BM869s vs UT171B/C (was mastech MY63)

[tatel]

Wondering about getting an HVP-40 probe... so perhaps asking for some knowledge about this multimeter is in order.

I got it more than 10 years ago, maybe more than 20. I use it exclusively for AC voltages, sometimes mains. It can still be bought brand new:

https://aliexpress.com/i/32754032749.html

Is it at least half-decent for ocasional use? The guy that sold it to me said so. 1000V CAT II 600V CAT III.

I don't use it for electronics since I bought UT-61E a couple years ago. It's out of spec, I would say. Manual doesn't say so much about it. Perhaps somebody could provide a link to some generic doc about adjusting/calibrating DMMs.

Getting a Fluke is out of question but could consider getting something not so precise but electrically robust in the future.

Any thoughts?

[Kleinstein]

The extra terminals for capacitor measurements can be nice for small capacitors, but they tend to defeat the protection. The CAT rating is fake anyway with a transistor tester and 250 V fuse (if used like on the lable).  It may be a bit better than the cheapest junk, but I would not count on this.  Maybe have a look inside before using it with 230 V mains.

Readjusting the meter may work, but could be tricky without instructions. There is a chance it still used old style pots and maybe just accurate resistors and no adjustment for a few parts.

[RoGeorge]

I have a no-name clone of my-64, not 63 but looks identical, and I wouldn't trust any CAT ratings.  The quality varies a lot for clones.

NOT AN INSTRUMENT FOR ELECTRICIANS.

Might be a nice instrument for hobby-level electronics, good enough for casual measurements in electronics at low voltage.  Not trustworthy for mains power.  On the inside doesn't look well either.  Not very reliable in time.  The rotary switch developed shoddy contact after a few years and now it sometimes show zero when there is voltage.  This can be very dangerous when checking mains voltage.  It usually starts to show correctly again if you wiggle the rotary selector, though that disqualifies it from any kind of use.

I am keeping mine only for the 10A DC range (because for 10A range my instrument has only a thick copper wire inside, it has no fusible protection), which is useful to measure short-circuit current in 1.2V NiMH batteries (for about one second or so), so to discern between good vs. useless rechargeables.

[BILLPOD]

      I LOVE the separate power button and the manual ranging, I wish some of the higher quality brands had such features

[RoGeorge]

I like DMMs with manual ranging, too, though the power button in my DMM still does auto power-off when the power button is mechanically on (pressed).  Once it auto shutdown, to start the instrument again, the power button has to be released, then pressed on again. 

[tatel]

Well I can see myself working with VFDs and perhaps also 4-20 mA signals, so it's clear to me now that MY-63 has to go ASAP, perhaps in 2-3 months.

After looking at the chart on the pinned DMM, I see models that can work with VFDs and 4-20 mA signals are about 200-250. It would be Brymen BM869, UNI-T UT171B/C and little more than that.

BM869s is €172 + VAT + shipping here: https://eleshop.eu/brymen-bm869s-multimeter.html

UT171B is €194 at https://eleshop.eu/uni-t-ut171b.html

UT171C looks very different to his sibling, I wonder why. €238 + VAT+ shipping https://tameson.es/products/multimetro-uni-t-ut81c-t23ha

At first glance, BM869s looks like the winner to me. Perhaps I should get probes for it that are reliable resistance-wise. What do you think?

[mwb1100]

At first glance, BM869s looks like the winner to me. Perhaps I should get probes for it that are reliable resistance-wise. What do you think?

You might also consider the Brymen BM789 which also has VFD and 4-20mA.  It's a bit less than the BM869s. I'm not sure what it's lacking compared to the BM869s (other than the easy to spot dual display). 

And if you choose to get a Brymen, you should also consider welectron.com.  The prices are in the same ballpark as eleshop.eu and I believe welectron offers free shipping in the EU for meters and other test equipment.  There's also an eevblog 5% discount code you can email to ask for.

The BM789 and BM869s might come with Brymen's excellent silicone gold-plated test leads (BL21S2-T4SC) - ask whoever you buy from to make sure though.  If the meter doesn't come with them, then know that welectron sells them for about 10 EUR which is a crazy good deal - especially if they're part of a free shipping order. They also have ProbeMaster leads which are great.

(I've got no relation with welectron or Brymen other than I've bought from them)

[Calvin]

Hi,

besides, Welectron is also a supply for ProbeMaster test pobes ... in case You like to upgrade the anyhow very good Brymen orignal probes.

regards
Calvin

[Fungus]

Welectron usually has a kit with gold probes and a carry case for about $12 more than just the meter. It's definitely worth it.

[tatel]

You might also consider the Brymen BM789 which also has VFD and 4-20mA.  It's a bit less than the BM869s. I'm not sure what it's lacking compared to the BM869s (other than the easy to spot dual display). 

And if you choose to get a Brymen, you should also consider welectron.com.  The prices are in the same ballpark as eleshop.eu and I believe welectron offers free shipping in the EU for meters and other test equipment.  There's also an eevblog 5% discount code you can email to ask for.

The BM789 and BM869s might come with Brymen's excellent silicone gold-plated test leads (BL21S2-T4SC) - ask whoever you buy from to make sure though.  If the meter doesn't come with them, then know that welectron sells them for about 10 EUR which is a crazy good deal - especially if they're part of a free shipping order. They also have ProbeMaster leads which are great.

(I've got no relation with welectron or Brymen other than I've bought from them)

Thank you very much for this advice. I just contacted Welectron about BM789.

After the reviews, BM789 comes with PVC probes. Since I like to have a good variety of accesories for the probes, this will have to wait. I will purchase a ProbeMaster set at some moment in the future, but for now I will have to do with just the ordinary probes + the Testec HVP40 one I'm getting from Batronix.