I used to think those cheap multimeters were fine for appliance work

For years I grabbed whatever $15 meter was on sale, figuring voltage was voltage. Then I got a call for a fridge in a rental unit last month where my reading was off by 8 volts on the line, almost missed a bad board. My buddy lent me his Fluke 117 for the next job and the difference in accuracy was huge. Now I keep a good meter in my main bag and only use the cheap one as a backup. What's your go-to meter for daily service calls?

3 comments

3 Comments

victor_jones9911d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way too.

bennett.vera11d ago

That voltage difference is scary when you think about it, @victor_jones99. A lot of guys forget that cheap meters can also have poor safety ratings for higher energy circuits, which is a whole other risk. My daily is a Klein Tools CL800 because it's tough and the low impedance mode helps avoid ghost voltage on those pesky shared neutrals. What specific features do you look for in a meter for appliance repair?

sanchez.pat4d ago

Yeah, the safety ratings thing. My buddy's cheap meter basically exploded checking a dryer outlet. Scared him straight.