Multimeter advice

[JamesQ]

Hello from Slovenia.

Im a student of electronics who is finishing his studies.  Until now my first DMM VC-140(very basic and cheap Voltcraft model) was enough for me. Since ill graduate soon i wish to buy a bit better multimeter for my home projects and work around house. I looked up local stores and im having some difficulties deciding which should i buy. All Multimeters are from 50€ up to 100€. Im willing to pay up to 100€, if multimeter is really worth it.

I was looking at Extech EX330(70€)/EX430(100€), Voltcraft VC-830(85€) and UNI-T UT61D(65€). Extech EX430 and UNI-T UT61D are TRMS, others are not. They have all more or less the same specifications.

I watched all Daves multimeter videos and this is the roundup from his advices and reviews. Please give me some advice on which should i buy.

Thank you.

[vtl]

Get the UT61E model, its got a 22,000 count display and seems to have faster autoranging than the D version. I've just ordered one for $55AUD delivered (around 44.80 Euros).

[JamesQ]

Hello.
 
@vtl: i've looked at this model over this forum and it looks ok. Becasue of my country import restrictions (orders over 22€ get +20% VAT) i must order within EU borders.

What about EX430? it looks very decent in specs and in build quality. Any thought on this model? Or on VC-830? Is TRMS DMM that better than regular DMM without TRMS?

Thank you.

[stl]

 Becasue of my country import restrictions (orders over 22€ get +20% VAT) i must order within EU borders.

Try to confirm that information, in Portugal the 22€ only apply if you buy from a company. If you buy from an individual, for example Ebay (assuming that they don't send you an invoice with the article), you don't pay any taxes up to 45€.
I've bought a UT61 from a Chinese seller that was retained in customs but because I paid ~43€ for it (DMM + shipment) I didn't had to pay anything else.

[JamesQ]

Hello.

@stl: i ordered few free samples from TI.com and the package got hold at customs, until i cleared that these are development free samples and the value on the package vas deducted with the same amount. That was 2 hours of arguing with officials over free stuff.  So yeah, im looking for a good DMM to buy in EU.

Have a nice day.

[stl]

As far as I know it doesn't mater if you paid for it or not. If the argument "It was a gift" was accepted no one would pay anything to customs...

[Bored@Work]

Becasue of my country import restrictions (orders over 22€ get +20% VAT) i must order within EU borders.

But any retailer in the EU has to charge you their local VAT, too. Unless, of course you deal with a smuggler or a criminal dodging sales tax.

It is either you paying your government's customs directly on import, or you paying a retailer in the EU who in turn pays his government.

[electrode]

Any reason the B&K Precision BK2709B isn't on the list? It was the winner of the $100 shootout, which prompted me to buy one.

It's true RMS, has a good, reasonably fast (but not the fastest) latching continuity tester, a diode test that will light most LEDs up to 3.x V, and decent ranges on capacitance and frequency measurements.

The downsides are burden voltage and green backlight instead of a sexy white one.

[JamesQ]

Hello.

@BoredAtWork: in SI we have Electronics Assosciation group, so we get some discounts at local bussineses(PCB making, electronics elements and so on...) and all DMM's listed up can be purchased with some discount.

@electrode: i was thinking of BK2709B, but i havent found any deals for 100€. I found one for 120€ at Schukat distributor, but thats a tad too much for me. Sorry, 100€ is upper line for me, that is how much i can afford.

I went to see Volcrafts DMMs yesterday. VC-265 just shut down when i turned a knob a little faster, but VC-830 looks decent build.  As i have seen, Volcrafts DMMs are a bit better designed than UNI-Ts, but i guess UNI-T makes them both. Volcrafts has a fairly easier battery fuses access and uses ceramic fuses. So we can say UNI-T and Volcraft are almost the same.

Anyone using EX430?  How about that DMM? Dave recomended EX330 in 50$ test, but its in the same price range as UNI-Ts and hase 3 holes for the probes. I guess EX430 is almost the same as EX330, but TRMS and has 4 holes. Why EX 430 and not EX420? Because its 6€ difference in price.

Have a nice day.