I have a
DMM that's both clamp for ampreage and multi-meter. I also have a set of fluke leads to it that allow me to interchange the probe between alagator clips,
insulation piercing hooks and the normal probes.
That true
RMS is where a lot of the cost goes into, and while it's good in doing things like trimming dimmers, for general purpose work, it's not much more of an advantage. The hooks and clamps however were a large advantage in making life easy and not fumbling with the probes. Someone even melted down the tip of one of my probes at one time when they fumbled with it.
The multi-meter, be it a calculator sized one or as necessary often a combination one that will even tell temperature is very useful.
On the other
hand, so is a
Gam check. If you are atop a ladder, it's much more easy to use the
gam check for instance. Much less at times your probes won't find something to contact within a
receptacle, or if they do, it won't hold in contact. The
Gam check will stay in contact much easier.
While I also have various
edison checks, even
GFCI testers, they rely upon having live
power. Such testers make life quicker and easier. If your
Gam Check is the wrong flavor for the cable to be tested, you
build a
adaptor. I in using the
Edison tester and
Gam Check test L6-15 and L6-20 cables - when powered by 120v circuits, L5-15 and L5-20,
Stage pin,
Edison and a lot of other types of cable with these two testing devices. Just takes a
adaptor to convert which is wired in the same way as the
outlet for bench testing.
My bench test
circuit has 20 amps of
power coming into a
switch. It than goes to thermo magnetic
circuit breaker and
plug fuse which can go down to 5 amps as a maximum
rating. It than feeds a
GFCI receptacle before it hits the various outlets above. Very useful for a table top. It also has a indicator light linked to each so you can tell what blew.
In testing it does require live
power. Short of such a test box, I would be more concerned with testing gear which is the advantage the
Gam Check has. It can test both live
power or have a cable plugged into both ends to easily test
continuity. Handy to have with you up in a
catwalk. The lamp check is also useful.
Such a testing device does not replace the need for a analog or
DMM, but it does make life much more easy for testing in the field.
On a ladder all you have to do is
plug it in and you can test
power coming in, and the lamp itself without fooling with the probes. You can also put a tie
line thru it and hang it off your belt much more easily than you can carry around a multi-meter. What do you do with the probes and long leads? Can't exactally stick them into your pocket.
As for color, my tools are not left behind thus loosing it in a bin of black cable is not a problem.
My thoughts at least. I use both, all three test device types and more. The
Gam Check while perhaps over priced for it's value is still a good tool to get if you have the money. First comes at least a decent multi-meter.