OEM or product feedback required

[Largie]

G'day al

I'm new to the electrical field and stumble across this very informative website, though it may have  caused more harm than good through information overload.  I am looking at purchasing a multi meter, and had decided on one until I saw a tear down video from Dave on youtube.  I have since decided on "THE ONE" a few times, finally settling on a Brymen BM887. 

In trying to find a stockist in Brisbane I stumbled across a company Wattmaster that sells ELMA, which is re-badged Brymen.  Only they don't have the Brymen BM887.  Though they do have an ELMA 5800 which I can get with Australian warranty and in green for slightly less than the Brymen would cost me shipped from Welectron.  I have been unable to find information on this ELMA 5800, so was wanting to know if anyone knows who the OEM manufacturer is so that I may do some research to possibly change my mind yet again.   

Cheers

[Kean]

I've purchased Brymen from X-On in Western Australia (and of course direct from Dave for the BM235).
They don't seem to have the BM887, only the similar BM878.  Per brymen.eu site it seems to be lower accuracy, but higher price?
https://www.x-on.com.au/keywordSearching?kword=bm878
You could shoot them an enquiry about stock of the BM887

[Largie]

Cheers for the website, if I decide on the Brymen, I shall.  I would much prefer to buy local.

[LeonR]

I think a quality chinese model like Aneng 8008/8009/860/870 would fare well for someone that's taking it first steps into the area. Inexpensive compared to other renowed brands but can do most of the stuff you'll use 99% of the time well.

[Fungus]

... finally settling on a Brymen BM887. 

What will you use the insulation tester for?

I think a quality chinese model like Aneng 8008/8009/860/870 would fare well for someone that's taking it first steps into the area. Inexpensive compared to other renowed brands but can do most of the stuff you'll use 99% of the time well.

I agree. Unless you're filthy rich then start out small and build your collection as you learn what you really need. Go for the "luxury" items when there's no gaps left in your lab.

An Aneng 860 or 870 (my preference) will measure just about anything and you can have a nice soldering iron and power supply with the difference between that and Brymen's most expensive meter.

PS: You're going to need to use two multimeters simultaneously long before you'll need that insulation tester. My advice would be to get a couple of different $20-$30 class Chinese meters and use them for a while.

Me? I used an Aneng 860 for three years before I finally bought my Brymen BM857?

[threephase]

That Elma 5800 very much looks like the Extech MG302 and the Di-LOG DL9307 that I have reviewed on the element14 website.

Extech MG302 review
https://www.element14.com/community/groups/test-and-measurement/blog/2018/11/13/extech-mg302-review

Di-LOG DL9307 review
https://www.element14.com/community/groups/test-and-measurement/blog/2019/02/13/di-log-dl9307-insulation-tester-review

RS Pro also have a similar version without the wireless communication

RS Pro RS9985 Review
https://www.element14.com/community/groups/test-and-measurement/blog/2019/09/28/rs-pro-rs-9985-insulation-tester-review

These units are in actual fact from CEM, a Chinese manufacturer
http://www.cem-instruments.com/en/Product/index
The actual meter is at
http://www.cem-instruments.com/en/Product/detail/id/910

The quality of these meters is very much hit and miss. The MG302 was the best version in that respect, but I believe it was quite an old one. The Di-LOG and RS Pro units were not good in terms of quality.

The wireless communications did fail on me on the MG302, and despite talks with Extech support, the issue was never resolved.

The Di-LOG unit failed on me when I was accuracy testing at 1000V. Two of the varistors went open circuit. It also has an excessive short circuit current on the insulation test that exceeds the limit in the IEC standard. Di-LOG have never responded to this query, neither has CEM. I did manage to fix the varistors, but have never determined how to reduce the short-circuit current.

The RS Pro has worked throughout the tests, but on opening it up, the connection strip for the 10A terminal was not soldered correctly and fell out. There was also solder spatter around inside and evidence of rework. I have never contacted RS about the issues.

In some respects it is a shame, as the concept of the unit is quite clever and it would be a really useful device to me for my work.

I have a Brymen BM877 that I am starting to review, but am no where near ready to post anything about it yet.

Obviously you know what type of work you will be doing and your budget, so what you purchase is up to you as far as I am concerned. I will say though that an Insulation Multimeter is a compromise between the two instruments. It will never be as good as a multimeter for an electronics lab and never quite as good as an insulation tester would be for a rewind shop. But as a tool for a jobbing electrician, insulation multimeters are fantastic.

Kind regards

[Largie]

thank you very much threephase,

exactly the information I was after and some very informative reviews.  Ill stick with the brymen seeing as build quality and thus safety is top of my multimeter requirements. 

Thanks for the input Leon and Fungus, 

I'm an out of trade apprentice electrician, where I was doing a lot of switchboard upgrades and therefore using an insulation tester weekly, albeit a much more expensive one. 

It may seem expensive but really is a budget way of entry for me and a very good way to be more employable than the next guy, seeing as trades people really don't like lending their expensive toys.

[threephase]

You are welcome Largie.

Glad you found the information useful. Hope you get many years service out of whichever instrument you purchase.

Kind regards.

[Fungus]

I'm an out of trade apprentice electrician, where I was doing a lot of switchboard upgrades and therefore using an insulation tester weekly, albeit a much more expensive one. 

It may seem expensive but really is a budget way of entry for me and a very good way to be more employable than the next guy, seeing as trades people really don't like lending their expensive toys.

In that case: Go ahead and get the Brymen.