Multimeter spreadsheet (80 manufacturers and over 400 meters listed)

[PedroDaGr8]

Didn't notice input impedance in the spreadsheet. Probably not necessary since all mm are 10Mohms? Just guessing.

Actually many bench meters can have input impedance in the gigaohm range. The problem is unlike handheld meters, the impedance often varies based on the input range. For example, the Keithley 199 has >1 Gigaohm for its lowest two ranges dropping to  10 Megaohms in the 300V range. This would be hard for him to include in the spreadsheet.

[theatrus]

Agreed on the bench meters. For example, a 3458A has a >10Gohm impedance up through the 10V range. This is different on the ACV readings.

[scopeman]

Hello Group,

I am looking for a low cost DMM to purchase in quantity (100 to 200 units). It has to have at a minimum the following features:

Resistance (direct reading) to 1000 Megohms (1G Ohm) minimum, 2G Ohm would be perfect.
Capacitance to 200nF (20 and 200nF range okay.

It should have DCV. AC and current not required. CAT III/IV not required.

It seems that I can find plenty that have 200 Megohm range.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Wytnucls]

Few multimeters have a resistance range above 50MOhm. Some go up to 500MOhm, but accuracy drops dramatically to about 10%.

It seems that you're looking for cheap insulation meters, but while they might have a high resistance range and do voltages, capacitance measurement would be rare on such instruments.
I suggest you open a new thread with your request to get broader advice.

[Wytnucls]

This UNI-T UT533 is probably one of the cheapest ones available that fits your requirements:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UT533-Insulation-Resistance-Multimeters-up-to-1000V-2G-/380137141736?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5881f075e8

http://www.uni-trend.com/UT533.html

[echen1024]

Siglent have bench meters now as well. Only Chinese page so far... http://siglent.com/cn/product/detail2.aspx?id=100000003069375&nodecode=105008002

[Wytnucls]

Thanks, will be listed at next update.

[tautech]

Siglent have bench meters now as well. Only Chinese page so far... http://siglent.com/cn/product/detail2.aspx?id=100000003069375&nodecode=105008002

Description from my price list:
 5½?digit; 150rdgs / s measurement speed; 4.3 inch (480 * 272) true color TFT?LCD screen
display; True RMS AC voltage and AC current measurements
RRP US$439 plus taxes if any.
I have asked Siglent to post more info in this thread for the spreadsheet.

[tautech]

@Wytnucls
I have put together a doc with the Siglent SDM3055 general specs and links to more info.
Do I PM them to you?

[Wytnucls]

Post it here or start a new thread, as it may be of interest to potential buyers. I will pick the relevant bits for the spreadsheet later.

[tautech]

@Wytnucls
I have put together a doc with the Siglent SDM3055 general specs and links to more info.
Do I PM them to you?

After some study, I found a thread introducing the SDM3000 series back in May.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-siglent-3000-series-dmm/msg451102/#msg451102

The SDM3055 & 3055A are at this stage pre-release to Western markets and the only official documentation available is in Chinese.
There is quite a lot of info that can be extracted from that on line, including the datasheet.

But until full English specs are available and Western market release is imminent it is not appropriate to post anything here other than full English specs as it would degrade Wytnucls fine work. 

So as I have been offered a pre-release unit as a Siglent distributor, a new thread and possible teardown seems a good option.
I don't own a bench meter so I am very tempted. 

[scopeman]

This UNI-T UT533 is probably one of the cheapest ones available that fits your requirements:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UT533-Insulation-Resistance-Multimeters-up-to-1000V-2G-/380137141736?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5881f075e8

http://www.uni-trend.com/UT533.html

Hello,

I am not looking for an HV type insulation meter but a LV type. The product that I am testing can not stand HV.

I was using the Minipa ET2080B or C model which had a 2G Ohm range and was amazingly accurate in all respects but I can no longer get the manufacturer to even talk to me about selling me more units. It seems that they are only interested in selling thousands of them.

I have found the Victor VC88C to be the exact same meter with their logo on it but I can not get them to sell me under 200 pieces. I can find plenty the go to 60 to 200M but none other than the two mentioned to 2 G Ohms.

Sam
 

[Wytnucls]

One solution would be to use 2 meters. A UNI-T UT601 for high resistance (2GOhm) and capacitance and any 'el cheapo' DMM for voltages.
http://www.uni-trend.com/UT601.html

[BVH]

What a fantastic spreadsheet Wytnucls!  I’ve been looking at specs and video reviews on 6 ½ digit DMMs for the last 4 days, looking to buy one and this document lays all the specs out in a plain to understand format.  Thank You!

[Ebivetar]

Awsome 

It would be nice if we have this kind of spreadsheets for other test equipment.
I think that I may start one for clamp meters. Hopefully I will have time for this.

[Wh1sper]

I do have a concrete task. I want measure the (unwanted) peaks on output while switching on and off a Power supply.
I do have a Voltmeter which can measure 10 times/sec max and logs into Flatfile.
So far so good.
I wonder how many money I must spent to buy an faster Multimeter.
The excel sheet is very great and growing all the time, but this Information is lacking.
Because it's very seldom printed in the manuals, isn't it?

As I do not need very precise Measure I guess building it myself with an MC of my choice would be wiser?!

[Wytnucls]

The peak transient time is in my spreadsheet, if it is published in the datasheet.
It is normally quoted for a single event and a repetitive event.
Unfortunately, very few manufacturers publish the figures.

Usually, a single event needs to last for at least 1mS to register and multiple transients, for a minimum of 250uS.
Strangely, the UNI-T UT-71D, which I own, can capture short transients of 10uS. I don't know of any others.

[Wh1sper]

Ok, found it THANX for this awesome work

[Lightages]

Actually, the Brymens also have a quoted response time for peak and recording. 1ms for the Brymen 52X and 86X on "Crest" and 5ms for Min/Max. The BM525 can record samples per second and up to 87,000 readings.

[torr032]

It would also be nice to include in the spreadsheet is the continuity latched or unlatched, that information is not in the user manuals and is very useful. Btw I prefer fast unlatched like on the Brymen 869.

[Wytnucls]

It would be nice, but the information is not usually published by the manufacturer. When it is, I will include it in a note in the mOhm column.

[boo9]

I wonder if this spreadsheet in addition to being able to download it as an attacment, if it can be loaded into google docs, then it would be just one click away.

[boo9]

great, thanks

BTW:
- what is the meaning of gray colour ? there are cells with "X" with and without gray background.
- what is the meaning of red/pink color ?

[Wytnucls]

X means a missing feature. When highlighted grey, it is an important missing feature.
X without highlight is less important and could also mark an optional feature.
X with amber highlight means an essential feature is missing.
Magenta color for unknown parameters.
Pink for prices above 300 USD.

[boo9]

could we please put all these explanations about colors and x-es into the comment of the a  "Legend" (e.g, on insert empty row at the beginning and "A" cell make "Legend"

I would personally welcome a column about "input protection/safty", somewhat subjective but better than nothing, unless all > 6000 count meters have more than adequate input protection, one could make comments about each meter input protection like PTC, MOV and other burn tests like @lightages did to some meters he tested.