Good Budgetish Multimeter?

[BlueFireIce]

Looking for a multimeter more for electrician use than electronic use, had been looking at whats out there and the ones I have come across are either uber cheap looking or WAY out of my price range for a meter. I am looking to keep it under 200 bucks, any suggestions?

I have looked at the Fluke 117, but not sure its worth it or if there might be a better choice out there somewhere? My work uses the Fluke 87-5-EX and other models, but I don't often if ever need a intrinsically safe multimeter.

[alm]

Check if Agilent has anything in your price range (U124x?). They usually offer decent build quality for lower prices than Fluke. It might also be worth checking if the winners from Dave's $100 DMM shoot-out are still current products. Safety would probably be more important for your application than say burden voltage (how often does an electrician use a DMM for current measurement?), so the balance is slightly different than for electronics meters, but most of the features/issues would still be relevant.

[BlueFireIce]

While you would think voltage testing is not used allot, this is industrial electrical work, and I deal with voltages and wires/systems all across the board from high voltage AC to 12-24v DC systems. However it does not have to be that accurate.

And thanks for the suggestion, I will give them a look.

[alm]

Note that I mentioned current measurement, not voltage measurement. Do you often disconnect motors or lighting so you can put a DMM in series? Or do you use a clamp meter for these jobs? If you use a DMM for current measurement, is it an issue if the burden voltage is 1V instead of 0.5V? Burden voltage was just a random example, other examples of features not critical for most electricians might be uA measurement or large resistance measurement. The option of lowering the input impedance is be a useful feature to avoid ghost voltages.

High voltage AC might be a problem, most DMMs only go up to 1 kV. Even for low voltage, you may have to pay attention to overvoltage ratings. As an electrician, you may encounter Cat IV circuits.

[BlueFireIce]

Ah, sorry, I had skimmed the post and ran off to look at the models they had, and no, in most of the work it's not used often, however it is used allot in instrumentation, which is what I am looking to get into full time but still might be a year or so down the road. As for high voltage AC, that's ok, most of the time I will know ahead of time that I will be working with it and request one of the meters from the supply office, what I hate is being out in the field and needing to test something, or doing simple continuity testing only to have to radio for a meter and wait (and put the job on hold) for 1-2 hours.

[retiredcaps]

I have looked at the Fluke 117, but not sure its worth it or if there might be a better choice out there somewhere?

The Agilent U1233A is the direct competitor to the Fluke 117.  It offers a few things, on paper, that are "better" than the Fluke.  It is under $200.

http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-7550EN.pdf

http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/U1231-90026.pdf

1) Built-in LED torchlight to illuminate test area
2) Flashing backlight as visual alert during continuity tests in dim areas
3) A "real" touch hold unlke the 117's "useless" hold
4) Data logging (up to 10 readings)

PS. I have a Fluke 117 as I got it really inexpensive.

As always, this forum has feedback, teardown photos, and found problems for the U123x series.  Just some samples.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/problem-with-agilent-u1232a/

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/agilent-u1231a-teardown/

[Architect_1077]

I can vouch for the Agilent U1241B. Love this thing! 

[BlueFireIce]

I can vouch for the Agilent U1241B. Love this thing! 

I was looking at that one as well, its in the price range and it seems to fit.

[T4P]

There's a couple of things going for the U1272A
1) It's designed for a electrician oddly
2) Low Impedance Mode, really important but the odd placing is ... odd
3) Water and Dust Resistant aka IP54
4) Smart Ohms ... kills any offset
5) Low Pass Filter just like the 87v

But heck, if you don't need a meter like this but what do you do mostly? Measure high voltages? But do you measure high voltage current?
Well if you do i can recommend the UT61E with a pinch of salt

Anything else i like the U1241B too, it's LCD reminds me of the Mastech MS8218 ( which is really i think the highest end meter from china, it does have actual HRC fuses )

[SharkWrangler]

I also agree with the Agilent U1241B suggestions. I use the similar U1242B as my go-to meter. The only issue I've found is that changing the fuse requires taking apart the meter.

You also might want to look at the U123xA series of Agilent meters if you require low impedance voltage measurement.

[Ivanko1]

Hi everyone! (sorry for my english) Can you help me to choose my first (brand) budgetish multimeter about $30-40!
Here's the list:

Mastech RU ENG
MS8217- very good, but very hard to find
MS8265 - not autorange and not have temerature (I need it), but have more digits and accuracy (?)
MS8268 - i very like it, but don't have t (it will be second multimeter)
MS8228

Or take someone more expensive, like
Mastech MS8240C
Pro'sKit MT-1820/1860

They need me at home. I do some simple work with electrycity, tesing and repearing PC's, and beginner in radioelectronics.

All Ampro, Fluke, Extech and else - are very expensive in my country (Ukraine, CID). We have the Uni-T brand, but there is no autorange dmm under $60.

Thank you!:)

[T4P]

Under 50 bucks? Plenty i tell ya, but most of their capacitance measurement sucks.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/2-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-2-aaa-42473
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/uni-t-ut136b-2-0-lcd-digital-multimeter-red-grey-1-x-9v-128293
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8221-AUTORANGE-DIGITAL-MULTIMETERS/405418_446794302.html
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/2-8-lcd-handheld-auto-range-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-3-aaa-37888
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Mastech-MS8221B-Manual-Range-Digital-Multimeter/405418_440784074.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8215-INNOVATIVE-DIGITAL-MULTMETER/405418_446798911.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8268-3-3-4-AUTORANGE-DIGITAL-MULTIMETER/405418_446780274.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8226-DIGITAL-MULTIMETERS/405418_446789329.html
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-2-aaa-37082
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-1-6f22-42269

So why not spend a few bucks more and get a proper meter like the UT61E ?

Other than Mastech (or the 2.8" YH aka Mastech Clone) and UNI-T the Minipa ET845 meter comes with shitty probes

[HardBoot]

Under 50 bucks? Plenty i tell ya, but most of their capacitance measurement sucks.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/2-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-2-aaa-42473
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/uni-t-ut136b-2-0-lcd-digital-multimeter-red-grey-1-x-9v-128293
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8221-AUTORANGE-DIGITAL-MULTIMETERS/405418_446794302.html
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/2-8-lcd-handheld-auto-range-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-3-aaa-37888
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Mastech-MS8221B-Manual-Range-Digital-Multimeter/405418_440784074.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8215-INNOVATIVE-DIGITAL-MULTMETER/405418_446798911.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8268-3-3-4-AUTORANGE-DIGITAL-MULTIMETER/405418_446780274.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8226-DIGITAL-MULTIMETERS/405418_446789329.html
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-2-aaa-37082
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-1-6f22-42269

So why not spend a few bucks more and get a proper meter like the UT61E ?

Other than Mastech (or the 2.8" YH aka Mastech Clone) and UNI-T the Minipa ET845 meter comes with shitty probes

I already have good probes, which of those has the best capacitance?
I only need a spare meter for capacitance and voltage.

[FenderBender]

Go for an Amprobe meter. I'll tell you. People don't give Amprobe enough credit. Their stuff is top notch quality and at a really awesome price. I have an Amprobe AM-270 and an AM-220. Both meters are awesome values. The 270 was $90 and the internal build quality looks like it was from a $200+ meter.

http://www.amprobe.com/Amprobe/usen/Multimeters/Industrial-Multimeters-/AM-270.htm?PID=73125

If you wanna to go a little higher, try the AM-140 or AM-160. I think the only difference here is possible better A/D converters, but they do perform quite well.

http://www.amprobe.com/Amprobe/usen/Multimeters/Precision-Digital-Multimeters-/AM-160-A.htm?PID=73117


Here's my teardown of the 270:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/teardown-amprobe-am-270-digital-multimeter/

The pictures don't exactly do it justice but it's real nice. Really safe meter too. Routed isolation slots. Blast shields for the fuses and inputs. Well made meter.

But please. As much as I like Agilent, Fluke, or Gossen, the value of these meters is really impressive. Service is great too. Amprobe is owned by the same company as Fluke, Tektronix, Keithley and others. That's not to say that it's automatically good quality, but it's something you can trust.

I always feel like I'm advertising with this but hey I really do like their meters.

[alm]

If you need a good capacitance function, get an LC(R) meter. If you're lucky, the capacitance mode of a DMM may be useful with capacitors with very low parasitics (i.e. no significant leakage). If you're not so lucky, the capacitance mode will not give useful values at all.

[Ivanko1]

T4P
Thanks for the reply.
Capacitance measurement - is not main feature for me.

So why not spend a few bucks more and get a proper meter like the UT61E ?

Dave give "thumbs down" to 61D for the 1. change fuse, 2. probes, 3. autorange speed, 4 continuity test, 5 capasitor test, 6 LED-test, 7. construction (taking apart). I think U61E it is not worth $80, maybe for RMS. Such hi-class DMM I will by maybe in the future, when I do that work proffesionally.)))

Other than Mastech (or the 2.8" YH aka Mastech Clone) and UNI-T the Minipa ET845 meter comes with shitty probes

That can be fixed - [/url=http://masteram.com.ua/ru/Multimeter-Test-Leads-MASTECH-T3009.php]only $8[/url].

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8268-3-3-4-AUTORANGE-DIGITAL-MULTIMETER/405418_446780274.html

I' think that's a good one: autorange, nice price, REL, secure entrance (with flashing and beeping warnigs), self-restore 400mA/250V fuse, 10A ceramic fuse, measures kHz/duty/hFe/nF,Om/mkA/mV... lacking only temperature. And big thumbs up for the 3 x AAA 1.5volt battery powered, its easyer to find and can be replaced rechargable batteries.

How about this two (i mean use them in pair): VC81D and Mastech MS8217?

[T4P]

What? Don't compare the both of them.
The UT61E has got great sharp probes along with lightning fast continuity along with fast autorange
Fast capacitor measurement, can light a LED and has still-okay construction for only 59$ and 22,000 counts!
What more do you expect?
Well the MS8217 depends on you

[T4P]

Under 50 bucks? Plenty i tell ya, but most of their capacitance measurement sucks.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/2-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-2-aaa-42473
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/uni-t-ut136b-2-0-lcd-digital-multimeter-red-grey-1-x-9v-128293
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8221-AUTORANGE-DIGITAL-MULTIMETERS/405418_446794302.html
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/2-8-lcd-handheld-auto-range-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-3-aaa-37888
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Mastech-MS8221B-Manual-Range-Digital-Multimeter/405418_440784074.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8215-INNOVATIVE-DIGITAL-MULTMETER/405418_446798911.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8268-3-3-4-AUTORANGE-DIGITAL-MULTIMETER/405418_446780274.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MASTECH-MS8226-DIGITAL-MULTIMETERS/405418_446789329.html
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-2-aaa-37082
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-0-lcd-handheld-digital-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-1-6f22-42269

So why not spend a few bucks more and get a proper meter like the UT61E ?

Other than Mastech (or the 2.8" YH aka Mastech Clone) and UNI-T the Minipa ET845 meter comes with shitty probes

I already have good probes, which of those has the best capacitance?
I only need a spare meter for capacitance and voltage.

Should be the MS8226, don't quote me on that though

[mariush]

Like T4P mentioned above, the UT61E is a totally different beast compared to UT61D. Different main "processor", true rms, 22000 counts, and everything else T4P said.

I have one myself, it's very good for the price.

[EEVblog]

What? Don't compare the both of them.
The UT61E has got great sharp probes along with lightning fast continuity along with fast autorange
Fast capacitor measurement, can light a LED and has still-okay construction for only 59$ and 22,000 counts!

That's the problem with UNI-T, they have so many models, even within the same model number range, so the UT61E is an entirely different beast to the UT61T. Crazy.

Teardown photo here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/uni-t-ut61e-multimeter-teardown-photos/

The UNI-T site seems to have vanished...
http://www.uni-trend.com/

Dave.

[EEVblog]

Like T4P mentioned above, the UT61E is a totally different beast compared to UT61D. Different main "processor", true rms, 22000 counts, and everything else T4P said.
I have one myself, it's very good for the price.

Looks like it's AU$55 including postage on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E-Modern-Digital-Multimeters-UT61E-AC-DC-Meter-/130737816767?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e7094c4bf#ht_3813wt_1163

0.1% 22,000 count. Sounds good for the price.

People are still quoting my $50 and $100 shootouts, two years after the fact. So much has changed.
The number of meters available now (and back then) is crazy, it's almost impossible to keep up.

Dave.

[Ivanko1]

for only 59$

Unfortunately we have it is much more expensive - $80 and more (even $130!). And ebay shipping will cost $20-25.(((

How about this
http://www.uni-trend.com/UT61B.html
http://www.uni-trend.com/UT61C.html
http://www.proskit.com/test-instruments/multimeters/dual-display-digital-multimeter-w-usb-connector (around $50-60)?

[G7PSK]

Looks like uni trend did not renew on their web name for some reason. Does that mean they have been taken over or are changing their name.

[mariush]

for only 59$

Unfortunately we have it is much more expensive - $80 and more (even $130!). And ebay shipping will cost $20-25.(((

I've bought mine from this company on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E-Modern-Digital-Multimeters-UT61E-/260733900740?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb4f397c4

66$ , free shipping. 

If I remember correctly it was also marked as 10$ toy on package or something like that, so I didn't have to pay taxes on it when it arrived.

[Ivanko1]

Do my eyes see the same as you see?
Fluke 17B
allmoust the same as the more then twice cheaper
Mastech MS8217
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/2-8-lcd-handheld-auto-range-multimeter-voltage-current-resistance-temperature-3-aaa-37888
?