Brymen BM235 and EEVblog BM235 - what's the difference?

[WaveyDipole]

I have been trying to find a short summary of the difference between the standard Brymen BM235 and the EEVblog version of the meter. I have found several long threads detailing various tests and comparisons and the EEVblog page of course, which mentions the blue holster and better leads. other than that, the specs look pretty much the same so, in summary, are the above all the differences?

I am also concerned to find a number of eBay sellers listing these for 15%-20% or so higher than the UK Amazon price. Is Amazon Uk the approved UK distributor for the EEVblog meter?
 

[sdouble]

I thought that there were none but the packaging.
I may be wrong though

[WaveyDipole]

Well on Amazon Uk, the EEVblog version is about 40GBP 20GBP more than the original Brymen version so I'd like to think that there is more to it than just packaging....

[Mark Hennessy]

Yes, as well as the branding, Dave's version comes with upgraded probes.



When I checked Amazon UK at the weekend, the EEVblog version was £105, while the standard version was £86.50. I think that's still the case. So have you found a blue one that's more expensive, or a red one that's cheaper

I remember Dave talking about the "fun" he was having getting them on Amazon. That was a while ago. I assume he's now got them onto the UK site by now - it certainly looks that way..

[alm]

You pay for the brand, obviously .

I believe there were some small fixes (like backlight noise) that were fixed in the EEVBlog version and may or may not have been fixed in the Brymen branded version.

The price difference may also be due to different distribution chain. What is the difference between Dave's official eBay/Amazon/etc stores and official Brymen dealers in the same countries (e.g. Australia, US)?

[rstofer]

I would expect the Brymen version and the EEVblog version are identical except for the badging, cover and probes.  If I was looking for the lowest price it might not be the EEVblog version but I bought a couple of the EEVblog versions to support the project, not because I needed more DMMs.

[WaveyDipole]

When I checked Amazon UK at the weekend, the EEVblog version was £105, while the standard version was £86.50. I think that's still the case. So have you found a blue one that's more expensive, or a red one that's cheaper

That's exactly what I found ... but my math is rather off! Looks like I need calibration  . The difference is 18.50GBP not 38.50GBP as I had originally imagined.

[ebastler]

Or you could buy the non-Dave version of the BM235, but including the high quality leads and a pouch, for €95 incl. shipping from these guys: https://www.welectron.com/Brymen-BM235-Multimeter_1

I got my BM257s there, for €109 including the same accessories. Happy customer, but no affiliation otherwise.

[mikeys]

Just the blue condom on the outside and the upgraded probes. If you don't care about the probes then you can get the BM235 from TME in Poland and it should ship to UK within a working day. If you were to buy the probes and the BM235 I think it comes out to around £100 anyway (probes are on frankies ebay for about 15 quid)

So if you want the blue one you might aswell get it. If you don't care about the probes, then thats a tenner into the beer fund. Difference in the probes is that the standard BM235 ones are plasticy and don't have a banana plug screw on, though it's quite a nice plastic at least, not too different to the silicone except it is a bit stiffer and will suffer kinks.

If you're buying from oz don't forget theres a +20% import duty and I think a handling charge depending on which awful company gets their mitts on the delivery at the port.

[mikeys]

You pay for the brand, obviously .

I believe there were some small fixes (like backlight noise) that were fixed in the EEVBlog version and may or may not have been fixed in the Brymen branded version.

Not present in my recent purchase from TME, so I think they've fixed it in a revision.

[jpc]

Even though I'm in the UK I bought mine directly from Dave in Oz just over a month ago on receiving a back in stock email. Checking my credit card receipt it worked out at about £89 total which included the leads, extras and shipping and took a week and a half or so to get here.

P.S. Mine was shipped DHL Global and Royal Mail.

[mikeys]

Did you not get a VAT charge JP? Should have got myself one of Dave's if they're managing to get through without import charges.

[jpc]

Not so far, though I have budgeted for it just in case.

[Mark Hennessy]

That's good news. My one was a fairly early example, delivered by Royal Mail. I can't remember the exact amounts, but I got stung for about £8, and Royal Mail added their surcharge on top of that. All in, I think I paid just over £120. Still good value, but as I say, it was an early one. Today, I'd be very tempted by the Amazon route, knowing that there'd be no additional charges on top.

[jpc]

TBH, I have been half expecting to get a bill though Royal Mail has always done it pre-delivery for me in the past. E.G. a few years ago  I bought a couple of items worth about £100 each from the US and RM emailed me, I have an account, that payment was due before they would release it. but it was just the basic C&E charge for an item of that value with no added extras from RM.

Though I think it's pretty much pot luck if your buying stuff for personal use for on other occasions I have bought stuff worth far more from outside the EU and not heard a peep. Though as I said before, I always budget for it just in case.

[gtc]

Got my blue EEVblog meter yesterday and put it through its paces. So far it's lived up to its reputation and I'm quite happy with it.

I have a small quibble though: The plastic material that the soft blue case is made of attracts lint and other light debris like a charged perspex rod.

Does that also happen with the Brymen red case?