Lots of multimeters can be found on the used market for great prices, especially if you know what to look for! This guide is intended for hobbyists looking for good deals on used multimeters.
Make/Model | Digits | Count | Display | Form Factor | Avg Price | Notes |
Advantest R6441A | 4-1/2 | | VFD | Benchtop | $50-$150 | |
Advantest R6441B | 5-1/2 | | VFD | Benchtop | $150-$200 | |
Fluke 45 | 4-1/2 | 30,000 | VFD | Benchtop | $150-$300 | Dual display. 5 digits available in "hi-res" mode. |
Fluke 8050A | 4-1/2 | | LCD | Benchtop | $30-$50 | Released around 1979 |
Fluke 8840A | 5-1/2 | | VFD | Benchtop | $100-$200 | |
Fluke 8842A | 5-1/2 | | VFD | Benchtop | $200-$300 | |
Fluke 8845A | 6-1/2 | | Pixel VFD | Benchtop | $500-$1000 | |
Fluke 8846A | 6-1/2 | | Pixel VFD | Benchtop | $600-$1000 | |
GW Instek GDM-8251A | 5-1/2 | 120,000 | VFD | Benchtop | $50-$150 | Lots of ITT bankruptcy surplus |
HP 34401A | 6-1/2 | 1,200,000 | VFD | Benchtop | $250-$600 | Released in 1992. Currently plentiful. Popular EEVblog choice. |
HP 3455A | 6-1/2 | | LED | Rackmount | $150-$300 | Really mostly a voltmeter. Other functionality limited. |
HP 3456A | 6-1/2 | | LED | Rackmount | $200 | DVM with resistance measurement. MSRP $3800 in 1980. |
HP 3457A | 6-1/2 | 3,000,000 | LCD | Rackmount | $200 | 7-1/2 digits available via GPIB or special controls. Another popular EEVblog choice. |
HP 3458A | 8-1/2 | 12,000,000 | Pixel VFD | Rackmount | $3k-$4k | MSRP $9750 |
HP 3468A | 5-1/2 | | LCD | Benchtop | $150-$300 | |
HP 3478A | 5-1/2 | 300,000 | LCD | Benchtop | $100-$200 | Released 1983 |
Keithley 192 | 6-1/2 | | LED | Benchtop | $100-300 | Released around 1982 |
Keithley 196 | 6-1/2 | | LED | Benchtop | $200-400 | Released around 1986 |
Keithley 199 | 5-1/2 | | LED | Benchtop | $100-200 | |
Keithley 2000 | 6-1/2 | 1,000,000 | VFD | Benchtop | $450-$800 | Very well regarded meter on eevblog |
Keithley 2001 | 7-1/2 | | Pixel VFD | Benchtop | $800-$1600 | |
Keithley 2002 | 8-1/2 | | Pixel VFD | Benchtop | $4k-$5k | |
Keithley 2010 | 7-1/2 | | VFD | Benchtop | $1k-$2k | |
Keithley 2015 | 6-1/2 | | VFD | Benchtop | $350-1k | Audio multimeter, THD measurement |
Prema 6001 | 6 1/2 | | LED | Benchtop | $500-$700 | Manual |
Solartron/Schlumberger 7061 | 7-1/2 | | VFD | Rackmount | $350 | AC is RMS only. |
Solartron/Schlumberger 7071 | 7-1/2 | | VFD | Rackmount | $1300 | No current measurement. AC is RMS only. |
Solartron/Schlumberger 7081 | 8-1/2 | | VFD | Rackmount | $2500 | No current measurement. AC is RMS only. |
Solartron/Schlumberger 7151 | 5-1/2 | | LCD | Benchtop | $300-$500 | |
Wavetek / Datron 1062 | 6-1/2 | | Panaplex | Rackmount | $200-$300 | |
Wavetek / Datron 1071 | 7-1/2 | | Panaplex | Rackmount | | Specifications |
Wavetek / Datron 1081 | 7-1/2 | | Panaplex | Rackmount | $400 | Be careful - base model 1081 is DC only. AC, Resistance and current measurement are options. |
Wavetek / Datron 1082 | 7-1/2 | | Panaplex | Rackmount | $400-$800 | |
Wavetek / Datron 1281 | 8-1/2 | | Segment VFD + Pixel VFD | Rackmount | $2.5k-$3k | |
See also:
Used spectrum analyzer buyer's guide
A good and affordable 5.5 digit DMM is the Fluke 8804A, best with opt9 and opt1 (GPIB and TRUE-RMS
By the way, the HP3456A is a DVM with similar limited measurment functions as the 3455A (DVM).
BR
PeLuLe
I see no mention of Schlumberger Solatron 7150, 6.5 digit, or 7075, 7.5 digit. There seem to be a few 7150's being offered for 75-200GBP at the moment. Filter issue aside, are they worth getting?
Any advantage to the hobbyist of a 5.5/6.5 digit versus 4.5 digit? I'm currently considering an Agilent U340A that I have been offered.
The Fluke 45 is bit better than 4.5 Digits.
According to the Fluke 45 Manual :
The Fluke 45 Dual Display Multimeter (also referred to as "the meter") is a 4/2-digit
(30,000 count) meter with a 5-digit (100,000 count) high resolution mode.
If you change the measurement rate to "S" for slow (2.5 readings per second) you get 5 digit resolution with maximum 99.999 display counts (100.000 Digits)
regards
Mono
I am just starting out but I just bought this used Fluke 8050A for $19.99 plus $9.99 (US) shipping, off ebay -- I'll have it in a few days. Fortunately it isn't the battery (-01) version so I don't have to worry about batteries. Also the LCD appears to be working. I am just wondering how accurate it'll be once I get it here and set up. I suppose I can take to my local electronics shop and have them do a few quick comparisons to their calibrated bench meter.
At least it'll probably be better than any of the $5-$15 Chinese handhelds I have (had).
I am just starting out but I just bought this used Fluke 8050A for $19.99 plus $9.99 (US) shipping, off ebay -- I'll have it in a few days. Fortunately it isn't the battery (-01) version so I don't have to worry about batteries. Also the LCD appears to be working. I am just wondering how accurate it'll be once I get it here and set up.
Fluke are famous for holding their accuracy for decades. Unless it has a fault of some kind, it is very unlikely to have drifted out of spec.
Adjustment is easy anyway. All through trimpots. The procedure is described in the manual.
You got it for a good price. It's a great iconic meter. Enjoy it.
HP 3468A | 5-1/2 | | Benchtop | $150-$300 | |
HP 3478A | 5-1/2 | | Benchtop | $100-$200 | |
The HP 3478A is a higher performance, metal versus plastic case, HPIB version of the 3468A. IME the prices of the 3478As are usually higher (not lower) than the 3468As reflecting these upgrades.
An excellent article on these meters can be found in
this 1983 edition of HP Journal
Adjustment is easy anyway. All through trimpots. The procedure is described in the manual.
You got it for a good price. It's a great iconic meter. Enjoy it.
Is there an affordable tool I can buy that will act as a reference to see how accurate my meter is with respect to voltage, current & resistance?
Is there an affordable tool I can buy that will act as a reference to see how accurate my meter is with respect to voltage, current & resistance?
It depends on your definition of affordable.
I have one of these and it is great...
http://www.voltagestandard.com/DMMCheck.htmlJust checked the web site and they don't appear to be supplying them anymore... Not in their on-line shop... Damn...
Is there an affordable tool I can buy that will act as a reference to see how accurate my meter is with respect to voltage, current & resistance?
It depends on your definition of affordable.
I have one of these and it is great...
http://www.voltagestandard.com/DMMCheck.html
Just checked the web site and they don't appear to be supplying them anymore... Not in their on-line shop... Damn...
Yep, bugger. Now we'll have to find another source of what was a great product.
http://www.voltagestandard.com/Discontinued_Products.htmlDiscontinued Products
The following products have been discontinued:
Vref5-002
DMMCheck
DMMCheck Plus
How much did it cost? Just curious. I see it uses an LT chip for the voltage source. Couldn't someone make up a simple circuit using a reliable voltage source chip like the LT, and share the schematic? We can then make our own?
NEvermind, it itself needs calibrating .. lol.
How much did it cost? Just curious. I see it uses an LT chip for the voltage source. Couldn't someone make up a simple circuit using a reliable voltage source chip like the LT, and share the schematic? We can then make our own?
NEvermind, it itself needs calibrating .. lol.
IIRC it was ~$ 70, but its redeeming feature was it contained a # of standards; voltage, resistance and frequency....
Mr B will put us right on just what it had.
I see a bunch of these AD584 voltage reference modules on ebay for under $3
The pcb looks clean. I like it. Thing is I am guessing they don't measure them with their 6 digit calibrated meters there and record the values onto a label
But wow these are sweet. I could design and 3d print a case for it (and share the file on thingiverse.com for people to download and print). Trick is getting it measured. Maybe my local electronics shop would measure it for me .. friends with the owner.
I could use this pcb as part of a larger, affordable, reference unit. Throw in some resistors for resistance checking. Not smart enough yet to build a current reference. But if I got help with that I could make a case that houses all three and share the CAD file with everyone on Thingiverse. Could even print out a few cases for people if I got some help with the design.
[I suppose I should create a separate thread for this.. maybe I am getting too off topic here? Sorry OP.]
How much did it cost? Just curious. I see it uses an LT chip for the voltage source. Couldn't someone make up a simple circuit using a reliable voltage source chip like the LT, and share the schematic? We can then make our own?
NEvermind, it itself needs calibrating .. lol.
IIRC it was ~$ 70, but its redeeming feature was it contained a # of standards; voltage, resistance and frequency....
Mr B will put us right on just what it had.
I have one of these.
The web page is still available to check out its features.
Mine is a slightly earlier version. No plastic case. IIRC I paid $59.
It's been a very useful device and it's too bad he is discontinuing it. I'm glad to see he is supporting them until 2019. Reminds me that I need to send mine in to him to be recalibrated.
J version is no good. Find one with the more accurate AD584 L version.