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Best multimeter for my price range?
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J-R:
The BM867s has 10 switch positions, the BM869s has 11.  The BM869s combines the diode and capacitance.  So with the BM869s you press a button to switch between those while on the BM867s you change the switch position.  Really no difference here.

The BM789 has the "AutoV LoZ" feature below the Off position, so it's not adding any extra knob turning. Even the BM235 has this feature.  It can be handy.  The other extra features are hardly adding to the extensive secondary functions.

Temperature can still be useful, since you can use it to measure the internal temp of the DMM by shorting the leads.

Checking my order records, I see for the BM869s and BM789 I spent about twice as much on accessories and shipping than by upgrading from the lower model to the highest.  A minimal expense for potentially useful features, but if not can be easily skipped over.

Ultimately, a bench meter is a good solution to all the knob turning.
Fungus:

--- Quote from: J-R on October 08, 2022, 09:07:22 am ---The BM867s has 10 switch positions, the BM869s has 11.  The BM869s combines the diode and capacitance.  So with the BM869s you press a button to switch between those while on the BM867s you change the switch position.  Really no difference here.

--- End quote ---

I like having a separate range for diode.


--- Quote from: J-R on October 08, 2022, 09:07:22 am ---A minimal expense for potentially useful features

--- End quote ---

I really don't need the extra features, I don't feel at all like I bought "second best". I bought the meter I wanted.

The difference in price may not be much in absolute $$$ terms but it's still enough to buy something that will be genuinely useful.
BlueApple:
What about the Fluke 116? It has a lot of good features and is only $145 at Lowe's.
Fungus:

--- Quote from: BlueApple on October 08, 2022, 01:03:14 pm ---What about the Fluke 116? It has a lot of good features and is only $145 at Lowe's.

--- End quote ---

It has no current measurement ranges, only a very limited uA range for testing flame sensors.  :-//

nb. Every sub-$400 meter in Fluke's lineup is deliberately designed with something missing so you eventually end up at their 87V (cash cow).

If you really want a Fluke and have about $150 to spend then get a Fluke 17B+. It's not good value compared to an equivalent  Brymen, it has no TRMS, no bar graph display, continuity is a bit slow ... but it's the least crippled for EE work.

https://lygte-info.dk/review/DMMFluke%2017B%20UK.html

The BM235 is better/cheaper though.
bdunham7:

--- Quote from: BlueApple on October 08, 2022, 01:03:14 pm ---What about the Fluke 116? It has a lot of good features and is only $145 at Lowe's.

--- End quote ---

It depends on what you need.  The F116 is an excellent meter for household and commercial electrical, things like wiring, appliance repair, HVAC, motors, etc.  I have one just for this purpose and $145 is actually a good deal for one.  They're virtually immune to user error.  But they are limited as a general-purpose bench meter since they deliberately omit current ranges (electricians use clamps) and some other features are limited.  For example, resistance only goes to 6 Megohms.
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