[SOLVED] Looking for a multimeter, 150€ / $200 -ish

[varesa]

So my old chinese multimeter has become "unreliable". I'm thinking this would be a good moment to upgrade/get another meter, even if I can fix the old one. So here comes another "What is the `best` multimeter?"-thread

I'm looking for a reliable and long living unit.

Some options in the price range I'm looking for that I've found are Fluke 115, Keysigh U1233A and some Brymen models, e.g. BM869.

I'm sure all of those have specsheets that are more than good enough for me, so I'd like to know about experiences/preferences between these. I could also take a look at other models.

As my profile should say, I'm located in Finland. Buying outside europe is not a problem, though it would add VAT and others which need to be taken into account in the price. Do you know if tme.eu ships from Poland or just orders from the east like many ebay sellers do?

I'll leave this here and go read/watch reviews

[nctnico]

Does it need to be portable? If not you could considers a mains powered VC8145 bench multimeter. I would advice against the Keysight multimeters. Their continuity check is way too slow.

[Lightages]

If you can actually buy a Brymen BM869 for "150€ / $200 -ish" I would do it immediately. I suspect it would be closer to $250 when you include shipping. If you want the PC connection cable it will be closer to $300 in total.

Other alternatives from Brymen are the BM525 where you trade some counts for 80000 record logging, or the BM829 which is much less expensive but has an non contact voltage detector and would get you closer to $200 with shipping, or the BM857 which is almost as good as the BM869 but you lose dual display and it has no temperature measurement.

All my price references for these recommendations come from www.tme.eu

[GreyWoolfe]

Does it have to be new?  Check your local interwebs to see if you can find a used Fluke 83 or 85 series meter in good shape.  Even if the display is faded (common problem), rebuild kits are cheap and sometime just a simple cleaning of the zebra strip will get the display back.  A friend of mine picked up a Fluke 83 series 5 at a local hamfest for $20.  It had a faded display and a cracked case.  He fixed both issues for an additional $85.  A hamfest could be another option if there is such a thing in your area.  We have a few throughout the year within 2 or less hours drive here in central Florida.

[KJDS]

What do you need from your meter? Counts, data looging, high voltage, capacitance and frequency? or just something reliable?

[varesa]

I want the meter to be portable since I often need to measure stuff "in field". My use would be mostly electronics, but also some simple mains stuff every now and then.

The last about ten years I've been fine using two chinese meters with continuity, basic voltage and resistance resolution, simple current measurements every once in a while. For the stuff I've done until now I can't think of a use for extra counts, but as long as they are not sacrifising something else or cost way too much, why not?

My main two objectives are getting something that will work for the next 5-10 years and something somewhat "futureproof" for that time period. So fancy features are not a requirement, but a plus. For example temperature measurement would mean I'd need one instrument less. Though my other, still working, "mid-range" chinese meter has temp.

@Lightages, Yes. I did not take into account the shipping costs. The basic shipping cost to Europe seems to be 7.90€, which I am able to go over my original budget if a more expensive meter brings in something useful.

[ju1ce]

@Lightages, Yes. I did not take into account the shipping costs. The basic shipping cost to Europe seems to be 7.90€, which I am able to go over my original budget if a more expensive meter brings in something useful.

TME prices are exclusive of VAT. Same goes for the shipping cost that is shown at the site. VAT will be calculated in the shopping cart. They do have their own stock and will ship from Poland.

[MartyD]

Maybe have a look at the https://www.gossenmetrawatt.com/english/produkte/metrahit2.htm
I do own a Metrahit X-tra myself and this is by far one of the most trustworthy meters I have came across. It feels super solid, the autoranging is the fastest I've ever seen, definitely on par, if not better, than a Fluke. Well worth the money IMHO.

Marty

[varesa]

@Lightages, Yes. I did not take into account the shipping costs. The basic shipping cost to Europe seems to be 7.90€, which I am able to go over my original budget if a more expensive meter brings in something useful.

TME prices are exclusive of VAT. Same goes for the shipping cost that is shown at the site. VAT will be calculated in the shopping cart. They do have their own stock and will ship from Poland.

Well bummer, that explains the lower prices.. I guess I'll have to take a look at cheaper meters then.

Why can't sites clearly mark if the prices are VAT 0% or not... Only mention I saw about VAT was that as a private customer I don't have to do anything, but as a company one can get "-20%". What I didn't think was that the -20% of course is from the final price, not from what is shown in the catalog.

[Yago]

Does the Brymen 857 come in under budget?

That was where I ended, couldn't afford the 869, but the 857 gets about 90% of the way there.

[varesa]

Maybe have a look at the https://www.gossenmetrawatt.com/english/produkte/metrahit2.htm
I do own a Metrahit X-tra myself and this is by far one of the most trustworthy meters I have came across. It feels super solid, the autoranging is the fastest I've ever seen, definitely on par, if not better, than a Fluke. Well worth the money IMHO.

Marty

I've heard/seen that Gossen Metrawatt meters are really good, but even the cheapest model is a tad out of my budget. If I encounter it "cheap" somwhere, I'll sure add it back to my list.

[varesa]

Does the Brymen 857 come in under budget?

That was where I ended, couldn't afford the 869, but the 857 gets about 90% of the way there.

Quickly looking at the prices 857, 867 and 829 should atleast be aproximately be in my range.

Does anyone know if there is a nice comparision of the different series etc? The brymen website isn't exactly the most helpful when it comes to getting a quick overview of what's what

[Lightages]

Look for links to reviews on the forum here, and there are youtube videos on most of the models:
The Extech MM570 is basically the same as the Brymen BM859:

The Amprobe AM160 is a recased version of the BM859:

The difference between the BM857s and BM859s is less rated accuracy and no temperature measurement.

The BM867 was reviewed in detail by Martin too:


Dave did a short overview of some Brymens:


The BM829s and BM525s have not been on youtube yet, but will be soon. I will be doing detailed reviews of the BM257, BM525s, BM829s, BM869s, BM22s, BM27s and a clamp meter BM089.

The short story is that the BM857s is the equivalent of a BM867s but without dual display and with a different case. The basic accuracy is 0.03% against the BM869s 0.02% and CATIII/1000V instead. These have 50,000/500,000 count and are very fast, safe, and very well built.

The BM829s and BM525s share the same case as the BM86Xs but have only 10,000 count and 0.08% accuracy. What you get instead on these is an auto-check feature which is a low impedance AC/DC, Ohms, and continuity test in one setting. The BM829s adds a non-contact voltage detector, and instead of the NCV the BM525s adds an 80,000 measurement logging internal recorder which can measure up to 20 times per second. To get the real benefit of the recorder you need a PC cable for around $50.

The BM257s is a really great all round handy meter that is much smaller than the others. It is basically a mini BM829s with 0.2% accuracy and 6,000 counts, and is rated CATIII/600V instead of CATIV1000V, EDIT and does not do TRMS AC+DC but only AC. It is one of my favorite meters because of its size and utility for on the go. It is probably more than most hobbyists would need and can be purchased with the PC cable for less than $200 shipped.

My recommendation for most people would be to get a BM257s or a BM829s and if you want the measurement recording capability then the BM525s. Only get a BM857s if you don't care to have temperature and don't think you will miss the dual display of the BM829s or BM525s. 50,000 counts is only an advantage sometimes and 500,000 counts very rarely. The number of counts exceed the accuracy so they only let you see small changes rather than let you see real absolute values.

Of course the BM869s is really nice but I think that for the same cost as just a BM869s, a BM525s with a PC cable is much more useful with its logging capabilities.

If you do buy any of the Brymens, get the magnetic hanger too, it is handy.

[Wytnucls]

If you don't need true RMS, the Gossen 24S is affordable, second-hand, at less than 150 Euros.
31,000 count and square wave gen.
This one even comes with a sturdy temp probe and the original Gossen probes:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Messgerat-Metrawatt-24-S-/271714440223?pt=Mess_Pr%C3%BCftechnik&hash=item3f4371541f

The 25S is the same, with the addition of true RMS:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Metra-Hit-25s-Messgerat-Elektro-Messgarate-Pruftechnik-/221639271343?pt=Mess_Pr%C3%BCftechnik&hash=item339abae3af
Should also go for less than 150 Euros.

[classical]

..857..That was where I ended, couldn't afford the 869, but the 857 gets about 90% of the way there.

Me too. I paid <132 EUR (161USD) @ TME incl. shipment, German VAT and additional PP-BM10A leads.
Great meter, true RMS, 50.000/500.000 count, 0,03%, CAT iV 600V, Capacitance, 10A. Virtually all you need.
If CAT IV is not necessary the DT-2843R could be a cheap but good alternative with trueRMS - when it is available again.

[varesa]

Look for links to reviews on the forum here, and there are youtube videos on most of the models:
The Extech MM570 is basically the same as the Brymen BM859:

The Amprobe AM160 is a recased version of the BM859:

The difference between the BM857s and BM859s is less rated accuracy and no temperature measurement.

The BM867 was reviewed in detail by Martin too:


Dave did a short overview of some Brymens:


The BM829s and BM525s have not been on youtube yet, but will be soon. I will be doing detailed reviews of the BM257, BM525s, BM829s, BM869s, BM22s, BM27s and a clamp meter BM089.

The short story is that the BM857s is the equivalent of a BM867s but without dual display and with a different case. The basic accuracy is 0.03% against the BM869s 0.02% and CATIII/1000V instead. These have 50,000/500,000 count and are very fast, safe, and very well built.

The BM829s and BM525s share the same case as the BM86Xs but have only 10,000 count and 0.08% accuracy. What you get instead on these is an auto-check feature which is a low impedance AC/DC, Ohms, and continuity test in one setting. The BM829s adds a non-contact voltage detector, and instead of the NCV the BM525s adds an 80,000 measurement logging internal recorder which can measure up to 20 times per second. To get the real benefit of the recorder you need a PC cable for around $50.

The BM257s is a really great all round handy meter that is much smaller than the others. It is basically a mini BM829s with 0.2% accuracy and 6,000 counts, and is rated CATIII/600V instead of CATIV1000V, EDIT and does not do TRMS AC+DC but only AC. It is one of my favorite meters because of its size and utility for on the go. It is probably more than most hobbyists would need and can be purchased with the PC cable for less than $200 shipped.

My recommendation for most people would be to get a BM257s or a BM829s and if you want the measurement recording capability then the BM525s. Only get a BM857s if you don't care to have temperature and don't think you will miss the dual display of the BM829s or BM525s. 50,000 counts is only an advantage sometimes and 500,000 counts very rarely. The number of counts exceed the accuracy so they only let you see small changes rather than let you see real absolute values.

Of course the BM869s is really nice but I think that for the same cost as just a BM869s, a BM525s with a PC cable is much more useful with its logging capabilities.

If you do buy any of the Brymens, get the magnetic hanger too, it is handy.

Thanks for the writeup, it's the best "how to select a brymen meter" resource I've found

I've watched Dave's video and some of Martin's . I'll take a look at those other few you linked

[classical]

Just recognized that TME reduced prices for Brymen about 8%. The 857 @95EUR +VAT
Hope that it is no clearance sale.

[varesa]

Okay, I had decided on a BM829, but decided to wait before getting one. Good thing that I did. Today I became an owner of a Keysight U1241B.

It is about a week from my birthday when I got a 25MHz Arb. wave gen

[Lightages]

That is also a very nice meter. I am sure you will be happy with it.

[Wytnucls]

Be aware that the true RMS bandwidth is only 2kHz on the U1241. Still, a big improvement on your original meter.

[retiredcaps]

So my old chinese multimeter has become "unreliable".

So now that you have a new one, if you are interested in repairing the old one, start a new thread and I will make suggestions if I can.