When do u need a bench multimeter ?

[lordvader88]

What's the real advantage of them, past and present  ?

[joeqsmith]

I'm sure there are some low end bench meters.  Normally, I would expect support for 4-wire measurements,  higher accuracy, resolution, repeatable, Ethernet or some means to interface it to a computer for automated testing and data collection. 

I do not expect them to have a CAT rating and to be as electrically robust as a handheld meter. 

[tpowell1830]

What's the real advantage of them, past and present  ?

In my view, a bench meter is a permanent fixture of convenience so you don't have to get out your meter from your toolbox and unwound the cord while working at bench. I have multiple handheld meters, so this is not an issue, although I still have the bench meter available. Also, some have more digits for precision measurements than a handheld.

[bd139]

I use mine when I need to leave it on for a day or so and measure something via computer (cell discharge, very slow PLL control loop). Also it tends to stay where I last left it. Also battery is never flat and the display is bright all the time (VFD)

[MosherIV]

Resolution and accuracy!

You can only get 5.5 or more digit meters as bench meters. Makes sense, the kind of detailed work involving such resulotion generally done on benches. Additionally, they often need to be logged over periods of time ie need to be connected to a logging computer.

[Nusa]

But if you don't need extreme precision and have adequate vision to read smaller displays, the short answer is that you don't NEED a bench multimeter. Good hand-held meters will do >99% of the measuring tasks that most of us need to do, for less money.

[tautech]

Resolution and accuracy!

You can only get 5.5 or more digit meters as bench meters.

Actually no.
New 4 1/2 digit bench DMM's are available.
https://www.siglenteu.com/digital-multimeters/sdm3045x-digital-multimeter/

But if you don't need extreme precision and have adequate vision to read smaller displays, the short answer is that you don't NEED a bench multimeter.

Then you've never seen a good bench DMM display that can be seen from meters away. 
Try that with a HH DMM.

SDM3055

[MosherIV]

Actually no.
New 4 1/2 digit bench DMM's are available.

I know!
You can get 4.5 digit meters as hand held OR bench meters.
I have 2 hand held 4.5 digit meters.
I know you can get them as bench meters as well.

As far as I know you can ONLY get 5.5 digit meters as bench meters.
The same is true for 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 meters.

So my original statement was correct

You can only get 5.5 or more digit meters as bench meters.

[Nusa]

Resolution and accuracy!

You can only get 5.5 or more digit meters as bench meters.

Actually no.
New 4 1/2 digit bench DMM's are available.
https://www.siglenteu.com/digital-multimeters/sdm3045x-digital-multimeter/

But if you don't need extreme precision and have adequate vision to read smaller displays, the short answer is that you don't NEED a bench multimeter.

Then you've never seen a good bench DMM display that can be seen from meters away. 
Try that with a HH DMM.

SDM3055

That argument is confusing WANT with NEED. Not that there's anything wrong with WANT, so long as you're willing to PAY.

Besides, some HH's can send output to a computer, at which point a making a big display becomes trivial.

[MosherIV]

One more reason comes to mind.

To be able to leave the meter running 24-7 without it
A.  Turning off
B. Battery running flat

[Old Printer]

I think at one point bench meter size was needed for high end performance and features. I built a Heathkit bench DMM in the late 70's and the case was packed with components. I recently saw a UniT bench meter with the cover off. It was 95% empty space, almost everything was on the display board and a small ps near the rear. Visual marketing was the only justification for it's size, but it is probably 2x the meter my old Heathkit was.

[Circlotron]

One more reason comes to mind.

To be able to leave the meter running 24-7 without it
A.  Turning off
B. Battery running flat

And for thermal stability if it is a very high resolution meter in a controlled environment.

[Bud]

You can put other things on top of it.

[Brumby]

You can put other things on top of it.

Maybe ... but that is not good Karma.

[Bud]

Ok how about you can stack them  .

[george4657]

In my case I could find it and not have to remember where i left it last.

[bd139]

Ok how about you can stack them  .

This is a good point.

My "pile" a couple of months back. There's a frequency counter you can just about see on the top.

[BillB]

So you can be a volt nut.

This!  Besides all the practical reasons already given, how else will you be able to confirm that your calibrator is calibrating and all your other meters are in agreement unless you can have one or more 8.5 digit bench meters to tell you.

[capt bullshot]

What's the real advantage of them, past and present  ?

They are not battery operated.

[EEVblog]

Seeing small changes like this:

[Terry01]

So you can be a volt nut.

And.......So you can stack um!


The only 2 answers you should pay any attention to because sooner or later they will be the only 2 things you will consider when you see/""need"" new instruments or equipment......YOU'LL SEE!!    

[bson]

What's the real advantage of them, past and present  ?

Never run out of batteries.

Higher precision acquisition, or faster acquisition at lower precision.

Remote SCPI control (including high speed acquisition) - in modern instruments using VXI-11 over ethernet.

In many cases multiplexed inputs that lets you scan many measurement points from a single instrument.

In modern instruments, a larger display for things like tabulated probe hold readings and statistics.

4W measurements.

Stackable.

[Cerebus]

Two things that haven't been mentioned:

1) Reading speed. Most handheld DMMs run at a few readings a second, the fastest bench DMMs can run at 100,000 4.5 digit readings a second. If you need to measure fast events more accurately than an oscilloscope can then you need this. It's also a question of throughput. It's no accident that a lot of these high speed DMMs end up in racks on the test equipment for electronics and semiconductor production lines.

2) Accurately triggered readings. Most higher end bench DMMs have a trigger input that you can use to get readings at well defined times related to what your DUT is doing.

[Mr. Scram]

Actually no.
New 4 1/2 digit bench DMM's are available.

I know!
You can get 4.5 digit meters as hand held OR bench meters.
I have 2 hand held 4.5 digit meters.
I know you can get them as bench meters as well.

As far as I know you can ONLY get 5.5 digit meters as bench meters.
The same is true for 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 meters.

So my original statement was correct

You can only get 5.5 or more digit meters as bench meters.

Your statement was a bit ambivalent as it can be interpreted as "bench meters with less than 5,5 digits don't exist" or "5,5 digits or more are only available in a bench meter".

The BM869S does 5,5 digits in a handheld meter, but only on DC.

[BrianHG]

Resolution and accuracy!

You can only get 5.5 or more digit meters as bench meters.

Actually no.
New 4 1/2 digit bench DMM's are available.
https://www.siglenteu.com/digital-multimeters/sdm3045x-digital-multimeter/

But if you don't need extreme precision and have adequate vision to read smaller displays, the short answer is that you don't NEED a bench multimeter.

Then you've never seen a good bench DMM display that can be seen from meters away. 
Try that with a HH DMM.

SDM3055

Did you read the sampling speed speck for that bench multimeter?