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From: whit@milton.acs.washington.edu (John Whitmore)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: DMM (Dig.Multi-Meter) Recommendations wanted
Summary: Fluke 75/77 DMMs interchangeable
Message-ID: <1336@milton.acs.washington.edu>
Date: 11 Jan 90 02:26:16 GMT
References: <4114@orion.cf.uci.edu>
Reply-To: whit@milton.acs.washington.edu (John Whitmore)
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Lines: 37

In article <4114@orion.cf.uci.edu> jroersma@orion.oac.uci.edu (John Roersma) writes:
>
>I am searching for a Digital Multi-Meter for general household
>usage and electronics projects.
>.......
>I have mainly been looking at the Fluke 7x series, has anyone had any
>experience with these in particular?
>
	I've used several DMMs, own three, and would recommend the Fluke
75's as a good general purpose DMM.  There's a jumper underneath the
display, marked as a 0 Ohm resistor (single black color band), which
if soldered to the left makes the DMM a 75 model, and if soldered to
the right makes the DMM a 77 model, about $40 pricier.
	A few of my friends have 75's whose jumpers somehow :->
got switched around, and they find the touch-hold feature quite useful.
	For low-precision work (how often do you need better than
a couple of percent accuracy, anyhow?) Radio Shack has meters with
good mix of features for $30 or so.  Beckman and Metex brands are
deluxe low-priced models, and a friend of mine has a $39 Beckman 
model that measures capacitors in addition to more ordinary
features.  Consider the low-priced models before you decide
that you need a name brand.
       The only fault of many inexpensive meters is their INATTENTION
TO FAULT CONDITIONS.  A Fluke meter dialed to "Amps" and plugged into
a wall socket will burn up a fuse.  A low-priced clone meter will
sometimes burn up.  I use a couple of cheapos, but I'm careful
with them; only my best meter can be safely loaned out ('cuz it can survive
even MY friends...).

        Jameco (415) 592-8097
       has    Metex M3650 multimeter with frequency and capacitance
                   measurement, transistor Hfe, audible     $59.95
              Kingdom auto-ranging shirt pocket DMM         $27.95
and I assume other mail order suppliers have similar deals.

 I am known for my brilliance,               John Whitmore
by those who do not know me well.