EEVblog #432 - Brymen Multimeters

[retiredcaps]

There was an update. http://www.brymen.com.tw/product-html/index.html
BM230 and BM230R specifications are available.

The marketing pdf showing the lcd contrast is not representative of the real thing.  It looks almost like black ink on white paper.

[GEuser]

There was an update. http://www.brymen.com.tw/product-html/index.html
BM230 and BM230R specifications are available.

Whats that pull out thingy that comes out of the Top ?

edited> saw it , magnetic hanger?

[nanofrog]

edited> saw it , magnetic hanger?

Yep. 

BTW it's an option, not standard in the box. Same with their PC communication kits for meters that have that feature.

[Fungus]

edited> saw it , magnetic hanger?

Yep. 

BTW it's an option, not standard in the box. Same with their PC communication kits for meters that have that feature.

nb. Magnetic hanger is a safety feature. Its there so you don't have the meter in your hand when it explodes.

[Hydrawerk]

Why did Brymen remove the bargraph in BM230 series?? There was a bargraph in the older BM250 series. 

[rsjsouza]

Why did Brymen remove the bargraph in BM230 series?? There was a bargraph in the older BM250 series. 

Hydrawerk, it is a product positioning issue: for a bargraph to be useful, it needs to update at a much faster rate than the display itself - thus increasing the complexity and the cost of the product. That, tied to the fact not everyone finds a bargraph essential, caters to a market segment that will find the BM23x prices more attractive. 

[GEuser]

Why did Brymen remove the bargraph in BM230 series?? There was a bargraph in the older BM250 series. 

Hydrawerk, it is a product positioning issue: for a bargraph to be useful, it needs to update at a much faster rate than the display itself - thus increasing the complexity and the cost of the product. That, tied to the fact not everyone finds a bargraph essential, caters to a market segment that will find the BM23x prices more attractive.

Nooooo not another analog digital discussion , but maybe Brymen is coming out soon with a Real good Analog meter , a real Multimeter (one that has a Cuppachino button too) .

[rsjsouza]

Why did Brymen remove the bargraph in BM230 series?? There was a bargraph in the older BM250 series. 

Hydrawerk, it is a product positioning issue: for a bargraph to be useful, it needs to update at a much faster rate than the display itself - thus increasing the complexity and the cost of the product. That, tied to the fact not everyone finds a bargraph essential, caters to a market segment that will find the BM23x prices more attractive.

Nooooo not another analog digital discussion

Was this an attempt to troll or be funny? 

[GEuser]

Why did Brymen remove the bargraph in BM230 series?? There was a bargraph in the older BM250 series. 

Hydrawerk, it is a product positioning issue: for a bargraph to be useful, it needs to update at a much faster rate than the display itself - thus increasing the complexity and the cost of the product. That, tied to the fact not everyone finds a bargraph essential, caters to a market segment that will find the BM23x prices more attractive.

Nooooo not another analog digital discussion

Was this an attempt to troll or be funny? 

Neither on all 3 counts .

[EEVblog]

Hydrawerk, it is a product positioning issue: for a bargraph to be useful, it needs to update at a much faster rate than the display itself - thus increasing the complexity and the cost of the product. That, tied to the fact not everyone finds a bargraph essential, caters to a market segment that will find the BM23x prices more attractive.

Yes. And maybe they chose a new chipset that didn't have that capability, or didn't have  the required number of LCD segment drivers etc.
The BM230 series is a lower price point.
Of course it could have been deliberate to protect the BM250 market, but it could have also been a technical decision.

[Hydrawerk]

I bought a BM829S recently. It looks like a good DMM that does all stuff that I will ever need.
Photos here. https://goo.gl/photos/RPjwPxFBq8XdDpoy7
Or here.
My father did an accidental 82 cm drop test and nothing happened. There is a hard wooden floor in my room.

[Hydrawerk]

When you hold the REL (delta) button and turn on the DMM, "82-F" appears. Is it a firmware version?
BM829S is rather compact in size, it is not a large beast.

[Hydrawerk]

I could measure up to 1100V and 1.679MHz, but the sensitivity was low at this frequency. And I did a small modification with a white paint.

More opinions coming later.

[Hydrawerk]

The LCD viewing angle is not ideal. But it is almost OK for me.

[Hydrawerk]

More photos.

[P90]

I've got a BM829s too. Yeah display is washed out whem looking from top. It's an ok meter, nothing great. It's definitely not a Fluke, that's for sure.

[Hydrawerk]

BM829S

It's an ok meter, nothing great.

Well, you can get a nice Keysight DMM for about twice the price of BM829S.
http://www.tme.eu/de/details/u1242c/tragbare-digitalmultimeter/keysight-technologies/

[Hydrawerk]

Wow that thing appears to really wash out bad.  I tried various angles comparing the EEVBLOG rebranded BM235A and several other meters.  None looked like yours.   This is my BM869 laying flat and trying to get it so the light would not reflect on it.  Sorry but it has that protective cover on it but at least gives some idea of the contrast.

BM869s is more expensive than BM829S. There might be a better LCD.

[P90]

Here are a few of the two Brymens side by side.  Again, sorry about the plastic covers.

When I was making the review of the BM235A, it really was a wash for contrast with all the meters I compared it against.  I don't think I have seen one as bad as what you are showing but to be honest, I normally am looking at them, not at such an angle.

You know, those screen protectors come off easily...   lol

[ebclr]

To discover why Fluke is better will take 10 to 20 years

Fluke will still be on originals specs

I doubt Brymen will ( just in case the meter still works )

It's not fair to compare the two

[Lightages]

To discover why Fluke is better will take 10 to 20 years

Fluke will still be on originals specs

I doubt Brymen will ( just in case the meter still works )

It's not fair to compare the two

On what base of data do you doubt something? Do you have some kind of bias? Are you basing your doubt on anything at all?

[P90]

I'm quite certain the Brymen meters will hold up quite well... I've got a couple rebadged ones that have done well for several years...

[lacek]

To discover why Fluke is better will take 10 to 20 years

Fluke will still be on originals specs

I doubt Brymen will ( just in case the meter still works )

It's not fair to compare the two

Frankly, after such a long time I would try to callibrate it, no matter what brand it is. Is there some sort of science that supports the supposed superiority of Fluke in terms of long-time stability?  I don't mind firm beliefs as I consider myself Catholic, but while God is omnipotent, the manufacturer of may not be In this case I would prefer to rely on scientific arguments.

And is it 10-20 years of bench use or 10-20 years of abuse in industry envoronment everyone here suppoertink Fluke is so passionate about. For example mine will be used only on a desk.

Also if it takes 10-20 years to notice some sort of drift from callibration, I would assume that after such a long time one will have a new DMM anyway.
Assuming that recallibration will cost say 20-30% of the Brymen cost, it would take 50-100 years to make up for the price difference

[rsjsouza]

To discover why Fluke is better will take 10 to 20 years

Fluke will still be on originals specs

I doubt Brymen will ( just in case the meter still works )

It's not fair to compare the two

I have a 2003-manufactured BM857 that I purchased New Old Stock in 2012 and it has seen a lot of action since then. Both its 50000 and 500000 count modes are well within its published specifications. 5 years of active use with 9 more since manufacturing (which was stored under unknown circumstances).

[Fungus]

To discover why Fluke is better will take 10 to 20 years

Fluke will still be on originals specs

I doubt Brymen will ( just in case the meter still works )

Frankly, after such a long time I would try to callibrate it, no matter what brand it is.

Nope.

The first thing you do is get some references and see if it's out of spec.

I'm betting the Brymen won't be.