multimeter

[bubba]

I'm in the market for a new multimeter. Almost decided on the Fluke 112 but then saw the Craftsman Model #81079. Does anyone know who makes the Craftsman and if it is any good?

Thanks!

[shoppa]

The Fluke will last for decades of heavy use. The Craftsman will last a while if you occasionally use it.

Unless you have a need for the fancy-schmancy features (frequency, capacitance, duty cycle, etc.) I'd advise that you buy the simpler unit. (Like a Fluke 110 or the good old standby, the Fluke 73, I think they're in the Sears catalog too.).

Tim.

[Matt]

Nope.

But after my experiences with buying Kenmore appliances (regardless of who actually manufactures them), I made a promise to God that I would try to talk anyone and everyone out of buying anything at Sears.

And so, even though I've never seen theCraftsman #81079, I must tell you it is complete crap and will break down within a month of it's purchase, you will schedule repair calls time and again, only to have no one show up, show up 6 hours later than they said they would, show up and "not have that part" on their truck, or show up and tell your your multimeter needs a new motor when this is plainly wrong as your multimeter will agitate and spin just fine; it's just that it won't complete a cycle.

So then you will probably end up calling customer support, looking for a supervisor and then finding out there really aren't any, and even if their were, none of them would give a damn about you or your new multimeter.

On the other hand, if your Fluke won't complete a cycle, make a phone call and a new one will be on the way.

I say go with the Fluke.

[CanadianCowboy]

Can't go wrong with fluke when it comes to test and measurement !

Take it from some> I'm in the market for a new multimeter. Almost decided on the Fluke 112 but

[Rich256]

Fluke and the carftsman are nice meters but do you really use all those functions and need that accuracy?

I have a Fluke I have had for years but lately have been buying those from Harbor Freight as they are "good enough".

[larry moe 'n curly]

The UL or CSA registration number may tell. See

or

I don't think that Fluke meters are better, except for high accuracy (0.2% or better), warranty, and availability of replacement parts. I have a Fluke 73 that works fine, but a set of contacts in its rotary switch once fell off (I had to mash its plastic pins with a soldering iron to hold the contacts in place), and my cheapo house brand meter from MCM Electronics/Newark electronics was priced much lower and has more features, like a serial link for an RS-232 port and the ability to record minimum and maximum values (good for tracking down intermittent problems).

[Stormin Mormon]

Back in 96, I worked for Shears for 4 weeks. I wasn't impressed. Over priced, and poor service.

[borgunit]

The choice is like buying a Sears power tool over something like Porter Cable (or others). You might get lucky, you might not. I found out that for hand tools, Sears is ok since you can replace them forever. I bought a recipricating saw at Sears and after 14 months the thing broke. I bought the parts to fix it but it never rally worked after that. I ended up buying a Milwaukee Super Sawzall and have had it for 7 years now (it has a Milwaukee lifetime warranty). My point is I as I get older I get tired of messing around with marginal stuff. I bought a Fluke 111 on ebay and have been happy with it. I don't know what would happen if I bought an unknown brand, but I do know what I usually get with the better name brands. My 2 cents.

[Harry Everhart]

I notice that as I get older - I usually pay extra and get the better quality - probably only because I have the cash now. When I was younger and raising a family and covering my nut - I would always look for bargains out of necessity. I do not think I am any smarter or wiser now

- I just have more money to throw at a problem :-)

I like to buy good things to avoid the hassle. One of my teachers always told me - it only costs a quarter to go first class. I thought he meant

25 cents - I guess he meant 25% more. :-)

Harry