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From: cyamamot@aludra.usc.edu (Cliff Yamamoto)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: DMM (Dig.Multi-Meter) Recommendations wanted
Summary: Super smart meters!
Keywords: fluke
Message-ID: <7332@chaph.usc.edu>
Date: 11 Jan 90 05:25:29 GMT
References: <4114@orion.cf.uci.edu> <1336@milton.acs.washington.edu>
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In article <1336@milton.acs.washington.edu> whit@milton.acs.washington.edu (John Whitmore) writes:
>       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...).

Now with the Fluke 80 series DMM's you also get what they call "Input Alert".
This little feature can determine which meter inputs your probes are plugged
into (probably just a little microswitch in each banana jack).  For example,
if you dial up Amps but you have the red probe in the Volts/Ohms jack, the
meter will begin to beep at you until you remove the probe from the incorrect
meter input.  I wish my older Fluke had this.  Would have saved me from
blowing a bunch of fuses over the past years.

Cliff