Debate: Did I waste $400 on a fluke meter or was it worth it?

I'm going back and forth on whether I should have spent the extra cash on a Fluke multimeter versus going with a Klein or even a cheaper brand. Six months ago I dropped $430 on a Fluke 117 at the supply house because everyone said they last forever. But yesterday I dropped it off a 6 foot ladder onto concrete and it still works fine so I guess I got what I paid for. On the other hand my buddy has burned through three $80 meters in the same time frame and his readings were always off by a few tenths. So is paying up for reliability a waste of money upfront or is cheaping out actually costing you more in the long run? I'm curious how many of you have had a cheap meter crap out on you or if you think brand loyalty is just a trap.

3 comments

3 Comments

uma_ellis1mo ago

The thing is I bought a cheap meter once and it straight up lied to me about voltage. Was chasing a ghost in a panel for two hours before I grabbed my old beat up Fluke and found the real problem. That $80 meter cost me way more in time and frustration than what I saved upfront. Plus those cheap leads are garbage, I've had them crack and give false readings in cold weather. So yeah spending $400 hurts but your buddy burning through three meters and fighting with bad readings is the real waste if you ask me. Have you ever had a cheap meter give you a bad reading that sent you down a rabbit hole?

wendyprice1mo ago

@uma_ellis man that reminds me of a time I had a cheap meter that showed 120v on a dead circuit. Spent an hour checking breakers thinking I was losing my mind before I tested it on a known live outlet and saw it read the same number. So yeah, bad readings are a nightmare. What was the actual voltage difference between the two meters when you finally pulled out the Fluke?

jamie_carter871mo ago

Wait a cheap meter showed 120v on a dead circuit? @uma_ellis that is terrifying, makes you wonder how many people are working off bad readings and don't even know it.