voltage you are measuring by using:

a 4 watt incandescent bulb across the source. It loads down the source slightly to check that what you're reading is not capacitively-induced voltage.

3% of 120 v at 20 amps is 180 milliohms of source impedance. A 10 amp load (a hair dryer) across this should drop the voltage 1.5%, down to ~118v. If there is a substantially higher drop then I guess there is a connection somewhere upstream that is getting very hot, very fast.
Or, the source you are measuring might be in series with some other load. The voltage drop will tell you the impedance of that load.

The meter for these tests doesn't have to be particulary accurate; you just need to see a difference of two volts.
Click to expand...

If you understand what this post is saying,
I doubt you will need anything more than a wiggy solenoid type tester at this point. It is the most reliable tester you can have for basic troublshooting and non specific field work.
I have thousands of dollars worth of meters and test equipment and I will always pick up the wiggy first.
They seem to make one with a small open CT branch circuit tester on some models. for current readings, I use a Fluke with the clamp type CT attachment.
 
Thanks for all the tips/info. Going to do a bit of research with all the leads you guys have provided, and spend some of that tax refund check...To respond to some of the earlier posts, i was provided with a set of hand tools and multimeter/tic tracer when i started as an apprentice, but have been gradually accumulating a stable of my own tools (hope to be independant some day)
 
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