Best low cost (<$200) BENCH multimeter ?

[soldersplash]

Have a look at Datron 1061 or similar. Seem to come up on fleabay quite regularly quite cheap.
Kind regards,
soldersplash

[Hydrawerk]

Nobody has a TTI multimeter. OK. They are probably like TDS2000 scopes. Good for school but not suitable for hobbyists. No bang per buck.

[v81]

Same as the OP, i'm now looking for a bench meter.
Budged it <$200 AUD delivered.

I am looking at the Vichy VC8145 on AliExpress, but it looks like the Vichy units are often counterfeit, the one linked to here does not show the Vichy brand in the picture.

Also looking at the MASTECH MS8040, also on AliExpress.

Anyone have any suggestions either way, or recommend anything else in the same price range.

Have also checked E-Bay for 2nd hand gear, plenty in the USA, but too expensive to post here.

[cncjerry]

 I went used Hp.   I have 2 x 3457a, 2x 3456a and 3 x 3478a.  Yes,  they don't have some of features but my 3456a meters are easy to see,  settle fast, accurate and I find them easy to fix. I didn't pay more than $150 USD for any of them with the 3478a meters coming in under $70. I read all kinds of problems with some of the new meters right out of the box.

[nctnico]

Same as the OP, i'm now looking for a bench meter.
Budged it <$200 AUD delivered.

I am looking at the Vichy VC8145 on AliExpress, but it looks like the Vichy units are often counterfeit, the one linked to here does not show the Vichy brand in the picture.

Vichy changed their name into Vici. Vichy=French puppet regime during WWII Vici=victory in Latin.

[Lightages]

I purchased a used Keithley 197. It is an old design, and was obsoleted by Keithley 10 years ago. There was no record of it being calibrated after manufacture but it appears to be within its 1 year spec still!. So for $120 I got a solid and well stabilized bench multimeter with better than 0.015% basic accuracy. What do you lose from something like the others mentioned? It does not have temperature, capacitance, frequency, continuity, back light, nor RS232.

So if you can live without some functions, don't dismiss used meters.

[AudioNoob]

Since the topic has seen no activity for almost four years, I'd like to ask if perhaps some new devices have been released for under $200 worth purchasing instead of VC8145?
I would gladly pick some used DMM off E-bay as has been suggested multiple times in this thread, but I'm in Ukraine and shipping cost is typically $80-120 so it makes absolutely no sense. VC8145 is $150 with free shipping.

[exe]

Be sure to check that dmm you are going to buy has all the needed functions and ranges. Some of them may not have continuity check, capacitance measurements, temperature, support for voltages above 300V, high current range, etc.

BTW I have Keithely 2000, seems to be much faster and more precise than any portable dmm I have.

[nctnico]

The VC8145 has all that. I recall looking at many used bench DMMs but they miss features like capacitance, temperature and high current. This thread is about 4 years old now but the VC8145 is still my 'daily driver' DMM.

[AudioNoob]

BTW I have Keithely 2000, seems to be much faster and more precise than any portable dmm I have.

No doubt, given the price of $1250!

[GigaJoe]

i would look at 5.5, instead 4.5 ....
GW Instek GDM-8251A   
Fluke 8840A ; 8842A
HP 3478a - primitive, abit slow, but crazy accurate and cheap

[rsjsouza]

Audionoob, given where you are and the shipping conditions, you would still be ok with the VC8145.

I have two HP 3478As, a Keithley 191 and a Racal Dana 5001. The HPs are quite good but their display is very hard to read, while the Keithley and the Racal have LED displays and tend to be much cheaper (the Keithley unfortunately does not have current, but it is still incredibly accurate after 30+ years).

[Chris56000]

Hi!

The Mastech M9803R is also badged as the Digimess DM200.

I have one awaiting repair for a no display fault due to internal failure of the NJU9210F single DMM chip – this device is expensive, prone to failure and very difficult to get!

Symptoms of impending failure:–

a) Delay in all the segments coming on at first self–test;

b) Erratic auto–ranging or very slow to range up;

c) One or more ranges wildly out – these DMM ICs contain part of the range–divider resistor internally;

d) Jumping between ranges.

I managed to get one of these ICs but it cost well over £50, & I'm certainly not going to attempt to fit it until I've renewed every other semiconductor on the main board and rebuilt & tested the mains power unit!

Chris Williams

[gearshredder]

i would look at 5.5, instead 4.5 ....
GW Instek GDM-8251A   
Fluke 8840A ; 8842A
HP 3478a - primitive, abit slow, but crazy accurate and cheap

All of these have 4 wire kelvin too, which the VC8145 does not. I don't see any handheld meters have unless it's called a milliohm meter. I'm happy I found my Datron 1062 for $50, just needed a electrolytic and tantalum recap. Some of the tantalums smoked.

I think there should be a cheap bench meter for the same reasons I picked up mine:
- A sweet display
- Buttons for convenience and speed.
- 4 wire kelvin measurement
- Various modes and Compute functions (that I don't know how to use yet because I'm a noob, soo... not a good reason lol)
- Super fast autoranging. (0.74 seconds infinite to short, 1.4 to infinite).
Now, if only it would beep.

What is the cheapest multimeter with 4 wire kelvin? With a quick look I see the Siglent Technologies SDM3045X $389 USD
I guess if you are on a budget, you'd make yourself a current source instead and just use a handheld.

[AudioNoob]

Wow, that Datron 1062 does look sweet. I love the old-school design. Goes for $350, though.

If there was any handheld DMM with a bi-directional digital interface, I'd be happy to make a desktop "interface" for it (a box with a screen, buttons and connector sockets). Obviously, it would have to be a DMM with electronic range and unit switch, and I don't know any. Most, if not all, good DMMs have a physical switch and only output, no input for selecting range and such.

[nctnico]

How many times do you need 4 wire Kelvin resistance measurements? Most resistors in circuits are 1% or worse and usually have values way over 1 Ohm.

[gearshredder]

I do it at least a few times a week at work with various contactors, and switches. I don't have a 4 wire setup at work (yet) so I just put it on the power supply that I have. I set the voltage to 6V and limit to 1A. The bad ones will not conduct, or are very intermittent, until you turn up the voltage to about 18v or so. It'd be nice to have a 4 wire to do this at work but I guess this works just fine as I haven't had any repeat issues. (The feedback is a fault code on some). I found the method on a Panasonic Electromechanical switches department page. It's saved me a lot of time.

[Fungus]

BTW I have Keithely 2000, seems to be much faster and more precise than any portable dmm I have.

No doubt, given the price of $1250!

He obviously doesn't own a Hioki DT4282.

[exe]

He obviously doesn't own a Hioki DT4282..

What's up with Hioki DT4282? Is it good?

[Fungus]

What's up with Hioki DT4282? Is it good?

Yes.

[Cnoob]

Quote from: exe on Yesterday at 10:01:50 pm
What's up with Hioki DT4282? Is it good?


Yes.

The Fluke 87 V is referred to, as King of the multimeter's. I own one, I also own a Hioki DT4282 which I refer to, as the King Slayer.

Also own a Fluke289 which also is not as good as the Hioki in my opinion.   

[exe]

The Fluke 87 V is referred to, as King of the multimeter's. I own one, I also own a Hioki DT4282 which I refer to, as the King Slayer.

Also own a Fluke289 which also is not as good as the Hioki in my opinion.

So, what's so special about Hioki that K2000 put into shame? .

PS wouldn't calll 87V a king, brymen 869s is better in my opinion, although don't have any of them (yet).

[gearshredder]

I'd call the 87v a king if industry buys em by default.

[Cnoob]

So, what's so special about Hioki that K2000 put into shame? .

PS wouldn't calll 87V a king, brymen 869s is better in my opinion, although don't have any of them (yet).

I don't own a K2000 or any other bench  multimeter. The Hioki has good resolution 1mohm, 1pf. good DC accuracy 0.025% same as fluke 289, but measures slightly more accurately. About as versatile as a Bryman 869s except it only has 60000 count unlike the 500000 count on some of the ranges of the 869s and 867s(which I have).

It's fairly straight forward to use. Finally like the Fluke 87 V it's a class act, by the way it functions.

This is a quick reply from the top of my head.

[Fungus]

I'd call the 87v a king if industry buys em by default.

I'd rather be a kingslayer than a king.

I've heard the Hioki described as the "closest thing to a bench meter you can get in a handheld". It's terribly fast at reading and does a lot of things the Fluke 87V can't.

nb. I don't own either of them.

(but if somebody told me to pick any multimeter for free I'd pick the Hioki over a Fluke or Brymen).