Multimeters: How cheap is too cheap?

[Zero999]

At least panel meters normally have differential inputs which will work fine as long as the signal is within the common mode range but this isn't always the case with DVMs which may have one input floating.

[alm]

Plenty of panel meters position the negative input something like one diode drop above power supply ground.

[Armin_Balija]

The issue with cheap meters is they don't age to perfection. They remain unsafe and are just an accident waiting to happen.

Someday, maybe a long time in the future, you might forget they are unsafe or chose to ignore what you know and use them on mains. Or it gets into someones hands who doesn't even know the junk is not save and believes the numbers printed on the case.

Therefore it is not okay to have one around. It is not okay to give money to the lying pieces of shit who manufacture and sell them in total disregard for your and other person's lifes.

Thumbs up for that. I like saving money just as much as the next guy, but I save my money on food and things I can get away with. I only buy quality scopes and meters because you never know when your life might be on the line when using cheap and unreliable test equipment.

[ivan747]

This generic DMM cost less than US$3 (equivalent to Philippine Pesos 120) http://www.cdrking.com/?mod=products&type=view&sid=2849&main=92   

I've heard of cheap meters, but that is INSANE! Ah, by the way, I have one of those and the milliamps range is completely fake! It doesn't do any measurement at all no matter which socket I use.

100th post, now I am a full member, yay!

[Bored@Work]

Ah, by the way, I have one of those and the milliamps range is completely fake! It doesn't do any measurement at all no matter which socket I use.

You blew the fuse.

[ivan747]

Ah, by the way, I have one of those and the milliamps range is completely fake! It doesn't do any measurement at all no matter which socket I use.

You blew the fuse.

Oh cr*p, I did! What an idiot.   

[Kiriakos-GR]

Oh cr*p, I did! What an idiot.   

Please people take a big breath 
No one is an idiot because he burned  one 0.3A fuse !!

Most small factor DMM they have 200mA ranges ... protected by 0.3A fuses.
It is very easy to kill this fuse, even if you do measurements on battery powered toys.

This is why you get an small box of 10 fuses, so to have plenty as spare.   

 

[westfw]

But that's why these meters are dangerous, right?  If you had been measuring a 480V multi-kiloamp circuit on the 10A setting (accidentally, or something), there wouldn't have been any fuse at all (much less the fancy safety fuse that ought to be there), and the whole thing would have turned into an "exploding wire" phenomena that would have killed you!  (um...  Right.)

[Kiriakos-GR]

I fear more the dangerous users,
than a small device, called as DMM.

The dangerous user is able even to destroy a car that worth's 40.000$ ,
even if the poor car, had past all the safety tests.