If this is your first DMM, I can only assume you don't have calibration equipment. What makes you think you can calibrate any meter properly? Pick a meter that you like and don't worry about the calibration issue. You can't do it anyway.
LOL Lightages, I'd heard of this before I knew anything about DMM's and I know shite all.
http://www.voltagestandard.com/DMMCheck_Plus.html
Wolfram.Chrome
The quicker you forget about calibrating your DMM, the better it will be Trust me.
Proper calibration of even 4.5 digit meter like F87V to it's accuracies would need few thousands of $$$ in calibration sources and deep understanding of calibration procedures and requirements.
Fluke is nice meter, but not that capable on low mV/uA ranges. If you want max resolution go with Brymen, if you like robust and high safety design - Fluke.
I have 87V, and it's often my meter to go if need just a quick check.
For more precision work (if you even will even need anything more than 4.5 digits actually), you can jump in second-hand market for some used but checked 34401A or Keithley 2000. With some patience, you can get good working ones for 200-250$.
If an simple owner of he's DMM can't bring back the calibration,this mean that after 2 or maybe also 3 years he must to trash the DMM which he's own or choose to spend a lot of $$$ for official calibration service ?
Why would you think so? While long-term accuracy of DMM (as well as any other measurement device) is degrading, rate of this effect usually is so small, that you would hardly find any difference even 5 years after. Of course if you abuse meter, it could affect accuracy more, but given usual usage for DIY electronics engineer, specially low-voltage/low-power stuff you can ignore long-term effects.
Fluke I have is already 8 years old, and still spot on at anything I throw at it. Never calibrated it.
It's often opposite direction, as meters from respectable vendors, like Fluke, HP/Agilent/K, Brymen are calibrated better than their listed specs are, giving you enough headroom for possible drift and long-term accuracy for many years. Also after couple first years internal references and resistors in meters become more stable (as initial stress from manufacturing/soldering get relaxed) and more stable than fresh instrument. It's not rare to have people buying 20-year old bench DMM from ebay and having it perform better than brand-new instrument of same grade/spec.
So no, you don't need usually calibration at all unless something goes wrong and your meter need repair (in which case you will need another meters, proper signal sources anyway to even test it).
Don't read and apply stuff from countless volt-nut threads about hi-end meters, which are often discussed here and elsewhere. Hand-held DMMs and bench precision DMMs are different beasts, with different specs and requirements. Insane people there usually hunting after 0.0001% accuracy levels and such
We have multiple 87's at work (all generations) and we never ever had one fail calibration. So calibration is not an issue unless you really want to do your best to blow up the meter.
I would recommend the Fluke 87V. Their great, except for the default AC amps range. They keep their value, you can get spare parts if needed, and they're reliable.
Hi Wolfram.Chrome,
Most of the time, the precision has too meanings.
One is the accuracy of the absolute value what DMM shows on the LCD.
Major brand DMM including Fluke, Hioki, Bryman which you have listed are calibration and adjusted way beyond what the spec defines on the datasheet before they are sold.
Only calibration is required in the aftermarket if you would like to know the value have not drifted for long term usage like years.
The most of the reason corporate users calibrate the test equipment is to have proof (to customers) that their measurement is in good condition.
I really do not feel regular users would need to calibrate the handheld DMM with the brands you listed for personal usage.
Most of the people do not calibrating Fluke 87V who is using for personal projects.
Because it is not so important for many people to prove that your DMM have not drifted. Since, it costs extra calibration fee, when those big brands are known to be stable.
Another one is resolution of the value what DMM shows on the LCD.
This is more important for personal electronic project.
This is mostly has high correlation with the spec of counts on the DMM too.
The 50000 counts DMM could show lower digits than 6000 one’s for measuring mV's,mA's,µA's etc. (87v could go up to 20,000 counts)
I have a feeling that you were mainly concerned about the second meaning.
Better resolution will provide you the good measurement on mV's,mA's,µA's.
Even you have paid for the calibrating fee every year; you cannot change or improve resolution of your DMM.
Also, when buying DMM, other aspects such as the speed of autorange and continuity test are also important.
I regret to say I kind of have all three of these.
(This is one of the bad influences after I joined reading eevblog forum, it is like disease keep make you feel to buy more DMMs. Please do not laugh)
Fluke 87V
HIOKI DT 4256
Sanwa PC7000 (I think inside is Brymen 86x)
This is my short impression.
The Fluke 87V is not cheap but the most rugged DMM among three and feel confident.
Could go up to 20,000 counts in hi-res mode, so I could measure down to 0.01ohm.
The HIOKI DT4256 is also not cheap but it the fastest to autorange and settle the value when measuring.
It is 6000 counts so it could only measure to 0.1ohm.
Sanwa PC7000 has 50,000 counts as a default feature so always able to measure down to 0.01ohm.
But is is the slowest until the value on LCD settles when measuring devices.
All three have extremely fast continuity testing speed. (not all is good like this)
I tend to pick HIOKI first on measuring because the measurement settles in quickest time.
It is good when you are in short temper.
But when I need more resolution, I choose 87V.
If I have to pick only one DMM when I was young among this three for my personal usage and have budget constraints, probably I will pick Brymen.
Because it has the most value for money.
And I would buy more expensive DMM when I get better earnings.
The Fluke was always something I wanted to have when I did not have money.
My first DMM was around 65 USD when I was in high school after saving money for long time.
Before I buy my own DMM, I always had to borrow the analog multi meter from my father.
It is my old good memories.
I regret to say I kind of have all three of these.
(This is one of the bad influences after I joined reading eevblog forum, it is like disease keep make you feel to buy more DMMs. Please do not laugh)
Fluke 87V
HIOKI DT 4256
Sanwa PC7000 (I think inside is Brymen 86x)
This is my short impression.
The Fluke 87V is not cheap but the most rugged DMM among three and feel confident.
Could go up to 20,000 counts in hi-res mode, so I could measure down to 0.01ohm.
The HIOKI DT4256 is also not cheap but it the fastest to autorange and settle the value when measuring.
It is 6000 counts so it could only measure to 0.1ohm.
Sanwa PC7000 has 50,000 counts as a default feature so always able to measure down to 0.01ohm.
But is is the slowest until the value on LCD settles when measuring devices.
All three have extremely fast continuity testing speed. (not all is good like this)
I tend to pick HIOKI first on measuring because the measurement settles in quickest time.
It is good when you are in short temper.
But when I need more resolution, I choose 87V.
If I have to pick only one DMM when I was young among this three for my personal usage and have budget constraints, probably I will pick Brymen.
Because it has the most value for money.
And I would buy more expensive DMM when I get better earnings.
The Fluke was always something I wanted to have when I did not have money.
My first DMM was around 65 USD when I was in high school after saving money for long time.
Before I buy my own DMM, I always had to borrow the analog multi meter from my father.
It is my old good memories.
/*The Sanwa does not appear to be a BM86x meter. It shares similar features and is Brymen made, but internally it is night and day different.*/
So the sanwa is made by Brymen ?
Or is bryman really made by sanwa
im confused.
Sanwa PC7000 has 50,000 counts as a default feature so always able to measure down to 0.01ohm.
But is is the slowest until the value on LCD settles when measuring devices.
I like your mind and your stories ,did you have an youtube channel ?
i wish to check it out
Anyone buying brymen in the USA? any good place to get them? Kinda intriguing