I compared a cheap digital multimeter to a Fluke and learned the hard way

I was trying to diagnose why my dishwasher wouldn't drain and grabbed my $15 multimeter from Harbor Freight. The readings kept jumping around and I couldn't get a stable voltage on the pump motor. After three hours of frustration and buying a new pump I didn't need, I borrowed my neighbor's Fluke 117. First test showed the old pump was fine and the real issue was a bad wiring connection under the floor. The cheap meter was just too sensitive to electrical noise from the fridge compressor nearby. Now I keep an eye out for used Flukes on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Has anyone else had a cheap tool lead you down the wrong path like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

casey94319d ago

Starting with a cheaper meter is a great way to learn what the extra money actually buys you. Found a used Fluke 77 on Facebook for 60 bucks and it completely changed how I troubleshoot. The difference in stability is huge, especially around motors and appliances that throw off a ton of noise. Now I keep the cheap one around for checking batteries and continuity, but the Fluke is the one I grab for anything serious.

faith_schmidt20d ago

My buddy Greg had the exact same issue with a cheap clamp meter from Amazon. He was chasing a phantom draw on his RV battery and the thing kept showing like 5 amps when it was really like 0.3. Swapped to his dad's old Fluke 87 and found the problem in like five minutes. It's wild how much interference these cheap meters pick up from nearby appliances and even LED lights. I just snagged a used 117 off OfferUp for 80 bucks and it's night and day difference for diagnosing stuff around the house.