What do you think of your EEVblog Brymen BM235 Multimeter ?

[Valver]

Received my BM235 recently and am very pleased with it, but i need to clear up an issue. The reading update is not smooth, it updates rapidly for about seven counts then freezes for the equivalent of four counts then continues to update for another seven counts, freezes again and so on. Is this normal? I haven't been able to see this this on any of the Youtube review videos.

I bought this meter without realizing that it didn't have a bar graph. I absolutely need one for the work that I do so I also bought a UNI-T UT61E which has a very fast refresh bar graph. Great, so far so good, but both these meters have an extremely low volume continuity beeper which I simply can't hear so I'm forced to use an old Meterman 5XL which is at least three times louder than both the other meters combined. I want to replace the Meterman because it's useless for voltage measurements (it was given to me) but I need a meter with a LOUD continuity beeper that doesn't cost a fortune. Suggestions?

On the plus side I use the temperature probe to test for overheating power tubes... great feature. Really want to thank Dave for everything!

(Oh, and I like the blue color of the BM235, all my other meters are red, lol. )

[bc888]

"my daughter pointed out just the other day that my entire package of relatively new Duracell battery's were corroding while still in the package! "

 No Way! My daughter pointed out just the other day that my entire package of relatively new Duracell battery's were also corroding while still in the package! AAA for me, also going back to Costco. Then cleaning off my walkie talkie they Fed up, and moving the rest of the way to Enloops.

Duracells use to be top notch, now they are the F***ing worst. Multiple leakages from them. Where did Everreadys go? They need to step up.

[Russ]

Duracells have been crappy for a couple of decades. Go with the Eneloops. Also, stay away from all Ray O  ac batteries.

[Hextejas]

I like the meter a lot, except for one thing.
I cannot get the Hz function to work.
I rarely use it but I needed it today and luckily I have another meter that does it.
Has anyone else tried it and got it working ?

[malagas_on_fire]

It's a good value for the money.

The leads are very good, the digits are darker, good brightness ; remembers the settings when powered off, very accurate. Battery life i'm still using for now the ones that came and so far so good.




Don't use cheap or v shape banana connectors on the A/mA range, because it may lead to wank the beepJack if using custom leads.

[IanB]

I like the meter a lot, except for one thing.
I cannot get the Hz function to work.
I rarely use it but I needed it today and luckily I have another meter that does it.
Has anyone else tried it and got it working ?

Can you give more information? Like what voltage and frequency were you trying to measure? Saying "it doesn't work" is hopeless. Obviously it does work.

[Valver]

@Hextejas, Yes Hz function works correctly but the sensitivity varies from about 8% to 90% of the full scale range to get a proper reading. Use to range button to put the meter in manual mode then select the lowest range you can for the signal you are measuring without going off scale. I tested it on 3v and 120v signals and obtained the correct result of 60 Hz. Check the manual and you will see how widely the sensitivity changes.

My meter doesn't update readings smoothly and this bothers me quite a bit. I get about 6 updates then a hesitation then it updates again. Does this happen to you?

[IanB]

My meter doesn't update readings smoothly and this bothers me quite a bit. I get about 6 updates then a hesitation then it updates again. Does this happen to you?

I could not test this without a continuously varying frequency. For example, when measuring the mains frequency it is constant and doesn't change, so I cannot see or tell when the display updates.

[IanB]

My meter doesn't update readings smoothly and this bothers me quite a bit. I get about 6 updates then a hesitation then it updates again. Does this happen to you?

Apparently it does happen on DC volts, for example. It doesn't bother me particularly, though.

[Valver]

My meter acts this way on all measurements: voltage, resistance, and current

[Valver]

OK thanks, I was wondering if it was defective, I have never seen this behavior before

[Hextejas]

I like the meter a lot, except for one thing.
I cannot get the Hz function to work.
I rarely use it but I needed it today and luckily I have another meter that does it.
Has anyone else tried it and got it working ?

Can you give more information? Like what voltage and frequency were you trying to measure? Saying "it doesn't work" is hopeless. Obviously it does work.

Sorry Ian, I could have been more specific. I was trying to read 1.2khz @ 10v. I think that I had it set correctly, but will try again tomorrow. I followed the manual, set the freq/v to 6 and the meter showed 00.00.

[IanB]

Sorry Ian, I could have been more specific. I was trying to read 1.2khz @ 10v. I think that I had it set correctly, but will try again tomorrow. I followed the manual, set the freq/v to 6 and the meter showed 00.00.

I can't test your exact signal myself, but what I would do is let the meter auto-range on the AC V setting until it shows 10 V on the display, then press the Hz button.

[IanB]

I just did a quick test with my local line frequency of 60 Hz. When measuring frequency and with the sensitivity set to 60 V, the meter was able to report the frequency correctly with an input down to 2.5 V. Below about 2.5 V the display showed 00.00.

[YU2]

I am in Germany, which small size DMM for about 100€ is the best buy? Is it still bm257s?

[Hextejas]

gonna try and post 5 pictures.
2 are with a working meter Amprobe
3 with the bm235 not working

[Valver]

gonna try and post 5 pictures.
2 are with a working meter Amprobe
3 with the bm235 not working

You are measuring 10v on what seems to be the 600v range, the minimum sensitivity for this range is 50v according to the line frequency chart in the Brymen manual on page 28. Try increasing the signal level to 60v. 

[IanB]

gonna try and post 5 pictures.
2 are with a working meter Amprobe
3 with the bm235 not working

You seem to be using the "LoZ" mode. Switch instead to the "VFD V~=" range and press SELECT until the display shows "~". It should auto-range to the 60 V range. Then press the "Hz" button.

[Valver]

gonna try and post 5 pictures.
2 are with a working meter Amprobe
3 with the bm235 not working

You seem to be using the "LoZ" mode. Switch instead to the "VFD V~=" range and press SELECT until the display shows "~". It should auto-range to the 60 V range. Then press the "Hz" button.

10v is minimum sensitivity for the 60v range also, need higher voltage to trigger the frequency counter

[IanB]

10v is minimum sensitivity for the 60v range also, need higher voltage to trigger the frequency counter

The signal is 10 V. But I tested it down to 2.5 V successfully. Or change to the 6 V frequency setting.

[IanB]

A quick test:

[joeqsmith]

I like the meter a lot, except for one thing.
I cannot get the Hz function to work.
I rarely use it but I needed it today and luckily I have another meter that does it.
Has anyone else tried it and got it working ?

Can you give more information? Like what voltage and frequency were you trying to measure? Saying "it doesn't work" is hopeless. Obviously it does work.

Sorry Ian, I could have been more specific. I was trying to read 1.2khz @ 10v. I think that I had it set correctly, but will try again tomorrow. I followed the manual, set the freq/v to 6 and the meter showed 00.00.

It's not enough information.  My guess is you are biasing the signal above the meter's common and have not considered that the BM235 requires a zero cross.   If this is not what you are doing, please provide further details.

[Hextejas]

Lets see.
I was showing the BM235 against the same input that shows correctly and as expected on the other meter.
I set the hz meter to 6v sensitivity as suggested. That supposedly is the most sensitive setting or so someone said.
I was using the the LoZ  setting so as to be able to show the voltage under test. ~10.5

[Hextejas]

gonna try and post 5 pictures.
2 are with a working meter Amprobe
3 with the bm235 not working

You are measuring 10v on what seems to be the 600v range, the minimum sensitivity for this range is 50v according to the line frequency chart in the Brymen manual on page 28. Try increasing the signal level to 60v.

I believe that I tested it on the 6v range as well as the 60v range. I will try ot again.

[Hextejas]

10v is minimum sensitivity for the 60v range also, need higher voltage to trigger the frequency counter

The signal is 10 V. But I tested it down to 2.5 V successfully. Or change to the 6 V frequency setting.

I did Ian, as one of the pictures shows the 6V.