Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: Best Budget Multimeter!
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- $44 Fluke 101 Multimeter: amzn.to/33qGPrH
Fluke 77 Multimeter: amzn.to/3k6YXwA
An essential tool for a modern propmaker is a multimeter for any kind of electronics work, whether for testing lighting circuits or troubleshooting wiring work. And while Adam has relied on his trusty Fluke 77 multimeter for years, getting an electronics multimeter to start your toolkit can be affordable too. That's why he's a fan of Fluke's compact entry-level multimeter, which costs less than $45 and gets the job done!
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#AdamSavage #FavoriteTools - Věda a technologie
$44 Fluke 101 Multimeter: amzn.to/33qGPrH
Fluke 77 Multimeter: amzn.to/3k6YXwA
Thats the same one I have at work. Im an aircraft electrician/avionics technician. For simple resistance or continuity checks that 101 is perfect. If I need more precise measurements I use the calibrated company multimeter which a fluke as well.
Hi I never been noticed can u say hi 😞🥺
I have one just like it! I think mine is even older!
I honestly hate these videos for the sole reason that all the products you push are from Amazon. Fuck Amazon, Fuck Jeff Bezos, and shame on you Adam for continuing to support one of the most despicable pieces of shit on the planet.
Awesome tip! Over the years I tried many multimeter brands including some expensive german made ones and other US brands.. Flukes have earned my trust, good instruments that work reliably and accurately year after year just as you described. If you think a faster continuity would help you some series are faster responding.. like the 83/85/87 models and the cheaper but equally good 175/177/179 models. Stay safe!
As an electrical engineer I can confirm:
Continuity is indeed the most useful feature on a multimeter
For everything else there's -Mastercard- o-scope
this goes to 40 m ohms. mind blowing for a phone size meter.
engineer that finds continuity the most useful lol
Really?... As an automotive technician, we were always told that continuity is crap. Voltage can tell you 95% of things if you know how/where to test - and actual resistance testing is much more valuable than basic continuity testing. You can have 'good' contunuity, but the resistance could be way out of specification.
@@mommaduck79 Well, you can test for continuity really, really fast and then do the resistance testif you're interested in exact readings. I often use continuity testing when I solder wires like audio xlr, dms, usb and so on - just to check that I didn't mess up. I usually don't need exact resistance readings, I just want to know if I soldered the right wires to the correct pins.
Adam, your description of your knowledge and understanding of electronics matches mine perfectly! Also, your description of using the continuity function just clicked for me. I've owned the same Fluke 77 for over 14 years and pretty much all I knew how to use it for was to check something dead.
I've been a mechanic for a few years now and a multi meter is an absolute necessity. I still use my fathers from God know how long ago he purchased it. PS: your wood working has inspired t ed me to get a shop together and start producing my own line of custom cat scratcher/trees. Thanks for being the Adam we have always know and will always love.
I own several and I keep one in every vehicle I have ever owned (along with a basic set of tools)
I'm an electronic technician and I love your enthusiasm, remind me my old days when I first have my digital multimeter. Then many years after I finally got my first Fluke, ohh!! It was heaven!!!
Love your reaction. Makes me want to go and take a look to my Fluke, 16 years and I still love it.
Being very much a novice in electronics myself (far more than you, trust me) I like getting advice from someone who’s still figured out some stuff yet knows what it’s like to not be confident in this stuff. Experts often give too complex advice (unless they are good in pedagogy), but non-experts can often give really good advice to novices.
So thannk you!
I have a Fluke 27 and love it. Your enthusiasm mirrors mine as this multimeter has solved countless problems over the years. Versatile and to be quite frank, I'm still discovering some of its functions. Thanks for the content!
I have an old Fluke 77 as well and concur. Rock solid device. I am not an electronics guy either, but still use it regularly. Recently used it on CSST gas line to make sure it grounded properly to dissipate static. Multimeter is one of those tools that anyone who fixes things themselves should have in the toolbox.
I know I'm a computer engineer, I went through 4 years of the stuff. I work on tube radios and amps and build my own electronics. ...but I still call it beep mode.
Fell in love with Fluke meters in the Navy. I've use many kinds before and after, but for me Flukes are just the top of the line meter.
One of the best moments for anybody who’s into electronics is getting your first multimeter my first was not a fluke but a Draper but was replaced by a fluke as soon as I could afford it. Great moment and great video Adam
Thanks for the shout-out Adam!
Along with Fluke Tools and Condition-Monitoring Sensors, the "Accelix" platform also includes eMaint CMMS to help make sense of all that captured data.
[full disclosure - I'm an eMaint AE, and a huge Adam Savage fan]
Used several Fluke tools as an ISP technician. Even their specialist stuff like low-end tone generators (for pulsing a signal down a line so you can tell which one is your service, even miles away) can do things like detect continuity or the presence of 35-52V DC.
This was one of my favorite toys to play with in my dad’s shop as a little kid. Still have it. Still works. Still use it regularly. I have always had fantastic experiences with fluke products, even now that I’m in industry.
ENERGIZER makes a 12yr shelf life battery, I now use them in all my occasional use gear so they don't leak.
Hai😊
You are holding my Fluke meter I purchased mine a long long time ago it is the best meter ever, I am now 78 and it is still working,
Thanks, Adam, Loved you in MythBusters, used to watch you each week in the UK
I'll never understand Adam saying he's a hack in anything. Super passionate, super humble, and has done so much that I could only dream of achieving any of his former gigs.
I have a Radio Shack analog multimeter my dad bought me in 1978. Still works well and I used it until about a year ago when I finally bought a digital MM.
A friend of mine has a Fluke 115. I've seen him drop it countless times. I've seen him actually take a few jolts with it. It's almost a 15 year old meter, and still works like it was brand new. Because of seeing his take years of abuse and still work perfectly, I ended up buying my own Fluke 117 2 years ago. Worth every penny of that $240.
Adam, I love that there is so much more to you than the myth busters shows I watched as a kid. I'm a biological scientist now, but I am a post doc in an electrical engineering and computer science lab. We are creating diagnostic devices based on how much the width of a protein changes the capacitance on an electrode that I designed, then made the system to take the measurement. I wanted to let you know, it's people like you who led me to the path of doing what I do now. Thank you man.
Great video! Like Adam my favorite multimeter is Fluke, regardless of model. I was so geeked when I purchased my 87-III, new. I had gotten a bonus at work and spent most of it on the meter...My wife thought I was nuts. Probably still does.
Please don't forget to de-energjze ALL circuits before checking continuity! If you make this mistake there is usualy an internal fuse that will blow, saving your meter. Fluke fuses are special, but available through Amazon. I purchased a Fluke for it's digital display needed for a project, cheap, at a flea market. I then found out it only had a blown fuse! Great find!
Still, have and use it in my truck kit, 20 years later.
I've got one of those Fluke 77 multimeters and I think I've changed battery in it twice in almost 30 years. For being so old they are amazingly battery efficient, not to mention built like a tank. And yes, I still use it. My first mutimeters were analogue and though they were just fine when new they did tend to break easily, especially when someone switched them to the wrong measurement scale and blew the coil winding. Happened twice as my father borrowed them to check something. He also killed at least three digital multimeters, all being the cheapest he could find so it wasn't really a big loss, but the Fluke survived even him.
Now while I would be happy to recommend a Fluke for anyone who is looking for a multimeter I really don't think most people need to go that high. For most people the really cheap ones will work perfectly well, as long as you are not going to work with mains power at least. In the cheap ones they tend to cheap out on things like electrical isolation in addition to not having much in the way of circuit protection. While the later can kill the multimeter the former can bite you if you are unlucky. But if all you do is work on low voltage equipment or electronics there isn't really much of a risk.
I remember seeing reviews of cheap multimeters on the EEVBlog channel here on YT. These could be worth looking up as there were some crap but also some that was surprisingly decent for the price. Somewhat surprisingly the accuracy of even the really cheap ones he tested was fine, even if the rest of it was a steaming pile...
Recently my right earcup of my headphone died. So I did what every responsible man does and bought a multimeter to check if my right ear speaker gets current. Then I bought a solder kit.
In total i spend 85 euro to fix 90 euro headphone
...but now you have the tools and experience to fix other things. Also you can charge your friends to fix their stuff!
Nice.
6 days ago my cheap laser-level died, so, already owning a Mastech M92A multimeter, I opened up the laser-level to find the ridiculous excuse-for-a-switch has died and can't be replaced/fixed. I cannibilized the laser diode and the rest of the innards, ditched the case and wired in a switch from an old DVD player so now I have a nifty little laser pointer instead.
I hope you get lot's of use out of your two new buys (while listening to your tunes of course)
Realistically most my like that repairs are mostly about the enjoyment and satisfaction of the process rather than the money saved. Especially if you factor in the time it takes.
@@qlum Same here; problem solving, crafting, being creative. I work with computer systems, networking and electronics and they're all fun challenges.
I had to solder my new solder soldering iron today. Now that one took some creative solutions.
I actually just bought one of these the other day. In the military and in the electronics field, I've always used Fluke and I don't plan on ever changing. Good choice, sir!
I used a Fluke 77 for many years in my job as a maintenance technician and currently own and use a Fluke 17B+ in my retired hobby workshop. They make great meters.
Adam is such a good teacher I’d love for him to make a video about all the features of a multi meter
Bonus side Rant - that was the best part of the video for me 😃
Hey Adam. I'm an female Electrician Apprentice from Germany. I'm 30 years old and im pretty impressed with Fluke's Multimeter. I've got the T6-1000 and this tool is super handy. It's so small and i love to see that even across the ocean the love for great electronics is universal. So trank you for sharing this :-)
I have that exact same Fluke meter. Passed down from my Dad who died in 2004, he must have had it 15 years before that. Still works like new to this day.
The Savage Effect- he posts an Amazon product and it immediately goes up in price and is often sold out.
Fluke isn't a Amazon product though. I'm a electrician and they're very reputable in our industry. They been around for a long time.
As an electronics engineering student, one of my friends has her mom's fluke multimeter just like the first one you showed, and it's still going strong 35 years later!
mel c roock r the app will
Hello Adam! I've had my trusted Fluke meter since 1998 and I have only changed a fuse and the battery once about 3 years ago. It saw very heavy use until last year. When I bought it was an investment for me as I paid 180$ for it. I don't use it often these days, but I will not get rid of it. It will be in my garage to remind me the times when I could count on my trusted friend every time. Thank you Adam...!!!
I was just gifted a FLUKE MD88 with all the components in the kit, so happy! first FLUKE I have ever owned as I could never want to spend the money, but for $46 currently as typing, that little FLUKE is so adorable to have as a pocket carry
Hey Adam I just want to say no matter what you post I’m always excited and look forward to your videos daily. I get a lot of my inspiration and ideas from watching your one day build, and tech tips. If I had a wish, it would be to one day meet you and spend the day building something with you. I’m a combination pipe welder and I can show you some tips with Tig, mig, Stick, and flux core if you want any. Stay safe Adam and keep these videos coming!
And he doesnt put out enough....always eagerly awaiting the next video.
@@MrSbfan2000 I couldn't agree more with you both more.
You need to replace your dad's meter and get him a upgrade.
Side rant was my favorite part. So badly do I want to hear from Jamie on this show one day.
Even a simple tool tip you are a pure joy to watch. Thank you for being you!
My favorite one day build so far, fluke multimeters are amazing, I use fluke 117 volt alert for electrical and it work flawlessly every time and has never once let me down, a bit costly but worth it for a meter that will last for many decades if not the rest of my life.
I was an electronics technician on a nuclear submarine, and we used Fluke multimeters exclusively. We used the Fluke 87. It was a great piece of gear. Never bought one for myself because of the price point. Great suggestion, I will pick one of these up for sure.
I was an EM and we used the same 77 he had, minus the yellow case.
I need a GIF of Adam saying "I'm a hack and have no idea what I'm talking about." Because that basically sums up my life so far
Also sums up his life.
@@jonanderson5137 Sums up a lot of people's lives.
I have a Fluke 77 II that I have used since buying it new with an additional lead kit in 1988. Meter still works great, I finally replaced the lead set last year. Flukes are great, reliable meters. I have checked it against newer ones and it is still accurate.
BTW, mine predates the Yellow.
My Dad bought me a Fluke 75 for Christmas in 1985. My first of many Flukes, and I still use it regularly. And it's on maybe its fifth battery!
One day I hope to walk into the paint shop and see "Fluke yellow".
It's next to can-am yellow.
And Fluke Gray
I believe that Fluke actually trademarked their yellow "meter-condom," which is why you never find modern multimeters in yellow!
@@mhlevy Uh... good to know.
Nice
I’ve been working on electronics since I was a wee lad, (30+ years) I have tons of test instruments, meters, scopes etc...
I found a Fluke 110 in the trash with a broken knob about 5 years ago. I fixed the knob and now I use it almost 95% of the time and I use it daily.
you lucky bast..d
Thank you Adam, same boat as you when I was younger. Now to get the Fluke 101. Cheers!
Foothill College!!!!
Oh yeah! Two BIG thumbs up for them:
1) Andy Fraknoi and SV Astronomy Lecture Series. Man, oh man, what a wonderful program!
2) Dr. Seefeld's European work abroad program in the 80's. Thanks to them, I experienced truly amazing summer work abroad in Germany. Danke sehr!!!
I used a Fluke 8 Automotive from the late 80s. Had the same low price as your Fluke 101 because it basically had the two features I used, ohms (audible continuity) and DC voltage. I still have it and it still works. The test lead wires were the weak point. They got melted a lot on hot engine parts and the wire would break inside the insulation from repeated flexing with use. Real Fluke replacement leads were expensive but a must have due to their quality compared to cheap knockoffs.
I still have my Radio Shack DMM from undergrad. It’s almost 20 years old and still going strong!
Inherit this one from my Grandmother actually, my daily driver is a cheap one that i got from a kit but every time I find the RSDMM on my storage , I turn it on just to see if it works and....still does!
My ancient Radio Shack DMM was still going strong when I blew the ammeter fuse (200 mA max, sheesh!). I never bothered to get another fuse for it because by then I had several other meters that weren't as big and clunky.
I have an old workin Radio Shack multimeter that has PC output with software that came on a 3.5 inch floppy for Windows 3.1.
I've got a Ratshack
- de-soldering tool (blue with yellow bumper and white tip)
- soldering iron
- extra hands that never worked well
- PS/2 :cueCat
I still have and use my first multi-meter. It was a $10 (actually $9.98) kit from Radio Shack I bought in the early 70's. All parts included and it took me less than hour to solder the components to the board and assemble. Through the years I had to replace the occasional capacitor or resistor but it still works wonderfully. For some reason I prefer the analog meter because when the voltage is varying you get a better visual representation of the average.
My grandparents lived in Los Altos Hills for forty years, and we took the 280 exit at Foothill College on Moody Rd. every time we went to visit. Thanks for that bit of nostalgia. I actually played in David Packard’s apricot orchard as a kid, since my grandparents lived adjacent to it.
That area is totally different now.
The UNI-T UT210E has been my favorite budget multimeter. It has been extremely robust and does everything that the Fluke in the video can do but has a few extra features. NCV (non contact voltage) detection. You can put it near live wires and it will alert you. The clamp not only works for AC current but also DC current, which is something not many DC clamp meters have. You can clamp it around a car battery cable and see what is going in/out of the battery. This has been a very important tool for my off-grid solar setup.
I'd have to say UNI-T are one the best brand of budged/ clone meters out there. I've had a $30 meter from them for about 10 years now and it works great.
Be careful with UNI-T stuff, not all of their multi-meter models are of the same quality in terms of safety and accuracy. That said, you can't go wrong with a UT139C for example
I love my UT211B so much that it's my daily driver. Fluke has no competitor - You need a toolbox full of Flukes to get the same functionality.
@carl schiel you're inspiring me to get one (i need DC clamp current measurement), and i'm wondering : why did you go with UT210E when the UT210D seems better in every aspect for the same price ? (twice the current range, temperature and frequency measures etc...)
Only pro i could find is that it has a VFC low pass filter, i don't know what that is used for
@@InformatrIIcks The UT210D can measure 20A/ 200A on AC and DC, no 2A scale
It can also measure temperatur and frequency
The UT210E can measure 2A/20A/100A on AC and DC no Temp or frequency.
Both meters can measure true RMS up to 2 kHz the VFC limits this to 400Hz.
VFC is useful if you probe the output voltage of a variable frequency
drive.
I Love Fluke!! I have a 87V. That Fluke 101 is really good, but if you don't want to spend so much money you can buy a aneng an8008
What about ANENG AN8001?, gonna be my first multimeter, I orded it and in one week it will stay on my hands.
Got one of those! Love the fact that it's extremely precise for low DC voltages!
@@NunoRVOliveira the 8008?
An8203
@@cinialvespow1054 It is very good for low voltages and currents, albeit is it very slow and that can be annoying for conductivity measures, but when it gets it, it's bang on.
I watched this a year ago, and today i now own a fluke 101. Thank you. - Longtime fan.
ive been using my Fluke 87V for over 20 years on aircraft avionics, automotive, house, and now robots. it works great
Very good tips adam, I have to agree audible continuity is the most valuable part of a good multimeter. Has to be by far the most selection use. Next would have to be the d/c amperage selection.
EEVBlog does a great review of the AN8008. a very good and accurate multi meter in the same size for only like $30.
And their own BM235 multimeter, which is my personal favourite so far!
The contactless electric field detection is super handy.
@@gmichael225 yeah, I have a Brymen BM257 at home for my main multimeter
Might pick up an AN8008 for my car, I've been meaning to fill out my car toolkit a bit.
Especially when compared to a Fuke 77, the EEVBlog 121GW and especially the BM235 are so much more.
I think Adam argument mostly comes from his experience with its longevity. This is something even if the performance of the an8008 is great, probably won't be as long.
Different people have difference criteria. Personally I use an AN870 which is fine for my needs but I doubt it will still work after 2 decades.
@@morgan98801 ..and spare parts! I'm sure Adam can get a batter cover or a test lead socket when he need. Try that with cheap meters...
Sadly fluke has gone where all the great test gear makers have gone. They're now part of another company that's part of another company and so on. All of which is run only with quarterly earnings and bonuses before their eyes.
That's why I trust Dave Jones. He has a passion for what he sells!
I work in HVAC. I love” Fuke” meter you are exactly right the audible continuity is a lifesaver. It makes isolating wires a lot easier
Great buy getting the Fluke at Foothills. I lived near Apple headquarters before we moved over to Santa Cruz. have a healthy 2023.
Fluke makes some awesome Multimeters, with a wide range of different features. But they are still quite expensive though. I've had mine for close to 25 years and it still works as good as the day I bought it and it can take Temp and RPM readings as well as traditional multimeter functions. Which is nice even though I cannot say I've never actually need to use the Temp or RPM settings. But it's nice to have that ability.
Even at $50 I wouldn't recommend one as an entry level or even to a hobbyist level but, if you're using as part of your job I would.
Bc nothing looks more unprofessional than pulling out a Janky Homeless Despot, Crapsman, Hazard Fraught or an old Amazon Special brand Multimeter on the job site. Not to mention you also get a little more piece of mind with a Fluke or "GreenLee" knowing that you don't have to worry about getting put on your arse or even killed bc of being cheaply designed and manufactured.
Or . . .
You could dress professionally and produce quality work while using whatever tools get the job done. Worked well enough to get requested by name for rush travel contracts by multi-national customers, even over the direct contractor's own techs.
My toolkit ranges from Greenlee and Klein to Harbor Freight brands to hand-bodged . . . _stuff._ It gets the job done, and done right.
I only need them every few months or so.....but when they are needed..they are 100% needed.
Hey Adam believe it or not I have the same multimeter as you bought 30 years ago. When I was an apprentice mechanic I bought one of the multimeters new, that was 45 years ago and I still use it today. That is how great Fluke meters are. I am in Australia by the way, keep up the great work mate.
I have the same two meters. The 77 is military issue in the u.k and is available surplus for £30.00 sterling, is a very capable unit and built like a tank. My only issue with the 101 was a broken battery clip which i bodged with a paper clip and a dab of glue. I am not an expert by any means but for every day basic use, i couldn't wish for a finer duo. I utterly agree with your comments and support the brand 100%. Keep up the great work Adam !! All the best from the U.K !!!
Grant would have been a solid recommendation, electronics were his jam
The Fluke was my first every multimeter. 30+ years later, still use mine weekly.
Nice. You had a perfect example on your build of a workbench lamp, searching for the positive and negative in the led panel plug. Good vídeo Adam.
What sold me on Fluke meter was during an automotive training session done by a fluke dealer he took a model 78 which is like yours but an automotive collision and threw it against the back wall when the class which was steel-reinforced concrete about a 20-foot throw and the meter still works just fine
Hey Adam, I also tinker with electronics and have a simple multimeter, I have had a few and I have found that a little bit more money gives a more reliable meter. My Dad had a Fluke and I think they are amazing and I have always wanted a Fluke. Funny, my Dad had that exact same model, I wish he still had it, it got washed away in a flood when my folks house got flooded by a river.
I remember frying my dad's mutlimeter with a sparkgenerator for an old motorcycle. I wanted to know how high of a voltage the spark was... Turns out: very.
The display transformed into a random number generator.
Might be a little late for that info, but, the Fluke's I've used, and I don't know the model right now, have a feature where you can switch from a live measuring of the voltage, to where it holds the highest measured value
@@ThePeanuts1000 An expensive multimeter may survive trying to measure the voltage on a spark plug, but it's not likely that the measurement will be accurate. A general purpose multimeter range usually stop at about 1000V, and sparks may require 25000V, or even 60KV on some modern cars. Using a multimeter this way is NOT safe. The pulse is also very brief, and regular multimeters may not be fast enough to produce an accurate measurement even if connected through a high voltage probe designed for the purpose (they're typically used with an oscilloscope).
@@ThePeanuts1000 you'd kill a lot of multimeters with such high transients. Imagine the spark and the gap it has and arcs over the gap. That arc (and the energy of) has to suppressed/dissipated in the meter. The best general purpose DMM might survive =but= not measure, transients like 12-14kV. Flip note fluke101 has good input protection, yet by no means it should be tested on spark plugs.
Haha, noob, you need an O-scope and some training! Also, don't forget to test at operating temperature. I'm sure there are a few gear heads that adjust their spark gap with an o-scope and tune everything. Probably not a task taken lightly
@@ge48421 @stanimir ah ok, sorry, guess I was a bit out of my depth there, never tried measuring spark plugs, nor am I in any way into cars, didn't expect spark plugs to need that high voltage. Learned something new then :D
I've got that same Fluke. Got it thirty years ago. Does indeed still work.
Your timing is amazing. I was looking for my multimeter two days ago... and because I only it once every year or two and have moved since the last time I used it, I can't find it. Getting an inexpensive one to suffice now and be a backup when the big daddy turns up is exactly what I need.
Love the beep, but when your in a car take care to never test the air bag circuits. The beep works by supplying voltage, poo will come out when your airbag deploys and you wont hear the beep. Also take care with electronic circuits, you can damage them by running continuity tests.
I would be more worried about static electricity from my own body than the voltage generated by a fluke meter running a continuity check. But yeah, be careful with air bag circuits.
I find a test light is much more useful for working on cars
The proper way to run a continuity test is always have whatever wire you are checking disconected at both ends for this reason. If it is still hooked up you can damage other componets or get a faulty reading from interference.
@@heziah4429 Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a continuity check, by isolating them?
@@Games_and_Music No, because (in that situation) you're testing for a wiring fault. If the wire passes, the problem is elsewhere.
Fun fact. In my school when we work with multimeters, everyone needs to turn off the beeping when we are measuring continuity. The teacher is going crazy when we beep too
much.
Does anyone use the beeping to censor his cursing whenever it sets him off?
@@ketsuekikumori9145 great idea for in one of the fun edits here on @tested ! Bleeping away curse words with a small picture in picture Adam in the corner connecting the wires of the multimeter.
Andreas Kvisler How? I’ve never seen a meter where there was a non-beeping continuity test. The only alternative is to use resistance mode.
@@tookitogo i have one, very cheap tough, it started diplaying random numbers and died
I have an 87V that I got years ago now for $40. I literally use it every single day ( I repair appliances ). I absolutely love it.
I picked up the very same multimeter earlier this year. I love it. I use it all day working on fireplaces, then I bring it home and use it on projects.
I'm an electrical engineer, did a lot of hands-on (almost electrician) stuff at my last job. I was given $x to buy a new multimeter (DMM, digital multimeter is a common term) and ended up spending the full amount on a Greenlee that was the equivalent of a Fluke that cost about 4x as much. It worked perfectly the entire time I had it, so there's definitely a "Fluke tax" going on.
For the average Joe Blow who doesn't need *perfect* readings a super-cheap unit can do the job. Princess Auto here in Canada usually has a couple dirt cheap units. My only tips are:
1. avoid the ones that use 9V batteries, they're a pain in the ass to replace from a cost perspective;
2. avoid anything that does continuity on the CURRENT SENSING probe (denoted by a mA/Ω near where you plug in the lead, usually). This makes it super easy to burn stuff out when you're just trying to check if it works. Continuity should be on your high impedance input, usually where you plug in for testing voltage.
edit note: ones that have an input that say something like "10ADC" and another that say V/mA/Ω are what you want. Not just V and mA/Ω. Best would be three separate A, mA, and VΩ inputs.
tl;dr don't buy the cheapest model from Princess Auto or Harbor Freight, pick the one up from it.
I am an Industrial Mechanic and own a lot of Fluke, and I have that 101 meter. Simple, great range, Cat III, fits in your bag and cheep. I bought two more, one for the house and one for the RV. It does not measure Amps, but most people will never need to do that and it would be safer to do that with a clamp meter anyway.
I’ve been an electrician for a couple years now and I have two multimeters both are Klein and work great. But I’ve always wanted a fluke but was priced out. I didn’t even know they made flukes under $160. This would be perfect to take on small residential jobs and looks like I’m gonna own a 3rd meter now lol. Thanks Adam!
I got my Fluke77 back in college in 1990/91. I still love that meter. Same as yours. It just runs and works. Ive never once thought that if I pulled it out and turned it on, it might not work.
Bonus tool tip, Production Assistants suck!
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS
Check continuity with your leads EVERY time before you use your meter!
Wish I knew that form the start.
VERY TRUE! I was checking a system on a Jet that wasn't working. After researching the schematics we started shooting wires end to end with a 50 foot test lead from the spine of the aircraft to the nose. First 3 wires shoot open. WTF? Test the test lead and it was OPEN/broken. We didn't check it first like we all know we should. Fixed the test lead and shot wires. first 3 wires shoot open again! Ultimately ended up opening up a panel with 75 screws holding it on and found the cannon plug disconnected at the bulkhead. it looked like it was connected until I touched it and it flopped. The jet just came back from Depot maintenance and must have had the right wing changed and they didn't check everything properly.
For me it's pretty much muscle memory at this point, I automatically always check continuity between the probes before poking anything
Drop a 106 from like 2m - bam, cracked screen. Drop a 87 V off the 12 floor - works fine. Ask me how I know...
How did that happen
"That, and the beautiful color of yellow." is one of two reasons I purchased my Fluke meter. It matched all my Stanley and Dewalt color tools. That, and I've been using Fluke brand meters since school in the early 90's, and they have followed me all through my many careers leading up to E3 Avionics in the present.
Working on Hotel and Convention Center 208v 400A drops. I trust my life to my Fluke. Definitely a must for anyone dealing with electricity on a day-to-day basis.
If the tape covering brand name was driving Adam up the wall, I can only imagine how bad it was for Jamie.
7:05: Adam builds a multimeter in today's One Day Build.
yes sir, I always borrowed from my senior at my workplace, but I think it was model 17+ which is way too expensive for me. I love continuity and to check whether the soldering job that I did works fine. But now I ordered this exact model 101 last week and will arrive it in 2-3 weeks. I cannot wait to have it!
My father has the same meter. He's been using it for over 30 years as well! It was a staple of my house as my dad DIY'd everything and all the wiring in the house. Just bought a house. Should get one myself!
The best multimeter is the one you can find when you need it!
I can never find mine at home, that’s how I ended up owning 4!
Are you trying to say that it's the multimeter's fault ?
ZZtop 1700 They’re just as bad as tape measures...
Tip: The good meter stays in the shop. The Cheepie meter goes to the job site. If the cheapy on finds another "home" oh well. So never take the Expensive Meter to a job site unless you got lots of "pocket change".
My company pays for my tools so it doesn't matter to me lol
@@aphenioxPDWtechnology I can attest to this. Guys who were working on a job with us told us they weren't allowed to use the Klein tools multi meter anymore because one of them melted while trying to use it. Safety should be the biggest priority here
@@aphenioxPDWtechnology It's more about losing or getting it stolen than "beating"
@@aphenioxPDWtechnology It is one of the first things I learned. The problem with some of the job sites is some of the workers just decide that "Your Meter" is the one that They want.
I had just ordered a different multimeter when this video came out. Fortunately, we received notice on the day it was to arrive that it's out of stock, so I canceled the order and ordered the Fluke 101 instead. Thanks Adam.
I fell in love with that same tiny fluke 101. Excellent tool choice!
The speed of continuity beeps is a surprisingly variable quality in multimeters. That one sounds nice and quick. If it's slow or inconsistent, (especially if you're trying to diagnose or reverse something) you end up never trusting your observations
rpavlik1 - totally agree , fluke tunes their continuity beepers to trigger on the slightest touch to sound loud and to seeming hold for a split second too so it’s detects the slightest breaks , I’ve had a fluke 10 ( it was an entry level metre when I bought it ) for 30 years and the only issue I had was that it’s switch broke and it was fixed by fluke no questions asked.
My budget and mini multimeter recommendation: Uni-T UT120A
Also a good choice.
Toured the Fluke factory in Everett when I was probably 12 years old. Back then they made their own chips ... it is astonishing what they accomplished.
I went from a 1st gen Fluke 77 that was handed down from my Dad to a Fluke 101 I got when the battery leads got worn out from the 77 after 40+ years, and now I’m using an 87V that I got once I saved up the money. Fluke makes a great meter that’s worth the price based purely on dependability and reliability.
Ah, the fluke 101, my 1st multimeter as well
I love how Adam is recommending literally the best multimeter you can get. I'm absolutely a fluke fan too..
But then he goes into using it like a cheap multimeter, and you realize that he would have gotten by with a free harbor freight meter and not had any issue. He doesn't actually need the accuracy of a fluke, he can use anything to get continuity... Or the rough voltage he needs. Lol
I had one of those "free with any purchase" Harbor Freight multimeters. I mostly used it as a battery tester. It started "freaking out" and I determined the PCB had cracked where you insert the probes. I probably could have soldered it back together, but...meh.
@@ReverendTed Yeah. The quality is really hit and miss because of the non-existent quality control.
I have a couple harbor freight ones that lasted over 15 years now, and I've also gotten ones that broke within the first month.
However I really like them because like most voltmeters, they are all reasonably accurate, but they are not all calibrated properly.
But what you can do is take your fluke out of its nice cabinet, open up the harbor freight meter and use the fluke to calibrate the harbor freight meter. It only takes 2 minutes but then you put your fluke away safely with your other high end electronics tools, and you chuck your harbor freight meter into the top of a toolbox in the garage, or workbench, or maybe keep one in a tool bag for a car... Etc.
Now you have a multimeter that can be tossed around, lended, etc and you don't have to worry about it.
That said if I was on national TV, I would probably not want to be seen using the red harbor freight meter either. We all see the yellow, so we all know what meter he's using.
Yes. But the Fluke is better than the cheepy meter in regards to it's safety compared to the less expensive meters. If you are measuring voltages over 50v you need a meter you can count on not to blow up in your hand and in that respect the Flukes outperform the others hands down. The new Flukes today are much more forgiving when the meter is set to resistance and stuck in the wall socket by accident.
@@dandearman2871 its
It's not always about accuracy but how well does the meter work. If you drop it one time is it now junk? Does the the autorange work well or is it slow. Does the diode check work correctly or is it useless? Does the meter have cat III or IV rating and is it save to use on line voltage? Does it eat batteries? Does it have any features like Min and Max, capacitance reading or temperature measurement settings? Sometimes you don't even need a meter just a lightbulb with a couple of wires soldered on to it.
Fluke rocks! I have 5 or 6 of their instruments myself.
When working with the multimeter leads, EVERY time you turn it on regardless of what mode you are going to use it in, start in Continuity mode, and touch the leads together to verify they are good and connected to the meter itself, then switch to the mode you want to use.
No point in testing for voltage or anything else if the leads aren’t quite plugged in or the wires are damaged, and this happens very easily. Get in the habit of doing a quick continuity check EACH time before use. This can save lots of time in going down the wrong path when your meter gives bad readings due to a bad connection or damaged leads.
For those really on a tight budget, even the *really* cheap Harbor Freight multi-meters work just fine. They just don't hold up to abuse, but will get the job done. When you can, saving a little more for a better quality tool will pay off in the long-run. Love the videos!
Hey Adam, are those Hellboy's guns behind you ? ^^
I think he has a video on them too
Adam Savage: the type of dude to say ‘automatic pilot’, not ‘autopilot’.
We Stan.
I'm a former Navy Aviation Electronics Technician. We had Simpson 260 analog meters when I started in "A" School, but moved to Fluke model 77 in the mid 1980s. I still have a Simpson 260 for nostalgia, but use a Fluke 77 and a couple of Fluke 23s for the home and cars/motorcycles. Hewlett Packard and Fluke 45 for benchtop work.
I own the very same small Fluke multi meter, for home use/garage/shop is perfect. Small enough, easy to read and continuity sound definitely is the great feature.