Brymen BM869, short review (small update added 2013-01-19)

[KD0RC]

TME is really sellig at a good price right now.  I just orderd a BM 869S for 224 USD shipped! I did not have any problems with the web site or paying with a credit card.  They are closed today, so I don't expect a tracking number until Monday.  Wirh any luck I will see the unit next week.

[sotos]

857s. Doesn’t exist.

[Lightages]

857s. Doesn’t exist.

Although TME doesn't have them yet as it appears they are trying to clear the A model, yes the BM857S does exist. I have my price sheet here in front of me from Brymen and it is listed.

You can always ask TME if they have them as maybe they haven't updated their website yet.

[sotos]

It doesn’t exist in their site also, if I’m correct. http://www.brymen.com

[SkyMaster]

Post #95, by Yago, is showing a picture of a 857s; the model number is shown on the DMM.

857s. Doesn’t exist.

[argg]

contacting TME is like an exercise in vanity, they never replied to the three queries I made in the recent months. To be fair, they do deliver very fast what is in stock but communication is another matter.  Can't imagine what their after sales support would be like 

Last one was about the availability of BM867S, guess I will have to look for another EU source

[argg]

I agree that for Brymens they do have the best prices around.
however this is not the case with other brands:
UT71D €180, incl. VAT http://www.tme.eu/en/details/ut71d/portable-digital-multimeters/uni-t/#t8ad81310d20bffcb9d7ffcb72da5969d
Batronix UT71D €153 http://www.batronix.com/shop/multimeter/multimeter-ut71d.html

I am not nitpicking prices though, as I mentioned above my concern is what happens if I ever need to make use of the warranty

[Wytnucls]

Batronix sells the new and improved version with HRC fuses. The original, as sold in China, is not legal in Europe anymore.

[Yago]

contacting TME is like an exercise in vanity, they never replied to the three queries I made in the recent months. To be fair, they do deliver very fast what is in stock but communication is another matter.  Can't imagine what their after sales support would be like 

Last one was about the availability of BM867S, guess I will have to look for another EU source

I though Franky(ILoveElectronics) can get some Brymen models at competative (best?) prices.
It is the 857 that he struggles to compete with.

Send him a PM here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/profile/?u=26834

[iloveelectronics]

I though Franky(ILoveElectronics) can get some Brymen models at competative (best?) prices.
It is the 857 that he struggles to compete with.

Send him a PM here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/profile/?u=26834

Thanks for the recommendation. However, TME's pricing on most models are actually very hard to compete with, especially on the higher count models such as the 850's and 860's. I believe I'm mostly only competitive (in terms of pricing) on the 257 and 829. All the units I sell do come with gold plated silicone leads though and it is my understanding that TME's are not silicone (but are gold plated). The difference on the leads is more noticeable at the probe tips - the silicone ones have screw threads for a lantern spring attachment.

[Yago]

Ahh, thanks for the clarification Franky, sorry for my mistake.

You are correct about the leads not being silicone, and they also didn't sell those excellent Brymen crock clips you have.

[tralamazza]

Not only do the "s" versions have an improved back light, they also have updated input protection to meet the requirements of the latest safety standards.

If you are happy with that, I agree that it is a great price and time to buy the older version.

Do you have more information on the new input protection?

[Lightages]

I don't have specific information on the changes made but the one thing that you can be sure of is that they now install fuses with the same voltage rating as the CAT rating voltage. Some of the older ones had fuses rated for 600V when the meter was rated for 1000V.

[necessaryevil]

I don't have specific information on the changes made but the one thing that you can be sure of is that they no install fuses with the same voltage rating as the CAT rating voltage.

That's talking about the Uni-T, right?

I'm saving up for a real DMM. It's going to be a Fluke or a Brymen, undecided yet. If it's gonna be a Fluke I'll possibly import it ,the prices are much higher here; partly because of the dollar conversion and the somewhat insane 21% VAT.

[Lightages]

I don't have specific information on the changes made but the one thing that you can be sure of is that they no install fuses with the same voltage rating as the CAT rating voltage.

That's talking about the Uni-T, right?

I'm saving up for a real DMM. It's going to be a Fluke or a Brymen, undecided yet. If it's gonna be a Fluke I'll possibly import it ,the prices are much higher here; partly because of the dollar conversion and the somewhat insane 21% VAT.

Actually no. I was referring to the Brymens. The BM859 had 1000V fuses whereas the BM857 had 600V fuses. This is not allowed anymore in the current regulations. The fuses were both still big HRC fuses and safe.

[retiredcaps]

i stumbled onto another website selling brymen 
http://www.118volt.it/en/brymen-bm869-bm867-batch-calibration-check/
there is a small link inside his short review. but sadly ... no 857S for sale

His eevblog id here is

mimmus78

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/profile/?u=27800

[Howardlong]

I received a BM869S this week from tme.eu, with an impressive next day delivery, I ordered about 11am on Monday and it arrived Tuesday before 10am. So TME's shipping is good, but I had difficulty registering, which is mandatory. Maybe it's just me, but having to go through the register, wait for email, verify email, order process is a right royal PITA, and unnecessary: I just want to place the order and go. As a result I have now ended up with two accounts, one of which will remain dormant.

Anyway, my question is, what is the difference between the BM869 and the BM869S?

[Lightages]

The difference with the "s" version is that is has been updated and retested to meet the latest IEC requirements for CAT ratings. I have the old version but will happily use it in CATIV/1000V areas with without worry. I am not sure what has been changed in the BM869, if anything, to meet the new spec.

[Howardlong]

The difference with the "s" version is that is has been updated and retested to meet the latest IEC requirements for CAT ratings. I have the old version but will happily use it in CATIV/1000V areas with without worry. I am not sure what has been changed in the BM869, if anything, to meet the new spec.

Ok, that was what I was guessing but hadn't seen it spelt out. I haven't had it apart yet, maybe I should and compare it to the teardown.

[Howardlong]

BM869S:



Innards:



On first viewing, it looks like the four large 10.2 ohm resistors at the top right are new and there is a modification to the PCB reflecting that. In the original there were only three resistors there.

Original BM869 resistors here: (From )

[necessaryevil]

I was going for a Fluke 115/117 as my first 'real' multimeter. Now it is definitely going to be a Brymen, since I really want to use those additional features.

The though part now is to decide which Brymen to get... The BM257, BM827, BM857 and the BM867 are the ones I consider. I have to admit that I actually like the looks of the BM257, the BM827 and the BM869  better than the looks of the BM857. I know I risk getting killed bringing up such nonsense on an engineering related forum:P

I'm also interested in design procedures in 'Western' companies and in Chinese/Taiwanese companies. I have the feeling that Brymen is a bunch of really good engineers who do everything themselves. The quick fix of the backlight issue which Dave pointed out tells me they have short communication lines, but the fact that they missed it in the first place tells me that there aren't much bureaucratic procedures. I love the little quirks and their products are great; not just something which is designed to look good in the flyer (Uni-T).

[classical]

I now have a review pending on Brymens of various types: BM257s, BM829s, B525, BM869, BM22s, BM27s, and a clamp meter BM089.

Is it still pending or is it already published?

[Lightages]

I now have a review pending on Brymens of various types: BM257s, BM829s, B525, BM869, BM22s, BM27s, and a clamp meter BM089.

Is it still pending or is it already published?

I have been working on reviews, but nothing has been published yet. Stay tuned!

[classical]

I will do, thank you.

[Lightages]

The BM867s will be the same. The BM869 and BM867 appeared to be the same as far as input protection except for the fuses.

I have a BM829s here which will be reviewed soon but it also has the same four resistor input as the BM869s. I assume they all have the same input design because they all have the same input rating.