About selecting a multimeter

[Jayasanka]

Hi I'm Jayasanka from Sri Lanka. Actually I saw the David L. Jones video about how to chose a correct multimeter but I got really confused. I really need to find a better multimeter.I went through some products on the internet. I can afford a price rang of below 75$. I know that with this price rang I won't find a perfect Digital Multimeter but I rather  find a better one. I put the links to the products that I found on the internet. So any one can give there opinion about them. Then I can go through your comments and solve my problem. 
 
 these are the links.
http://www.amazon.com/Manual-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter-Interface/dp/B000LQONYM/ref=pd_sbs_auto_29 (specially)
http://www.amazon.com/RSR-Enviormental-Tester-Multi-Function/dp/B0007Z0TAY/ref=pd_sbs_auto_31 ( specially)
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8657
http://www.batronix.com/shop/multimeter/multimeter-bxm80.html
http://www.batronix.com/shop/multimeter/multimeter-bxm98t.html
http://www.tequipment.net/Ideal61-342.asp
http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/MS8217f.htm

Those are the option that I have in mind. Actually I'm quite  amazed by the product shown by the first like. So I hope you guys would help me to find a better multimeter.

thanks,
Jayasanka.

[w2aew]

Personally, for sub-$100 multimeters, I'd look at the Amprobe products.  Very good quality (owned by Fluke), and there are several models available that meet your price range.  You just have to decide what features you need (auto-ranging or not, diode test or not, capacitance test or not, Frequency measurement or not, etc.).  No one but you can decide these features for you.

Here's a nice one for $75
http://www.amazon.com/Amprobe-Full-Purpose-Compact-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B0012IWVME/ref=sr_1_13?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1309753840&sr=1-13

[EEVblog]

http://www.amazon.com/Manual-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter-Interface/dp/B000LQONYM/ref=pd_sbs_auto_29 (specially)
http://www.amazon.com/RSR-Enviormental-Tester-Multi-Function/dp/B0007Z0TAY/ref=pd_sbs_auto_31 ( specially)
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8657
http://www.batronix.com/shop/multimeter/multimeter-bxm80.html
http://www.batronix.com/shop/multimeter/multimeter-bxm98t.html
http://www.tequipment.net/Ideal61-342.asp
http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/MS8217f.htm

Out of those, the IDEAL one is probably the best brand.

I second the Amprobe suggestion.

Dave.

[Kiriakos-GR]

I can afford a price rang of below 75$.

Hi Jayasanka I do have one question for you,
I do understand that you are on low budget,
but are you willing to pay the shipping cost, by buying internationally ?

What are the products that you can find locally ?
 

[Jayasanka]

Hi,
 I saw your reply, Actually my aunt is coming to Sri Lanka so I hope that she can bring it. In this way I don't have to pay for shipping even if they charge for tax it'll be less cause she can claim it as a present when bringing it to Sri Lanka.

In our country we have trouble finding electronic equipment + components. Actually we cannot find a servo here. We are having a hard time here.
Cause the taxes are really high the students have to buy cheep local multimeters. The down side is when we buy cheep multimeters we don't get the features that the good multimeters have.

That's why I really wanted to find a better one. This is my only way to buy a good one. so please help me with this problem. I posted some links too. Actually I was amazed by this multimeter http://www.amazon.com/Manual-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter-Interface/dp/B000LQONYM/ref=pd_sbs_auto_29   can you tell me Is this good for university studies and I really appreciate if you can look the other links too. If you have a better idea of a better multimeter apart from my list please post the link.

Thanks.
Jayasanka

[Ian]

i highly recommend getting one that has a max feature you know like a button you push and it displays the max voltage/amp/ohm/farad. mine does not and it is annoying 

[Kiriakos-GR]

can you tell me Is this good for university studies and I really appreciate if you can look the other links too. If you have a better idea of a better multimeter apart from my list please post the link.

Thanks.
Jayasanka

Well I can offer lots of suggestions but the 75$ limiting factor, it is a problem that no one can by pass.
The most cost effective brand this days is UNI-T. 

Start looking for the UNI-T UT61 or UNI-T UT71 

[w2aew]

.... Actually I was amazed by this multimeter http://www.amazon.com/Manual-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter-Interface/dp/B000LQONYM/ref=pd_sbs_auto_29   can you tell me Is this good for university studies and I really appreciate if you can look the other links too. If you have a better idea of a better multimeter apart from my list please post the link....

To be honest, I've been in the electronics field for about 30 years, and I have never heard of this V&A brand.  The collective opinion here is to shop by brand as well as features.  If you shop by features alone, you are likely to get a feature-rich multimeter which may be of poor quality (cheap components and construction, poor accuracy, poor durability).  This is why I recommended the Amprobe (and as Dave said - maybe the Ideal) units.  These are recognized brands.  Of the two, I'd say that Amprobe has a better reputation.  The Amprobe unit that I posted a link to can be found for about $75 from some of the "other" vendors linked on the Amazon site.

[qno]

I have used this one.
It is sold under many names.
It has an interface for your computer.
It is ok as long as you are careful with the terminals.

It is a standard buget multimeter. I will not recommend it for power line measurements.

[Madman]

I bought the UNI-T UT61E here: http://www.dealexcel.com/ut61e-digital-multimeters-ture-rms-usbrs232-duty-cycle_p370.html
$61.99 free shipping.
I opened it here on my blog: http://greutert.wordpress.com/electronique/multimetres/  French text, but you might use Google translator to have it in English. The pictures speak for themselves. PC interface (RS232 or optional USB) and software are included.
I would recommend it.

[Jayasanka]

Hi tanks for all your thoughts. I found a multimeter that has all the features I needed but I'm not sure whether it is branded can anyone tell is this multimeter is worth for the price.Here is the link to the multimeter http://www.dinodirect.com/digital-multimeter-multifunction-et2601.html
I appreciate all your help.
thanks.

[Vertigo]

i recently bought that UT61E mentioned above, and i am liking it allot.
i would point out that this one is better then the D model dave reviewed in his
shootout video.
that one got low marks because it was slow, and the continuity test was kinda bad.
the E model is way better at both.

[Kiriakos-GR]

Jayasanka  you got all ready lots of worthy suggestions,
and still you are looking at the no-name range, 
and the point is that you are looking to buy your main multimeter !!

My last advice would be, that if you are unable to locate the  web site of the specific manufacturer,
do not buy the damn meter.