Multimeter Recommendation (Sorry)

[aqueue]

Hi.

Firstly, David is a legend! I have been looking for a multi meter and have come across his videos and they are awesome.

Anyway, sorry for posting this yet again, but I need a multi meter and did a quick google thinking this shouldn't take too long! I have been looking at this for days and my mind is literally fried!

So can someone please please just point me in the right direction so I can order this multimeter and move on with my life!

First, budget £100 which is around $150.

So I do a lot of DIY and have recently been given a Raspberry PI. I would love to build interfaces so I figure I would get multimeter. (That will be a long term project as I will need to do a lot of learning)

My requirements:
1. I want a good multimeter that will be good for a number of years.
2. Not bothered about brand.
3. An accurate meter but not to a million decimals. I would more then willing to forego a little accuracy for more features.
4. Needs to have temperature probe
5. Not bothered about how rugged it is as I do look after my tools very well but don't want the thing to break apart in my hand
6. Auto ranging would be good but am more then happy with manual ranging
7. Not bothered about voltage detector as I will buy a stick. Only ever needed it once to check a flood light was getting power and borrowed a stick from a mate.
8. Data logging to PC would be very useful and I would pay a little above my budget to get it.
9. The more features the better :-)

So far, a friend "into electronics" has found the following:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UT70B-UNI-T-Modern-Digital-Multi-Purpose-Meter-Uni-Trend-/300706754079?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item460384ee1f

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Iso-Tech-IDM-101-Multimeter-with-ITA-11-Thermocouple-Temperature-Meter-/110996401333?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item19d7e6acb5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TENMA-72-7755-DIGITAL-MULTIMETER-/130790256560?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item1e73b4efb0

I tried to find a review on the Tenma as it seems to be the feature packed but cannot find any??

Can someone please point me in the right direction please?

Thank you very much.

[ftransform]

did you watch his multimeter videos

[jnd]

I could recommend Agilent U1232A but it needs adapter for temp measurements. U1233A can use K-type probe directly. You can get free Bluetooth adapter with either meter and use it with $1 USB adapter for logging or anything else like voice output for the measurement if you can program that . You can even connect it to the Raspberry Pi, it loads all the drivers out of the box (Raspbian) and write script yourself or use some tools which were posted on the forums recently. Anyway, it is solid meter and has good features for the price, just the lack of mA range might be limiting (it has uA and then A).

[retiredcaps]

I haven't studied the spec sheets, but from a pictorial glance, the TENMA-72-7755 and UT70B look identical?  I think Uni-T OEMs the meters for Tenma?

[Lightages]

You are correct.

[EEVblog]

Get two $75 meters!
The UT-61E seems to be all the rage at that price point.
With two meters you can cross cal check them, and measure voltage and current at the same time, very handy. 

Dave.

[c4757p]

Get two $75 meters!

I second this. Having only one multimeter in your lab is like having only one fork in your kitchen.

[Lightages]

The UT61E is a nice buy if you only have to pay $60USD, anymore and the wiser buy is to get two Amprobe AM-270s, that is if you want a safe meter that actually meets its CAT ratings.

Don't get me wrong, I like the UT61E, it just doesn't have proper design for its supposed CAT rating, no backlight and no temperature. It has more counts than the AM-270 and has better accuracy specs for the most part though.

[nanofrog]

I could recommend Agilent U1232A but it needs adapter for temp measurements.

The adapter isn't expensive though.

FWIW, here's one that ships to the UK. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thermocouple-K-Type-Temperature-Sensors-Plug-Adaptor-/321047947990?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4abff2ead6

[Lightages]

Oh yes, you really need four meters in the end, and I would have these if I could only have four:

Uni-Trend UT61E  $60 no more
Mastech MS2108 clamp meter   $62, just to have a clamp meter, very useful
Amprobe AM-270  $90
Brymen BM869 $240 + $50 for USB,  or UEi DM397 $250 with USB,  to have really high accuracy meters


If I were stuck to a $200 budget, then it would be these three meters

UT61E  $60 high count high accuracy
Mastech MS2108  $62 to have a clamp meter that is decent
Amprobe AM-270  $90 to have a properly rated and safe meter with good accuracy
Ok a bit more than $200 but needed IMHO (why do I keep saying I am humble?)


And if I had to restrict myself to $150, then it would be:
Uni-Trend UT61E  $60
Amprobe AM-270  $90

It is hard to do better than that combination for the money.

[firewalker]

About the Iso-Tech one. I have (it is somewhere around ) an IDM-105.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/iso-tech-%28appa%29-idm105-dmm

Alexander.

[jnd]

I could recommend Agilent U1232A but it needs adapter for temp measurements.

The adapter isn't expensive though.

FWIW, here's one that ships to the UK. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thermocouple-K-Type-Temperature-Sensors-Plug-Adaptor-/321047947990?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4abff2ead6

That works for the U1233A but lower models need active adapter which actually converts the temperature to voltage: http://www.home.agilent.com/en/pd-1778497-pn-U1586B/temperature-module?&cc=CZ&lc=eng

[Wytnucls]

If you want lots of features at a decent price, have a look at the UNI-T UT71 (B, C or D model).
Out of the box, they have:
High count, triple display, AC+DC, internal and USB data logging, backlight, jack aural warning, auto shutdown, Max/Min, Peak hold, 4-20mA loop and temperature probe. Input protection is not great, but fine for use on a bench or just around the house.
The 71C is available from Hong Kong for USD140.00, delivered to the UK.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNI-T-UT71C-Intelligent-Digital-Multimeter-w-USB-connector-UT71C-/281050133665?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416fe4b4a1
Martin did a decent 2 part review of the meter here:



If you want two meters to fit in your budget, I would also suggest UT61Es, or Amprobe Am-270s.

[dr_p]

And if I had to restrict myself to $150, then it would be:
Uni-Trend UT61E  $60
Amprobe AM-270  $90

It is hard to do better than that combination for the money.

+1 

[Achilles]

...or try your best on ebay and watch out for older meters used.
Dave already gave good suggestions: Two meters are better than one . Unless you plan to maybe buy another meter later, you have a pretty small budget then, but should be able to get sth. useful for electronics. The UT61E is very popular at the moment and should be fine for electronics (just don't play with that stuff on the mains)
and don't forget: local prices may be higher here in europe. So checkout as many sources as you know. If you buy from China or the US, don't forget that you'll probably have to pay  VAT when the package arrives. Add that up to your calculations if you're really on a small budget.

[nanofrog]

That works for the U1233A but lower models need active adapter which actually converts the temperature to voltage: http://www.home.agilent.com/en/pd-1778497-pn-U1586B/temperature-module?&cc=CZ&lc=eng

Good to know. I was under the false impression the 1232 didn't require an active adapter.

[darrylp]

Or perhaps as you are wanting to dabble with the Pi, a scope meter ?
The Uni Trend ut81 has all you need also a scope, only missing item is the temp. Option but a separate device would be cheap.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[aqueue]

Wow.

I really did not expect that much response guys. Really appreciate it. Even Dave replied!

I will make it short without quoting, but really thank you to everyone who has posted.

I think a scope meter is a bit overkill right now :-) I think I will walk before running.

Two meters are the best way to go, and I will start with the Amprobe AM-270 since it pretty much has everything I need.

Since I am in the UK, I will avoid going international due to customs issue I usually end up with and have found a site to order from (http://www.tizaro.com/product/TI2I9F/amprobe-270-digital-multimeter-ac-5000-5000-mv). I couldn't find anywhere else. An EU supplier would avoid any customs but if I had any issues with the meter, postage out would cost a fortune!

Not sure what is in the box, so I will drop them a note to confirm.  Also, their website has the Kit2 but not the Kit3, so hopefully they can source one and send me one package. So far, the cost of shipping from international shops will be almost the same for the actual lead!

Also, can anyone point to a crocodile clip set I should buy? I don't want to damage the ends with simple putting a clip on the top so a dedicated pair would be useful. If nobody has a suggestion, then I will get http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170870131731/.

Finally, maybe someone with more experience should create a sticky with a list of meters and their prices so that a beginner can simply look through the list and buy a recommended meter within their budget?? Something along the lines of what Lightages posted???

Really appreciate all the help guys and I look forward to getting my new toy. Really disappointed I didn't come here first though!

[aqueue]

Well.

This side of the pond really sucks. After countless emails to UK suppliers, I am forced to buy direct from US for the USB-Kit3. Lucky for me, I have not ordered the Meter yet.... The shipping total will push the meter + usb kit well past £100 so... is there an alternative to the Amprobe AM-270 you guys recommend.

I would rather have something that is tried and tested and will last a good while and the Amprobe doer fit the bill.

Shall I just order from USA and pay the shipping and customs charge? Or does anyone know a better alternative. I will check out The Uni Trend ut81.

Thanks.

[Lightages]

No PC connection option, but has everything else and made by Brymen, the OEM for Amprobe AM series.
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm907/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/#

or the Brymen version of the AM-270
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm815a/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/#
plus USB connection
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/kitbrua-85xa/meters-software/brymen/kit-brua-85xa/
which add up to $150 before shipping, no idea on shipping to the UK or taxes

or
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm257/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/#
plus
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/kitbrua-20x/meters-software/brymen/
which add up to almost $150 again before shipping and has all the things you want

or if you want the most features for around $165 shipped to your door and don't care about input protection, ruggedness, nor want to use it on anything above 300V CATII (my estimation of its safety), then consider this:
http://dx.com/p/ut71d-2-9-lcd-digital-multimeter-red-grey-1-x-9v-6f22-124961

or get a UT61E for $55 from iloveeletronics on this forum, contact him for this price
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E-UT61E-22-000-count-Digital-Multimeter-/200887197852?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec5cf609c
and then buy the USB adapter if you don't want to use RS232
http://dx.com/p/utd04-usb-data-cable-for-digital-multimeter-ut71-ut61-series-black-136cm-150054  for $13
and buy one of these to get your temperature and have a second multimeter to your liking:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digitek-DT-4000ZC-TekPower-TP4000ZC-Data-Logging-Multimeter-with-Temperature-/200880262282?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2ec5658c8a
reviewed by mjlorton.com and has PC logging connection included
or
http://dx.com/p/uni-t-ut204a-1-5-lcd-digital-clamp-multimeter-1-x-9v-6f22-127969
gets you a clamp meter too