EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: tony3d on January 24, 2014, 06:55:29 pm
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Hi All, Trying to make my mind up on buying a new Multimeter. First off I live in Florida, and other than Grainger, there are not many places to buy a quality meter. The Flukes are just way to expensive so I have have ruled them out. This will only be used on my bench for hobby electronics, so I don't need anything that robust! I really would like to get the Brymen 869. It's well within my budget if I buy it from Franky, but with my luck, if something is wrong with it, I would have to pay for shipping back to H/K which would kill any savings I had by buying it through Franky. Also what happens if 2 years from now something goes wrong with it? Where do I send it for repair? So, I was looking at the this ExTechEX530. I can buy this 40000 count meter from Grainger right here, and pick it up. Thing is, is any good? I no nothing about these meters. Are there any other brands around $350.00 at 20000 count I should be considering? Thanks. I'm not made of money to the Fluke 87V would probably be my choice.
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Are you specifically looking for a handheld? You can get Fluke 8840A all day long on eBay for around $200, been around a long time, but a great basic mench meter.
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A fluke 87V for 199 or best offer: http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-Fluke-87V-multimeter-w-probes-/131101204948?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e863da1d4 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-Fluke-87V-multimeter-w-probes-/131101204948?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e863da1d4)
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If you're worried about calibration on an eBay score, a DMMCheck from http://www.voltagestandard.com (http://www.voltagestandard.com) is hard to beat for the casual hobbiest.
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Here's a steal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Closeout-Fluke-27-FM-Digital-Multimeter-w-80K-High-Voltage-Probe-Leads-more-/360828908533?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item54031433f5 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Closeout-Fluke-27-FM-Digital-Multimeter-w-80K-High-Voltage-Probe-Leads-more-/360828908533?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item54031433f5)
I haven't bought from that seller, but I have a 27FM. The grey cased 27FMs do true RMS, the yellow cased ones do not. I have some other meters, but I end up using that one the most.
Doesn't have all of the functions as some meters, but it's a Fluke and it's $69. Heck the HV probe is worth close to that alone.
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Why not buy a brand new fluke 117? It runs under $150, you're only going to use it for hobby use, should be everything you need.
The fluke 114 and 115 might be something you'd also want to look at if you're wanting to spend under $150 new.
(Use EEVBLOG6 coupon code for any of these for 6% off).
117:
http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke117.html?v=0 (http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke117.html?v=0)
115:
http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke115.html?v=0 (http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke115.html?v=0)
114:
http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke114.html?v=0 (http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke114.html?v=0)
87-V:
http://www.tequipment.net/FlukeDigital87VMultimeter.html (http://www.tequipment.net/FlukeDigital87VMultimeter.html)
If you're budget is $350, I don't understand the reason for not getting a 87-V. They're $338 (shipped with free carrying case!) from Teqequipment.net if you use the EEVBLOG6 coupon code and I can't speak from experience yet, but from what I hear, you'll never need another meter in your lifetime :P.
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I'd say all these ideas are good - depending on what the OP wants.
From what I've seen about the Brymen meters, I wouldn't be so worried about it failing. They are popular among the forum members for a good reason.
My personal preference would be the 8040, if I could stand the room. (I do have one of these, and I do recommend it, even as one's only meter - especially with a used 27 or other inexpensive meter of one's choice) Or, an 87 off of E-bay. Ask the seller to measure a 9v battery, touch the leads together in ohms range, maybe a button cell. Most likely, if one passes these basic tests, it's OK. Ruined meters tend to be really bad and it tends to be really obvious. (and even then, repair is usually not that bad - see Mr. Modemhead's website, and posts by modemhead and Retiredcaps, here)
The 27 is a good choice as a second meter, but at only 3200 counts, and with no capacitance or frequency at all it may not be good enough for a primary meter. Of course, it depends on one's applications - horses for courses as Dave says.
Maybe a 117 or so with a 25/25 for microampers and as a second meter. If one doesn't need TRMS, an 8025b is the same as a 27. The 25 and 8025a lack the two middle buttons (max/min and relative.) If that's not important, they can often be found for not much money.
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I already have an 87-III, but I think I'm going to get a military version Fluke 27 FM just because of the coolness factor. I bet it's built like a tank and would make a great carry around in the tool bag/throw it in the truck kind of meter.
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From what I've seen about the Brymen meters, I wouldn't be so worried about it failing. They are popular among the forum members for a good reason.
+1 :-+
No problems with mine at all (BM857). Used primarily on my bench, but I've done some automotive work with it as well, so it's been dropped a few times. Not a horribly abusive life, but not babied either. Leads can be a bit of an issue, but Frankie orders them with the better leads (gold plated, so easy to ID visually). Only thing I've ever had to do to mine, is change the battery.
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What do you guys think of Agilent U1272A? I can get this brand new for $378.00 with free shipping.
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What do you guys think of Agilent U1272A? I can get this brand new for $378.00 with free shipping.
Between it and the BM869, I'd go with the Brymen. A lot more bang for the buck.
FWIW, in the case of comparing the BM869 to an Agilent DMM, you'd need to be looking at the U1252B.
FWIW, I own this particular Agilent, and am very pleased with it. But the Brymen has a bit of a leg up in both cost and features (i.e. dual external temp probe for the Brymen, single for the Agilent <has a second internal temp sensor for measuring ambient>). Internal isn't useless by any means, just not as flexible.
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Why not buy a brand new fluke 117? It runs under $150, you're only going to use it for hobby use, should be everything you need.
The fluke 114 and 115 might be something you'd also want to look at if you're wanting to spend under $150 new.
(Use xxxxxxxxxx coupon code for any of these for 6% off).
117:
http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke117.html?v=0 (http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke117.html?v=0)
115:
http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke115.html?v=0 (http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke115.html?v=0)
114:
http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke114.html?v=0 (http://www.tequipment.net/Fluke114.html?v=0)
87-V:
http://www.tequipment.net/FlukeDigital87VMultimeter.html (http://www.tequipment.net/FlukeDigital87VMultimeter.html)
If you're budget is $350, I don't understand the reason for not getting a 87-V. They're $338 (shipped with free carrying case!) from Teqequipment.net if you use the xxxxxxxxxxx coupon code and I can't speak from experience yet, but from what I hear, you'll never need another meter in your lifetime :P.
Guys thanks for the business but can you remove the code. We want it for eevblog members only and not posted publicly.. Thanks
Evan
TEquipment.NET
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Evan's post about not revealing the EEVblog discount code in a public forum had me confused (Will Dave whisper it into my ear?). I'll assume Evan want's EEVblog members to request the discount for EEVblog members in which case they will provide you with the code?
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When this first started Evan would send you the code by PM.