At 12:37 PM 9/2/2012, John Ferrell wrote: >I gave it my 1-hour cooldown but I still need to RANT! >There was a time in my youth when I could not afford a meter. Not any > >As I see the photo evidence, Stupid laid a tool on top of a power >terminal board and managed to generate magic smoke. HI there, John. I'm truly sorry, but I must respectfully disagree with you. I've looked at the two photos and I feel that the meter should NOT=20 have failed catastrophically. The wire colors on the terminal block / disconnect switch say that=20 the incoming voltage is either 480Vac or 600Vac, three phase. The=20 way I see it, the user set the meter on top of the insulating shield,=20 then touched the test probe to the terminals. The insulation inside=20 the meter failed and magic smoke / flame escaped via the seam on the=20 meter body. The escaping flame is what marked up the disconnect's=20 insulating shield. I have disassembled similar meters in the past and while I feel=20 somewhat comfortable using them at line voltages up to 120Vac, I will=20 NEVER use them above that voltage. On the other hand, every one of my various versions of Fluke 87=20 meters are specifically tested and rated (and certified) to work with=20 line voltages up to 750Vac. So long as I am using appropriately=20 rated test leads, I feel completely safe when measuring AC primary=20 voltages up to and including 600Vac when using the Fluke meters. Those inexpensive multimeters are great for low-voltage testing but=20 not at all suitable industrial primary voltages (208Vac and up). dwayne --=20 Dwayne Reid Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax www.trinity-electronics.com Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .