Electronics > Beginners
Looking for help selecting a budget multi-meter. I'm quite overwhelmed.
(1/7) > >>
BoredSysAdm:
Hello,
Please don't judge me too harshly, I did search the forums and read some of the results, but while some are simply irrelevant (EU results - I'm in the US) others had different needs/uses.
I've tried to decipher the very extensive DMM spreadsheet but coming up still not nearly fully understand the finer details.

I have some background in Electronics from Highschool and electronics tech repair in the military service. Since then I've successfully repaired my Panasonic plasma TV and my Onkyo receiver, both thanks for youtube tutorials.
I am looking for a DMM which will be robust and accurate for doing troubleshooting on home electronics, such as home theater, computers, networking etc...
My goal is to purchase it used on the eBay at around $100 (like Fluke 77IV for example). Fluke is what I used in the military and never had any issues with it.
Features wise, I'm not sure but sounds like 6k count, Digital and auto-range would be nice to have. Testing diodes is must have, testing transistors directly would be a nice to have.
rstofer:
It's complicated...  Furthermore, it doesn't matter what you buy because you will be buying more later.  Nobody in this game for any length of time has less than a half dozen handheld DMMs and maybe a couple of bench DMMs.  They grow like rabbits!

If you have even the most remote intention of measuring mains voltages, you care about the CAT ratings.  CAT III is probably a minimum.  But the problem is, the CAT rating on the case is just ink on plastic, it means nothing.  For this application you should be buying top end stuff, Fluke, Brymen, maybe a couple of others.  There is some kind of database over in Test Equipment that shows the results of testing the CAT ratings.

The EEVblog 121GW meter is pretty nice as is the EEVblog Brymen BM235 and everything that Fluke makes.

I have all of the above including a Fluke 189 but the meter I reach for is a $25 Aneng 8008.  Our host did a video on this unit and the review is a mixed bag.  Dave doesn't like 'cheap ass meters' but the accuracy is simply astounding.  I can buy 4 of them for $100...

There's no chance in the world I would buy a handheld DMM on eBay.  Even bench DMMs are iffy.  In fact, everything is iffy...

The 121GW is available on Amazon for $125 with same day delivery (around here).  It's a little over the price range but it's a really good DMM.  It has only a CAT III rating but that's good enough for mains around the house.  The Brymen has a CAT IV rating at 300V which is pretty useless since CAT IV is high energy - think 480V substations and such.  The voltage rating is too low to be useful in an industrial environment.

The BM235 is also available on Amazon for same day delivery for the same money.

So, selecting the right meter depends entirely on where you want to use it.  I still reach for the Aneng 8008.
rstofer:
Transistor test sockets on DMMs aren't highly regarded around here because you might be holding the meter near the socket when you probe something at a higher voltage.  The sockets aren't well protected from touch.

That's not to say you don't eventually buy a 'cheap ass meter' that does do transistor testing, you just have to avoid using it on mains.

There are videos re: testing transistors with a DMM.
BoredSysAdm:

--- Quote from: rstofer on May 13, 2019, 04:47:05 pm ---There's no chance in the world I would buy a handheld DMM on eBay.  Even bench DMMs are iffy.  In fact, everything is iffy...

--- End quote ---
Thanks for the detailed response. I will definitely off to do more homework based on your suggestions.
Could you please expand on why eBay is not the venue you'd be looking at? what makes it iffy? Counterfeit products?
ArthurDent:
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. 

Navigation
Message Index
Next page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod