Electronics > Beginners
Looking for help selecting a budget multi-meter. I'm quite overwhelmed.
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BoredSysAdm:

--- Quote from: ArthurDent on May 13, 2019, 05:13:07 pm ---I have a UNI-T UT61E that I really like. I paid around $50 on line and the price ranges up to about $65 depending where you buy it. Obviously for this price you're not going to get the same meter as a $300 Fluke so you have to decide what features are important to you. Here's a good overview of several multimeters and what to look for featurewise. 



--- End quote ---
UNI-T looks extremely interesting, also features in this shootout:
bdunham7:
This does everything you need/want except autoranging and if you use coupons, you can get it for about $16. And the continuity beeper is lightning fast. 

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html

Then you can decide what you would really rather have, set a few targets and then wait for a deal to show up on eBay.  I've gotten several pretty good meters off eBay for $100ish or less, but the best deals are often not on Fluke, which go for big bucks even in beat up condition.   

As an example, this is an older but outstanding DMM:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BK-Precision-ASYC-II-5360-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-DMM-Bar-Graph/233219191596?hash=item364cf2732c:g:8LgAAOSwtwVc0JFr
rstofer:

--- Quote from: bdunham7 on May 13, 2019, 06:50:13 pm ---This does everything you need/want except autoranging and if you use coupons, you can get it for about $16. And the continuity beeper is lightning fast. 

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html
r-Graph/233219191596?hash=item364cf2732c:g:8LgAAOSwtwVc0JFr[/url]

--- End quote ---

Harbor Freight claims this DMM is an Extech MN36 and doesn't appear to be the case.  They are entirely different meters.  Probably a typo...

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html
http://www.extech.com/display/?id=14580

This meter doesn't even pretend to have CAT ratings.  If it has them, they aren't shown in the User Manual or on the face of the meter.

The Aneng 8008 is in the same price range ($26) and from Dave's tests, it is a very accurate meter.  It pretends to have CAT ratings but i'm not sure I would trust them.  I don't use mine on mains, but I would.  This whole CAT thing assumes a transient the size of a lightning bolt right on the wires leading to your panel.  Around here we almost never get ground strikes.  Maybe a few sky strikes from time to time but no ground strikes.

I still use my Simpson 260 V-O-M and it doesn't have CAT ratings either.

ejeffrey:
I generally *don't* recommend Fluke for starting electronics hobbyists.

They are great meters, and I have used them frequently. However, you pay a lot for the ruggedness, name brand, and CAT IV rating and they tend to have less performance and features (specifically for electronics) that similarly priced meters even from well respected brands.  If your meter isn't going to be bouncing off of wrenches in your toolbox in the back of your pickup truck on the way to measure some electrical panels, a Fluke is overkill.

For example, most of the less expensive Flukes that you are looking at will be <10,000 count.  Many Fluke meters don't have good mV, mA, or uA ranges.  Their capacitance mode only goes down to 1 nF resolution.  You can get all of those things and more with the fluke 87, but then you are paying $$$.

A brymen, amprobe, uni-t, bk precision or other second tier brand meter with a CAT III rating will do more than a used fluke 77 and be plenty safe for measuring typical household wiring and appliances.  For regular home use and if you treat your equipment well the extra ruggedness is just bulk and weight you don't need.

I personally wouldn't use a harbor freight or other ultra-cheap no-name meter on live circuits, but they would be perfectly fine for the price if you were only going to look at low voltage circuits with external power supplies.
rsjsouza:
Greenlee has several meters that are OEM from Brymen, a very good brand of DMMs. Greenlee provides Lifetime warranty with some limitations.

Check this mid range DMM selling new for a very reasonable price eBay auction: #183804082529.

The UT-61E is also a good candidate with more features, but you trade off safety and warranty.
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