Multimeter quality

Are all brand multimeter created equally. I used to have that red digital generic 20$ multimeter they sell at every parts store. It was good to me but it got fried. I belive thats my fault as I might have used it wrong in reverse.

So its time for a new one and but the flukes are kind of pricey.

So are they all the same. I will be using it only for car stuff and possibly around the house.

And can some one tell me what i possibly did wrong to my other one so i wont do it again. Thanks
Ronnie

 

First Im not A electronic repairman or sparky..
I do hang out on the site audiokarma.com Stereo stuff..
Your same question pops up there on a weekly basis.. Now those guys are electronic gurus well they have said it more than twice the cheap 5$ harbor freight one will get you by..

I got a fluke 23 had it for years never been calibrated.. about 2 months ago I found another 23 on ebay. I tested to see how far off they might be for one anther. Both gave the same reading at the same time.

 

I love when tools last forever Jason., thanks for your post

 

Do the flukes have an idiot proof function lol.
If I remember right I was testing a battery's voltage in a hurry and put connected the meter backwards

 

Not really. Got to ask. Closed mouth don't get feed. Flat out I'll be asking a question one day that some asked and got a answer to two days earlier. Thats life..

 

So true Bob if I was skidish I wouldnt know more than half the things I know. I lurked on this site for one week. That's about low long I can hold my tongue. I'll check out that forum one day. Seems like there is a lot to learn on it.

 

My 23 reads 12.6 volts poss if I reverse the leads it reads 12.6 neg.

 

That's cool.

 

Wow the fluke is Ronnie proof. I like it. Guess you get what you pay for. Thanks again.

 

FWIW the 23 & 77 are the same unit.. one is yellow other is gray.. both are about 25 maybe 30 years old. then you got model I, II, III, again the same unit.. age IDK

 

Those $20 units from Sears will handle most of your needs. Even the Extech from Amazon are pretty decent. Higher cost models mostly give you more features. Automotive models give you features like a dwell meter, tachometer, temperature, etc.
A $20 meter is likely all you need. When your skills improve, step up to a model with more features.
Even better, it's only $13 now!

 

I bought mine at Radio Shack, back when they still had SOME electronic devices for testing.
Years ago you could find most anything electronic related in Radio Shack

 

Im a mechanic by trade, I do have a Fluke in my tool truck but its crazy to spend the money for home use. I had a Craftsman for years that worked just great. Any you cant screw them up by hooking the leads up backwards, like someone else said it will just read negative volts.

 

I have a fluke, which is great, and a craftsman which is equally as good, (for me)
I usually grab what evers closest, OH, even have a harbor freight, and it works a well as either above,
its usually stashed away some where, my point? I dunno, use what you can afford,

 

what are your thoughts on the clamp on amp meter feature some multi meters have? Like the fluke 323 or 325

 

Fluke is really good. Beckman and Simpson also good

 

Still wondering how I fried mine