Pen / Probe DMM Review

[Fraser]

I just bought a new one of these ISO-Tech probe meters for GBP29 on e*ay :-)  My purchase was the kit that contains the add on clamp meter. Clever and useful 

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=6974070

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=searchProducts&searchTerm=186-2405&x=29&y=18

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=6974064

Excellent quality but a little larger than my Wavetek probe meters. Accuaracy is nothing to rave about but is adequate for the uses that I have in mind for the probe meter.

I believe ISO-Tech are a brand mainly sold via RS Components.

http://www.iso-techonline.com/index.html

[Bored@Work]

I believe ISO-Tech are a brand mainly sold via RS Components.

ISO-Tech is a "brand" owned by RS. It is badge engineering. RS buys from many different manufacturers and gets the stuff labeled ISO-Tech.

[Fraser]

Hi Boredatwork,


That explains why some 'ISO-Tech' products appear better made than others  

I recently purchased the ISO-Tech 1332A Lux meter and the very nice IDM305 multimeter, brand new, boxed and sealed, at very wallet friendly prices. They appear very well made using quality materials and good build practices such as HRC fuses etc.

For info to all, ISO-Tech/RS has recently changed it's brand colours from 'light grey& red' to 'dark grey & green' and the older light grey/red stock appears to have been 'dumped' onto third party test equipment dealers for onward sale at prices approaching a third to one quarter of that in the RS catalogue.

I don't know the OEM of these meters but I remain impressed with the quality. The stated specs on the IDM305 are very near to those of my Fluke 87 series III and it has all the bells and whistles that a bored tech could wish for  .

[Fraser]

I see that Tektronix think the 'Iso-Tech' IDM17 probe meter is worthy of their name:

http://www.slack.com/TE/TekDMM150/index.html

[Ernie Milko]

Wow! A Tektronix Isotech! From what I read of current-day Tek, at TekScopes, Tek ain't what they used to be.
I'm familiar with Isotech, and these meters, not bad, from what I've seen.

[alm]

Wow! A Tektronix Isotech! From what I read of current-day Tek, at TekScopes, Tek ain't what they used to be.

Not so much current-day Tek, the re-badged cheap test equipment has been discontinued for at least a number of years. They were introduced somewhere in the nineties, when Tek wanted a full line of test equipment to attract distributors, and were definitely not Tek quality or documented to Tek standards (no service docs). Apart from the Fluke bench meters they sell (Fluke is owned by the same Danaher group), I don't think they currently sell much re-badged equipment anymore, excluding some accessories like the isolated probes for the TPS2000 series, which are made by Multi-Contact. Unlike Agilent who sold Rigol scopes until recently .