SOLVED

[001]

HI

I`m looking for  benchtop multimeter
4W resistance measurments
fool proof
LED display
0.5% acc is ok too
Price about  50USD

[EEVblog]

Postage to Antarctica is going to suck...

[nctnico]

Postage to Antarctica is going to suck...

The penguins can push it around as if it is their egg so the DMM can be shipped for free.

There was a recent thread about very cheap (used) bench multimeters. Most of the candidates where discussed in it.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/help-choosing-between-these-3-budget-bench-multimeters/msg2005025/#msg2005025

[beanflying]

I am looking for the winning ticket in tonight's local lotto draw too. Would happily pay $50 but unfortunately it needs 100% accuracy 

New - never going to happen
Secondhand trawl evilbay etc like the rest of us and go hard or go without 

[001]

  it needs 100% accuracy

No
I don`t need 100%, I will happy with 0,5% accuracy

[Vtile]

Is the price range rigid? With $50 you can only get the last units in the barrel, which unfortunately means bench-top units which look like they are gone through concrete mixer. If you double it to $100 you have decent options. In reality it is hard to get one under $150 and you just need to get lucky with low cost and low postage.

Well used Advantests are cheapish at times (but more at higher specs units, so not something found at your price range) as not as well known brand and not as much premium rep. Then Keithley 197 or Keithley 197A could be option. Another could be old (like 1980s) Fluke 4½ and 5½ digit meters.

[beanflying]

No
I don`t need 100%, I will happy with 0,5% accuracy

Sorry it didn't translate well then. My lucky ticket needs 100% accuracy for the numbers to win

As per the previous thread and the post above you may get a very rough Fluke or Ancient Keithley with a bit of postage your budget is to low. Apart from the 'Bench and 4 wire' I would be going Handheld if you are determined to stay at $50. I don't think you will meet your requirements for all the featurs/price.

[001]

Ok
I think that 5% accuracy is ok too
(May be some analog meters?)

[Gyro]

Can't find $50, but can do GBP 50. You do get a very nice panaplex display, 4 wire resistance, 1uV resolution and 0.01% for that though. You'll need to provide your own current shunts however!

 Postage will probably be higher to Antarctica (not listed). 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Datron-1041M-Multi-Function-Voltmeter/183558271997?hash=item2abcecf3fd:g:vjsAAOSwB8lbTcor:rk:1:pf:0


P.S. I only paid £32.50 for mine, including postage.

[001]

Well, "$50" is only to keep  away from this tread any 6 1/2 meters funs 


In fact, I`m happy with simple 3 1/2 meter for $3
But it is hard to see small LCD display for me
So I`m looking for basic but BIG meter

Any ideas?

[EEVblog]

No one can really help you much unless you say were you live.

[001]

I still live
I`m 66 years old only
Is it problem? 

[Gyro]

Not a problem, just that nobody will give you useful information about meters ACCESSIBLE TO YOU. At $50 for a bench meter with 4w resistance, and LED display, that makes a big difference! If you don't think it's an issue, then buy the UK one.

[001]

Not a problem, just that nobody will give you useful information about meters ACCESSIBLE TO YOU. At $50 for a bench meter with 4w resistance, and LED display, that makes a big difference! If you don't think it's an issue, then buy the UK one.

Oh
shipping  taxes doesn`t matter since I have adress in Albania

[amlu]

My best bet would be looking at your local ebay or Albanian equivalent and hunting down something nice second  hand. $?£50 is not a lot for a bench meter, getting it posted from abroad can be half the budget.
Otherwise some brand new aliexpress china special.

[blacksheeplogic]

$50 benchtop multimeter ideas?

How about finding a new hobby?

[Simon]

You won't get a bench meter for $50 end of, you will be lucky to git a good handheld meter for that much.

[Towger]

The venerable HP3456A

[Vgkid]

The venerable HP3456A

Shipping would cost several multiples of his 50...

[001]

What about 6USD at czech market for vintage German DMM marked "G-1002.500"?

[Simon]

OK, so why do yau want a "bench" multi-meter? because it looks cool? An old bench meter will be no better performing than a modern handheld meter and probably worse.

[001]

OK, so why do yau want a "bench" multi-meter? because it looks cool? An old bench meter will be no better performing than a modern handheld meter and probably worse.

Read my first post

For my old eyes big LEDs far better then any lcds
and no batteries requiered

[Simon]

Well then just pick up something cheap on ebay

[Eric_S]

Maybe a logging multimeter could be a ting?

Computer sceens are big after all.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/inexpensive-data-logging-dmm/

[001]

Well then just pick up something cheap on ebay

Well
link me something good

[001]

Maybe a logging multimeter could be a ting?

Computer sceens are big after all.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/inexpensive-data-logging-dmm/

Yea
I see some universal datalogger project at this forum
But it die isnt it?

[Simon]

won't the backlight on an LCD screen help?

[001]

won't the backlight on an LCD screen help?

No
All LCDs suck then You 65

And my Fluke LCDs suck too 

[Messtechniker]

I'd go for a handheld like the UNI-T UT61-B or one of its bretherens. It's cheap enough and via its RS 232 interface the display on your PC will definitely be large enough. . Maybe there are cousins of this DMM with an USB interface. Just look around.

[001]

I'd go for a handheld like the UNI-T UT61-B or one of its bretherens. It's cheap enough and via its RS 232 interface the display on your PC will definitely be large enough. . Maybe there are cousins of this DMM with an USB interface. Just look around.

I think about UNIT
but actual software if full of datalogging advantages and digits not quite big
Does anybody build some custom software that translate digits to a full screen mode only?

[Messtechniker]

With "Profilab" it will take you just a minute or two to get a 72 pt readout. See pic enclosed. Also "Profilab" has a module for the UT 61E. The main drawback of "Profilab" is the limited number of drivers/modules. So you should first consult the hardware compatibility list for "Profilab".

P.S. The point size list ends at 72 pt. But by entering the point size manually, you can go even larger. Just sucessfully tried 200 pt which pretty much fills the screen of a 17 in. monitor. Font height is just under 6 cm. Large enough?

[joeqsmith]

We did develop a technology called glasses which seems to help many people but in the case of the OP, one has to wonder how they are able to read the computer screen and post with a claim of such poor eye sight. 

[macboy]

Venerable Fluke 8010A may be within reach.

[blacksheeplogic]

All LCDs suck then You 65

And my Fluke LCDs suck too 

I'm disagree. You seem to be able to find fault in everything.

[Nusa]

What about 6USD at czech market for vintage German DMM marked "G-1002.500"?

In working condition, that sounds like a hell of a deal to me.

[nctnico]

We did develop a technology called glasses which seems to help many people but in the case of the OP, one has to wonder how they are able to read the computer screen and post with a claim of such poor eye sight.

The key is the amount of time you need to refocus. For big bright numbers this is easier than a small non-backlit LCD.

[blacksheeplogic]

We did develop a technology called glasses which seems to help many people but in the case of the OP, one has to wonder how they are able to read the computer screen and post with a claim of such poor eye sight.

The key is the amount of time you need to refocus. For big bright numbers this is easier than a small non-backlit LCD.

I posted an example of a big LCD, I also have difficulty reading but you would have to be blind to not be able to see the display I posted.

I don't think the problem is the display that's the problem here.

1. All LCDs suck

2. 4W resistance measurments
   0.5% acc is ok too
   I think that 5% accuracy is ok too
   In fact, I`m happy with simple 3 1/2 meter for $3
   I think about UNIT

3. fool proof

1. is Personal preference
2. Does not make sense (the kelvin probes alone would cost >$50.00) and WTF are you doing 4W resistance measurements for if 5% accuracy, 3 1/2 digit resolution is all that is needed.
3. How much engineering are you expecting in your bench meter for your $50.00?

[janoc]

If your only issue is the display readability, then there are plenty of cheap handheld meters with large digits and/or OLED displays. For example some Extechs, one of the recent Anengs, etc. That is likely going to be a better option than either an utter crap new or a (very) beaten up second-hand bench meter ($50 is really too low to get anything decent when it comes to bench meters).

For $120 or so you can also get the Mooshimeter which can use a phone or tablet as a display (and runs circles around most $50 meters) - so buy a tablet as big as you need in order to be comfortable, problem solved.

4 wire resistance measurement is pointless on a meter with so low precision, only the higher end instruments have that.

[001]

hey boys
I KNOW WHAT I`M LOOKING FOR
but I don`t know how it is called 

It is not ANY handheld and LCDs models. I have handheld Flukes  yet.
Now I`m go with this basic RFT meter. It provide me all that is I need

BUT! Idea about translating display to PC is ok too
Does anybody run this program? https://www-user.tu-chemnitz.de/~heha/hs/UNI-T/

[joeqsmith]

It must be one of these. 

[001]

It must be one of these.

no leds
no 4W

silly joke 

[coromonadalix]

It must be one of these.

+1  good one,   here in quabec Canada, some CSA inspectors still use needle meters for leakage tests  lolll

[001]

trolls everywhere 

Why do You recomend me things what I use for a decades?

[beanflying]

It is very hard to be serious while you seem to want to maintain unrealistic expectations on price. Unless you are prepared to consider at least double your budget plus some freight to get even a fairly poor secondhand bench meter then this topic is a WOFTA bandwidth.

[001]

It is very hard to be serious while you seem to want to maintain unrealistic expectations on price. Unless you are prepared to consider at least double your budget plus some freight to get even a fairly poor secondhand bench meter then this topic is a WOFTA bandwidth.

Hi
See my post about eastgerman meter for $6
Commie gear is almost free at Europe now

[beanflying]

If it suits you then buy it. Really unlikely anyone here will ever have seen or used one so you either take a chance or look again.

[GreyWoolfe]

won't the backlight on an LCD screen help?

No
All LCDs suck then You 65

And my Fluke LCDs suck too 

How bad are your eyes really?  I have a Fluke 27/FM and the LCD is very readable to me and I have been wearing glasses for over 50 years-bifocals now with bad vision in 1 eye.  I am 62.

[joeqsmith]

It must be one of these.

+1  good one,   here in quabec Canada, some CSA inspectors still use needle meters for leakage tests  lolll

Are they using an analog clamp meter like this? 
http://www.multimic.com/e/products/detail/288

[janoc]

Hi
See my post about eastgerman meter for $6
Commie gear is almost free at Europe now

You would be pretty badly mistaken, lot of that gear are collector items (especially if it is working). Also finding something in good working order is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Most of that stuff has been thrown out after the 1990 when better hardware became available. In addition, do keep in mind that depending where you are, the postage on these items alone could be more than your $50 budget - e.g. the East German meter weighs 4kg. Sending that e.g. to the US would be really expensive. Oh and it won't work on 110-120V neither, no such BS in the former Soviet bloc, we had everything designed for 220V only ... 

Also good luck trying to find components if something breaks in it - keep in mind that we didn't have access to western components. So what you are going to find inside are obscure "commie" parts, in the best case straight clones of the western ones (e.g. 7400 logic), in the worst case a custom Russian-made chip that is a complete unobtanium. I have found a schematic of this meter online and it seems to be a mix - 7400 logic + obscure, specific parts, such as the main IC controlling the entire meter.

Nobody serious is going to recommend you a meter like this, even less so because most people here aren't familiar with this gear.

[nctnico]

I've just spotted a whole bunch of HP 3466A 4.5 digit DMMs on Ebay for $50 (ex. shipping).

[Richard Crowley]

trolls everywhere 

Someone who lists their country as "Antarctica" is a perma-troll.
Antarctica is not even a country.

Since we have no clue where you are, how do you expect anyone to know what is available to you?

If you are in Albania, then change your country flag to Albania.
Or else it is difficult to take you seriously.

[beanflying]

trolls everywhere 

Someone who lists their country as "Antarctica" is a perma-troll.
Antarctica is not even a country.

Wouldn't a Perma-troll live under a Bridge surrounded by frozen Tundra? That would also clearly eliminate Antarctica 

[joeqsmith]

All LCDs suck then You 65
And my Fluke LCDs suck too 

Not to mention when was the last time you heard a 65 year old say something sucked?    

[blacksheeplogic]

]
Not to mention when was the last time you heard a 65 year old say something sucked?   

 Antarctican's also apparently have highly specialized needs - 4W measurement on their 5% precision 3 1/2 resolution DMM. 

[beanflying]

]
Not to mention when was the last time you heard a 65 year old say something sucked?   

 Antarctican's also apparently have highly specialized needs - 4W measurement on their 5% precision 3 1/2 resolution DMM. 

Also interesting given that resident claims to own or has owned an Instek 8245 (October 2017) https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-117-vs-china-branded-meters/msg1334114/#msg1334114

Looking to make their own Sept 2018 ? https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/another-4-12-bench-dmm-project-(say-why)/msg1797452/#msg1797452

Wanting information on 3.5 and 4.5 digit bench meter Sept 2018 https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/3-5-vs-4-5-digit-bench-dmm-(not-volt-nuts-thread)/msg1797485/#msg1797485

Asking questions about the Instek 8245 November 2016 before buying? https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/gw-instek-bench-multimeter-is-it-_ok_/msg1068601/#msg1068601

Want to buy a Fluke 45 or Instek  December 2018? https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-used-fluke-45-or-some-new-like-gw-instek/msg1101762/#msg1101762

And of Course this one December 2018....


Yes I wasted 5 minutes of my life on this and I am sure there is more Nothing wrong with starting threads by any means but seriously.

The answer will not change no matter how or how often you ask it. Get a sensible budget go looking like the rest of us then spend it.

[med6753]

All LCDs suck then You 65
And my Fluke LCDs suck too 

Not to mention when was the last time you heard a 65 year old say something sucked?   

I'm 65 years old and I find things...sometimes multiple things....that suck everyday.

[tggzzz]

Plus changing a thread title from something informative to the completely uninformative "SOLVED" is not very social. It prevents people coming along later and benefiting from the discussion.

The very social and helpful way to proceed is to prepend the thread title with [Solved], since that encourages people to look at a thread with a useful conclusion.

[nctnico]

All LCDs suck then You 65
And my Fluke LCDs suck too 

Not to mention when was the last time you heard a 65 year old say something sucked?   

I'm 65 years old and I find things...sometimes multiple things....that suck everyday.

Then you must be a big fan of Electrolux vacuum cleaners. 'Nothing sucks like Electrolux'.

[joeqsmith]

All LCDs suck then You 65
And my Fluke LCDs suck too 

Not to mention when was the last time you heard a 65 year old say something sucked?   

I'm 65 years old and I find things...sometimes multiple things....that suck everyday.

Then you must be a big fan of Electrolux vacuum cleaners. 'Nothing sucks like Electrolux'.

That's catchy.    https://adland.tv/content/nothing-sucks-ad-myth

[Mr. Scram]

Could you perhaps retain a descriptive thread title? The current one makes the thread less useful to people with similar questions.

[Dubbie]

What I’m curious about is how you can do any other task related to electronics if you can’t read an ordinary meter? I’m not giving you a hard time, just curious.

[EEVblog]

Well then just pick up something cheap on ebay

Well
link me something good

Why don't you show us what you've found first instead of demanding that people link you "something good"
e.g. "I like this one (link), but it's too expensive.

[coromonadalix]

]
Not to mention when was the last time you heard a 65 year old say something sucked?   

 Antarctican's also apparently have highly specialized needs - 4W measurement on their 5% precision 3 1/2 resolution DMM. 

Also interesting given that resident claims to own or has owned an Instek 8245 (October 2017) https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-117-vs-china-branded-meters/msg1334114/#msg1334114

Looking to make their own Sept 2018 ? https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/another-4-12-bench-dmm-project-(say-why)/msg1797452/#msg1797452

Wanting information on 3.5 and 4.5 digit bench meter Sept 2018 https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/3-5-vs-4-5-digit-bench-dmm-(not-volt-nuts-thread)/msg1797485/#msg1797485

Asking questions about the Instek 8245 November 2016 before buying? https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/gw-instek-bench-multimeter-is-it-_ok_/msg1068601/#msg1068601

Want to buy a Fluke 45 or Instek  December 2018? https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-used-fluke-45-or-some-new-like-gw-instek/msg1101762/#msg1101762

And of Course this one December 2018....


Whait  I'm sure there will be more ... doesn't seems to respond to that, even when i've said it to him about multiple "going nowhere" threads started

[coromonadalix]

Oh  add this :  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/best-way-to-build-hv-probedivider/

I did waste 5 mins too,  to tell my story,   damn  i've been had  loll