Best DMM you can get with a budget of max $300?

[stian]

Hello.

I am new to this forum and this will be my 2nd post

I am sorry if this is the wrong place to post. 
Just merge this topic with the correct one if this is the wrong place to post.

Anywho, i have saved up 300 dollars for a new dmm.
Im no electrician. so i want a dmm suted for electronics. (high voltage/current inst my thingy)

I know many of you guys will just go. fluke fluke fluke fluke.
But yea. fluke is good. but verry expencive.  quality costs right?

I took a look at the bm869s brymen which seems to be a good dmm. but i like to hear what other have to say about variouse brands.
And i want a NEW dmm. Not a used one. even tho there are many nice ones on ebay.
I also took a look at the EEVblog BM235 Multimeter. maybe that is an option?

A dmm with datalogging would be nice though.
These dmm i currently have ( 2x cheep brandless chinees) are utterly useless, and one good old fluke 12B that was given to me that is somewhat usefull.

Please help me guide me in the right direction.

[HKJ]

Look at Keysight and Brymen meters.

You can also check my list to get some ideas what you want in a meter: http://www.lygte-info.dk/info/DMMReviews.html
But the list is mostly cheaper meters (I will be adding some more expensive meters later).

[bd139]

Keysight U1241C. Bought one. Extremely happy with it. Does both ends of the scale from electrical to electronic work.

[stian]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Im not sure about that keysight, the brymen seems to give more bang for the buck though.
The Keysight one seems to be verry robust made. IP67 and all that. 
But i have no plans on going for a swim with any dmm anytime soon or do any climing where wher i can drop it from a high place
Im not doing any field work that requires such robustness.
I also heard that Keysight isnt that good.  such as the continuity test is real bad. but thats what i heard people say.
I have no experiance with either keysight or brymen so i cant tell and have to rely on other peoples experiance with them.

A bench top dmm could also be a option for me if they where a bit cheaper. 

i guess i'll have to go watch more reviews of variouse dmm's  :\

[BU508A]

I have a Brymen BM869s, the EEVBlog badged Brymen BM235 and an Agilent U1252B. All have their advantages and disadvantages but for low energy daily-use electronics I would recommend the BM235. It is a good meter.

Reasons:
- good performance
- good bang for the buck

You can get it here for example (no affiliation whatsoever):
https://www.welectron.com/Handheld-Multimeters

[PartialDischarge]

For that kind of money you could buy at least 16 AN8008 multimeters 

[BU508A]

For that kind of money you could buy at least 16 AN8008 multimeters 

Maybe someday, when I'm bored, I'll buy one of these AN8008 or 8009. 

[bd139]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Im not sure about that keysight, the brymen seems to give more bang for the buck though.
The Keysight one seems to be verry robust made. IP67 and all that. 
But i have no plans on going for a swim with any dmm anytime soon or do any climing where wher i can drop it from a high place
Im not doing any field work that requires such robustness.
I also heard that Keysight isnt that good.  such as the continuity test is real bad. but thats what i heard people say.
I have no experiance with either keysight or brymen so i cant tell and have to rely on other peoples experiance with them.

A bench top dmm could also be a option for me if they where a bit cheaper. 

i guess i'll have to go watch more reviews of variouse dmm's  :\

Just some comments on the above:

1. I've dropped my U1241C several times already. Never rely on something handheld to never get be dropped because it will be. My Fluke 8024B and 77 are cracked from general use. This just bounces. Also I tend to drag it out to the car occasionally. It literally just goes everywhere without a second thought if it's going to get buggered.
2. Continuity test is instant on this. Far better than any other meter I've ever used.
3. One reason I bought the keysight is because they actually have decent service and spares support. If there's a problem, they will fix it. I can get spares for some HP kit which is current line that is 20 years old as well and still being sold (E3630 for example).
4. It ships with the USB cable and opto-isolator unlike some models where you have to pay extra. It talks standard SCPI commands over serial. No proprietary bullshit command language.
5. Runs on AA batteries and they last a long time. Some meters are still using 9v batteries.

This is my first and only keysight meter for reference. The other option was the 87V but I don't need the extra resolution and I certainly don't need the price tag. Some of the earlier OLED based meters have a terrible reputation as the screens burn out in no time at all but this is a standard backlit LCD.

"screenshot"

[nidlaX]

Get the BM869s if you can tolerate its size, you won't regret it. No reason to consider any alternatives. From what we've seen in reviews, teardowns, comparisons, and torture tests, there is no other meter that has better value for money in this price range. The only reasons to consider other meters are 1. they have special features that the Brymen doesn't have (graphical display / logging, OLED, Bluetooth, IPX certification, etc) or 2. you want a meter that's less bulky. Otherwise, it's THE meter that does all basic electronics measurements well AND is extremely robust.

[evava]

Anywho, i have saved up 300 dollars for a new dmm.
Im no electrician. so i want a dmm suted for electronics. (high voltage/current inst my thingy)

Maybe you could even consider UT181a, I am very happy with it (and it is in your budget).
I use that as nice complement to my Fluke 289 (bought second hand).
Where first is worse, there second is better and vice versa.
Both are fine and my most used meters today.

[bd139]

You get plenty of bang for your money with a Uni-T. If you’re not poking around high energy circuits it’ll do the job. Then again so will a DT830.

[Zucca]

a good used Agilent or Fluke in Evilbay

[Fungus]

I have a Brymen BM869s, the EEVBlog badged Brymen BM235 and an Agilent U1252B. All have their advantages and disadvantages but for low energy daily-use electronics I would recommend the BM235. It is a good meter.

Brymens and Flukes are the ones to look at, IMHO. Fluke will give you less features for the money but they are yellow and can be a lot easier to get hold of.

Get the BM869s if you can tolerate its size, you won't regret it. No reason to consider any alternatives. From what we've seen in reviews, teardowns, comparisons, and torture tests, there is no other meter that has better value for money in this price range.

Agree. If the budget is $300 then this is the meter to go for.

You get plenty of bang for your money with a Uni-T. If you’re not poking around high energy circuits it’ll do the job. Then again so will a DT830.

In that price range I'd go for an ANENG 860B+. Only $20, and mine has been the most-used multimeter on my bench for the last few months. I also throw it in my case twice a week and take it to club meetings and stuff where other people use it, no worries (I did put a screen protector on it though).

If you only have crappy meters at the moment then maybe you could start with one of these. It won't be money wasted - you need more than one multimeter anyway! 

[bd139]

I might buy one of those Aneng jobbies.

[Fungus]

I might buy one of those Aneng jobbies.

Some meters are just "grabbable". It should be a score in multimeter reviews - "grabbability".

nb. I have an AN8008 as well but it scores quite low on that scale even though I'm generally in the "smaller is better" camp.

[BU508A]

I'll throw the Fluke 101 in the ring:

https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/budget_multimeters/fluke_101.htm

Example on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/331240275780

[Electro Detective]

Since OP is going for an electronics friendly meter, I would suggest to give HIGH priority to any meter with a fast accurate Continuity mode and buzzer.

Most -almost affordable come overpriced- Flukes are THE leaders in that department, 
even the older 87/85/83? series and vintage 8060A styles from years ago have killa Continuity mode and buzzer. 

Most other brands lose it in this very vital real world electronics troubleshooting function. 

Other multimeter functions you can get by with a bag full of landfill bound $20 cheapies,
or feature filled competitive brands with red or orange holsters, s e x y curves    

and battery munching eye candy powering slowing decaying OLED displays   

 

[Synthtech]

Take a look at Hioki’s DT4256, it would be in your price range. Japanese built and designed with their own custom multimeter chip. My Hioki DT4282 leaves my Keysight U1282A in the dust in terms of autoranging speed and continuity function. Japanese quality all the way.

[Mr. Scram]

For that kind of money you could buy at least 16 AN8008 multimeters 

Note the qualifier "best" in the title.

[Mr. Scram]

Get the BM869s if you can tolerate its size, you won't regret it. No reason to consider any alternatives. From what we've seen in reviews, teardowns, comparisons, and torture tests, there is no other meter that has better value for money in this price range. The only reasons to consider other meters are 1. they have special features that the Brymen doesn't have (graphical display / logging, OLED, Bluetooth, IPX certification, etc) or 2. you want a meter that's less bulky. Otherwise, it's THE meter that does all basic electronics measurements well AND is extremely robust.

I don't own a BM869s, but it seems to be a very well liked meter even when you don't factor in price. The BM235 doesn't have a bar graph, so I'd pick something that does.

[Terry01]

If I was you buddy i'd look at getting 2 meters.

Maybe 1 of the Aneng ones around £30 and spend the rest on a Fluke 177 or Brymen 867s or something along those lines. Then you have 2 meters for when you need to measure V and A together or whatever and you also have meters to check against each other so you can see if one is wandering out of Cal, or whatever.
You'll know if that applies to you or if you just want 1 meter but if you looking at getting into electronics i'd suggest the 2 meter route.

Good luck however you go... 

[PartialDischarge]

For that kind of money you could buy at least 16 AN8008 multimeters 

Note the qualifier "best" in the title.

I though it was clear I was trying to make a funny comment, but I'll always recommend anyone to get at least 1 

[anishkgt]

I have the BM869s. Bought as  second dmm after the extech 300. Has the data logging as well haven’t tested it yet though.


Www.Georgehobby.wordpress.com

Equipments: DSO104z, Hakko FX888D, Brymen BM869s

[Fungus]

If I was you buddy i'd look at getting 2 meters.

Definitely.

I don't care how much you paid for a meter, if you don't regularly contrast/compare/crosscheck with another meter then you can't have true confidence in the numbers shown on screen.

An old Fluke 12B will do for this but the $20 Chinese meter market is amazing right now. It's worth getting one no matter what other meters you own, even if it's only to see what $20 gets you these days.

[Terry01]

If I was you buddy i'd look at getting 2 meters.

Definitely.

I don't care how much you paid for a meter, if you don't regularly contrast/compare/crosscheck with another meter then you can't have true confidence in the numbers shown on screen.

An old Fluke 12B will do for this but the $20 Chinese meter market is amazing right now. It's worth getting one no matter what other meters you own, even if it's only to see what $20 gets you these days.

I have a Hyelec MS89, Ex Tech 505, Fluke 177 and a Brymen 867s all bought in that order as I got to know more about electronics and what I needed. It's all a learning curve. I listened to all the guys who know better and took out what applied to me and went from there. I also have 1 of those cheap £10 voltage reference and I compare them all now and then, it takes about 5 mins! I know none of it is top end stuff but I now know through a quick check that my stuff is stable. I know none of it is scientific but it's enough for what I use or need.
Not everything that that the more experienced guys tell you will apply to you but you will find that you can find out most things that do by listening to everything. Very little is wasted knowledge although not all applies to you.

Getting a couple meters was one of the things I learned early on from listening to others and I can confirm it was good advice. These forums are invaluable to people looking to learn electronics.