Hobbyist looking to get a quality multimeter to grow with

[nicholas_garcia]

Hi all,
Brand new to the forum, I just came across it while researching multimeters. I am a beginner looking to get a decent multimeter that I can grow into. Based on the advice here and elsewhere, I am looking at four models:

-- hioki DT4222
-- Klein mm700
-- Amprobe 530
-- DM-510A

These seem like capable multimeters, but I was wondering what people thought or if I was missing any brands/models (ideally <~100).

[bdunham7]

I'd go for the Greenlee DM-510A.  It has everything you need and expect in a decent entry level meter (capacitance, temperature, etc) and it is made by generally well-regarded Brymen in Taiwan.  The three less-obvious features that distinguish it (IMO) are the Lo-Z mode, the ability to add an IR/USB interface with software for logging and the limited lifetime warranty.  You might not appreciate those yet, but as you advance you may be glad you have them.  You'll probably still have and use the meter 10 years from now.

If you buy from TEquipment.net, there's a 6% discount for EEVBlog members.  You'll have to search the forum for the discount code.

[Fungus]

Hi all,
Brand new to the forum, I just came across it while researching multimeters. I am a beginner looking to get a decent multimeter that I can grow into. Based on the advice here and elsewhere, I am looking at four models:

-- hioki DT4222
-- Klein mm700
-- Amprobe 530
-- DM-510A

These seem like capable multimeters, but I was wondering what people thought or if I was missing any brands/models (ideally <~100).

The Hioki is a good meter but it doesn't mesasure Amps so that's no use.
The Klein is a cheap-ass meter pretending to be something else.
Amprobe is Good
Greenlee DM-510A is better.

[exit_failure]

Th Hioki seems to have permanently attached leads. For the purpose you specified I would get one with four separate 4mm jacks. This way you can easily replace broken probes or use different ones if you need them.
If you want to have a good meter to start out with, I would look for the following things:

• Four 4mm Jacks, including two current ranges (often ~400mA and 10 A)
• The meter should be properly tested: There should a labels from a proper testing house/certificate on the meter. Some of the most common are UL, TÜV (GS), Intertek, SGS, CSA
• The functions you should have are: Voltage, current (one for large currents up to 10A and one for smaller currents, resistance, continuity temperature) everything else is nice to have but not absolutely necessary in my opinion. This also depends on your use case.
• Look for proper fuses. If the meter has no or only transparent glass fuses, this is a big nono.
• a proper bar graph. Sometimes there a fast variations on the signal you're measuring. The normal DMM display only updates a couple of times per second at best. If you have fast variations a measurement might seem stable but a proper bar graph can show you that there's a lot more going on.

I would have recommended a Uni-T UT61E if you can get the properly tested one with the TÜV/GS mark on the front. Absolutely do not get the untested version which has less protection and no proper fuses. The meter has been discontinued but some sellers still have them in their inventory.There's also Brymen which makes good, affordable meters like the BM23X or the BM25X series.
Let us know if you need additional advice. :-)

[Fungus]

If you're looking at Amprobe you could look into their "precision" range, eg. this one:

https://www.tequipment.net/Amprobe/AM-140-A/Handheld-Multimeter/

It's actually a Brymen BM857s in disguise, which is a 50,000 count meter with excellent all-round performance, very accurate, fast bar graph, etc.

(the BM857s is my main meter)

It also has very little function overloading on the range switch positions, which is very nice to have.

[nctnico]

Hi all,
Brand new to the forum, I just came across it while researching multimeters. I am a beginner looking to get a decent multimeter that I can grow into. Based on the advice here and elsewhere, I am looking at four models:

-- hioki DT4222
-- Klein mm700
-- Amprobe 530
-- DM-510A

These seem like capable multimeters, but I was wondering what people thought or if I was missing any brands/models (ideally <~100).

Does it need to be portable? If not, then consider a bench meter like the Vici VC8145. Big clear display, lots of features and it never runs out of batteries.

If you want to measure mains voltages, I recommend to stick to one of the A-brands for good quality control.

[Algoma]

Its hard to beat the accuracy, resolution, features and Safety offered with the price of the EEVblog BM786 

With Meters you're either paying for Features, Safety or Brand Name, There is plenty enough compettition in the market to keep the prices somewhat honest to what they're offering.

[coromonadalix]

Im not bashing the eevblog meter, since its a work in progress, for stability sake  i would buy an amprobe or some brymen greenlee meter(s) or some used Fluke 83-85 series on fleabay  ...

Take time to invest in a good  handheld or bench meter,  not buying cheapness or cutting in safety features

I've grown up with a Beckman Industrial hd160 meter (became Wavetek)    i had this puppy for 2 decades,  never blown a fuse in it

Years later i had my fair share of many meter brands  from Fluke, Mastech, Amprobe, to the most $$$   Gossen Metrahit

My most used are Fluke 189 and Amprobe AM-140,   waiting for a few deals another AM-140 or an AM-160
Love the fact,  that i dont have to totally dismantle a meter to change fuses and or batteries

[AVGresponding]

If used is acceptable then you've a wide choice.

Brymen BM869S, Metrix MX 57EX, Tektronix DMM912, Gossen M242A (less useful for electronics as no proper low current range) are all meters I've paid considerably less than $100 for on ebay.

The BM869S in particular is well respected and liked on these forums, and is packed with more functionality than a pomegranate is with pips.

[Brumby]

Im not bashing the eevblog meter

Which EEVBlog meter?  I know of 3.

[vonronge]

The Klein is a cheap-ass meter pretending to be something else.

Klein makes excellent meters, I don't understand the hate:

[BeBuLamar]

The Klein is a cheap-ass meter pretending to be something else.

Klein makes excellent meters, I don't understand the hate:

I don't think Klein makes any meters. Some other company made for them. I have used the MM700 and I think it's OK for the money.

[Fungus]

The Klein is a cheap-ass meter pretending to be something else.

Klein makes excellent meters, I don't understand the hate:

Because a Youtube video says so? Does that guy say bad things about any meter?

I'd value joe's opinion and testing more.

For that price you could easily get a low-end Brymen. It comes with decent gold leads, it has beep-jack warning to save your fuses, and I'd trust it a lot more in general.

[Fungus]

I don't think Klein makes any meters. Some other company made for them.

Yep, and that's the problem. There may be some not-too-terrible meters in the lineup but the meters come from all over the place so there's no consistency and you don't know what you're getting. The meter prices from these brands are determined more by looks and marketing needs than what's inside them.

If I was looking for "quality" (as in the title of this thread) then Klein wouldn't be on the list. Not when I know about Brymen meters.

[Algoma]

Much of the meters from Klein, even their MM700 only offers ±(1.0% + 8 digits) accuracy at best. For their cost, they seem vastly behind meters half their price.  They're alright for mains electical work, but far too inaccurate for their price when it comes to electronics work.

https://data.kleintools.com/sites/all/product_assets/documents/instructions/klein/MM700_1390112ART_WEB.pdf

[Fungus]

Much of the meters from Klein, even their MM700 only offers ±(1.0% + 8 digits) accuracy at best. For their cost, they seem vastly behind meters half their price.  They're alright for mains electical work, but far too inaccurate for their price when it comes to electronics work

They're aimed at workshops and factories where people don't know much about multimeters or electronics.

These people buy other tools from Klein so Klein adds rebranded multimeters to their catalog to round it out. It's just another sale for them.

(I know factories that have Klein multimeters so I've played with a couple, I wouldn't want one for electronics use)

Maybe it's just me but In my mind they're one of those brands of meter where you'd be surprised if you opened one up and there wasn't a piece of wire or tinfoil wrapped around the fuse.

[vonronge]

All the high end Klein multimeters are designed and made by Klein in the USA. This information is a simple google search away.
I use an MM700 all the time alongside a Gossen Metrawatt M249A. I have a few flukes etc too, but this one holds up better to drops.

As for asking if the reviewer said anything negative about it, I don't see how you can bash someone's video without watching it.

Now I remember why I left this site years ago. Goodbye. Again.

[J-R]

It's true this site has a few vocal members who can be annoying.

ebay listing photos show the Klein MM700 is made in China.

The Klein isn't pretending to be anything.  It's a budget DMM for mass-market retail sales.  You can just walk in to any Home Depot and get one any time you want.  Any issues or you just don't like it, bring it back.

Meanwhile I have a BM789 that has various issues and I'm basically stuck with it unless I want to start a fight somewhere.

[Kleinstein]

The revies video has quite some weak points:  For the accuracy test the power supply is likely less accurate than the meter on the left.
Testing at high current may be a good idea, but not with the display of a cheap lab supply as a reference - that is about as bad as it can get.
The LED test is just a joke - a minimum would be checking the test current with and without an additional LED. It should be constant, but might change in an not so ideal design.
The rather slow continuity test is a point quickly set aside.
With autoranging the ohms test is sometimes slow with low resistance - the test were done in Mohms and 100 K range and there there where the ohms mode is fast by design.  Slow ohms reading can be rather anoying and reason to wish having fixed ranges. Showing how fast or slow the ohms mode is would be one of the few really useful tests to do.

An AC test with calling a 119 V mains reading good is more like a bad joke.
Robustness testing in the voltage range would be with a 1500 V or higher transient, not just a voltage in it's normal range.
The point sometimes in question is whether the ohms moder or diode test survives mains. Ideally it should, but still some potential for a surprise.

The tests shown are of very little value - more like a waste of time. A look at the specs would be more useful.

The inside looks OK, but not really great - just like a modern DMM with reasonable protection.

[Fungus]

As for asking if the reviewer said anything negative about it, I don't see how you can bash someone's video without watching it.

I flicked through it. I saw a few superficial tests.

In the conclusions he said "If you're looking for a Fluke Multimeter without the Fluke price...", and ... that's when he lost me.

Now I remember why I left this site years ago.

For some strange definition of "left" that I wasn't previously aware of.

The Klein isn't pretending to be anything.  It's a budget DMM for mass-market retail sales.  You can just walk in to any Home Depot and get one any time you want.  Any issues or you just don't like it, bring it back.

Exactly.

My only point is that the Venn diagram of "quality multimeter for EEVBLOG member to grow with" and "Klein multimeters" doesn't have much of an intersection.

Proof? How many threads are there on here discussing Klein meters? How many videos has Dave made where a Klein multimeter is visible somewhere? Is a Klein multimeter in any of his shootouts?

[J-R]

Maybe the target audience for the content creator just wants to see how the thing works in every-day life.

Content creation on Youtube is a HUGE can of worms, best to just not get into it, haha.

I agree the Klein meters would not make sense for the OP.  I would not buy any of Klein's DMMs for myself.  Zero interest.

99% of my friends and family have the cheapest, junkiest DMMs that they got at the check-out line of some auto parts or hardware store and they are none the wiser.   Nothing wrong with that?

[Fungus]

Content creation on Youtube is a HUGE can of worms, best to just not get into it, haha.

How's this one?



Not as much upbeat music and video effects as that other one, I'll give you that...

[Fungus]

All the high end Klein multimeters are designed and made by Klein in the USA. This information is a simple google search away.

The video you supplied disagrees with you:

https://youtu.be/eXqtmt-zMyE?t=39

[J-R]

To get back on track, an earlier suggestion of the Greenlee DM-510A is good, except for the price.  You are paying about $50 extra for the lifetime warranty.  And the OP stated they wanted to be at about $100.

So I propose the Brymen original to the DM-510A, the BM257s from Welectron, which after the 5% EEVblog discount is $110.17 delivered.

[Fungus]

Hi all,
Brand new to the forum, I just came across it while researching multimeters. I am a beginner looking to get a decent multimeter that I can grow into. Based on the advice here and elsewhere, I am looking at four models:

Questions:

What sort of electronics do you want to do?
Are you thinking of poking at mains AC?
Do you own any sort of multimeter?

There's loads of stunning-value multimeters on Aliexpress if you're only going to be working with low voltage stuff. If it's your first meter you could start with one of those until you figure out what you really need. You need more than one meter anyway.