Affordable benchtop DMM with largest digit size for senior user?

[BeBuLamar]

A nice alternative from the used market would be an HP3466A . Big LED display and a pushbutton for each range / function.

How larger is large display? I think the HP3466A is a nice meter but I wouldn't consider its display as large. I think a large display should have something like 1" high digits.

[AVGresponding]

Why would you want a rotary selector on a bench meter? Push button is so much easier.

Because the OP said the person that they are buying the meter for prefers them. I was making a recommendation based on THEIR criteria, not mine.

How about one of these?

Look at the size of the writing on the rotary selector.

The OP stated the person who will use the meter prefers rotary switches and gets used to the angle so they don't necessarily need to read that, once they are familiar with it.

Why do people insist on telling others that the choices they make are wrong, and that they should do it their way instead? It's very patronising, bordering on insulting.

[nctnico]

A nice alternative from the used market would be an HP3466A . Big LED display and a pushbutton for each range / function.

How larger is large display? I think the HP3466A is a nice meter but I wouldn't consider its display as large. I think a large display should have something like 1" high digits.

It has a standard 7 segment LED display. Not the tiny, horrible, poorly readable LCD displays that HP used in later models.

[hexreader]

Like you, I too have poor vision.

My random thoughts are:

1) LED displays are far easier to read in all conditions, but sadly LED seems to be a thing of the past. Old equipment may have LEDs, but finding a good one is a lottery.

2) Bigger LCD characters help, but are not the ideal. Backlight sometimes help, or sometimes makes contrast even worse.

3) If I really, really wanted a clear display: I would connect to PC using RS232 and use a stupidly large font on terminal program. Great for viewing, but more trouble than it is worth for casual use.

summary: - LED display is best if you can get it, but I don't know of any modern LED multi-meter.

No idea if this helps, but ignore this reply if not 

[AVGresponding]

Like you, I too have poor vision.

My random thoughts are:

1) LED displays are far easier to read in all conditions, but sadly LED seems to be a thing of the past. Old equipment may have LEDs, but finding a good one is a lottery.

2) Bigger LCD characters help, but are not the ideal. Backlight sometimes help, or sometimes makes contrast even worse.

3) If I really, really wanted a clear display: I would connect to PC using RS232 and use a stupidly large font on terminal program. Great for viewing, but more trouble than it is worth for casual use.

summary: - LED display is best if you can get it, but I don't know of any modern LED multi-meter.

No idea if this helps, but ignore this reply if not 

How about VFDs, are they usable? Some modern-ish gear uses these, the HPAK 34401A comes to mind for instance, though I don't know of any with a rotary switch (as regarding the OP's spec).

[hexreader]

+1 for VFD

VFDs are easy to read with bad eyes.

Did not know that modern gear still uses VFD.

Beware of old test equipment that may have faded VFDs. OLD Uneven brightness VFD can be confusing.
 

[nctnico]

VFD displays are typically very small.

[AVGresponding]

VFD displays are typically very small.

Some are, some aren't, some are in between, YMMV. I suspect the high contrast of LED and VFD types means you can get away with smaller digits than an LCD, and the viewing angle will be better, though that may not be an issue depending on your bench setup.

[cdev]

The speaking display sounds very useful especially if it can just be left on and speaks whenever a new reading is taken. That sounds very useful, actually, because it would let you work uniterrupted, with your hands on the test leads, not meter. Its useful if readings are changing.

[free_electron]

The speaking display sounds very useful especially if it can just be left on and speaks whenever a new reading is taken. That sounds very useful, actually, because it would let you work uniterrupted, with your hands on the test leads, not meter. Its useful if readings are changing.

i'll do a bob widlar on that : cherrybomb in the speaker ....

leaving the probes on the desk picking up noise. zero point zero zero 3 millivolt dc ... minus zero point zero two millivolt dc  .. zero point zero nine millivolt dc .. zero point zero five  millivolt dc ..  minus zero point zero two millivolt dc ..

i'd take it out back and fling it at the 10 kilovolt line passing behind my property ...

[Fungus]

Why do people insist on telling others that the choices they make are wrong, and that they should do it their way instead? It's very patronising, bordering on insulting.

Because sometimes they are wrong.

I was just thinking that an overloaded dial makes no sense if you have bad eyes (that one isn't even color coded) and maybe a speaking meter would be good.

[BeBuLamar]

A nice alternative from the used market would be an HP3466A . Big LED display and a pushbutton for each range / function.

How larger is large display? I think the HP3466A is a nice meter but I wouldn't consider its display as large. I think a large display should have something like 1" high digits.

It has a standard 7 segment LED display. Not the tiny, horrible, poorly readable LCD displays that HP used in later models.

Yes 7 segment and good contrast but small. The original poster want larger display. Personally I don't need large display but rather have high contrast display so even large LCD isn't as good as small LED or VFD. But the OP said he wanted large display and there are many meter with display much larger and cheap. But I still don't see one that meet all the OP requirements. someone suggested talking meter for for a measurement that is changing I think I would smash such a meter. When the reading is changing voice would be way too slow.

[Fungus]

When the reading is changing voice would be way too slow.

You don't have to use it. It has a screen to look at, too. It only talks when you press a button.

[LinuxHata]

Well, he's vision is not that bad - he can read 1206 markings without glasses, but at far distances he has to use them. He tried to use these "adaptive" glasses, but can't get comfortable with them, so he prefers to work in "near field" without glasses, and only use them while driving, etc.
For the meter issues, I've conducted an experiment, took different size 7 segment led indicators, turned them on, and placed at a distance, where he plans to place the multimeter.  With green 7 segment indicators, he was comfortable with sizes starting at 0.8 inches, with red, he needed 1 or 1.2 inches.

As I noted above, I might be picking some "old school" DMM with LED display, and fitting them with modern, larger LED displays. I checked some Keithley DMM circuits and they use DS75492 IC as LED driver. It can deliver up to 50mA, which in terms of modern LEDs mean insanely bright, up to 4-5 inch size, 7 segment LED displays

So this might be an interesting solution for the issue, but what should be checked in these ancient multimeters, in terms of possible service needs? like switches, knobs, etc....

[tooki]

He does not like auto range, so need manual range.

I’m sorry, that’s just stupid. Not to mention that every auto ranging bench meter (and halfway decent handheld) allows manual ranging, too.

So lemme get this straight: you want a bench DMM with rotary knob (something no serious test gear manufacturer has ever made, as far as I know) because of… something. Manual ranging because of… something. But without red digits… (To answer your question: you might be able to get away with installing green LED displays, but white — aside from being comparatively hard to find — probably won’t work because they require significantly higher voltages than red or green. Some designs might be able to be modified, others won’t.)

You realize this is a fairly tall order? The only things that meet these criteria are the crappy, overpriced no-name brands which take some low-end handheld meter and repackage it in a bench enclosure. The anti-curmudgeondom advocate in me suspects nothing you choose will result in satisfaction anyway.

[mapleLC]

I’m sorry, that’s just stupid. Not to mention that every auto ranging bench meter (and halfway decent handheld) allows manual ranging, too.

So lemme get this straight: you want a bench DMM with rotary knob (something no serious test gear manufacturer has ever made, as far as I know) because of… something. Manual ranging because of… something. But without red digits… (To answer your question: you might be able to get away with installing green LED displays, but white — aside from being comparatively hard to find — probably won’t work because they require significantly higher voltages than red or green. Some designs might be able to be modified, others won’t.)

You realize this is a fairly tall order? The only things that meet these criteria are the crappy, overpriced no-name brands which take some low-end handheld meter and repackage it in a bench enclosure. The anti-curmudgeondom advocate in me suspects nothing you choose will result in satisfaction anyway.

I think he's taking the mickey out of us now. 

[bdunham7]

OK, so he wants a large display, 6,000+ counts, rotary knobs, manual ranging, no fancy features and not red, but nixies might be OK.  The meter for him is the Fairchild/SystronDonner 7000A.  It does have autoranging as an option if you turn the range knob all the way clockwise, but it is actually an option and can be removed if necessary. 

[ebclr]

This one for sure will solve the problem



You will be able to see the  meter, and the circuit to connect the probes

[rsjsouza]

This one for sure will solve the problem



You will be able to see the  meter, and the circuit to connect the probes

I have one of these; it is incredibly useful.

[LinuxHata]

Well, actually my first post says it all, and I even have a most likely candidate in it - UN-T UT-802+.
The question was whenever there are similar/better/etc/ models from other brands?
For the bluish digit color, as I understand, it is just LED, and can be replaced by user. Actually, advert of one Chinese store showed this model with orange on black letters.
The nixie tube meters are fine, but due to nixie tubes used by clock makers, any such meter will cost you an arm and a leg

[AVGresponding]

He does not like auto range, so need manual range.

I’m sorry, that’s just stupid. Not to mention that every auto ranging bench meter (and halfway decent handheld) allows manual ranging, too.

So lemme get this straight: you want a bench DMM with rotary knob (something no serious test gear manufacturer has ever made, as far as I know) because of… something. Manual ranging because of… something. But without red digits… (To answer your question: you might be able to get away with installing green LED displays, but white — aside from being comparatively hard to find — probably won’t work because they require significantly higher voltages than red or green. Some designs might be able to be modified, others won’t.)

You realize this is a fairly tall order? The only things that meet these criteria are the crappy, overpriced no-name brands which take some low-end handheld meter and repackage it in a bench enclosure. The anti-curmudgeondom advocate in me suspects nothing you choose will result in satisfaction anyway.

Both Fluke and Metrix have made such, as well as that nixie meter bdunham linked.

[tooki]

Both Fluke and Metrix have made such, as well as that nixie meter bdunham linked.

Any Fluke besides the 37, which is just a handheld meter in a benchish enclosure? (It’s not even mains powered without an accessory, so I don’t really consider it a bench meter.)

[mapleLC]

Well, actually my first post says it all, and I even have a most likely candidate in it - UN-T UT-802+.
The question was whenever there are similar/better/etc/ models from other brands?
For the bluish digit color, as I understand, it is just LED, and can be replaced by user. Actually, advert of one Chinese store showed this model with orange on black letters.
The nixie tube meters are fine, but due to nixie tubes used by clock makers, any such meter will cost you an arm and a leg

Leave your praise for Xi Ping in comments section.

[precaud]

A nice alternative from the used market would be an HP3466A . Big LED display and a pushbutton for each range / function. OTOH most of these units are decades old.

That would be my suggestion as well. I bought one new in '82 and 40 years later it is still my go-to meter. I have no problem reading it from across the bench.

[Brumby]

Why ...

Because the OP said the person that they are buying the meter for prefers them. I was making a recommendation based on THEIR criteria, not mine.

... ... ...

Why do people insist on telling others that the choices they make are wrong, and that they should do it their way instead? It's very patronising, bordering on insulting.

I have to agree very strongly here.  The OP is asking for our help to find a product that fits the criteria he was given.

You want him to give his grandfather something that doesn't fit that criteria.  I can just hear it now ..... "Sorry grandpa, I know this doesn't have what you wanted - but I've been told it's better."

Sheesh.

Convince the grandfather first, if you really want to champion your own opinions.  Don't hammer the guy who is trying to find the best fit for the guidelines that have been set down by someone else.

The favour being asked here was one of drawing upon the collective experience and knowledge of the membership to, hopefully, produce a short list of products that meet the specifications - not to bully someone into ignoring them.