looking for a good quality multimeter

[autumn day]

Hi,

ive watched quite a lot of reviews in the last days. It kinda looks like there is no multimeter that full-fills my demands.

1. AA Battery powered (Agilents run on AA)

2. a GOOD continuity aka instant audio latching response (Agilent fails miserably. http://youtu.be/bKvyoZa5J8Q?t=14m40s)

3. 4+/ updates per second screen

4. long battery life

5. decent design. (yes, if i pay 300bucks for a piece of plastic, it better looks and feels nice) (thumbs up for the agilent u1272a on this part)
The flukes blow it on the design(imo)/battery part compared to the agilents.

Atm im using a peaktech 3360, which is a piece of crap. Its build quality, safety wise seems fine to me, but it has lots of issues/ design failures. Badly positioned input jacks, sometimes stops working, slow display refresh (maybe once a second)....list goes on.

if anyone knows, that agilent fixed the continuity bug, i would buy it in a heartbeat. Other ideas are welcome.

[Cones]

A second hand Fluke 189 or 289 both are AA powered. Or the 189 even has an optional C battery box when used for data logging.

HTH

Mark

[Wytnucls]

The Kyoritsu 1061 might fit the bill, albeit at a price. You didn't say what budget you're working with. 4 AA batteries, but not sure about continuity, update rate and battery life.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KYORITSU-1061-Digital-Multimeter-High-Accuracy-High-Performance-Brand-New-/261297765041?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd68f7ab1

Update:
Measurement cycle: 5 times per second (except frequency measurement : one time per second, Resistance measurement (6Mohm/60Mohm) : 2.5 times per second, capacitor measurement (1000uF) : max.0.14 time per second)

Battery life: Approximately 300 hours (Operating hours of alkaline batteries when in DC voltage-mode.)

[alm]

Main problem will be AA batteries + long battery life. In general manufacturers choose AA batteries over 9 V because of their increased capacity. For example the Fluke 189 has a mediocre battery life with 4 AA batteries, so the battery life with 9 V batteries would be terrible. Its battery life is not unusable by any means, but definitely worse than that of the Fluke 87 V. I think the Fluke 289 is better, but it uses half a dozen AA batteries.

[autumn day]

the kyoritsu 1061 is way to expensive for my taste. i would say 400EUR max. although i might be willing to pay a bit extra for the agilent 1273a. 

I dont really care about the battery life. I can just use a couple of AA accus. The fluke 289 is nice, but expensive and huge.

It would be awesome if someone could test the current u1272a firmware. Because the review clearly shows that its just a software bug. The display reacts instantly, while the sound doesnt. If they still dont work, i guess ive to look into the fluke 289 :/

[AG6QR]

I dont really care about the battery life. I can just use a couple of AA accus. The fluke 289 is nice, but expensive and huge.

I sort of look at it from the other direction:  As long as the battery lasts well over a year in service, and is easy and cheap to replace, I don't care so much what kind it is.  I get much more than a year out of an alkaline 9V battery in a Fluke 179.  I'm a hobbyist who is not using it 24/7 -- heavy users may get much less than a year's use.  It's rated for 200 hours.  The 289 has worse battery life with its 6 AAs.  Its primary benefit is the logging ability, which I'd love to have, but that beautiful graphic screen carries a penalty in energy consumption, and as you note, the meter is expensive and huge.

As alm indicated in an earlier post, the meter builders tend to use 9V batteries when the power requirements of the meter are very low.  They typically switch to AAs when the meter requires a lot more power.

[Lightages]

Consider the Brymen BM257. It uses AAA instead of AA but it should last over 300 hours on one set of cells.

[jamesp15]

The Fluke 289 (and 287) is essentially the same size as the Agilent 1272A.  The Fluke is a LITTLE bit larger maybe 1cm taller and wider at most.  The "wasp waist" of the 1272 makes it look a bit less bulky, but when holding/using both they are essentially the same size/desktop footprint.

[Galaxyrise]

Why the attachment to AA?

[autumn day]

Why the attachment to AA?

i think they use AAA not AA (my bad). Well ive lots of rechargeables flying around. I simply dont like wasting money on batteries, because the meter will get a lot of useage. This way im sure to always have full batteries around.

[alm]

In these days of cheap DC-DC converters, equipment should really standardize on AA cells (or AAA for smaller devices). They are more common, cheaper and have a higher energy density than 9 V batteries.

[retiredcaps]

1. AA Battery powered (Agilents run on AA)

Fluke 28 II uses 3 AA with 800 hour battery life.

2. a GOOD continuity aka instant audio latching response

Demonstrated by Dave in his Fluke 28 II review (episode #64 and 66).  Martin Lorton also has a Fluke 28 II video review as well.

3. 4+/ updates per second screen

4 times/sec update in 6,000 count or 20,000 count.

4. long battery life

800 hours.  I use AA eneloops and they work great.

5. decent design.
The flukes blow it on the design(imo)/battery part compared to the agilents.

Only you can decide in the 28 II has decent design or not.  See video reviews.

Some other comments.

• Compared to your Peaktech 3660, the 28 II is slightly larger, but much heavier at almost 700 grams.  Both Dave and Martin mentioned the size of the 28 II has a negative.
• Others will also point out that Fluke is premium priced.
• Due to its pricing, Fluke will never be the best "bang for buck".
• I have no idea if the 28 II can be purchased for 400EUR since we don't know where you live and what procurement taxes, shipping, duty, options, etc you have.

[simpson]

Hi,

ive watched quite a lot of reviews in the last days. It kinda looks like there is no multimeter that full-fills my demands.

1. AA Battery powered (Agilents run on AA)

2. a GOOD continuity aka instant audio latching response (Agilent fails miserably. http://youtu.be/bKvyoZa5J8Q?t=14m40s)

3. 4+/ updates per second screen

4. long battery life

5. decent design. (yes, if i pay 300bucks for a piece of plastic, it better looks and feels nice) (thumbs up for the agilent u1272a on this part)
The flukes blow it on the design(imo)/battery part compared to the agilents.

Atm im using a peaktech 3360, which is a piece of crap. Its build quality, safety wise seems fine to me, but it has lots of issues/ design failures. Badly positioned input jacks, sometimes stops working, slow display refresh (maybe once a second)....list goes on.

if anyone knows, that agilent fixed the continuity bug, i would buy it in a heartbeat. Other ideas are welcome.

I have an Agilent that I use for everything but continuity (for the reason you mentioned) and, for continuity, I use an older Fluke that I got on eBay for about $40.

Best of both worlds. 

[true]

stuff about Fluke 28 II

I second this. I was going to mention a second-hand 189 (can be had for $200 or less in the States - no idea the country of the poster with mention of both "bucks" and "EUR") but a Fluke 27II or 28II seems like it fits the bill on all points (except design? maybe? I think it's fine). Continuity is a bit quiet / annoying but usable; I consider it better than the annoyingly loud 1272...

It seems some 27II are going the surplus route like the 27 did...I got a freshly calibrated pristine condition surplus 27II for $100 a few months ago.