Best handheld dmm, at any price?

[Mr. Scram]

yep  i agree mr scram,  speed maybe an serious issue,   the old gossen are slightly slow,  2rdgs pers secs if i recall,  fluke 3 rdgs,  but too fast maybe an problem too ??

But i use all of them for data logging (Fluke and Gossen) theses times i use Fluke more, faster to un-snap the ir interface

My main concern is how long it takes to stabilize the reading. The U1272A I have can take forever to settle on a reading when checking lowish voltages like those of a AA battery. It finally reaches the same reading as the 87V, but having to hold the probes in place for 10 seconds or more quickly becomes a chore.

Admittedly, it's much quicker when other voltages are involved. I haven't seen similar behaviour in the 87V though.

[coromonadalix]

mikeselectricstuff

You have this to help:  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/multimeter-spreadsheet/

but for the why,  youll have to do your own search thru feedback and toughts ...  we have different views over what we do and how we use them ...

In the end you are the one to use a brand over this or that, price, precision, hate or love fuctions, speeds, practicality  etc ... an never ending list loll

[mikeselectricstuff]

I much prefer handheld for bench use as you can put it wherever convenient. Most gear is on a shelf above so getting in front isn't an issue.

And which meter do you personally favor and why?

I currently have a Fluke 87 MK.1 and a Mk.3 (before they did the stupid AC A default thing),  both are starting to show their age so potentially looking at new toys.

[mikeselectricstuff]

The speed of the Hioki is very appealing and a definite upgrade from the 87, but lack of a bargraph seems a silly omission. Though thinking about it I can't remember the last time I used one, and the fast digit update goes some way to compensate.
Also can't i find any UK stockists - showing as discontinued at RS

[4thDoctorWhoFan]

I really still like my Fluke 77 (original series, not II or III or IV).
When I just have to grab a meter and do some troubleshooting, I always seem to gravitate towards the 77.
Sure, it does not have all the bells & whistles but it's accurate and fast.  Plus, I just came across a NOS one on the auction site.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I really still like my Fluke 77 (original series, not II or III or IV).

That was my first "real" DMM maybe 30 years ago- died a while ago but that unfused 10A range was sometimes useful!

[4thDoctorWhoFan]

I really still like my Fluke 77 (original series, not II or III or IV).

That was my first "real" DMM maybe 30 years ago- died a while ago but that unfused 10A range was sometimes useful!

And who needs that RMS AC rubbish.

[BravoV]

Used 87V, 189 and 287, still 189 gets my vote, too bad its discontinued.

Also sizes wise .. the beauty  , the beast and the brick. 

[Electro Detective]

Used 87V, 189 and 287, still 189 gets my vote, too bad its discontinued.

Also sizes wise .. the beauty  , the beast and the brick. 

The 189 rules, but 87V and 289 aren't too shabby either,

investing in any or all three of these meters answers the OPs question "Re: Best handheld dmm, at any price?" 

i.e. thread over   

[BravoV]

The 189 rules, but 87V and 289 aren't too shabby either,

Imo, 87V is more suitable as electrician's DMM, while 189 & 287/8 series are more for electronics, packed with tons of bells & whistles too.

Personally the only thing that I don't like about 87V is, it uses 9V battery  , while two others using the AA cells which is most favorable.

[Electro Detective]

The 189 rules, but 87V and 289 aren't too shabby either,

Imo, 87V is more suitable as electrician's DMM, while 189 & 287/8 series are more for electronics, packed with tons of bells & whistles too.

Personally the only thing that I don't like about 87V is, it uses 9V battery  , while two others using the AA cells which is most favorable.

After copping a few very bad leakers with AA and AAA powered meters, including the 189,  the isolated 9 volt battery compartment in the 87V is a no brainer 

Even if it leaks badly, it will cost you a new battery and 60c generic connector, and the meter is ready for work   

[mikeselectricstuff]

The 189 rules, but 87V and 289 aren't too shabby either,

Imo, 87V is more suitable as electrician's DMM, while 189 & 287/8 series are more for electronics, packed with tons of bells & whistles too.

Personally the only thing that I don't like about 87V is, it uses 9V battery  , while two others using the AA cells which is most favorable.

After copping a few very bad leakers with AA and AAA powered meters, including the 189,  the isolated 9 volt battery compartment in the 87V is a no brainer 

Even if it leaks badly, it will cost you a new battery and 60c generic connector, and the meter is ready for work   

I've only ever seen batteries leak when they are flat, so for something in daily use probably not an issue - I do always take them out of stuff I don't use often.
Good point about the replaceability of a PP3 connector.

[BravoV]

After copping a few very bad leakers with AA and AAA powered meters, including the 189,  the isolated 9 volt battery compartment in the 87V is a no brainer 

Even if it leaks badly, it will cost you a new battery and 60c generic connector, and the meter is ready for work   

Actually for me is not the leaking as I use heavily LSD cells in all my T&M gadgets.

Its the power capacity, 9 Volt carries a little tiny energy, and when the low battery BATT displayed, usually it wont last very long compared to AA cells, as the DMM will still work for quite sometimes.

Its practicality matter especially at the field work.

[mikeselectricstuff]

OK couldn't resist the speed of the Hioki - just ordered from Ebay Japan - stay tuned.... 

[bd139]

The 189 rules, but 87V and 289 aren't too shabby either,

Imo, 87V is more suitable as electrician's DMM, while 189 & 287/8 series are more for electronics, packed with tons of bells & whistles too.

Personally the only thing that I don't like about 87V is, it uses 9V battery  , while two others using the AA cells which is most favorable.

After copping a few very bad leakers with AA and AAA powered meters, including the 189,  the isolated 9 volt battery compartment in the 87V is a no brainer 

Even if it leaks badly, it will cost you a new battery and 60c generic connector, and the meter is ready for work   

I've only ever seen batteries leak when they are flat, so for something in daily use probably not an issue - I do always take them out of stuff I don't use often.
Good point about the replaceability of a PP3 connector.

Duracell’s leak just because it’s Thursday. I saw some in Waitrose the other day that had leaked in the pack. Poundland do better than that!

Only the wired PP3 connectors are replaceable. Some of the things use cheap folded metal clips (UT61E comes to mind).

[Electro Detective]

Eveready Enerjizzers leak any day because they can   


FWIW the 87V with it's little 9v battery    has a diode test voltage that leaves most meters in the dust

7v IIRC

Out of all the meters I've had, almost none of the 9 volt ones leaked,
and any that did was an easy clean up

Just wait till a 189 or 187 goes Leak City, the stuff will eat it's way along the battery connectors and straight to the board

If the board survives, just pray you do too, once you see what the eaten away battery replacement parts cost 

[Fungus]

If money would not be an option, I would buy the:

Gossen M273C MetraHIT IM XTRA All-In-One Multimeter & Isolationsmessgerät & Wicklungstest & Datalogger
EUR 1.660,00 + TAX   

Basic DC accuracy of 0.15%+10?  2% on ohms range?

Oh, wait, it's mainly an insulation tester.

[Fungus]

OK couldn't resist the speed of the Hioki - just ordered from Ebay Japan - stay tuned....

It certainly has some impressive measurement specs. 

Can also measure AC volts+DC offset simultaneously - nice! (Also min+max of that offset AC waveform)

But, ... 10 ms response time on the continuity test. A lot of people might see that as a deal-breaker. 

(Me? I think could live with it)

For lab use the hand held multimeter that feels closest to a bench meter to me in performance is the Hioki DT4282

They actually list it in the "Benchtop multimeters" section on their web site:

https://www.hioki.com/en/products/list/?category=14

[Hydrawerk]

https://www.hioki.com/en/products/detail/?product_key=5570
DT4282 is probably top quality, but it has no bargraph. 

[mzacharias]

I have several 87's series I, III, V - just acquired an 87IV.

I know they were unpopular at introduction, changed to the 189 type, and the 87 re-introduced as the series V, but I do a lot of audio and the AC+DC
and dB functionality is really handy for audio.

Still lights a white LED and reads the diode voltage drop by the way. I found that a bit surprising.

Still getting the feel of it, but so far - I like it!

[Fungus]

https://www.hioki.com/en/products/detail/?product_key=5570
DT4282 is probably top quality, but it has no bargraph. 

Neither do bench multimeters. 

(But yeah, that's a bummer. If it had a bargraph it might take the #1 prize...)

[nctnico]

DT4282 is probably top quality, but it has no bargraph. 

Neither do bench multimeters. 

Many modern bench multimeters have bargraphs. My Keysight 34461A and Vici VC8145 both have bar graphs.

[TheAmmoniacal]

OK couldn't resist the speed of the Hioki - just ordered from Ebay Japan - stay tuned....

So we can expect an in-depth video review? 

[mikeselectricstuff]

OK couldn't resist the speed of the Hioki - just ordered from Ebay Japan - stay tuned....

So we can expect an in-depth video review? 

Can't promise in-depth but certainly at least first impressions and obviously a teardown

[Vtile]

Only for strong hands: HP 3458A.