A beginner's Meter

[Deca4477]

I'm looking for a simple to use, easy to read, multi-meter that would be suitable to start out with as I have noticed the 1980's era Radio Shack one I inherited from my grandfather ate itself to death. I'm hoping for a solution that is at or below $30 USD and won't mind being put in a cool dry place for long periods of times, as I'm not a full time electronic tinkerer, I'm only looking into these solutions because I'd rather try and fix some computer equipment than buy it brand new.

[JenniferG]

I wouldn't mind knowing which is the best meter $30 or under as well.

[Krytron]

I would recommend you purchase an elder used Fluke or Beckman off of the auction house.  Both have excellent voltage references and tend not to drift.  And they stand up to a little abuse.

[daybyter]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/review-uni-t-ut136b-tired-of-the-multimeter-snobs-a-very-nice-budget-meter!/50/

[Deca4477]

That brings me back to the main page again.

[joeqsmith]

If you live in the US, there is the free Harbor Freight meters.  You may have to wait for the coupon.  Maybe get two.    They are not very robust, not a lot of features but again free.  It's better than my first meter. 

[EEVblog]

[mtdoc]

The UT136b is a good meter for the price. It can currently be found for $15 shipped on eBay. I keep one in my car. There is ane excellent review and thead on the meter here.

If you can spend a bit more, I'm fond of my TekPower TP4000ZC. It is a good value, does data logging, and can be found at forum member Franky's eBay store for $39 shipped

Martin Lorton did a review of it

IMO, both of these meters are good, low cost electronics bench meters but neither should be used with mains powered or other very high energy circuits.

[JenniferG]

Oh nice link.  I saw the other video you did on setting up a lab.  Nice to know this vid exists. Going to watch all of it now. Love it heh.

[Deca4477]

Would they be usable on checking for issues on a monitor's power board? Because that's what I'm currently looking for a meter for. Trying to figure out why the monitor has been dying randomly.

[mtdoc]

Would they be usable on checking for issues on a monitor's power board? Because that's what I'm currently looking for a meter for. Trying to figure out why the monitor has been dying randomly.

Assuming you mean a modern flat screen and not an old style CRT, then you could use it as long as you were careful to avoid the primary (mains connected) side of the power supply.

If you're not sure then best not to use it unless you are just checking components with the board unplugged.

[Housedad]

This reminds me of my grandpa.  A machinist and electrician  starting in the 1920's.   He never used a meter.  He had so many dried and very thick callouses on his hands he just decided how much voltage was in a wire by how much it "tingles" when he held the bare ends.  Now that was a tough old bird.

[rstofer]

There are a lot of inexpensive DMMs around.  I have several of the $5 Harbor Freight meters and they have worked perfectly for their intended purposes.  One I left on my boat to check the alternator output and state of charge.  Three were used for my grandson't science fair project describing Ohm's Law.  I  have a couple still in their wrapping.  They are great for making gross measurements that don't need to be very accurate.  One day I'll check the accuracy with my DMMCheck standards.

The thing is, these aren't 'electronics' meters as Dave would define them.  One thing he wants is a uA scale and this eliminates all of the 'electrical' meters.  They simply don't have that scale.

One of the less expensive meters that is suitable for electronics is the Brymen BM235 and, if you buy this one, you might as well buy the EEVblog variant.  Very cool meter.  I bought two of them and gave one to my grandson.

The EEVblog meter is $125 at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/EEVblog-BM235-Brymen-Multimeter/dp/B01JZ1ADCO

Over in the Test Equipment subforum there is a spreadsheet describing a LOT of meters.  Oddly, it doesn't include the the BM235...  Most of the meters are very pricey.  High end, no doubt, but probably not what one would think of for a beginner's meter.  There are a few meters that are sub-$100.

I realize that $125 is a heck of a lot more than $30 so it may be out of the question for many beginners but maybe it will be a possibility somewhere down the line.  Just try to make sure the candidate meter has a uA scale.  It will be important when designing amplifiers and such.

Download the manual and print out the accuracy specifications.  Then, as you evaluate other meters, compare against a known baseline.

I just bought a GW Instek GDM8251A bench meter for $125 off eBay and it should be here in a few days.  In general, I don't think much of buying used test equipment, particularly meters, because I don't know how badly they have been abused.  Students?  You can bet that these meters have been hammered!  Still, I can hope it all works out.  More to follow if it doesn't...

[tpowell1830]

I just ordered this one from Amazon. I liked the features Vs. Price.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DIJ8WLY/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[GreyWoolfe]

If you live in the US, there is the free Harbor Freight meters.  You may have to wait for the coupon.  Maybe get two.    They are not very robust, not a lot of features but again free.  It's better than my first meter.

I keep one in my tool bag in my company van.  Of course, I would only need to check small DC voltages and changes in resistance.  I wouldn't use it for anything else.

[grantbob]

I'll second the Tekpower/Digitek DT-400ZC. I picked one up from Frankie when my old Micronta DMM went nuts. It's a nice meter and the USB interface it kind of cool to have for simple logging. Good value for the price.

I've also picked up one of Dave's BM235's. True RMS is nice to have for some things and I like having the Electric Field detection to help reassure myself I probably won't get zapped when I'm messed with mains AC.

-grantbob

[Brumby]

.... and won't mind being put in a cool dry place for long periods of times .....

Just do one thing, PLEASE .......

When being "rested" for long periods of time - remove the batteries. 

Stick them in a plastic bag and wrap an elastic band around the meter and the batteries, so they are kept together.  IF the batteries leak, they can do so inside the plastic bag ... not inside the meter.

[jimdeane]

When I ordered my Extech EX330 ($50 USD, bought based on Dave's video review) I added an Extech MN35 manual-range multimeter ($20 USD) to my order.  I basically wanted a second new meter to use as a backup or for when I need current along with voltage.

Other than being a manual range device, the MN35 is actually a pretty nice meter.

[Brumby]

I would actually suggest a manual range meter for absolute beginners.

It will encourage them think about what they are going to stick their meter probes on before they do.

[sleemanj]

I say it's better to buy multiple cheap meters than one (or even two) more expensive ones, and unless you really have a need for more precision, the typical specs of a 3.5 digit 2000 count is more than sufficient for hobbiests.

For about 15 USD each from Aliexpress/eBay you can pickup the BSide ADM02. 

I think it's pretty good value for a very low cost 2000 count 3.5 digit meter - fuses on both current ranges, rubber boot, backlight and APO, K type thermocouple and all the usual features, and at that price you can get two for your $30.

The only thing I would really like to see on the ADM02 which would be a real improvement, would be higher diode test voltage, at only 1.5v it's no good for checking leds.

There was a thread about the ADM01 on here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/bside-cn-adm01-$13-multimeter-first-impressions/ which has frequency count instead of temperature, but temperature is more useful IMHO.

[daybyter]

eevblog forum has cut the URL again. Dave should take a look.

[mzacharias]

I'm looking for a simple to use, easy to read, multi-meter that would be suitable to start out with as I have noticed the 1980's era Radio Shack one I inherited from my grandfather ate itself to death. I'm hoping for a solution that is at or below $30 USD and won't mind being put in a cool dry place for long periods of times, as I'm not a full time electronic tinkerer, I'm only looking into these solutions because I'd rather try and fix some computer equipment than buy it brand new.

Either install some ten-year cells or 9V battery as the case may be since if it is stored for a long time battery leakage and corrosion become a significant risk. You could just leave batteries out until you need the meter, but the more the case screws are used, the more they tend to strip the plastic threads you normally see on cheap meters. If you do leave batteries installed, probably a good idea to write the install date on some masking tape and label the rear of the meter.

I know better but I have still had battery corrosion due to my inattentiveness to the issue.

[joseph nicholas]

Without a doubt, get the MF-47, you will never regret it.  It costs 13.50 usd, in kit form on Bangood.  Can't be beat.  If you don´t own a soldering iron, get the assembled version.

[ollihd]

My first meter ever was a Vichy VC99. Served me good for 6 years or more. Had everything I could need and was cheap. I think they go for around 30€/30$. When I started needing more accuracy I upgraded to a Fluke 179 and turned the Vicky into a data logger -meter via it's rs232 "hack". I suggest taking a look at it. Just Google/Ebay "Vichy VC99". Dealextreme also sells them. I think I got mine from there.

[rstofer]

I don't know anything about this meter, I just bumped in to it on eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Multimeter-6000-Counts-AC-DC-Ammeter-Voltmeter-Temperature-Meter-AN860B/311773197220

The specs aren't stellar (0.5% DCV) but not that bad considering the price $22

It looks like they are pretty serious about the safety ratings but I haven't seen a review or tear-down.

If I weren't knee deep in multimeters, I might give this a try.  It has the required uA range that Dave considers mandatory for electronics work.  For $22, it would be worth buying just to tear it apart.

ETA:  So I did!  I'll tear it apart when it gets here...

[anishkgt]

Based on daves review on dim. I bought the ex330 from eBay. I would have gone for the uni-t UT61D but it did not have resistance measurement below 600ohm. The extent are good for low budget soldering and working.


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[sleemanj]

I would have gone for the uni-t UT61D but it did not have resistance measurement below 600ohm.

Just to be clear, the lowest *range* on the UT61D is 600 Ohm, that doesn't mean it can not measure below 600 Ohm (which would be a pretty shitty meter :-))

[Brumby]

Indeed.

I just picked out a random listing  for an EX330 - and this was one of the specifications:

Resistance              0.1O to 40MO

0.1 Ohm resolution at the lower end of the scale is not too shabby.  (At the other end, 40 Meg Ohm isn't too bad either.)

Read the post correctly this time.....

I just picked out a random listing  for an UNI-T UT61D - and this was one of the specifications:

Resistance	600.0	±(1.2%+2 dig.)	0.1
	6.000 k	±(1.0%+2 dig.)	0.001 k
	60.00 k	±(1.0%+2 dig.)	0.01 k
	600.0 k	±(1.0%+2 dig.)	0.1 k
	6.000 M	±(1.2%+2 dig.)	0.001 M
	60.00 M	±(1.5%+2 dig.)	0.01 M

0.1 Ohm resolution at the lower end of the scale is not too shabby.  (At the other end, 60 Meg Ohm isn't too bad either.)


I also noticed the ranges for the UT61D are generally better or at least equal to the EX330 (except for the low end of capacitance measurement) and that the UT61D has notably better CAT ratings.

[krappleby]

I bought the Vici vc97 after watching reviews, cost me around 29 uk pounds, so would probably be around $35 i think, but it seems a great meter. large display and auto range, it is only cat 2 though but up to 1000v. never ad any problems with it

[Wytnucls]

I don't know anything about this meter, I just bumped in to it on eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Multimeter-6000-Counts-AC-DC-Ammeter-Voltmeter-Temperature-Meter-AN860B/311773197220

The specs aren't stellar (0.5% DCV) but not that bad considering the price $22

It looks like they are pretty serious about the safety ratings but I haven't seen a review or tear-down.

If I weren't knee deep in multimeters, I might give this a try.  It has the required uA range that Dave considers mandatory for electronics work.  For $22, it would be worth buying just to tear it apart.

ETA:  So I did!  I'll tear it apart when it gets here...

Somebody did a review already.
Built to a price. Might be ok for someone on a tight budget. Keep away from high energy circuits.

[rstofer]

I don't know anything about this meter, I just bumped in to it on eBay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Multimeter-6000-Counts-AC-DC-Ammeter-Voltmeter-Temperature-Meter-AN860B/311773197220

The specs aren't stellar (0.5% DCV) but not that bad considering the price $22

It looks like they are pretty serious about the safety ratings but I haven't seen a review or tear-down.

If I weren't knee deep in multimeters, I might give this a try.  It has the required uA range that Dave considers mandatory for electronics work.  For $22, it would be worth buying just to tear it apart.

ETA:  So I did!  I'll tear it apart when it gets here...

Somebody did a review already.
Built to a price. Might be ok for someone on a tight budget. Keep away from high energy circuits.

I'm not much for working on high energy circuits with a DMM.  My definition of high energy might be 480V 1000 kVA substations or up from there.  At some point, it seems a better procedure would be to wire the meter into a de-energized circuit and then energize it from a distance.  No hand held meter operation.

How many threads are devoted to chasing DMM costs toward $0?  It seems everybody wants to jump into the hobby with a $20 meter.  Given that, this seems like a pretty decent DMM.  I'll know more when it shows up - whenever that is.  I look forward to comparing its functionality against the $100 EEVblog Brymen  BM235.  I expect the Brymen to win, hands down!  Still, it costs 6 times as much.

I like the Brymen, it's the only portable DMM on my bench but I never confuse it with my Fluke 189 when I really need accuracy.

Still, if someone just can't afford $100 and insists on dirt cheap, this unit will be far superior to the $5 Harbor Freight meter.

[PeterMadach]

the Uni-T 139C seems to pack a quite decent amount of functionality for the price and if I'm not mistaken it's at least not laughable on the inside. It even has HRC fuses (even though they the smaller ones for both ranges).