19-03-2016, 10:19 AM
I wonder who makes it? I did a couple of Google image searches in the hope of finding the same product in different clothes, but no luck yet.
My understanding of the Cat rating system is that a manufacturer self-certifies. In other words, they can claim what they like, and testing is not mandatory. Fluke* submit their meters for independent verification.
* Having said that, I could just be falling for Fluke's marketing. They do make a big deal about safety, and shout loudly about the independent testing at every opportunity.
Looking more closely, I don't like the combined socket for volts and milliamps. I'd like to know more about the internal fusing - the datasheet simple says "0.2A/250V and 10A/250V fuse", which implies standard 20mm types - hopefully ceramic, but often just glass on these cheap meters. In fairness, you couldn't replace the fuses in a typical Fluke for £15, so we shouldn't expect too much here. But if not already fitted, I'd recommend that owners upgrade to ceramic fuses.
The reading rate is a bit slow at 2 per second. And accuracy is a bit pedestrian.
However, at that price, I'm tempted to buy one to see if they might replace (or at least complement) our ageing Fluke 75s in our funds lab. Funding for a set of new Flukes is roughly zero in the current financial climate.
My understanding of the Cat rating system is that a manufacturer self-certifies. In other words, they can claim what they like, and testing is not mandatory. Fluke* submit their meters for independent verification.
* Having said that, I could just be falling for Fluke's marketing. They do make a big deal about safety, and shout loudly about the independent testing at every opportunity.
Looking more closely, I don't like the combined socket for volts and milliamps. I'd like to know more about the internal fusing - the datasheet simple says "0.2A/250V and 10A/250V fuse", which implies standard 20mm types - hopefully ceramic, but often just glass on these cheap meters. In fairness, you couldn't replace the fuses in a typical Fluke for £15, so we shouldn't expect too much here. But if not already fitted, I'd recommend that owners upgrade to ceramic fuses.
The reading rate is a bit slow at 2 per second. And accuracy is a bit pedestrian.
However, at that price, I'm tempted to buy one to see if they might replace (or at least complement) our ageing Fluke 75s in our funds lab. Funding for a set of new Flukes is roughly zero in the current financial climate.
