EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: netdudeuk on October 10, 2014, 09:08:07 am
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Hi
I have a handheld multimeter but I've had it a very long time. I'm thinking of buying a new one. I mostly do digital / microcontroller / microprocessor stuff and don't go near high voltages.
For £100 or less, which would be the best new multimeter that I could buy in the UK ?
What would be the best 'bang for the buck' under £100, even if it isn't the overall best in that price range ?
I quite like the idea of a bench multimeter but I guess that gets you a lower specced device ...
Thanks
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I quite like the new Fluke 17B+. Had a chance to play with it in China. It oozes quality.
Not true RMS and no bar graph, but otherwise nice feature set. 75 quid and free delivery.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluke-17B-Auto-Range-Digital-Probe-Multimeter-Temperature-Frequency-/231354965499?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item35ddd49dfb (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluke-17B-Auto-Range-Digital-Probe-Multimeter-Temperature-Frequency-/231354965499?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item35ddd49dfb)
(http://image.pushauction.com/ViewPicture.aspx?Key=232f7678-1efd-4627-870f-ade198faf5ed_c71bb2ed-c56f-47f9-a418-1afb3d6347c7)
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Thanks for the quick reply. That looks good for the money. Only thing is though, I was looking at Flukes and even the 115 comes in at about £150. Is the one on eBay going to be a genuine Fluke ?
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Yes, of course. Made in China for Fluke, mostly meant for Asian markets. It is for sale at all Fluke official outlets in China.
The 115 is true RMS, comes with a bar graph and has a higher count.
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I've sold a good few 15B's and each one had a leaflet in the box stating: "Not for sale outside of China". No warranty outside of China or words to that effect.
I hold 1 or two in stock to cover any possible claims but there have been none. :-+
15 were checked after 12 months with a DMM tester and only 1 needed minor adjustment to match the other 14, but was still within factory specs.
I have a healthy respect for these cheap Flukes and happily use one for my bench use.
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Strange model name 17B+. People at marketing there should take a course in naming =)
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It makes sense to me, as this is a small improvement to the 17B, that doesn't warrant a new name and thus can ride on the coattails of the best seller original model.
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Why not provide a firmware upgrade to the original model?
Or why not go for 17C? Apparently 17B as such is already an improvement for a predecessor.
In the extreme they would go for 17.C.BETA.REV3.OPTD =)
At least they could have stayed with numbers and letters, e.g. 17B PLUS
Anyhow I agree that this is probably a personal taste issue :)
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I thought uni-t ut61e was best bang for buck?
I think safety might be lacking, but if your not going near mains voltages.
Id be looking at brymen 257 myself if that were the case.
btw, what does the 17B+ have over 17B?
I am struggling to see what you extras you need in a meter for microcontrol work.
You definitely want a 2nd meter for simultaneous current & voltage measurement.
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I've read that the Uni-T is ok but also seen other people slating it.
I have a Rigol DP832 on order so that should cover simultaneous current and voltage measurement.
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For that much you should be able to get a reasonable meter with true RMS and bar graph.
Lack of RMS probably doesn't bother a microcontroller guy. Lack of bar graph ought to.
With Fluke you just pay for the name.
Yep. If the 17B+ was made by anybody other then Fluke it would be a $75 meter, not a $120 meter.
That said; it's a nice enough meter ... you could do a lot worse.
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Thanks for the quick reply. That looks good for the money. Only thing is though, I was looking at Flukes and even the 115 comes in at about £150. Is the one on eBay going to be a genuine Fluke ?
Guess what ... there's an EEVBLOG video on this very subject!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbEtcpM0RGc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbEtcpM0RGc)
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Thanks for the quick reply. That looks good for the money. Only thing is though, I was looking at Flukes and even the 115 comes in at about £150. Is the one on eBay going to be a genuine Fluke ?
Guess what ... there's an EEVBLOG video on this very subject!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbEtcpM0RGc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbEtcpM0RGc)
It's old. Dave said recently that he may do a brief refresh. Apparently episodes like this take too much time to make.
I found these forums when searching youtbue for DMM reviews.
OP, I have the same use case like you and true RMS doesn't really matter. I am using a Fluke 107 and love it, compact, simple and good display. Posted here a few internal pictures some time ago.
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Is the one on eBay going to be a genuine Fluke ?
Guess what ... there's an EEVBLOG video on this very subject!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbEtcpM0RGc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbEtcpM0RGc)
It's old. Dave said recently that he may do a brief refresh.
For what reason? Will a video refresh make it any less of a genuine fluke?
Apparently episodes like this take too much time to make.
Isn't he a "full time" blogger now?
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Brymen 257 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM257-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Brand-New-Fluke-alternative-/200922627340)
Dave's video HERE (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tXu0lsOjvDs)
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Brymen 257 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM257-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Brand-New-Fluke-alternative-/200922627340)
Dave's video HERE (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tXu0lsOjvDs)
Seems to kick the Fluke 17B+'s butt on all counts (except maybe the color...)
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For £100 it is very hard to beat the Brymen BM257. Yes the Flukes in the same price range are nice but have less features for the same money. If you want to spend less than the Uni-T UT139C looks like a good safe meter with reasonable specs for around $55USD. You could get two and be under your price point.
Personally I have three Brymen meters including the BM257. I have three for a reason.
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For £100 it is very hard to beat the Brymen BM257.
Brymen 875 comes into UK at around £111.
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If you're partial to the Brymen, make sure you get the 257S version. The previous one doesn't meet the European regulations anymore.
The only advantages of the 17B+ over the 257 would be the lesser price, a frequency duty cycle feature that the 257 lacks, 10A versus 8A max for the 257 and the 500 hrs battery life (2AA) versus 300 hrs for the Brymen (2AAA). It also comes with proper 1000V Fluke fuses for its CAT III 600V CAT II 1000V safety rating.
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If you're partial to the Brymen, make sure you get the 257S version. The previous one doesn't meet the European regulations anymore.
The only advantages of the 17B+ over the 257 would be the lesser price, a frequency duty cycle feature that the 257 lacks, 10A versus 8A max for the 257 and the 500 hrs battery life (2AA) versus 300 hrs for the Brymen (2AAA). It also comes with proper 1000V Fluke fuses for its CAT III 600V CAT II 1000V safety rating.
And what are the advantages of the 257 over the 17B+?
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Everything else, for a premium price, but no Fluke bragging rights. :'(
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Everything else, for a premium price, but no Fluke bragging rights. :'(
My ex-army Fluke 27FM will pound your 17B+'s bragging rights into submission.
(Literally...)
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A Fluke is a Fluke is a Fluke...
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A Fluke is a Fluke is a Fluke...
I'm choosing the 27FM when the zombies come.
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Hope you don't have to measure capacitance or frequency to save yourself. :o
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Brymen.com, horrible, horrible web site, no information where to buy their products, have not long seen such bad web sites.
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Hope you don't have to measure capacitance or frequency to save yourself. :o
Let's see how many zombie skulls you can bash in with your 17B.
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Brymen.com, horrible, horrible web site, no information where to buy their products, have not long seen such bad web sites.
In Europe TME carry many of their meters, but not at the cheapest of prices, Franky here sells some of them at cheaper prices.
Here is link to TME, and 857 (that I misposted as 875! earlier):
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm857a/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/ (http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm857a/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/)
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Yes, the best prices are from Franky and www.tme.eu (http://www.tme.eu)
From Franky's ebay store at £84 shipped to your door, plus whatever taxes added at your border, not the BM257s version:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM257-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Brand-New-Fluke-alternative-/200922627340 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM257-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Brand-New-Fluke-alternative-/200922627340)
TME, £66 + shipping and taxes:
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm257/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm257s/# (http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm257/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm257s/#)
But as the OP stated, he doesn't go near high voltage/energy and wants this meter for mainly microcontroller work. The UT71A or UT71B, UT139C, Digitek DT2843R, Amprobe AM530 to AM570 range, BK Precision BK2709B, are all good choices in the price range. They each have their own little problems or quirks and their own advantages. The UT71X series all come with a PC cable and software but have very poor continuity test speed, for example. Some are safer than others too. The Digitek DT2843R is a really good buy from Franky, but suffers from slow continuity too.
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Everything else, for a premium price, but no Fluke bragging rights. :'(
My ex-army Fluke 27FM will pound your 17B+'s bragging rights into submission.
(Literally...)
+1. It's a multimeter. No, it's a blunt force instrument of death. No, wait, it's both!! >:D Seriously, I like my 27FM. I got mine for $65 including hard case and 80K-6 HV probe. Don't know what branch but it is military surplus.