Multimeter recommendations?

[macka09]

Do I really need to spend £150 on a fluke for general fault finding?

 

[Murdoch]

What fault finding are you thinking of?

 

[macka09]

What fault finding are you thinking of?

Just general boiler and central heating really.

 

[Murdoch]

Just general boiler and central heating really.

so really to test what’s live?

 

[SJB060685]

All my testers read capacitance and other readings but then we work on oil burners so the added functions are ideal. As Murdoch says if you're only reading voltages, resistance and continuity etc you don't need to spend lots but it depends on what you're checking.

 

[Murdoch]

I tend to use one of these when seeing what’s going on 230v boiler set ups

DL6790 Voltage & Continuity Tester - LCD Display | Dilog (DL6790)

 

[SJB060685]

My sister bought me a Fluke T6-600 for my birthday. Haven't really used it much but run some initial tests and it seems ok.

 

[macka09]

so really to test what’s live?

Pretty much. Just resistance and stuff?

 

[IND_Nick]

Do I really need to spend £150 on a fluke for general fault finding?

I bought a Fluke 116 about 10 yrs ago and it has been brilliant. Accurate, easy to use and covers almost everything you could need to check voltage, resistance, continuity , temp etc. As with all tools you can buy quality once, if you need too. Or just pick up a cheap equivalent if you don't think you will use it much.

 

[Aquarius]

I have an Extech which is pretty good, had minor issues with the battery compartment (think it was more to do with me) paid about £35 for it. I also have an Amprobe (fluke owned company) again it’s good, but what you might need to make sure of is the resistance value range - a certain baxi Spark generator coil resistance for instance has a resistance value of about 3M ohms, some multimeters like my Amprobe only go up to 2M ohms. Amprobe cost me £20 from eBay (new).

 

[Jim09876]

Jesus Christ man what you diagnosing....screwfix £6

 

[Stu-B]

Anything waterproof and in a rubber case, oh and a big display with backlight is handy if you’re approaching 50 a little quicker than you’d like.
ive got a basic fluke, cost about £90 maybe 5 years ago.

 

[Ben-gee]

Sounds like for what you need any £10/£15 multimeter will do.

 

[Last Plumber]

Do I really need to spend £150 on a fluke for general fault finding?

Fluke 116.
It will test AC/DC Voltages, LoZ, Ohms, temp (although not accurate on mine it will serve a purpose), capacitance, mV, uA, continuity etc. A lot of the things a Heating/HVAC engineer will need it for are covered with that.
I use a few other things too but it depends on the work you do.
The 116 is not cheap but I think it is worth every penny. When it finally fails, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another the same.

 

[Gasmk1]

I have an extech multimeter, uni-t with clamp and fluke voltage leads

 

[Chuck]

Sounds like for what you need any £10/£15 multimeter will do.

I wouldn't use meters at that end of the market for any voltages above about 30V. If you're using test equipment on mains voltages it needs to be capable of withstanding surges, have good quality insulation, etc. all of which add to the cost. My advice is to stick to good quality brands from reliable sources.

 

[Gasmk1]

​

I have an extech multimeter, uni-t with clamp and fluke voltage leads

Fluke T5 Multifunction Tester I have these not cheap but I was lucky as the ones I was given when at gas force were recalled and they gave me these ones a lot more expensive than my originals​

 

[macka09]

I wouldn't use meters at that end of the market for any voltages above about 30V. If you're using test equipment on mains voltages it needs to be capable of withstanding surges, have good quality insulation, etc. all of which add to the cost. My advice is to stick to good quality brands from reliable sources.

I’ve always been told not to use cheap electrical equipment due to the lack/quality of safety features. I’ve wanted to do the Baxi course for quite a while but can’t get in.

 

[Aquarius]

I’ve wanted to do the Baxi course for quite a while but can’t get in.

Me too, I asked my boss (after asking several times before) and he agreed for me to go on it, but then no spaces were available.

 

[macka09]

Me too, I asked my boss (after asking several times before) and he agreed for me to go on it, but then no spaces were available.

Ye. It’s very popular. The few dates that have came up in the past just haven’t fitted in with work. Sod’s law.

 

[MikeJhn]

I'm surprised you guys have not looked at the Testo range of multimeters.

 

[SJB060685]

My main multimeter is a Testo. Paid about £180 I think, plus additional leads etc. Very good piece of kit

 

[MikeJhn]

For those of you who don't know about the Testo 760 series:

 

[macka09]

I do love trades people. I’ve got one guy recommending a £10-£15 multi and another recommending a £180 one. Horses for courses I suppose. Cheers chaps

 

[Ben-gee]

From what you said you wanted to use it for a cheapo will do it. Some people will tell you you should buy a Mercedes or go on holiday to Monaco, but I’ve had plenty of fun in the back of a cortina in Cromer!

 

[macka09]

From what you said you wanted to use it for a cheapo will do it. Some people will tell you you should buy a Mercedes or go on holiday to Monaco, but I’ve had plenty of fun in the back of a cortina in Cromer!

Bloody Cortina lol Im sure my old man had one of those. Cheers for your input

 

[Murdoch]

Buy cheap, buy twice

 

[Chuck]

Bloody Cortina lol Im sure my old man had one of those. Cheers for your input

I had one and I liked it. Excellent gear box. Plenty of space under the bonnet to work on it. Good clearance between valves and pistons so a snapped cam belt was a thirty minute repair that cost a tenner in parts.

 

[Ben-gee]

Buy cheap, buy twice

This is not always a bad thing - twice at £10 is better than once at £180 if the tool does the job you require of it !!!!!!

 

[MikeJhn]

I had one and I liked it. Excellent gear box. Plenty of space under the bonnet to work on it. Good clearance between valves and pistons so a snapped cam belt was a thirty minute repair that cost a tenner in parts.

CAM belt? none of the Cortina's I had even thought about a CAM belt, in fact they where not overhead cam except the Lotus variant I had the twin 40DCOE's did get in the way of the distributor cap though, showing my age I suppose.

 

[MikeJhn]

This is not always a bad thing - twice at £10 is better than once at £180 if the tool does the job you require of it !!!!!!

The Testo 760-1 can be bought for under £100.00 and will do more that a £10.00 version including not blow up if you have the leads in the wrong way around, which is the major thing that normally spells their demise.

Can you tell i'm bored today, been stuck in since March, only ventured out once to go fishing in the middle of last year, now it's too cold to even do that, but the season has ended anyway.

 

[macka09]

I too am bored. Bloody COVID. 4 months work in the last 9 months is really taking it’s toll. I’m currently home schooling 2 little ones.

 

[MikeJhn]

Hah one of my little ones is over 50 now.

 

[WC1]

TIS Autoranging Digital Multimeter

Pocket size auto-ranging digital multimeter for measuring temperature -20°C to 1000°C, -4°F to 1832°F, AC/DC voltage, AC/DC current, resistance, capacitance, frequency, duty cycle and diode test. Features 4000 count digital display, data hold, backlit display and continuity buzzer. Protected by...

www.toolstation.com

Got 1 last year - auto ranging - all good - didn't break the bank.

 

[Murdoch]

4 months work in the last 9 months is really taking it’s toll.

really? Can’t get a plumber or GSR around here at all

 

[MikeJhn]

TIS Autoranging Digital Multimeter

Pocket size auto-ranging digital multimeter for measuring temperature -20°C to 1000°C, -4°F to 1832°F, AC/DC voltage, AC/DC current, resistance, capacitance, frequency, duty cycle and diode test. Features 4000 count digital display, data hold, backlit display and continuity buzzer. Protected by...

www.toolstation.com

Got 1 last year - auto ranging - all good - didn't break the bank.

Only auto ranging if you turn the dial to the correct position and will not tell you that the lead is in the wrong place, I don't think I could ever go back to a manual dial now, having used the Testo for a year or so.

 

[Jim09876]

Hehehe imagine spending £££ on a multimeter...same guys rolling around in a 2019 van, alloy wheels and private plate “GAS MAN”

 

[MikeJhn]

Nah BMW M5.

 

[macka09]

really? Can’t get a plumber or 'Registered Professional Gas Engineer' around here at all

Yes mate. I normally sub to a company who have been hit quite bad work wise. Also the little town I live in has recently had a massive influx of plumbers to the area. 5 years ago there was 3 local guys now there’s about 19 advertising.

 

[Murdoch]

Yes mate. I normally sub to a company who have been hit quite bad work wise. Also the little town I live in has recently had a massive influx of plumbers to the area. 5 years ago there was 3 local guys now there’s about 19 advertising.

you have have got too many eggs in too few baskets ...

 

[macka09]

you have have got too many eggs in too few baskets ***

I dont think I've got any baskets if I'm honest.

 

[Murdoch]

I dont think I've got any baskets if I'm honest.

you should be employed if that’s the case .....

 

[macka09]

you should be employed if that’s the case ***..

I wouldn’t mind PAYE if the rates were right. No company I’ve been on the books with pay a decent rate