Author Topic: Multimeter for Electronic Engineering: Brymen BM869s, BM789, Fluke 289 or else?  (Read 942 times)

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Offline SonghuaTopic starter

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Key factors that I need for Electronic Engineering:

Color in Red is must, Color in Green is optional

RMS 
Hz, % for testing some servos, pre-defined signals
At least 50000 counts, 60000 counts is great for testing voltages around 5V
dbm (for testing some RF signals. Usually I can use an oscilloscope which has FFT with a 50 ohm attenuator to do this test or a VNA but it would be great if you can have it in a multimeter. :))
mV and mA
VFD (variable frequency drive) Optional. Can be used for motors and robotics tunning
USB to PC Optional. Sometimes it's very useful

Previously I had a Uni-T 61E+ but its mA position showed incorrect 50% value of the correct value using A position which is ridiculous for serious EE.

2388729-0

Sources from :


Candidates:

1. Brymen BM869s ( 500000 counts in DC mode, dbm, VFD) ( a youtube review: https://youtu.be/aSrq3UJt4qU?si=wh4bY9do9DfDPpPa)
2. Brymen BM789 (60000 counts, dbm)
3. Brymen BM786 (60000 counts, no dbm)
4. Fluke 289 (50000 counts, it has 50 ohm position, dbm, ) (too expensive, won't buy)
5. UT181A ( 60000 counts, dbm (4ohm-1200ohm) and dbv claimed to be same accurate as Fluke 289 but at 50% price)
6. Rigol DM858 or DM858E (More powerful. Can be powered by a power bank. DM858E is at almost the same price of BM869s but it's a Benchtop Multimeter. Manual here https://download.rigol.com/en/Manual/Digital%20Multimeters/DM858/DM858_DataSheet_EN.pdf)

What do you suggest, and why?
Appreciate your comments!
« Last Edit: October 01, 2024, 04:15:05 pm by Songhua »
Test and Measurement Fundamentals video series on the Rohde & Schwarz YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKxVoO5jUTlvsVtDcqrVn0ybqBVlLj2z8
 

Offline KungFuJosh

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If you're considering bench DMMs, you should also look at Siglent's SDM3000X series.

If you have the budget for it, also consider DMM6500.
"Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before." - Steven Wright
 

Offline coromonadalix

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brymen  500k  count is not real  and its limitted on some functions

many brand have the same chipsets   saying red yellow   loll  you have the green ones too

if not get  an chauvin arnoux real 100,000 count dmm ?    BT enabled  or the Metrix variants,  sure you'll pay $  witch you dont want

Uni-t  are crap   unless you go with the top model as you wrote ...


you want to do serious job as i see,  get serious meters  ....   the Brymen 789 is a good  one    why not ?

289$    you can snatch good ones on ebay ??  not paying full overpriced $$$     but slooooooooooow on boot,   some have hacked / upgraded  battery life ...

UT181A   read all the feedback to see  if it is good for you, if oled based display  MEH   NOT

Rigol,  i would  serioulsy wait 1 year or more until they iron out problems / add features or resolve bugs


you did a good work  writing your need,  but  witch one can you live without ... portability, battery life ?  or bench uses ?


my choices:  would be 869 S, (almost equal with 789) 789 and finally the 289,  (the 869S  is the better backlight display vs 869)

a fast boot 289   would be 1st, but wont happen  loll

789  are relatively new, check for teardown and tests from some member here, joe ... smith, he love to push them at their limits or blow them  loll

i use the Amprobe equivalent of the 869, AM-160A   better stability on a bench, i hate the 869 casing
But i admit  the 140 and 160 models are becoming rare

« Last Edit: October 01, 2024, 04:41:13 pm by coromonadalix »
 

Offline Furna

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I am pretty satisfied with Brymen BM869s and I would chose it again if I had to go again through the process for a handled DMM.
Why? Because of the features/price/reliability combination. More review at https://www.youtube.com/@joesmith-je3tq

For a bench multimeter I am pointing at Siglent SDM4000A not yet available in Europe but available in China (if you ever get one of theese please post a review in https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-siglent-multimeter/).
« Last Edit: October 01, 2024, 05:55:48 pm by Furna »
The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
 
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Offline KungFuJosh

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Good point! He's in China, so he could probably get one of the SDM4000A DMMs. I want one (or two) of those also. 😉
"Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before." - Steven Wright
 

Offline Fungus

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brymen  500k  count is not real

What is it, imaginary?
 

Online J-R

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brymen  500k  count is not real

What is it, imaginary?

Well, I guess since it was brought up:

Back in the day when I bought my BM869s I was definitely deceived by Brymen's sneaky 500,000 count claim and expected it to work in all modes.

https://www.welectron.com/mediafiles/datasheets/brymen/Brymen_BM860s_Datasheet.pdf
Top of 2nd page: "LARGE 500,000 COUNTS LCD DISPLAY"
Top of 3rd page under "FUNCTIONS & FEATURES": "5-4/5 Digits 500,000 Counts Large Easy To Read LCD Display"
And of course all the photos show the full 500,000 counts.

It's not until you very carefully read the last page:
GENERAL SPECIFICATION
Display: 4-4/5 digits 50,000 counts fast mode. Selectable stable
mode 5-4/5 digits 500,000 counts for DC Voltage & 5 digits 99,999
counts for Hz

Drift due to temperature and age means that the 500k count DCV modes have some pretty big caveats.  Even the biggest use case people mention which is tracking changes is questionable because it's slow and can wander a bit.

However, if you have access to a 5V reference, you can dial it in and get a bit more use out of it in that specific range.  And the lower parts of each range have better accuracy.
 

Offline daisizhou

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Fluke 8060a, you didn't mention your budget.

I will not be buying any Uni-T meters because I feel Uni-T is unprofessional.

Fluke 80 series or 27ii, 28ii are also good choices,I don't like Fluke 287 and 289 because they are only suitable for labs and not for real environments. Also, they start up very slowly and are not efficient.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2024, 10:45:30 am by daisizhou »
daisizhou#sina.com #=@
 

Offline wasedadoc

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"dbm (for testing some RF signals."

Most DMMs cannot accurately measure AC voltges over the audio range, never mind approaching RF.
 
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