Wich multimeter for hobbist

[rstofer]

I don't think typical hobbyist is interested in mains voltage at all.

Almost every beginner who gets a scope wants to "look at the mains waveform" as the first thing out of the box. Don't ask me why. I assume when they get a meter that's the first thing they do, they jam the leads into the wall.

I think you're right.  It's an immediate source of a sine wave (more or less) and the value should be pretty well known.

Threads start up here all the time about testing mains with some piece of new test equipment. 

I maintain that using a DMM on mains is a waste of digits.  A solenoid style tester is my favorite because I just need to know the order of magnitude of the voltage (120,{208-240-277},480) and, since there isn't anything I can do about the 3rd decimal place of line voltage, there really isn't much point in measuring it.  The voltage is either present and in one of those 3 bins or it isn't.

You can tell the voltage level with a solenoid style tester by how hard it jumps in your hand and how much it vibrates.  Also by the arc when you remove a probe.  This is close enough!  With this style tester, I don't have to take my eyes off the probes (and what I'm probing) just to hang by my knees trying to read the DMM.

Maybe I spent too much time working on industrial automation.  Way back when...  Side issue:  My issued Simpson 260 circa 1969 didn't even have a CAT rating, yet I'm still here!

https://www.amazon.com/Knopp-K-60-Cat-Number-14460/dp/B003A7T5KG

[fsr]

Maybe you should look at this meter, it has it all plus some extra great functions like bluetooth, logging and USB.

https://www.amazon.com/TP9605BT-Multimeter-Bluetooth-Connection-Available/dp/B00SGKR9FA/ref=pd_cart_vw_crc_1_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00SGKR9FA&pd_rd_r=20de8643-f8d5-4cc1-a440-2c31f6a31302&pd_rd_w=F1BvD&pd_rd_wg=Hxg6v&pf_rd_i=cart-page-widgets&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=7b1a11cb-b9d6-4645-a52e-34c86ca37029&pf_rd_r=H9V72HFZPV4D697P3F4C&pf_rd_s=cart-page-widgets&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=H9V72HFZPV4D697P3F4C

For that price you can get a Fluke 101.

Which doesn't even measure current.

[boffin]

I recommend Aneng 8009 which I use and it is really nice for mere 30$.

The 8002 and 8008 are great value if $30 is took high for your budget.  the 8002 is sub $20, and is built pretty well, and measures most of what you need to measure.