[WTB] - Help to purchase a new multimeter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: psysc0rpi0n
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 06:15:58 pm
content: I have somehow damaged my old cheap multmeter and I need to buy a new one!I'm not an expert, just an hobbyist. But I'm also kind of new to electronics, so I don't need an expert multmeter. I also don't want the cheapest one!Most of my works are in an academic context like build small circuits in the breadboards or small circuits in small PCBs.A friend of mine showed me a couple of suggestions and I would like to know more opinions.My budget is about 200€ and 250€ but if it is worth I can go maybe up to 350€. More than that I think I'll pass.I already have 2 suggestions:About 200€Brymen BM869SAbout 350€Iso-Tech IDM505do you guys have better choices within these prices?

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 06:19:23 pm
content: I really like my Brymen BM869S.. Very accurate, solid, I think it is best price/performance you can get at the moment...

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 06:35:15 pm
content: any change a fuse blew? or magic smoke?

author: samgab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 06:52:07 pm
content: lol, those two you came up with are the exact same two meters I've been umming and arring over the last few days. I've searched extensively, and for the price, those two, (and their identical equivalents in some other brand names) are the best two I could come up with for the price range.If I wanted to spend quite a bit less than that and still get a pretty good meter I'd get theFluke 17B+, but the two you've mentioned are both much better and more functional than the 17B+.When you decide, let us know how you get on, because I need some help deciding between those two, or the Brymen BM867S too.

author: psysc0rpi0n
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 06:56:49 pm
content: Quote from: onesixright on February 06, 2017, 06:35:15 pmYes, the fuse blow up. Or better it burned out! I have replaced it but the multmeter is measuring currents with a 10x scale factor error. I mean if I have a current of 4.8mA, in one of the scales it measures 0.48mA. In any other scales it just measures weird values like 1mA or 0.1mA... Well, it's weird. Mylsef can't fully understand what is going on!

author: psysc0rpi0n
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 07:22:36 pm
content: Quote from: samgab on February 06, 2017, 06:52:07 pmI also need help to make sure about something about the Iso-Tech IDM505.In the front page of the multmeter site, they say:but inside the PDF document it says:I wonder what is correct!

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 08:14:54 pm
content: Both is correct.. It has one socket for up to 100mA, and other for up to 10A.But it seems that it does have a "hole" in ranges... It goes up to 100mA, and then you jump right to 10A range...So if you need to measure 150mA, you will do it on 10A range.. That will be very imprecise..Brymen BM869 has 500mA, 5A and 10A range... So you wont have a hole in measurement range.

author: samgab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 08:41:52 pm
content: Yeah, I tend to think the Brymen is better in a number of ways. It has 50,000 counts fast mode, and can go up to 500,000 counts, whereas the other one is 10,000 counts in normal/fast mode, and can go up to 100,000 counts. I did a few other quick comparisons in the other thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rs-pro-dmm-the-idm505-100-000-counts-0-015-dc-v-accuracy/msg1130332/#msg1130332

author: psysc0rpi0n
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 03:20:57 pm
content: Ok, I have decided to buy the Brymen BM869S... Already purchased it at tme.eu site!