| BRAND SUMMARY | |
| Parent Company | FLIR Systems |
| Headquartered | Nashua, New Hampshire |
| Product Focus | Test Equipment, Printers |
| Target Markets | Low (<$80), Mid ($150), Premium ($250>) |
| Production Facilities | USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan |
Based out of New Hampshire, Extech Instruments is a quality brand name producing a large amount of handheld electronic test equipment. They also produce a large range of measuring instruments, inspection devices and portable printers, with the focus on providing quality tools for tradesmen and professionals, as well as for DIY enthusiasts.
Their huge range of test and inspection equipment covers a large choice of budgets, with DMMs going from less than $20 for a basic analog or digital unit, up to $300 or more for their accurate indoor air quality data-loggers.
Some popular examples of their test devices:
EX330
One of the best selling Extech multimeters is the very portable EX330. Classified CATIII-rated and among their lower- to mid-priced handheld devices, it comes with all the basic measuring ranges as well as voltage detection and a temperature input. This is a hardy tester with a good display and reputation. Read more…
MN35
This is one for the hobbyist into general purpose electrics looking for a budget multimeter. While it includes a temperature input, amperage ranges and a battery checker, the MN35 is a manual ranger only but is good value for money nonetheless. Read full review…
EX360
The EX360 is a smart meter at a good price, featuring nice build ergonomics and functions to include low impedance mode and non-contact voltage detection. More substantial than the 330, albeit with no amps inputs. Read more…
EX363
This meter is the EX360 plus micro-amps and a temperature input. With this, it suits HVAC engineers and is made to a decent quality. Other functions include a low impedance mode, relative mode and peak hold. Read more…
EX505
This is a similarly priced True-RMS responding meter, so is good for accurately measuring the outputs of variable speed drives. It has all amperage ranges – amps, milliamps, micro-amps – and also does frequency, duty cycle and temperature. Read more…
Company Background
Extech Instruments was founded back in 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts – the name somewhat of a portmanteau from the company ethos EXcellence in TECHnology. The firm produced useful devices from the get go and was eventually bought out by FLIR Systems in 2007. FLIR themselves are producers of infrared thermal imaging equipment, with the acquisition of Extech helping them better distribute their thermographers.
The company endeavors to provide the complete solution to problems in industry, to identify and troubleshoot, and to prevent. Solutions are found across a variety of disciplines – both electrical and mechanical – for safety and environmental applications. Brand reputation is important, which they’ve achieved through innovative design, reliability and a good complement of features, yet prices are kept low.
TODAY
Extech is well known in the world of test equipment and has become one of the go-to companies for multimeters and portable printers. Its products are sold through distribution centers in dozens of countries all over the world, with production facilities and warehouses in the USA, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
They continue to push the envelope and develop interesting DMMs and other innovative test equipment. These will continue to include addtional features often found on more expensive brands, such as Bluetooth connectivity for connection with mobile devices and apps for integration with iOS and Android platforms.
Products
Along with products for the hobbyist and DIY enthusiast, they provide a variety of handheld measuring tools for an array of industries, including: HVAC, plant maintenance, field service, air and water quality control, electronics design, food processing, laboratory testing, aviation, automotive and many more.
Tools can include: oscilloscopes, airflow meters, gas analyzers, light meters, humidity monitors, thermometers, infrared thermal imagers from FLIR, pressure meters, tachometers, timers and calibrators, to name a few. In addition is a slew of visual inspection equipment, such as inspection cameras and videoscopes, as well as high end power supplies.
Extech Multimeters
Chief among their products for the electrician is a selection of test meters. They cover a range of budgets, from $20 basic testers up to advanced-level, TRUE RMS, wireless digital multimeters. These often come with a greater amount of features than a comparable unit from a competitor and are typically reliable. Products are built to last, with good plastics incorporated together with protective, ergonomic cases.