Author Topic: Used multimeter buyer's guide (Read 34053 times)

usagi · « **on:** February 23, 2017, 01:05:37 am »

Lots of multimeters can be found on the used market for great prices, especially if you know what to look for! This guide is intended for hobbyists looking for good deals on used multimeters.

Make/Model	Digits	Count	Display	Form Factor	Avg Price	Notes
Advantest R6441A	4-1/2		VFD	Benchtop	$50-$150
Advantest R6441B	5-1/2		VFD	Benchtop	$150-$200
Fluke 45	4-1/2	30,000	VFD	Benchtop	$150-$300	Dual display. 5 digits available in "hi-res" mode.
Fluke 8050A	4-1/2		LCD	Benchtop	$30-$50	Released around 1979
Fluke 8840A	5-1/2		VFD	Benchtop	$100-$200
Fluke 8842A	5-1/2		VFD	Benchtop	$200-$300
Fluke 8845A	6-1/2		Pixel VFD	Benchtop	$500-$1000
Fluke 8846A	6-1/2		Pixel VFD	Benchtop	$600-$1000
GW Instek GDM-8251A	5-1/2	120,000	VFD	Benchtop	$50-$150	Lots of ITT bankruptcy surplus
HP 34401A	6-1/2	1,200,000	VFD	Benchtop	$250-$600	Released in 1992. Currently plentiful. Popular EEVblog choice.
HP 3455A	6-1/2		LED	Rackmount	$150-$300	Really mostly a voltmeter. Other functionality limited.
HP 3456A	6-1/2		LED	Rackmount	$200	DVM with resistance measurement. MSRP $3800 in 1980.
HP 3457A	6-1/2	3,000,000	LCD	Rackmount	$200	7-1/2 digits available via GPIB or special controls. Another popular EEVblog choice.
HP 3458A	8-1/2	12,000,000	Pixel VFD	Rackmount	$3k-$4k	MSRP $9750
HP 3468A	5-1/2		LCD	Benchtop	$150-$300
HP 3478A	5-1/2	300,000	LCD	Benchtop	$100-$200	Released 1983
Keithley 192	6-1/2		LED	Benchtop	$100-300	Released around 1982
Keithley 196	6-1/2		LED	Benchtop	$200-400	Released around 1986
Keithley 199	5-1/2		LED	Benchtop	$100-200
Keithley 2000	6-1/2	1,000,000	VFD	Benchtop	$450-$800	Very well regarded meter on eevblog
Keithley 2001	7-1/2		Pixel VFD	Benchtop	$800-$1600
Keithley 2002	8-1/2		Pixel VFD	Benchtop	$4k-$5k
Keithley 2010	7-1/2		VFD	Benchtop	$1k-$2k
Keithley 2015	6-1/2		VFD	Benchtop	$350-1k	Audio multimeter, THD measurement
Prema 6001	6 1/2		LED	Benchtop	$500-$700	Manual
Solartron/Schlumberger 7061	7-1/2		VFD	Rackmount	$350	AC is RMS only.
Solartron/Schlumberger 7071	7-1/2		VFD	Rackmount	$1300	No current measurement. AC is RMS only.
Solartron/Schlumberger 7081	8-1/2		VFD	Rackmount	$2500	No current measurement. AC is RMS only.
Solartron/Schlumberger 7151	5-1/2		LCD	Benchtop	$300-$500
Wavetek / Datron 1062	6-1/2		Panaplex	Rackmount	$200-$300
Wavetek / Datron 1071	7-1/2		Panaplex	Rackmount		Specifications
Wavetek / Datron 1081	7-1/2		Panaplex	Rackmount	$400	Be careful - base model 1081 is DC only. AC, Resistance and current measurement are options.
Wavetek / Datron 1082	7-1/2		Panaplex	Rackmount	$400-$800
Wavetek / Datron 1281	8-1/2		Segment VFD + Pixel VFD	Rackmount	$2.5k-$3k

See also: Used spectrum analyzer buyer's guide

usagi · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2017, 01:30:02 am »

Keysight Product Page: 3458A Digital Multimeter, 8½ Digit

HP 3458A 8.5-digit metrology-grade DMM restoration

image courtesy of sglabs.it

usagi · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2017, 01:35:39 am »

Keysight product page: 34401A Digital Multimeter, 6½ Digit

image courtesy of sglabs.it

usagi · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2017, 01:39:32 am »

Fluke Product Page: Fluke 45 Dual Display Multimeter

image courtesy of sglabs.it

usagi · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2017, 08:59:50 am »

GW Instek Product Page: GDM-8251A

CAL key can be made by using a USB plug and shorting pin 1 to pin 4.

Topic: GW Instek GDM-8251A DMM Calibration
Topic: Inside a GWInstek GDM-8251A bench multimeter
Topic: Got my GDM-8251 from eBay today...one question (discussion about dynamic ranging issues)

pelule · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:18:48 am »

A good and affordable 5.5 digit DMM is the Fluke 8804A, best with opt9 and opt1 (GPIB and TRUE-RMS

By the way, the HP3456A is a DVM with similar limited measurment functions as the 3455A (DVM).
BR
PeLuLe

usagi · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:26:44 am »

Topic: The Mysterious "7th Digit" (HP 3457a DMM)

usagi · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2017, 09:50:57 am »

usagi · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2017, 10:05:00 am »

WaveyDipole · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2017, 11:42:21 am »

I see no mention of Schlumberger Solatron 7150, 6.5 digit, or 7075, 7.5 digit. There seem to be a few 7150's being offered for 75-200GBP at the moment. Filter issue aside, are they worth getting?

Any advantage to the hobbyist of a 5.5/6.5 digit versus 4.5 digit? I'm currently considering an Agilent U340A that I have been offered.

Monolith · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2017, 01:25:11 pm »

The Fluke 45 is bit better than 4.5 Digits.

According to the Fluke 45 Manual :
The Fluke 45 Dual Display Multimeter (also referred to as "the meter") is a 4/2-digit
(30,000 count) meter with a 5-digit (100,000 count) high resolution mode.

If you change the measurement rate to "S" for slow (2.5 readings per second) you get 5 digit resolution with maximum 99.999 display counts (100.000 Digits)

regards

Mono

JenniferG · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2017, 07:38:44 pm »

I am just starting out but I just bought this used Fluke 8050A for $19.99 plus $9.99 (US) shipping, off ebay -- I'll have it in a few days. Fortunately it isn't the battery (-01) version so I don't have to worry about batteries. Also the LCD appears to be working. I am just wondering how accurate it'll be once I get it here and set up. I suppose I can take to my local electronics shop and have them do a few quick comparisons to their calibrated bench meter.

At least it'll probably be better than any of the $5-$15 Chinese handhelds I have (had).

EEVblog · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2017, 10:44:29 pm »

Quote from: JenniferG on February 23, 2017, 07:38:44 pm

I am just starting out but I just bought this used Fluke 8050A for $19.99 plus $9.99 (US) shipping, off ebay -- I'll have it in a few days. Fortunately it isn't the battery (-01) version so I don't have to worry about batteries. Also the LCD appears to be working. I am just wondering how accurate it'll be once I get it here and set up.

Fluke are famous for holding their accuracy for decades. Unless it has a fault of some kind, it is very unlikely to have drifted out of spec.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2017, 10:53:43 pm »

Adjustment is easy anyway. All through trimpots. The procedure is described in the manual.
You got it for a good price. It's a great iconic meter. Enjoy it.

mtdoc · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2017, 11:13:41 pm »

Quote from: usagi on February 23, 2017, 01:05:37 am

HP 3468A 5-1/2 Benchtop $150-$300
HP 3478A 5-1/2 Benchtop $100-$200

The HP 3478A is a higher performance, metal versus plastic case, HPIB version of the 3468A. IME the prices of the 3478As are usually higher (not lower) than the 3468As reflecting these upgrades.

An excellent article on these meters can be found in this 1983 edition of HP Journal

JenniferG · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2017, 02:28:07 am »

Quote from: Wytnucls on February 23, 2017, 10:53:43 pm

Adjustment is easy anyway. All through trimpots. The procedure is described in the manual.
You got it for a good price. It's a great iconic meter. Enjoy it.

Is there an affordable tool I can buy that will act as a reference to see how accurate my meter is with respect to voltage, current & resistance?

Mr.B · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2017, 02:37:56 am »

Quote from: JenniferG on February 24, 2017, 02:28:07 am

Is there an affordable tool I can buy that will act as a reference to see how accurate my meter is with respect to voltage, current & resistance?

It depends on your definition of affordable.

I have one of these and it is great...
http://www.voltagestandard.com/DMMCheck.html

Just checked the web site and they don't appear to be supplying them anymore... Not in their on-line shop... Damn...

tautech · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2017, 03:12:13 am »

Quote from: Mr.B on February 24, 2017, 02:37:56 am

Quote from: JenniferG on February 24, 2017, 02:28:07 am
Is there an affordable tool I can buy that will act as a reference to see how accurate my meter is with respect to voltage, current & resistance?

It depends on your definition of affordable.

I have one of these and it is great...
http://www.voltagestandard.com/DMMCheck.html

Just checked the web site and they don't appear to be supplying them anymore... Not in their on-line shop... Damn...

Yep, bugger. Now we'll have to find another source of what was a great product.

http://www.voltagestandard.com/Discontinued_Products.html
Discontinued Products

The following products have been discontinued:
Vref5-002
DMMCheck
DMMCheck Plus

JenniferG · « **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2017, 03:43:36 am »

How much did it cost? Just curious. I see it uses an LT chip for the voltage source. Couldn't someone make up a simple circuit using a reliable voltage source chip like the LT, and share the schematic? We can then make our own?

NEvermind, it itself needs calibrating .. lol.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2017, 03:45:28 am »

I have a voltage reference (Hao Qi Xin) which has served me well. (Courtesy Franky Tong)

They sell out of Hong Kong for about 20$.
Here is one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Voltage-Reference-Module-AD584kH-High-Precision-4-Channel-2-5V-7-5V-5V-10V-/271955314814?hash=item3f51ccc87e:g:L0cAAOSwPcVVywg5

Scullcom review:

JenniferG · « **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2017, 03:46:56 am »

Quote from: Wytnucls on February 24, 2017, 03:45:28 am

I have a voltage reference (Hao Qi Xin) which has served me well. (Courtesy Franky Tong)

They sell out of Hong Kong for about 20$.
Here is one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Voltage-Reference-Module-AD584kH-High-Precision-4-Channel-2-5V-7-5V-5V-10V-/271955314814?hash=item3f51ccc87e:g:L0cAAOSwPcVVywg5

Scullcom review:

Oh very nice, I might buy this

tautech · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2017, 03:53:04 am »

Quote from: JenniferG on February 24, 2017, 03:43:36 am

How much did it cost? Just curious. I see it uses an LT chip for the voltage source. Couldn't someone make up a simple circuit using a reliable voltage source chip like the LT, and share the schematic? We can then make our own?

NEvermind, it itself needs calibrating .. lol.

IIRC it was ~$ 70, but its redeeming feature was it contained a # of standards; voltage, resistance and frequency....
Mr B will put us right on just what it had.

JenniferG · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2017, 04:54:18 am »

I see a bunch of these AD584 voltage reference modules on ebay for under $3

The pcb looks clean. I like it. Thing is I am guessing they don't measure them with their 6 digit calibrated meters there and record the values onto a label

But wow these are sweet. I could design and 3d print a case for it (and share the file on thingiverse.com for people to download and print). Trick is getting it measured. Maybe my local electronics shop would measure it for me .. friends with the owner.

I could use this pcb as part of a larger, affordable, reference unit. Throw in some resistors for resistance checking. Not smart enough yet to build a current reference. But if I got help with that I could make a case that houses all three and share the CAD file with everyone on Thingiverse. Could even print out a few cases for people if I got some help with the design.

[I suppose I should create a separate thread for this.. maybe I am getting too off topic here? Sorry OP.]

mtdoc · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2017, 05:03:44 am »

Quote from: tautech on February 24, 2017, 03:53:04 am

Quote from: JenniferG on February 24, 2017, 03:43:36 am
How much did it cost? Just curious. I see it uses an LT chip for the voltage source. Couldn't someone make up a simple circuit using a reliable voltage source chip like the LT, and share the schematic? We can then make our own?

NEvermind, it itself needs calibrating .. lol.
IIRC it was ~$ 70, but its redeeming feature was it contained a # of standards; voltage, resistance and frequency....
Mr B will put us right on just what it had.

I have one of these. The web page is still available to check out its features.

Mine is a slightly earlier version. No plastic case. IIRC I paid $59.

It's been a very useful device and it's too bad he is discontinuing it. I'm glad to see he is supporting them until 2019. Reminds me that I need to send mine in to him to be recalibrated.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2017, 05:04:03 am »

J version is no good. Find one with the more accurate AD584 L version.


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Author Topic: Used multimeter buyer's guide (Read 34053 times)

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