Looking for a Multimeter  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: KBATN
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 26, 2017, 01:22:17 am
content: first time poster.Well I am looking for a multi meter for mostly automotive use and some house hold uses..Right now I been looking and doing some research on fluke 88 and 87I can also get a snap on student discount so I been looking at the EEDM596EK .any other meters I should look at?thanks

author: daybyter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2017, 02:09:23 am
content: Brymen 869 maybe?What do you want to measure? For household stuff, a brymen 235 would be fine?

author: mrm2007
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2017, 03:36:35 am
content: Hello,At this price point, i think you should check Hioki DT4282 .

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2017, 03:54:04 am
content: Lot's of meters I would suggest looking at. I wouldn't suggest either the 87 or 88 even though both are great meters. I should amend that, I wouldn't suggest either if you are paying full (new) or typical used prices for them. The older 87-1, 87-2, and 87-3 meters solid but newer meters offer more features. The 87-5 ups the game but they are around $200 used on ebay.If you can find a deal on any of those, they are great meters.Most of my alternatives are Brymen based meters but in the US Brymen branded meters are rare. Just posting some examples from ebay (NOT endorsing any seller or any particular price as a good deal on that meter).Brymen based:Greenlee Dm-820A, I picked up one in used but acceptable shape for $60. Under $100 seems rather typical. This is a 6000 count meter, I don't recall the Brymen equivalent. 862 maybe?http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenlee-DM-820A-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-1000-Volt-/272624937943?hash=item3f79b66bd7:g:phMAAOSwls5Y6oiDGreenlee Dm-210Ahttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenlee-Digital-Multimeter-DM-210A-/162491005795?hash=item25d537fb63:g:PpwAAOSwVm5Y~9GpI had the DM-200 which is around $80 on Amazon. Solid little meter. Related to Dave's EEVBlog meter.MatcoLook like the Greenlee (other than color)? I wonder why...http://www.ebay.com/itm/MATCO-Automotive-Digital-Tech-Multimeter-Auto-Ranging-Auto-Check-MD257-/262947047059?hash=item3d38dd8693:g:Vc8AAOSwmCVY-ju7Matco has several version of this basic meter (as does Greenlee). This one is the "best" version, teh MD257. $76 is a solid price (again no idea if the seller is good or crap).Amprobehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Amprobe-AM-270-TRMS-Industrial-Multimeter-w-Bar-Graph-/322467314052?hash=item4b148cb984:g:YaEAAOSw9r1V8IHrThese were around $110 on Amazon not too long ago. This and the AM-130 seem to be the same meter. Very solid choice. It's an older Brymen based design but works really well. Only the backlight is poor.Amprobe pocket thinghttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Amprobe-AM-47-Digital-Pocket-Type-Multimeter-/282386696170?hash=item41bf8f07ea:g:FqIAAOSwnF9Y7Zb2Yes, this is also a Brymen. I think it has non-contact voltage detection.I've also had good luck with other brands. My current garage meters are Flukes. I've got a 73-3 and a 27With patience I got the 73-3 for something like $30. The seller said it didn't work. Turned out the battery was bad...http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-73III-NEAR-MINT-MULTIMETER-/222486767796?hash=item33cd3ea8b4:g:pp4AAOSwSypY~hkuThe 27's are tanks. Every now and again it seems you can get these really cheap (also look for the 8025A and 8025B which are the same meter. Note that the 27's were around for a long time. Older ones have somewhat harder to read LCDs (the last ones are VERY easy to read). The 27-FMs are TRMS... probably doesn't mater for you. I don't think I've paid over $30 for one of these. But I'm willing to wait and search.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-27-Multimeter-with-Leads-Guaranteed-to-Work-/261577392520?hash=item3ce73a4188:g:HtgAAOSwT5tWN9hrBK Precision/Metrixhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/BK-Precision-model-5370-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-/232291786123?hash=item3615ab5d8b:g:geYAAOSwzgBY4m3tI've had two of the 53X0 meters. Great meters and sometimes they go for a song. I think I was under $50 each for the two I've had. Like many Flukes these meters have a Touch-Hold feature.Blue and orange Agient handheldshttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Agilent-U1241A-True-RMS-Mutlimeter-/291958528115?hash=item43fa159873:g:BdYAAOSw44BYPvfKI've had various U125_A/B and U124_A/B meters. They are good but I found both somewhat flawed. The U125_ series meters were great but ate 9V batteries (they were designed to use rechargables). The U124_ would be an easy meter to recommend if the dang beeper were just louder. Probably great for a quiet lab but not in the garage. Otherwise a very solid meter. I picked up a U1241 for under $50 (again a deal I waited for).Some APPA based Ideal multimeters can be solid. This family can sometimes be found for very low prices on ebay. Fast continuity check.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ideal-Industries-480-Series-Commercial-Grade-Multimeter-Model-61-484-/382019866245?hash=item58f2288e85:g:vGAAAOSw4DJYioaKhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Ideal-Digital-Amplifier-Multi-Meter-61-482-New-Battery-/172639429290?hash=item28321ca2aa:g:e08AAOSwvihY~B-~Note that with companies like BK, Amprobe, Extec, Craftsman etc they often have a mix of great and not so great meters depending on the OEM. Extec has some Brymen based meters that are all solid while other meters are CME based and not that great (but may be a great deal)This Southwire for example is basically the same as the current Extec and I guess OK if the price is right. Solid construction and better safety protection than many sub $50 meters but slow continuity tester and the bar graph operates at the same speed as the display thus isn't really useful. I've seen these go for under $30 fairly often. I would trust it to take a beating but not to give me quick continuity checks.http://www.ebay.com/itm/SOUTHWIRE-12070T-TRUE-RMS-AUTORANGING-MULTIMETER-FREE-SHIPPING-/322298596068?hash=item4b0a7e4ae4:g:zxMAAOSw4shYBnydHope that helps

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2017, 12:03:30 pm
content: Just adding to the excellent post by robomeds above, since you are in the US you may want to take a look at theKlein MM700- their top models tend to be well built.Greenlee also has more advanced models such as theDM-860Aand theDM-830A, but they tend to be very expensive.

author: kleblanc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 07:51:11 pm
content: Almost any meter will work for automotive diagnostics since absolute accuracy isn't typically needed and voltages are almost only DC or low voltage AC. So the "safety" of the top tier meters isn't needed. The exception will be for hybrids.Anything with AC/DC V/mV and A/mA and Ohms, a fast/latching continuity tester is probably one of the most important things needs.I would buy a second hand top tier for around $50 put any thing saved towards a handheld oscilloscope or specialty tools for the manufacturer specific vehicles.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:06:45 pm
content: If you want to use a multimeter for automotive, is it for things like dwell and automotive specific unctions, or are you just saying you want to use it in autos generally? If you need specific automotive functions then you want things like the Fluke 88, Brymen BM819, and some others. If you you want just a reasonable general purpose meter that won't break the bank, then I recommend the Uni-Trend UT139C. It is a good all round meter that should serve you fine. If you want to spend more than around $50, there are so many options that previous posts have already taken care of this.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2017, 08:08:47 pm
content: OP comes asking for advice and then 4 days later, still doesn't check forum for replies!

author: P90
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2017, 12:48:44 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on April 29, 2017, 08:08:47 pmHe probably stopped by harborfreight and picked up a freebie meter... LOL

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2017, 02:05:13 am
content: Quote from: P90 on April 30, 2017, 12:48:44 amI only hope robomeds' post was a copy and paste...

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2017, 02:14:28 am
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on April 30, 2017, 02:05:13 amIt wasn't... but it will be the next time someone asks

author: P90
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2017, 02:15:34 am
content: ha ha

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2017, 02:32:26 am
content: Quote from: Robomeds on May 01, 2017, 02:14:28 amIn this case,That made me recallthis threadwhere all of us were annoyed at such occurrences...

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2017, 03:18:41 am
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on April 30, 2017, 02:05:13 amHaving written posts like Robomed's, I can easily attest it took him at least 30 minutes to search, document, proofread, etc his post.

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 05:20:39 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on May 01, 2017, 03:18:41 amAgreed, the 87 and 88 are the number one recommended automotive DMMs. Most smart people will stay away from the tool trucks on automotive so they normally go with Fluke.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 05:58:32 am
content: 8 days and the OP has not replied. Hard to tell if he has read anything as he might have done so without logging in. I hope it is the latter and not the former.

author: P90
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 07:55:59 am
content: perhaps he purchased a UEi DM397...

author: Liteace
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 08:38:26 am
content: I use an old like new condition Fluke 21 series 2 with big rubber boot / cover for my automotive work, popped a few fuses when working with H.U.A but apart from that it's been fine

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2017, 08:09:38 am
content: Perhaps OP stomped on the Harbour Fright meter in disgustand took his car to an auto electrician still using AVO and Simpson meters... ?

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2017, 09:37:06 pm
content: They all got it wrong. Use of car is for transporting multimeter (and other gear), not multimeter to use on car.