Good DMM with uA for around 250-300 AUD a pipe dream?

[ShortCqt]

After killing another low cost DMM, it's time to get something a bit better.  I've set the budget around the $250 AUD mark, prepared to go up to 300 if it's worth it though.  The problem is I can't find anything in that price range from a good brand name that supports ?A readings, which Dave says defines an electronics DMM.

While I like meters like the Fluke 175, it only measures down to .01mA.  So my question is this, is that (10uA) enough to be considered an electronics DMM?

My needs?  I'm a serious hobbiest, starting to play with wireless sensors, so measuring power usage is a concern with design.  Because it's not generating income, I simply can't finance a $700 meter like the Fluke 87.

Any comments would be appreciated.

ShortCqt

[alm]

Plenty of bench meters go down to the uA level (random example: Keithley 175A's lowest range is 200uA with 4.5 digits, so 199.99uA full-scale, or Keithley 199: lowest range is 30mA with 5.5 digits, so 30.0000mA full-scale). Haven't checked the specs for the accuracy, but I would expect it to be accurate to at least 1uA. These are sometimes available used for under $100 US, but something like the Fluke 87 used will also cost much less than $700 (AUS?). Of course bench meters often lack features like continuity, capacitance and even diode test, so they might not be great as only DMM. And buying used does carry some risk and means you don't have warranty. Bench meters often have less overload protection, since they don't tend to be used in industrial environments; few of them have HRC fuses.

You can probably get 4.5 digit meters with a 1uA resolution from lesser brands like Extech or Amprobe for under $250 AUS new. Keep in mind that 1uA precision (i.e. it shows enough digits to resolve 1uA) doesn't mean it's actually accurate down to 1uA. For example, the Fluke 87-V has an accuracy specification of 0.2% + 4 digits for the 600.0 uA range. So for a 1.0uA reading, the tolerance is +/- 0.4uA, i.e. between 0.6uA and 1.4uA. Cheaper meters are likely to be worse.

[flano]

ShortCqt,

I'm in the same boat, I've been looking at the Amprobe AM-160, which you can get shipped from the states for under $300 US, but with the current exchange rate it starts to get expensive quick.

I looked into shipping an 87v from the states but Fluke won't let Tequipment export their meters.

The other option is eBay, most of the 87v meters go for about $220-240 US + shipping.

Hope this helps. Regards Michael

[saturation]

Try Amazon.com; they ship to Oz and the 87V is $300.

[allanw]

Could get/make a uCurrent.

[EEVblog]

All of the meters in my upcoming $100 shootout are pretty decent, and all have uA ranges.
10uA resolution isn't really enough these days, as the sleep current in a micro can be less than that for example.
Like others said, buying from the US via ebay/amazon/etc is a very good option, meters are just stupidly expensive from Australian dealers.
2nd hand Fluke 87's on Ebay can be great value if you are careful and comfortable with that.
The low Aussie dollar hurts at the moment now though :-(

Dave.

[MrPlacid]

Like others said, buying from the US via ebay/amazon/etc is a very good option,...

Like Dave said. Buy them from ebay. It's much cheaper and get a lot more extras. Here is a tip I use when buying Fluke 87V from ebay. Buy one that look spanking new even if it is used. If it comes with a carry bag. Check closely in the photo if it is also new. I did that and both my ebay flukes came in good, working conditions. I got one as low as $160 USD.

[ShortCqt]

All of the meters in my upcoming $100 shootout ...

Any idea on ETA Dave?  I've got nothing at the moment, while my daughter has a half built beam robotbot waiting for the new DMM, so can put it off for a couple of weeks, certainly not months though.

Ta, ShortCqt

[EEVblog]

All of the meters in my upcoming $100 shootout ...

Any idea on ETA Dave?  I've got nothing at the moment, while my daughter has a half built beam robotbot waiting for the new DMM, so can put it off for a couple of weeks, certainly not months though.

Sorry, no idea.
It's the next major blog on the list I think, but it's a biggie so takes time.

Dave.