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| Wich multimeter for hobbist |
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| rstofer:
The issue of which meter is usually discussed in terms of CAT ratings and whether they are believable. CAT ratings are related to how much of a transient the meter can survive without killing the user. So, if you buy a cheap meter, don't believe the CAT ratings and don't work on mains. https://content.fluke.com/promotions/promo-dmm/0518-dmm-campaign/dmm/fluke_dmm-chfr/files/safetyguidelines.pdf At some point the argument gets a little silly if all you want to do is play around with electronics on your bench. BTW: I would have a VERY short list of manufacturers if I really cared about believable CAT ratings. It would start and probably end with Fluke. I know Fluke in the same way I know Tektronix. Everything else is something less. The Aneng 8008 is a nice little meter. I have one that I use in preference to a couple of Brymens, a Fluke 189 (nice meter) and a Vichy clone of the 189. It's just a handy little meter and very accurate. Not a low cost source, you can do better elsewhere: https://www.amazon.com/Multimeter-Backlight-Resistance-Frequency-Capacitance/dp/B0744MPDJH Dave's video: Don't believe the CAT ratings! |
| fsr:
I just recently buyed the Fluke 17B+, the Aneng 8008, and a "AD584 4 Channel 2.5V/7.5V/5V/10V High Precision Voltage Reference Module". Everything great for the price. The Fluke is a safe multimeter, and it works very well, and can measure low currents, something that the 11x series lack. The 17B+ also has backlight, MIN/MAX, and HOLD. The Aneng isn't safe to measure mains voltage, but it has True RMS, and a lot of counts. I did a quick check with the voltage reference, and they seem to be quite precise. Both of them look like very good instruments for electronics, specially for the price. Check Dave's video on the Anengs. He also reviewed the previous model of the Fluke, but the newer + model has very interesting improvements. That's an opportunity to make a new video, Dave!! :) |
| ejeffrey:
--- Quote from: rstofer on December 05, 2018, 03:30:39 pm ---BTW: I would have a VERY short list of manufacturers if I really cared about believable CAT ratings. It would start and probably end with Fluke. I know Fluke in the same way I know Tektronix. Everything else is something less. --- End quote --- The flip side of that is that I would almost never recommend a fluke for an electronics hobbyist on a budget. Their less expensive meters are really only intended for electrical use and don't have the range, resolution, and features of even inexpensive electronics grade meters. Also remember that CATII ratings are by definition considered appropriate for measuring standard wall outlets or mains powered appliances connected to them. So an off brand meter with a CAT III/1000V rating might be not something I would really trust for measuring a 480 V distribution panel, but assuming it wasn't total garbage I wouldn't really hesitate to occasionally use it for measuring an appliance plugged into my bench. Certainly I wouldn't have a problem using a brymen, extech, amprobe or other well known but second tier manufacturer in such an application. On the other hand, in the few cases where I have measured voltages in a breaker box or distribution transformer, I reach for a fluke every time even though I fully trust a keysight meter's ratings. |
| KL27x:
--- Quote ---CAT ratings are related to how much of a transient the meter can survive without killing the user. --- End quote --- If you are working on high voltages, yeah. Arc blast can hurt or kill you. At household mains outlet, on the safe end of the circuit breaker, a crappo meter that fails isn't likely to hurt you unless you decided to take a nap while a fire started. Even on the wrong side, well, sure... lightning can strike out of the blue. Or the power grid can choose that moment to explode. Hobbyist not necessarily concerned with rewiring their distribution panel or whatnot. A lot of hobbyists will call a qualified electrician for stuff like that. I think $50.00 is overkill for a first DMM. I have been using DMM for decades, and I never spent more than 25 dollars. |
| EEVblog:
--- Quote from: rstofer on December 05, 2018, 03:30:39 pm ---BTW: I would have a VERY short list of manufacturers if I really cared about believable CAT ratings. --- End quote --- It's simple, if it has been independently UL or ETL tested then you can be confident in it. All the major brands have meters (sometimes not all models) with this. Even Uni-T now have some UL listed meters. Some like the Japanese companies like Sanwa do internal qualification to the same standard and can be trusted. |
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