Powerfix Profi Digital Multimeter
Large LCD display and 3.5 digit indicator
Measures AC/DC up to 300V, AC/DC to 10A and resistance
Features diode tester, continuity tester with audible tone and square wave signal generator
Measurement memory, automatic polarity indicator (for negative value), indicator for AC/DC and overload protection
Battery and leads included
£9.99
https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?articleId=10610Worth a punt just to take apart!
Powerfix Profi Digital Multimeter
Large LCD display and 3.5 digit indicator
Measures AC/DC up to 300V, AC/DC to 10A and resistance
Features diode tester, continuity tester with audible tone and square wave signal generator
Measurement memory, automatic polarity indicator (for negative value), indicator for AC/DC and overload protection
Battery and leads included
£9.99
https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?articleId=10610
Worth a punt just to take apart!
For that kind of money just don't expect to much in the line of accuracy or safety, but the latter part they have already to a degree taken that into consideration by limiting it to 300v. Might be a suitable candidate for a backup meter to keep in the toolbox though and certainly be a good bet for RC model enthusiasts and at £.99 and no waiting for the dreaded postman and shipping from China either.
If you want a cheap meter, why not go for this at £3.10?
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d03046/multimeter-digital/dp/IN07220
I've got one. Good enough for the price.
Because that really is crap, in the USA Harbour Freight give them away with $50 orders and there are many messages about them on this forum.
EDIT. That one make the Lidl one almost a fluke by comparison.
It's a bit boring. Why not get one that at least has connectivity so you can use it for data logging.
It's a bit boring. Why not get one that at least has connectivity so you can use it for data logging.
What, where you can get one of those for £9.99???
It's a bit boring.
Agree. They're here in LIDL Spain as well but I gave it a pass. The CAT III 300V rating is probably real but it's a very basic meter and seemed a bit plasticky. It's also not small or cute, didn't call my attention in any way. Besides, I already own other meters.
If you have no other meters and no way to order one online then,
maybe get one, but...
Why not get one that at least has connectivity so you can use it for data logging.
At that price?
Edit, for newcomers to the thread... I did a review/teardown video on the meter later in the thread. Here's a link to the post:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/heads-up-cheap-multimeter-lidl-uk-(080218)/msg1432827/#msg1432827
If you want a cheap meter, why not go for this at £3.10?
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d03046/multimeter-digital/dp/IN07220
I've got one. Good enough for the price.
Because that really is crap, in the USA Harbour Freight give them away with $50 orders and there are many messages about them on this forum.
EDIT. That one make the Lidl one almost a fluke by comparison.
The one Lidl are selling is the same thing with some lipstick.
The one Lidl are selling is the same thing with some lipstick.
You mean the red color?
Maybe the same thing with some ceramic fuses added. I doubt LIDL would sell something with a fake CE mark or fake CAT rating.
The one Lidl are selling is the same thing with some lipstick.
You mean the red color?
Maybe the same thing with some ceramic fuses added. I doubt LIDL would sell something with a fake CE mark or fake CAT rating.
I wouldn't be in the least surprised if they did.
End of the day it's a cheap ICL7136 clone meter. This was not exciting 10 years ago.
If you want a cheap meter, why not go for this at £3.10?
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d03046/multimeter-digital/dp/IN07220
I've got one. Good enough for the price.
Because that really is crap, in the USA Harbour Freight give them away with $50 orders and there are many messages about them on this forum.
EDIT. That one make the Lidl one almost a fluke by comparison.
The one Lidl are selling is the same thing with some lipstick.
I very much doubt that its the same thing with lipstick on it, the size and ranges are different for a start and so is the display and ratings, knowing the quality of Lidl's stuff in general, I'd rather trust that one over the other type like you suggested.
If you want a cheap meter, why not go for this at £3.10?
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d03046/multimeter-digital/dp/IN07220
I've got one. Good enough for the price.
Because that really is crap, in the USA Harbour Freight give them away with $50 orders and there are many messages about them on this forum.
EDIT. That one make the Lidl one almost a fluke by comparison.
The one Lidl are selling is the same thing with some lipstick.
I very much doubt that its the same thing with lipstick on it, the size and ranges are different for a start and so is the display and ratings, knowing the quality of Lidl's stuff in general, I'd rather trust that one over the other type like you suggested.
The size is just a plastic box. The display is just an LCD, and the ranges are all the same steps.
It's a 3.5 digit low cost multimeter with no autoranging. There's a chip which does that - and they all use it.
Pick one up, open it, and bask in the glory of a CoB with some assorted external parts and a trimmer or two.
Maybe the same thing with some ceramic fuses added. I doubt LIDL would sell something with a fake CE mark or fake CAT rating.
I wouldn't be in the least surprised if they did.
We'll have to wait for somebody to take on apart but LIDL has to take things like the CE mark very seriously.
CATIII 300V isn't a massive rating, $1-ish of extra components in an 830B would do it.
Because of the easy return policy of Lidl just get one, have look inside and if what you see is not what you like return it.
The size is just a plastic box. The display is just an LCD, and the ranges are all the same steps.
It's a 3.5 digit low cost multimeter with no autoranging. There's a chip which does that - and they all use it.
Pick one up, open it, and bask in the glory of a CoB with some assorted external parts and a trimmer or two.
No, there are different chips in use. The cheap chip has 200VAC as lowest range (Rectification is a diode) and no AC current, other manual range meters use a better chip that can do lower AC voltage and AC current.
If you want a cheap meter, why not go for this at £3.10?
http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d03046/multimeter-digital/dp/IN07220
I've got one. Good enough for the price.
Because that really is crap, in the USA Harbour Freight give them away with $50 orders and there are many messages about them on this forum.
EDIT. That one make the Lidl one almost a fluke by comparison.
The one Lidl are selling is the same thing with some lipstick.
I very much doubt that its the same thing with lipstick on it, the size and ranges are different for a start and so is the display and ratings, knowing the quality of Lidl's stuff in general, I'd rather trust that one over the other type like you suggested.
The size is just a plastic box. The display is just an LCD, and the ranges are all the same steps.
It's a 3.5 digit low cost multimeter with no autoranging. There's a chip which does that - and they all use it.
Pick one up, open it, and bask in the glory of a CoB with some assorted external parts and a trimmer or two.
At the basic level I agree with you, a box is a box etc, double check the ranges again and you will notice that these are not the same. I don't think you will find an autoranger for that money anywhere other than 2nd hand.
No one will argue against the COB approach either, but the its not being sold as a lab grade meter either. Every meter on the market has loads in common with both the cheap ones and also high end ones, just like a car they all will do a the basics and no reason why it wouldn't be capable of doing it for years trouble free with the right care being taken.
We are taking cheap meters here, not quality ones. I wouldn't trust either with anything important or potentially dangerous. I'd trust both for letting my kids measure a 1.5V battery whilst explaining how electricity works. That's why I consider the £3 meter a cheaper equivalent to the £10 one.
Also had a look at this meter for the same reason, just curious. After some inside pictures of previous models of the Lidl DMM dropped the idea. The thing costs Eur 15 here (NL), something decent is not that much more.
That's why I consider the £3 meter a cheaper equivalent to the £10 one.
I disagree because I know from experience that the probes on the £3 one will probably break with a few hours use. That's if the bettery cable doesn't come off in your hand while you're installing the battery. There's a limit to cheapness.
That's why I consider the £3 meter a cheaper equivalent to the £10 one.
I disagree because I know from experience that the probes on the £3 one will probably break with a few hours use. That's if the bettery cable doesn't come off in your hand while you're installing the battery. There's a limit to cheapness.
Agreed the Lidl ones will be OK for general use and the CAT rating will be genuine,they will not want someone suing them for damages.
Why not get one that at least has connectivity so you can use it for data logging.
At that price?
Nope. But you can put the £9.99 towards something far better. My AN8008 which I bought because I can never resist tat that is discussed on this forum was only £5 more (prices seem to have risen slightly then).
Why not get one that at least has connectivity so you can use it for data logging.
At that price?
Nope. But you can put the £9.99 towards something far better. My AN8008 which I bought because I can never resist tat that is discussed on this forum was only £5 more (prices seem to have risen slightly then).
But you can't spend an hour getting that from your local Lidl!
But you can't spend an hour getting that from your local Lidl!
An hour? My nearest LIDL is 200 meters away, I could have one in five minutes.
