Wich multimeter for hobbist

[Zard]

Hi I'm looking for multitool like multimeter, I watched couple videos about multimeters on eevblog yt Chanel but they are outdated :/
Mostly I will house this to check small electronic, console
maybe someone of you look for something cheap,
I can spend ~50$ on AliExpress/eBay etc.

[nickeevblog10]

My first digital multi meter was a $20 locally manufactured DMM and worked fine. Thinking it was faulty bought UNI-T 61E with more features than the $20 meter of course.
 Some modifications for th UTI-61E model are available on Youtube but I am happy with it the way it is out of the box and I find nothing to fault with it and even though this model did not have problems reported in Youtube videos I found no need to make any changes.
One interesting thing I did learn about when checking my meter for making any possible modifications is there is a tiny and fragile ribbon wrapped around the readout screen. Reassembling the meter and not putting the ribbon into the meter correctly gave me erratic readouts.
Interesting that.

[Wan Huang Luo]

Here in the colonies, I can get a multimeter for free with coupon  at a store called Harbor Fright. It will make a Brymen user’s skin crawl, but it works for the most basic things like checking low DC voltage or super basic ohm continuity checks.

[Wimberleytech]

Here in the colonies, I can get a multimeter for free with coupon  at a store called Harbor Fright. It will make a Brymen user’s skin crawl, but it works for the most basic things like checking low DC voltage or super basic ohm continuity checks.

I have about six of these.  One in every room...lol.

Here is a great meter otherwise: ZT109 – Zotek | Digital Multimeter - Zotektools

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAH3P7PT5874&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-ABINBO-_-HI+-+Yard+Tools-_-9SIAH3P7PT5874&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6c-IutiH3wIVZv_jBx0BMQP-EAQYAyABEgKfdvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have a high-end Fluke for my "real" work, but this meter or the goober meter (at Harbor Fright) are just fine for hobby work.

[MosherIV]

Hi Zard.

Welcome to the forum. If you are not going to measure mains voltage, then almost anything will do.
The Aneng dmms are popular, been meaning to get one myself.
UniT brand is variable, some models are good but some are bad. The UT61e as mentioned is good value considering its resolution but again not considered safe for live mains (especially if it has been modified). The UT139 is considered safe for mains.
Brymen is a good brand if you can find them
If you get used from ebay, any Fluke is good but you will find it hard to get one for £50.
Why are some dmms not safe for mains? Dmms now have a rating called CAT, this rating tells you to what voltage and indirectly power the dmm will protect the user if there is a power surge. Power surges can blow components in the dmm and the blast can injure you, see Dave's video where he blows up dmms.
Hope this helps.

[spec]

Here in the colonies, I can get a multimeter for free with coupon  at a store called Harbor Fright. It will make a Brymen user’s skin crawl, but it works for the most basic things like checking low DC voltage or super basic ohm continuity checks.

I have about six of these.  One in every room...lol.

Here is a great meter otherwise: ZT109 – Zotek | Digital Multimeter - Zotektools

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAH3P7PT5874&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-ABINBO-_-HI+-+Yard+Tools-_-9SIAH3P7PT5874&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6c-IutiH3wIVZv_jBx0BMQP-EAQYAyABEgKfdvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have a high-end Fluke for my "real" work, but this meter or the goober meter (at Harbor Fright) are just fine for hobby work.

That is some multimeter for the price.

[VEGETA]

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

[JackJones]

I might as well give my +1 for those meters. They do come in a few different flavours and brands. The one I have is Zotek ZT102, only a 6000 count but for €12 great value for money.

I wouldn't recommend using them for high voltages, since they basically have no input protection.

[Zard]

Thanks, I got Aneng 8009

[GreyWoolfe]

Thanks, I got Aneng 8009

I have an 8008 and 8009 that I keep in my company van.  They will never see mains voltage, nor do I necessarily encourage you to try it.  They are not bad for the money.  I needed small size and accurate low resistance measurements and both deliver on that account.  The 8009 is off on DC voltages when checked with my DMM Check + but I won't be using it for that.  The 8008 that is a spare if I lose the 8009 is much more accurate on DC voltages.  There are also modifications on the net for the Aneng meters that makes the readings more stable if you can do some basic SMD soldering.  At the end of the day, they are cheap meters and as long as you remember that and the limitations, they do work.  Honestly though, I am thinking of replacing the 8009 with a Fluke 101.  They are $40 USD on Amazon here in the colonies.  The Zotek ZT109 is a copy of the Aneng or maybe the other way around, not sure which.

[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]

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 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]

CAT ratings are related to how much of a transient the meter can survive without killing the user. 

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]

BTW:  I would have a VERY short list of manufacturers if I really cared about believable CAT ratings. 

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.

[EEVblog]

For the OP questions, I'd probably start with two AN8008 meters. Cheap, they get you started, and you can use them to reference each other for checking.

[EEVblog]

The Zotek ZT109 is a copy of the Aneng or maybe the other way around, not sure which.

Zotek is actually the designer and OEM of the ANENG 8008 and other ANENG meters. They don't really want people to know that, so, oops... 
http://zotektools.com/
http://zotektools.com/background/

Shenzhen Zotek Instruments CO., LTD. is a high-tech company specializing in R&D and production of electronic & electrical measuring instruments. The company is founded in 2015 by a technical expert who has more than 30 years of experience in the measuring instrument industry of China. He introduced technology from Japan and developed the first digital multimeter, 830, into Chinese market and has developed a series of successful products in the past few decades.

[VEGETA]

I don't think typical hobbyist is interested in mains voltage at all. I have tested and played with AC voltage using Aneng 8009 meter and it was fine, I don't know how to test it for this purpose.

As Dave stated, it is the perfect choice for a beginner. Next, you could buy eevblog custom meter as it seems a true upgrade in all shapes and forms of the word... I didn't get one yet.

[hayatepilot]

I would also consider the Zotek ZT219. http://zotektools.com/products-2/zt219/
It's also sold as the Aneng AN870.
20000 counts and has all current ranges.
Goes for ~30$ on aliexpress.

Greetings

[joseph nicholas]

Buying an expensive multi meter can be a bargin of sorts if you consider it, in the long run, an investment. For any hobbyist start with the the cheapest thing because you will probability destroy it after just a experiments.     

[HB9EVI]

I don't fully agree with that; when I started into electronics, I was 10, maybe with around 12 I bought a 2000 count Escort DMM - which is still working; it costed a lot of bucks for a preteen, but it payed off; I used it over a long time range and never had any issues with;
So even for a beginner it can pay of to take some $$$ in hands and buy a decent device and not just a 5$ cheapie from ali

[FriedMule]

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

[In Vacuo Veritas]

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.

[HB9EVI]

Well, I hope that's not really true; we don't have here so many cases of mains-fried scopes, so it at least seems, the people are clever enough to not blindly plug the probe in the outlet

[GreyWoolfe]

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.