Multimeters in India

[PSYK3D]

Hi,
I hope I do not get fried for another multimeter post
In India[hyd] you do not get any of those brands that were in the multimeter shootout videos.
The only option I have are: Metravi, Mastech/Sinometer[through ebay with 15 days transit time :s] and Rish. You do get flukes, but they are totally out of my range [I'm a student].
Are any of those reliable brand names? One of the chinese dmms at the shop looked exactly like fluke 115, the shop owner even claimed that they are just flukes under different brand name!

[Kiriakos-GR]

The final selection is always yours.

What I can do for you is to show you what I know about them. 

An attempt to chart down the uncharted Chinese - manufacturing circle
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=4913.0

DMM latest V&A Mastech VA18B
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=5003.0

Holly Cow !! India copied Agilent HH DMM design !!
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=5030.0

Make freely your own conclusions. 

[PSYK3D]

Thanks for the response.
Convinced me that begging my uncle for a fluke is the best thing I could do now.
And will rock out with a 5$ cheapie till i get it 

[Kiriakos-GR]

One favorite low cost brand are also the UNI-T among few others.
Just an idea to extend your choices. 

[bazza]

The only option I have are: Metravi, Mastech/Sinometer[through ebay with 15 days transit time :s]

Have you considered importing the budget Fluke 17B and Fluke 15B models from China?

[PSYK3D]

Ill look into Uni-t, but importing is definitely not an option, because ill end up paying more on shipping than the actual multimeter!
Thanks for response

[ivan747]

Ill look into Uni-t, but importing is definitely not an option, because ill end up paying more on shipping than the actual multimeter!
Thanks for response

Is shipping that expensive when you buy things in India? Is it because of taxes?

[bazza]

Ill look into Uni-t, but importing is definitely not an option, because ill end up paying more on shipping than the actual multimeter!
Thanks for response

Many Chinese stores sell with free shipping. I got mine this way.

[Genin]

Hello Bazza,

Have you considered importing the budget Fluke 17B and Fluke 15B models from China?

As far as I know, those models are only intended for the chinese market, no warranty for them if they are sold outside of China.

You can see it here: http://www.dealextreme.com/photogallery.dx/sku.28658~seQ.6.

[bazza]

As far as I know, those models are only intended for the chinese market, no warranty for them if they are sold outside of China.

Yes, but I can't remember the last time I used warranty
This doesn't bother me since

1) I could never live with the downtime to claim warranty without some sort of spare.
2) Most expensive prices include hidden warranty costs; it's a bit like insurance which you never claim.
3) Official Fluke distributors aren't even allowed to export their product if they are going by the rules (at least in the USA as far as I know).
4) Dealextreme is pretty good if something arrives with a problem.
5) These Flukes are actually quality products I don't expect to fail within warranty, only through my stupidity

But it's your choice

[krish2487]

Hello
I am from India and from hyd.
So i do get your predicament

I use a Fluke 115 True RMS for my hobby work at home and a 13b for my RnD Work
I have also used Rish, KM,Meco(the actual Meco) and Uni-T
(I run my own power electronics company and i take care of RnD)

I have yet to give my 115 for service other than the yearly calibration
:-D

But i do seem to be regularly replacing Rish and the KM meters.
Having said that, the regular replacement of Rish and KM is largely due to operator mishandling

I say this because i have been using the el cheapo Unit-T UT33D  meter for the last couple of months and i do offhand comparision tests between my reference meters and the UT33D

It performs pretty much the same.
As a working professional i do not find much difference between the ~8$ UT33d and the 140$ 115.

However it also depends on the measurement involved.
I d suggest you first cut your teeth on a  low cost meters like Uni-T/Mextech/Mastech before buying a high priced one.

The other side of the picture is neither service nor calibration for any fluke/extech/Rish are exactly cheap nor easy to get it done where you are (Hyderabad)