are most all digital multimeters accurate?

nsafreak

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 2001
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I'm not an electrician myself but I hear a lot from my electronics buds that Fluke multimeters are some of the best ones around.
 

desy

Diamond Member
Jan 13, 2000
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Yes
even the cheapest digital watch keeps good time.
Fluke will give you higher capacities, ruggedness, warranties, optional equipment.
'Brand name electronics'
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
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Depends on the A/D they use. Cheap ones give you low resolution. My Fluke 87 rocks.
 

Heisenberg

Lifer
Dec 21, 2001
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Fluke meters are very good, yes. But even a moderately priced meter should be accurate enough for general use.
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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Everyone I know who owns a fluke would rather part with a testicle than their precious fluke.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Pretty much any digital multimeter will have adequate accuracy and precision for general purpose use. Specialist, or scientific, uses are more stringent.

However, you should never place a high level of trust on the accuracy of a reading unless you have a current calibration certificate for the meter in question. E.g. if you're an electrician and install a new circuit, you would always check the supply and earth loop impedence when finished. However, if the building subsequently burned down, you'd be making sure you had the copy of your test report and the meter test certificate that was valid at the time.
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
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Yes, but if you are going to have to have it used in a field or job where it requires accuracy, you can get it calibrated and certified.
Tas.
 

woowoo

Platinum Member
Feb 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: tasburrfoot78362
Yes, but if you are going to have to have it used in a field or job where it requires accuracy, you can get it calibrated and certified.
Tas.

Or just use a differential voltmeter.

Fluke, Beckman, Fieldpiece...
All are pretty accurate.

I also like to keep a Simpson 260 around for audio measurements
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
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I prefer a good analog meter, but I own a couple of cheap radio shack digitals. They get the job done and are definitely as acurate, if not more acurate than my anaolog.