Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-28-2014, 06:52 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lowell, Arkansas
Posts: 7,297
Started out learning while in the AF electronics school at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. The old stye with the moving needle (Dearsinal movement) were great but not very rugged. In the 70's we got Flukes which I would actually throw across the classroom to demonstrate how rugged they were. I still have that one. When the shop closed down 2006 I decided to store it in my garage because the maintenance guys would have removed it. They can have it back anytime.

Flukes were the first DVOM's and the best. Now everybody makes them and most will do what we need them for. I also got a few at pawn shops cheap.

TeJay
__________________
TeJay Auto Instructor/4-yrs USAF/ Liz: RN/ WBGO 2014 Vista 30T/ F-53/CHF/5-Star/Koni * Bella & Izzy * Golden /Cocker mix/ Louie The Cat* All Retired
TeJay is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 10-28-2014, 06:53 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
OLYLEN's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa
Posts: 2,772
I have both pro and cheap harbor freight(several cuz there free at times). Most of the time at home I end up using the harbor freight one and in the MH it's always that one. For the MH any will do and here is the kicker LEARN HOW IT WORKS before needed.

LEN
__________________
2004 Clss C 31' Winnebgo
OLYLEN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 07:27 AM   #17
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
Hardly anything in an RV or automotive system requires much accuracy or precision, so buying a Fluke to have knocking around in an RV for occasional use is (in my opinion) a waste of money. I own a good quality meter I rarely use, but have four of the cheap Harbor Freight VOMs ($3-$4 each) in handy places so I always have meter to use. Two in the RV, one in my home office desk drawer, and another in my workshop. My good VOM is also in the house, to protect it from moisture and physical knocks, but I rarely need to use it any more.

In most case the electrical check is voltage or not, or continuity (ohms) or not, so any meter that can distinguish between zero and non-zero will do the job. Even AC or DC amp measurements need only gross readings. Precision readings are for tests on circuit board components, somethng that few RVers are prepared to do.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 07:46 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
I have B&K, Fluke, Simpson and a half dozen cheap meters accumulated through my work life. I also have several Harbor Freight $5 specials. From the comparisons I have done there is no reason to buy any more expensive meter for routine service work. I can read more digits on the better high end units but they are all in the plus minus 1 digit range when I compared them on 60 Hz AC 120 AC and 12 VDC. Accuracy does not seem to be an issue on the cheap one's. They are not as well made but they are sufficient for the intended use and I don't cringe if they get dropped or stepped on. ;-)

FWIW It seems one of the byproducts of modern electronic integration is a significant decrease in the cost of test equipment.
nothermark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 08:08 AM   #19
Administrator in Memoriam
 
Route 66's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
If you have a modified sine wave inverter, a regular voltmeter will indicate low voltage, around ~104+/- volts.

A True RMS voltmeter will read correctly.
__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP

Route 66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 08:38 AM   #20
Senior Member/RVM #90
 
MSHappyCampers's Avatar


 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
Quote:
Originally Posted by MRUSA14 View Post
For what you want to do, nearly any one will do. I have a digital one that sells for $9.95 at Harbor Freight. It does everything I need it to do, And they often give it away for FREE if you have a coupon from one of their ads.
Yep, I've got a couple of those "freebies" laying around! I use a Fluke that I've had for many years, just keep the freebies for backup!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
MSHappyCampers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 08:52 AM   #21
Junior Member
 
beengood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Arizona
Posts: 26
also have the fluke but got a DC clamp meter from Lowe's for the motorhome.
__________________
Craig and Kathy
2013 Entegra Anthem RBQ
06 Harley Ultra Classic
beengood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 09:01 AM   #22
Senior Member
 
ARTWERKE's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Deep in the Heart of Texas
Posts: 476
I've carried a Fluke in my Tool case for 40 yrs. Half of the functions are worthless if you're not an Electronic Technician. But the peak hold function can tell a lot about your generator if you leave it plugged in a 110 outlet running on the genny for a while. Old Navy ET1.
__________________
2000 DSDP, 3883,Freightliner,330 Cat, 07 Jeep Commander 4x4toad.
ARTWERKE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 10:07 AM   #23
Senior Member
 
Wbonsell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Poulsbo, WA
Posts: 749
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLYLEN View Post
I have both pro and cheap harbor freight(several cuz there free at times). Most of the time at home I end up using the harbor freight one and in the MH it's always that one. For the MH any will do and here is the kicker LEARN HOW IT WORKS before needed.

LEN
LOL....I have my choice of two, but ask me how to use one, at least effectively, and I might get that deer in the headlight look! Have 30 days or so to find a good instructional video on youtube!!
__________________
Bill and Debb---2010 CT Coachworks Siena 35V
1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport---Roadmaster Falcon 5250 -
1 Cavalon (Scooby) 1 Papipoo (Bella- DOB 5/06/18)
Wbonsell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 10:13 AM   #24
Senior Member
 
deandec's Avatar
 
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,847
I have two digital from Harbor Freight for free.

One at home and one in the rig.

It is amazing how often they are used and they work for my purposes.

$20 would be a high price unless you are building circuit boards or fine tuning a generator.

Get digital, not analog.
__________________
Dean
1995 38' CC Magna #5280 **** Sold after 21 years of enjoyment.
deandec is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 10:29 AM   #25
Senior Member
 
Theberrys's Avatar
 
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,618
I've had one of these for years. It costs a bit more but does a lot more than the toss out models.

5-in-1 Digital Multimeter

The link says 5 in 1 but it's really 14 functions.
Dick
__________________
1999 Tradewinds 7372 Cat 3126
Albuquerque, NM
Theberrys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 12:24 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: On the Road
Posts: 1,608
Do yourself a favor and get a digital one not the analog meter.


2005 Country Coach Inspire, C9 CAT
__________________
2012 Nu Wa 363RSBDA
2016 Ford F-350 Dually 6.7
Duoglide1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 01:48 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 239
I too have a couple of Fluke 77's from the 80's and they are great and I keep one the RV and the other at home. But for the average Joe its to much. I recommend pretty much any digital meter that is auto ranging. As far as reading current, if you don't understand ohms law I would be hesitant for a novice to use a inline meter for current as you would probably blow fuses. If you really want to read current look at a clamp on style meter unless you know what you are doing. While you purchase your meter get a set of alligator clips along with the probes. http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-Electro...st+lead+banana
__________________
2014 Journey 34B
zman-az is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2014, 02:26 PM   #28
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
As I type this I'm looking at a coupon from harbor Freight, their 10.00 meter (well 9.99) free with coupon no purchase required. I already have two of them.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Catastrophe avoided?? Handling diff WOW trode Ford Motorhome Chassis Forum 12 06-30-2014 11:13 AM
Turn signal camera......wow!! HHg Class A Motorhome Discussions 7 04-23-2014 08:46 AM
Wow ! Two 2014 King Aire Bunk Bed Floor Plan Vlady Daddy Newmar Owner's Forum 5 03-10-2014 10:32 PM
Amphibious Class A!!! WOW!!!! CWinLV iRV2.com General Discussion 17 03-03-2014 05:23 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.