I finally compared a basic multimeter to a proper DMM for troubleshooting

I spent 3 years using a cheap $20 multimeter from Harbor Freight for my avionics bench work. Last week I borrowed a Fluke 87V from a buddy after my old meter gave me weird resistance readings on a nav antenna. The difference in signal noise filtering was NIGHT AND DAY - the Fluke picked up a bad ground plane connection that my old meter completely missed. Has anyone else found that spending more on a good DMM saved them hours of chasing ghosts on the bench?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryan_flores1mo ago

Yeah man I had a similar thing happen with a Craftsman meter I got on sale... kept giving me these jumpy readings on a simple continuity check and I was about to rewire an whole junction box. Buddy handed me his Fluke and it was steady as a rock. Makes you wonder how many hours we've all burned chasing meter problems instead of real ones.

ellis.jennifer1mo ago

Three times I've had a cheap meter act up and it was always corroded leads or low battery. @ryan_flores you probably just got a dud on sale and it's not the end of the world. Half the time people blame the tool when the real problem is how they're holding it.