Borrowed a Fluke meter from my journeyman back in 2011

I thought spending $400 on a meter was a waste when you could get a Klein for $60. My journeyman handed me his Fluke 87V to troubleshoot a VFD that kept tripping. I spent three days chasing a ghost with my cheap meter. Turns out his Fluke caught a 2 volt transient my meter didn't even register. Replaced the drive and never had the issue again. Bought my own Fluke the next week and it's still working 12 years later. Any of you guys had a cheap tool cost you more time than it was worth?

2 comments

2 Comments

claire6419d ago

Wait, are you saying the cheap meter actually cost you time and money, or are you just lucky that your mistake worked out? I mean, I get the appeal of a cheap meter when you're starting out, but I had a $40 special that gave me false peace of mind for months. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I'd rather spend a bit more upfront than chase down issues that don't exist. I've had those cheap meters read voltage when the circuit was dead, or miss a real problem entirely. It's not like I'm made of money, but I'd rather pay for accuracy than pay for the same job twice.

the_ben19d ago

yeah absolutely, i've been there too. that thing about false peace of mind is spot on. i had a cheap meter that would show a steady voltage, but when i actually touched the wires it was way off. wasted a whole afternoon chasing a ground fault that wasn't even there. so no, you're not crazy for spending a bit more. it's not about being rich, it's about not wanting to do the same job twice. i'd rather pay for something that works than pay for the headache later.