Mastech Multimeters

[JEWilson]

Just got myself a couple of these at, what appears, to be
reasonable prices.

What are the views of forum members for Mastech meters?
I have purchased;
1 of MS822H (for the inductance read-out)
http://www.p-mastech.com/products/04_dm/ms8222h.html
and
1 of MY68 (for the freq. read-out up to 200kHz)
http://www.p-mastech.com/products/04_dm/my68.html

These appear cheap. Are they really?
see further
http://www.gsmserver.com/repair_tool...ls.php?id=9371
and
http://www.gsmserver.com/repair_tool...ls.php?id=9359

[willawake]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

a cheap meter is perfectly fine unless you are doing some work where good accuracy is necessary. mastech http://www.p-mastech.com seem to be a big company

my rule is that i dont mess around with dangerous voltage with the cheapest meters. i found a cheapie which was not fused even though it said it was...

[JEWilson]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

Good point

I'll check that when I receive them.

Thanks

[arneson]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

Cheap meters are the ticket, lots of them.
It's the cheap leads that I have issue with.
I find myself under a diesel engine or at the top of a sail boat mast,
hanging on in the rain checking antennas.
Last week I was like Capt. Dan up there yelling ' come get me Fran, you bitch'.

[Krankshaft]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

I'm still using a cheap as hell 70 dollar autoscaling Radioshack meter.

I will eventually save up for a nice Fluke.

I agree if absolute accuracy isn't a problem then aa cheapy is fine.

If I'm not mistaken they also make digital bench power supplies.

[willawake]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

70 dollars is not really cheap. i think the 60-100 range is pretty ok. there is quite a lot of stuff in the 5-10 range and its just stupid cos there will be compromise in components. of course when you buy a store branded item in the 30 range then its probably just a 10 with added profit

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

Just by looks those don't look like 'cheap' grade to me.
More like standard at realistic price.

[Krankshaft]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

70 dollars is not really cheap.

I know but anyone who goes to Ratshack knows that they overprice everything.

See they dropped the price since I bought it 3 years ago to 50 bucks:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

To further prove that I hate Ratshack.

I was in a pinch and needed a 3 plug RCA coupler and these theives charged me 7 bucks! This thing is worth 2 to 3 bucks tops.

Right here:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

The cheap Chinese gold plating on that coupler isn't even worth 7 dollars!

Gold plated connectors thats a bunch of snake oil too.

[linuxguru]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

For audio RCA connectors, I'd rather have gold than tin plating. Tin oxidizes and turns grayish after a while, and after that the contact is no longer ohmic, but more like a resistance in parallel with a rectifying diode. That's not good for audio.

OTOH, there are many other alloys that are pretty durable and resist oxidation and cost much less than gold. The problem is, there's no easy way to tell the good ones from the bad ones.

[i4004]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

>and after that the contact is no longer ohmic, but more like a resistance in parallel with a rectifying diode

how do you get diode from oxidized contact?

[JEWilson]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

Y

Like ruthenium on reed relays. These are resistant to oxidisation.
It is my guess, you would not see these on phonos albeit,
I wouldn't be surprised if some esoteric audio company offers
these as a 'feature' on amps and equipment.
As it happens, I have a couple of Soundblaster Live! with the breakout
boxes and the tin phonos have gone to hell. So these will be replaced
with gold as well as further, a recap also in the critical areas when I get round to them.

As I recall, there is a thread in this forum re - Soundblasters.

I have a good Fluke and consider these excellent. But you pay for
what you get, it could be argued.
As the forum members state, these are best reserved for professional
(paid) work where accuracy and reliability are required.

[kc8adu]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

remember that the earliest semiconductors were metal oxides.copper being most common.
not unusual to get a complaint that a stereo is recieving am radio or cb's.
a dose of deoxit and rubdown with emery cloth fixes it.

[willawake]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

reliability is an important point for professional equipment. what to do if the call out was in the middle of nowhere and the equipment doesnt work.

Here's another point though. i am using a device to measure the moisture of GRP yacht hulls.



i used to use this device (looks like a cheap multimeter)



now i use this one, which costs twice as much. it gives me way more functions and makes the measurements more scientific as i can take humidity/dew point/surface temperature readings also to record the conditions at time of measurement. But the thing is that it also looks professional and this is important when you charge professional rates.

[arneson]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

That looks like the thing I use to test my swimming pool water. nyuck nyuck nyuck.
Only kidding, but the meter I'm asked for most measures stray currents running from hull to shore power or salt water to DC panels.
It gets nasty when the running gear starts to disintegrate.
I have to refer them to an electrolysis expert.

[JEWilson]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

I'm gonna get my fluke a hardhat case!

[willawake]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

that yellow case is a :

http://www.pelican.com/
or as they are in europe http://www.peli.com/
actually its a 1150. the unit came like that. i am gonna get some more for the other stuff. they also come with

Peli's Pick 'N' Pluck™ foam lets you customize the interior according to your gear. An easy, do-it-yourself system for custom-shaping the interior of the case according to your equipment.

Layers of foam are pre-scored in tiny cubes. Simply measure your equipment over the grid and pluck away. Contents stay in place and get extra protection at the same time.

[willawake]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

the meter I'm asked for most measures stray currents running from hull to shore power or salt water to DC panels.

is there a special meter for that?

[i4004]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

cheap meter i had wasn't measuring voltage between ground and psu case(which is 110v in europe) at all.
other than that it seems to work ok.

[willawake]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

i got one of these DRAPER 43858 AC DIGITAL CLAMP METER to use on a course but the clamp function not work at all...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DRAPER-43858...9604020&sr=1-4

i gave it to a friend along with some other tools cos i was waaay over 20kg airline baggage.

for the boats i think i need Fluke 88 Series V
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fl...keUnitedStates
with i410 or i1010 clamp meter accessory
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Ac...keUnitedStates

[arneson]

Re: Mastech Multimeters

The meter for in water current measurement just needs low scales and a sensing device to toss overboard.
I try to stay out of this field becuase it's specialized PIA type investigation work.
You often have to go around knocking on doors to find out who's electrical wires are sitting in a puddle, and then they really don't want to know about it.
There are always some measurements that require an analogue display.
Like that multimeter everyone had to put together in shop class 101.
I think it cost $7 for a knight kit.
Most of you are too young for that stuff and have no idea what I'm yabbering about.