Fluke DVMs

[Bob Ayers]

I've got 4 Fluke DVMs for my shop, 3 8022b's, and a 8060a. I wanted to see how well they correlated with each other, so
here are some photos of how they did, measuring 1V:

 

[almostclueless]

Not surprised.


I'd prefer to have at least one analog multimeter....good for seeing intermittent stuff (obviously a scope is better).


Spectrum analyzers and logic analyzers are the coolest.

 

[Bob Ayers]

I'd prefer to have at least one analog multimeter....good for seeing intermittent stuff (obviously a scope is better).

I disagree, the needle in the meter movement of an analog multimeter is WAY slower than a DVM.

Spectrum analyzers and logic analyzers are the coolest.

Analog spectrum analyzers are much better than the digital spectrum analyzers. Digital spectrum analyzers rely on FFTs.

 

[AllanD]

I have three myself, a 77, a 79 and a 27/FM

BTW, if one of them is "off" Fluke will recalibrate them.

BTW2, I think I have the Same HP power supply



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[almostclueless]

I disagree, the needle in the meter movement of an analog multimeter is WAY slower than a DVM.

Are you high? I can make a sandwich in the time it takes a digital DVM to change readings. A needle won't perfectly track transient changes, but is better than a DVM.

 

[martin]

So they're all within 1/1000 of a volt accuracy. When will that discrepancy make a difference?

 

[Bob Ayers]

Are you high? I can make a sandwich in the time it takes a digital DVM to change readings. A needle won't perfectly track transient changes, but is better than a DVM.

I disagree!!

 

[thegoat4]

My Fluke (89, IIRC) has a bar graph below the readout that reacts very quickly and will show transient dips and flutters. The digital display isn't all that slow itself, but the bar graph is practically immediate.

 

[chittybangbang]

Not surprised.


I'd prefer to have at least one analog multimeter....good for seeing intermittent stuff (obviously a scope is better).


Spectrum analyzers and logic analyzers are the coolest.

Ditto
I currently own a Fluke 77 for about 10 yrs.It pays to have good equipment.
As far as the analog meter thing.While a dvm is faster,try finding a loose or crappy connection out in the field.Analog will do a better job.The dvm just does not pick that up unless the connection is really bad.
And yes Fluke kicks arse

 

[AllanD]

Finding a "loose connection" or other intermittent problem with Any kind of meter is...
well... slightly stupid.

That's a job for something called a TEST LIGHT.

Meters are terrible at detecting high resistance or faults
that increase resistance with load.

Ever try diagnosing a problem with say... Trailer lights with a meter?

Did you comtemplate suicide from the frustration?

Doing the same diagnosis with a test light makes the job EASY.

OTOH diagnosing a Voltage regulator problem, or an alternator problem
in general with a needle type meter isn't nearly as easy as it is with a digital meter.

(My favorite test is the AC ripple test, which requires a digital meter with an AC volts range.)

I generally prefer autoranging meters for diagnostic use.

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[Bob Ayers]

Finding a "loose connection" or other intermittent problem with Any kind of meter is...
well... slightly stupid.

That's a job for something called a TEST LIGHT.


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YUP, I agree, and the LED (instead of incandescent bulb) test lights
work the best!!

 

[almostclueless]

Can't argue that a test light is probably the best portable way to find intermittent connections.....so long as one can get good clean points to probe. Otherwise, the test points themselves create the appearance of a connection problem.


I suppose if the connection problem is bad enough a significant voltage drop will show up on any multimeter.

 

[4x4junkie]

Are you high? I can make a sandwich in the time it takes a digital DVM to change readings. A needle won't perfectly track transient changes, but is better than a DVM.

That greatly depends on the meter. Some (POS cheapie) digital meters are slow as molasses, others (like the Fluke) are exceptionally quick.

I do prefer an analog meter for many things also, but the digital is definitely better at giving you an exact reading on something right away without having to scrutinize where the needle is (such as the voltage on your battery).

 

[almostclueless]

I think even flukes are frustratingly slow to show an initial reading....sure, you can force it out of autoranging.


The proliferation of DVMs has been successful because of lazy techs that can't keep focused on what scale they should be using.

 

[AllanD]

YUP, I agree, and the LED (instead of incandescent bulb) test lights
work the best!!

I don't agree it's about current flow under LOAD.

there are problems that cannot be detected with a DVM
and an LED test lamp draws too little current to generate
a load.

Yes, they are reliable, but...

There are many times when a DVM showed the correct voltage an an LED test lamp lit, but an incandescent bulb would only come up dim, thus identifying the problem

BTW, if you have a Snap-On test light that uses the lightbulb that looks like an old style glass fuse and you are shocked by the price of a replacement bulb (if your snap-on dealer is actually willing to get you one)
you can get the replacement bulbs cheap.

Go to your nearest U-pull-it junkyard and steal the light bulbs out of the lighted vanity mirror in any gen1 or Gen2 Explorer

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