[UPDATE] Looks like I will be getting the Sanwa PM300. However Weston makes a good backpack alternative that can be seen here
https://imgur.com/a/vr5z0RR So I've been reading all the old posts on pocket meters, and for many previous posters price seemed to be a big sticking point.
The super cheap Uni-Ts get a lot of praise, and there is a vote here and there for a medium price Amprobe or maybe the more expensive Sanwa.
But if you were willing to spend serious money on a pocket meter, say $200 USD, can you get a noticeable upgrade from the Sanwa PM300 that Dave sells?
I'm looking for the best meter I can possibly buy that I can throw into a backpack and forget about until I need it. I currently own a Fluke 87V, Fluke 233, and Brymen BM235, and I consider them to all be a bit big for this purpose.
There are two types of people in the world. Those who are happy with good enough, and those who are never happy.
Perhaps if you bought a Sanwa from Dave and sent him a $100 Patreon donation. At least one of you should be happy.
Haha, that might indeed be what I end up doing, Wilfred.
Do you have a Sanwa and like it?
Thanks for the links, tautech!
I gave both those videos a watch before posting. In fact, I have already read a few posts by you on some old threads as well. I believe you had a Victor?
Perhaps my low post count is throwing people off, but I am not one of those annoying people who doesn't do my own research, watch the videos, or search the forums before asking a question.
Ah, the pocket Victor...yeah I got a couple years back as gifts for mates and AFAIK they are still in use.
I also have a VC99 and now only use it for Hfe tests or when I need multiple DMM's for something.
Fluke 15B is my daily driver now (bought a heap of them a while back and kept one) and a SDM3065X bench DMM for complex and accurate stuff.
I haven't watched Daves pocket meter vids.....just know he'd done them and reckoned there'd be info there that would help.
In your position I'd just use the BM235, period. Damn fine little DMM especially with the zipped case......I should really get one to throw a few $ Daves way.
Haha, that might indeed be what I end up doing, Wilfred.
Do you have a Sanwa and like it?
No. I am just unhappy because I can't afford it. 
I have the Uni-T 120C which I am happy with. It is good enough for the occasional use it gets.
Thanks for the info, wilfred!
The big reason I haven't gone ahead and grabbed one of those cheap Uni-Ts was that Dave didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about their safety compared to the Sanwa PM300. Now, obviously I don't plan on testing my local power grid with my pocket meter, but I am willing to pay extra for additional safety.
Those Uni-Ts edge out the Sanwa by having current testing which might be nice. Although if I had to have current I would probably spend a bit more and get the Amprobe PM55A/Brymen BM27. I suppose I could make my own, but the lack of a case is a big negative for me on those. Meanwhile, the case on the Sanwa looks really nice.
Tautech, yeah, his videos were super helpful. To save you an hour and a half his basic conclusions are as follows:
- Uni-T 10A for the cheapo category, partly because Dave doesn't like current ability with fixed probes
- Amprobe 51a for a bit of an upgrade (this is the less featured version of the 55a I mentioned earlier)
- Sanwa P3 for the medium price point
- Sanwa PM300 for the more expensive price bracket and for safety.
Thanks for the links, tautech!
I gave both those videos a watch before posting. In fact, I have already read a few posts by you on some old threads as well. I believe you had a Victor?
Perhaps my low post count is throwing people off, but I am not one of those annoying people who doesn't do my own research, watch the videos, or search the forums before asking a question.
Ah, the pocket Victor...yeah I got a couple years back as gifts for mates and AFAIK they are still in use.
I also have a VC99 and now only use it for Hfe tests or when I need multiple DMM's for something.
Fluke 15B is my daily driver now (bought a heap of them a while back and kept one) and a SDM3065X bench DMM for complex and accurate stuff.
I haven't watched Daves pocket meter vids.....just know he'd done them and reckoned there'd be info there that would help.
In your position I'd just use the BM235, period. Damn fine little DMM especially with the zipped case......I should really get one to throw a few $ Daves way.
Tautech, the EEVBlog BM235 is what I am carrying in my back pack right now.
Definitely a great meter, but it is still pretty big compared to many of the other pocket meters I see mentioned. I don't have a case for it either, and the probes keep coming undone and flopping around.
It is probably going to end up on my bench as a replacement for my Fluke 233, which is a far cry from an electronics meter, considering it has neither miliamps nor microamps. It's a shame, because the kickstand on it is superb. Better than the Fluke 87V and miles better than the BM235, which I must say is a quite a disappointment.
Tautech, the EEVBlog BM235 is what I am carrying in my back pack right now.
Definitely a great meter, but it is still pretty big compared to many of the other pocket meters I see mentioned. I don't have a case for it either, and the probes keep coming undone and flopping around.
It is probably going to end up on my bench as a replacement for my Fluke 233, which is a far cry from an electronics meter, considering it has neither miliamps nor microamps. It's a shame, because the kickstand on it is superb. Better than the Fluke 87V and miles better than the BM235, which I must say is a quite a disappointment.
Use the Quote button to keep replies in context.
I thought the case was available as an accessory and I've just checked Daves shop and it's nowhere to be found !
F that, without the zipped soft case I won't be getting one.
Does the rear bail not open wide enough so that when standing the meter's unstable ?
Anyways, you can stick pocket meters as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather use a bigger one or one of the various automotive testers I have that indicate by LED nominal voltages, 6, 12, 24, 48 and polarity, hell even a sparkies Duspol can do 12 and 24 with polarity and in both cases are faster than a DMM.
Anyways Carson, you haven't given any indication of the 'must have' features you need ?
Want a decent small DMM, get a Fluke 101 unless you need current measurement too then arguably you'll have a decent small DMM and not something that might break in half if you sat on it like a bloody cellphone would.
But if you were willing to spend serious money on a pocket meter, say $200 USD, can you get a noticeable upgrade from the Sanwa PM300 that Dave sells?
Not that I'm aware of. That's basically the upper end of the price range.
Tautech, the EEVBlog BM235 is what I am carrying in my back pack right now.
Definitely a great meter, but it is still pretty big compared to many of the other pocket meters I see mentioned. I don't have a case for it either, and the probes keep coming undone and flopping around.
Use the Quote button to keep replies in context.
I thought the case was available as an accessory and I've just checked Daves shop and it's nowhere to be found !
F that, without the zipped soft case I won't be getting one.
The case turns it into a fairly large thing to carry in your packpack if you want to stick to what we are talking about here.
If the goal was to have as small a meter as possible but you liked the BM235, then ditch the holster and get a some sort of custom case.
I have flirted with the idea of getting a custom silicone protective sleeve made for it.
I don't see any of the DMMs above as 'pocket' size but I may be thinking about shirt pockets and others are thinking about 'hand held' as opposed to 'bench' type.
The most expensive? Probably the Fluke 289. My Fluke 189 probably held the honors back 15 years ago. But there is no way in the world they fit in a 'pocket'. Maybe the Aneng 8008 fits.
It's too new to say but Dave's 121GW seems like a nice meter. I haven't had time to use it for much but it seems pretty decent. I bought 2 of the BM235s and they are very nice but hardly 'expensive'. They do have an odd 'OFF' position on the knob.
That VC99 isn't a bad meter either. It doesn't get much use now that I have the 8008, BM235 and 121GW sitting on my small yet cluttered bench. Along with 2 bench meters on a shelf over the top.
Does the rear bail not open wide enough so that when standing the meter's unstable ?
I posted a couple pictures of the issue I am having with the BM235 stand here:
https://imgur.com/a/HF651L4
Anyways Carson, you haven't given any indication of the 'must have' features you need ?
Want a decent small DMM, get a Fluke 101 unless you need current measurement too then arguably you'll have a decent small DMM and not something that might break in half if you sat on it like a bloody cellphone would.
The Fluke 101 is pretty high on my list; it seems like a nice little meter. However I think if I take the rubber case off my BM 235 then they start getting really close in size. And the BM 235 is much more capable.
As for what features are 'must have'....I haven't really decided what test features I need, but I do have a short list of things
But if you were willing to spend serious money on a pocket meter, say $200 USD, can you get a noticeable upgrade from the Sanwa PM300 that Dave sells?
Not that I'm aware of. That's basically the upper end of the price range.
Thanks for the response, Dave! I'm still new enough to the forums to be slightly star-struck, haha. It's looking more and more like I might end up with the Sanwa PM300.
Does the rear bail not open wide enough so that when standing the meter's unstable ?
I posted a couple pictures of the issue I am having with the BM235 stand here: https://imgur.com/a/HF651L4
Yeah, I can see how that could piss a man off......just 'not quite right' in either position.
What about a bit of slit rubber hose to use on the foot of the bail when in the more lent back configuration ?
But if you were willing to spend serious money on a pocket meter, say $200 USD, can you get a noticeable upgrade from the Sanwa PM300 that Dave sells?
There's a few with current clamps:
Does the rear bail not open wide enough so that when standing the meter's unstable ?
I posted a couple pictures of the issue I am having with the BM235 stand here: https://imgur.com/a/HF651L4
Yeah, I can see how that could piss a man off......just 'not quite right' in either position.
What about a bit of slit rubber hose to use on the foot of the bail when in the more lent back configuration ?
If it would stay firmly in the more upright position I would be content. However the hinge flexes away from the body of the meter and it collapses into the flattened position.
Just get a bigger pocket 
You may have sold me bd139!
Although if I can find myself a bigger backpack, I could carry my trusty Weston Model 772 instead!
More pictures of this tiny backpack multimeter here
https://imgur.com/a/vr5z0RR
You need a "pocket" trolley to have "compact" analog meters.
I have currently the uni-t ut120C which fits in my bag and also got at my home the first multimeter, a protek A800 and it is smaller in X.Y but not on Z
On the image i was measuring an 9V battery that is almost gone.
Sorry for the wound but today i was ripping old transformers to get a good back to back isolation pair
