Which Bench multimeter to choose? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: ElectricPower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 04:42:17 pm
content: I want to invest in an good bench multimeter. My multimeter always stand on one place and do not fit in my shelf beacause of hight. (Brymen 869). I want an good bench multimeter that not is too expensive. Is it possible to get one for around 500 dollar or less?I want a minimum 10.000 count meter with good accuracy and big screen.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 05:11:14 pm
content: The Siglent SDM3055 would give you 240,000 counts for your $500. It has a decent reputation and I am very happy with the one I have.Also, the screen looks pretty big to me.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 07:47:52 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on December 14, 2022, 05:11:14 pmSure they're a reasonable size but the yellow on black numbers contrast is what makes them so visible and good to work with from a distance where some meters become hard to read.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 09:55:16 pm
content: Vici VC8145. No fluff and it just works. One of these is my daily driver for professional use for a decade alreadyI also have a Keysight 6.5 digit dmm but I only use that when I need very high accuracy which is nearly never.

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 11:19:05 pm
content: The Siglent SDM3045X may be also a good option.Has roughly the same functionality of the SDM3055 (5.5 digit), but only 4.5 digits, 66.000 count, way above your requirement, but has no fan so it's quieter, and it's cheaper.Study the datasheets of every meter you consider as a viable option.Good luck

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 11:24:29 pm
content: Quote from: Mortymore on December 14, 2022, 11:19:05 pmCertainly.We have a customer that has an electronic repair shop and they have 4 SDM3045X now, one for every techs bench and all sourced 1 by 1 over a few years. For us as the supplier nothing is more satisfying than professional's repeat purchases.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 11:41:12 am
content: GwInstek GDM-8251 sometime can be found at very low price ...Some Fluke 45 tooOwon 55000 Counts XDM1241 ??Really depend of your needs, and how many count digits you need lollVici VC8145 as mentioned has a big display and backlight, you have some Uni-T bench meters etc ....And sometimes if you want to do serious stuff, think about a calibration cost or a DIY solution ...

author: thom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 03:18:42 pm
content: of the 3 SDM3045 I bought, two were defective, but the good one serves as my secondary bench meter and is a fantastic value. one of them started locking up with increasing frequency, and the other one exhibited this behaviour within a day or two of hitting the bench. I was hoping to hear back from the siglent engineers (you can talk to them on the phone, which is greatly appreciated!), but no word back yet. my suspicion is something up with the SOC on those units, maybe poorly placed heatsinking or something, not sure, but it left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.the good unit hasn't locked up once, hasn't had a single hiccup, and is used 7 days a week. the other two units locked up constantly, and all three were on the same firmware if memory serves. what I am saying is that I'd suggest leaving your unit powered up 24/7 for the first few weeks, and if it locks up even once, return it. a working unit is fantastic value, but the lock ups increase in frequency over time, and I would be willing to bet that any units that exhibit lockups at all will just get progressively worse, leaving you high and dry after the warranty period unless a warranty extension program for affected units is put in place.this is just my experience though, so it's possible I was incredibly unlucky twice. if it were just one meter, I'd have remained on the siglent train, but I got off at the keithly station and haven't looked back since

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 03:42:34 pm
content: Quote from: thom on December 15, 2022, 03:18:42 pmDid you consider checking the firmware version installed and updating it ?

author: thom
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 03:58:20 pm
content: updating firmware is the first thing we do after unboxing. siglent engineer confirmed it was a hardware issue, was hoping he would get back to me with findings about what was wrong, but I'm sure their plate is full

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 04:02:48 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on December 14, 2022, 11:24:29 pm"Better the devil you know"?

author: H713
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2022, 04:52:29 am
content: Because someone has to say it,Which = a question.Witch = a magic person in a pointy hat.Anyway, I personally like the 34401A, and you can get them for <$500 regularly enough. Great accuracy, well-built, nice to use. We have a few of them at work and I quite like them.I went the route of the Fluke 8842A, but this applies to the Fluke 45s as well. Dim VFDs plague MANY of these meters, and you cannot get replacements. I believe that replacements do exist for the 34401A.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2022, 06:20:46 am
content: Quote from: H713 on December 16, 2022, 04:52:29 amNew LED displays are available for the 8840A/42A via forum member AHOL, though since he is in Ukraine afaik, there may be shipping delays.$500 gets you quite a serious used bench DMM, though the OP doesn't mention if used is acceptable. A Keithley 2000/2015THD should also be considered in this price range, if yes.

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2022, 09:51:41 am
content: Don't know how thing work in Norway, but for a EU country one should be careful with items bought from outside the EU, because of the income/duty taxes.It's not easy to find those "fancy used meters", particularly at the price ranges that one can get in US.If that meter is intended to be the best meter in place, or there's no way to check how good or accurate the used meter will be, buy a new one.Besides, now in EU there's a 3 year warranty for new items, where the used ones my have none.Again, I don't know how things work for the OP country of origin.Just saying...

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2022, 11:33:02 am
content: Quote from: H713 on December 16, 2022, 04:52:29 amFor the 34401a Keysight is about to go or is : "no longer available", i have bought vfd clones from Aliexpress when they just came out, no problems on them too, bought at 35$ usd at the time, now almost doubledTheir used price has gone nuts, better find more recent alternatives like the 34410a and 34411aJust did the same thing on a 34410a for 200$ cad delivered, it is very tight fit, but works very well, bright and fast, the controller is hidden in the vfd itselfyou have vfd substiitutions projects here ... with oled or led displaysIf the OP want precision, a good investment is in order

author: ElectricPower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 03:30:50 am
content: Thanks for all replyesI think i'm going to reject the bench multimeter and go for BM786 instead. (The EEVblog one).I have allready ordered it

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 05:14:33 am
content: Quote from: ElectricPower on December 17, 2022, 03:30:50 amOther than it being blue, it's not going to solve the main problem you cited.A bit late but, if you don't need capacitance and frequency you can get a prime 4.5 digit Fluke 8050A for under $75.Anyway, I too have the BM786. It's a really good meter for a handheld unit. And it's blue. But I do use my Fluke 8050A more than my BM786 .. just saying. (actually I use my SDM3055 the most)

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 08:01:25 am
content: Can't see the Fluke 8050A making much sense unless you're just nostalgic. It's not auto-ranging and uses flaky push button switches for everything instead of soft keys.If old faithfuls like the 34401A or Keithley 2015THD are outside your budget, the Keithley 197A and Fluke 8840A/8842A are nice to have in my opinion. 34401A and 8840A/8842A have pretty nice VFD displays.Speaking of displays, the 121GW has a nice Windows app where you can make the digits as big as you want...

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 09:48:57 am
content: I would also recommend to look for a used HPAK 34401A , if the precision is needed.I got mine for $430 - Opened box , but never used, all in there, some years ago.I have :Agilent 34401AK2015-THD- And betterBut when i need something, for aquick measure.I either use my Brymen 257 handheld , or my Mastech 9803R (looks the same as the - Vici VC8145)They're "instant on", and i don't need 6+ digits for a quick voltage measurement/Bingo

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 10:46:10 am
content: Well...With a budget of $500 for handheld multimeter that has to fit in a small high shelf, I would have recommend then the Fluke233You could leave the meter on the bench and the display on the tight shelfHope the BM786 serves you well.One can't have enough meters... others will come.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 10:50:29 am
content: Quote from: bingo600 on December 17, 2022, 09:48:57 amAgreed. For a quick measurement you don't need a fancy meter. Before I bought the VC8145 I looked at lots of bench multimeters both new and used and it just came out on top. I quickly discarded the older ones from HP and so on because they typically have small displays, slow continuity, limited features and a very low current measurement range (like 3A or so). Especially the 6.5 digit meters are all about precission and not having the most features.Nowadays there are more low cost models on the market from brands like Uni-T. Either way, for a general purpose DMM I'd look for something that doesn't run an OS and thus powers up instantly. Less components means less can break and thus more reliability. Capacitance and temperature measurements are useful to have.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 01:30:59 pm
content: I use my handheld DMM sideway. It would fit on the shelf. I would not buy a bench meter due to shelf space. Sure I would buy bench meter for the accuracy but then they are more than $500.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 03:17:20 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on December 17, 2022, 01:30:59 pmHow about never needing to change the batteries and it never shuts off automatically? For me these two features alone are reason enough to get a bench DMM

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 03:34:52 pm
content: Quote from: J-R on December 17, 2022, 08:01:25 amHmm, I have both a 8010 and an 8050A and the push buttons on neither are flaky. Also, auto-ranging has it's down sides not the least being the time it takes when doing repetitive measurements. Generally you know pretty well what range you should be on before taking a measurement.All that aside, should we then just assume the 1.5763V my 8050A reads on a battery is to be treated as rubbish compared to the 1.57627V my SDM3055 reads because one has soft buttons and the other does not?Good to know.

author: ElectricPower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 03:51:23 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on December 17, 2022, 05:14:33 amYes it will solve my main problem. BM786 is a little lower than BM869, so this will fitt in my shelf. It fits my other recuirements also. Maybe without the "big" screen, but that i can live with.Is there some smart stands for handhield multimeters that make them less wiggle wiggle on the bench?Btw... in my opinion, Fluke is overprised for personal use.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 06:01:44 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 17, 2022, 03:17:20 pmBattery on a lot of DMM last a long time. I doesn't bother me to change it. (of course you can run it on AC with some source of adapter). Many meters can be set so that it doesn't turn itself off.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 06:03:15 pm
content: That will be different if you have a DMM switched on all day, every day. It will deplete a battery pretty quick.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 06:03:54 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on December 17, 2022, 03:34:52 pmI said I wouldn't want to buy a bench meter for shelf space but I bought an 8050A for $20. It works great for me. Manual ranging is fine I have no problem with that.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 07:49:02 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on December 17, 2022, 06:03:54 pmCompared to bench meters of today, they are pretty compact and are just about the best bargain in a highly reliable and accurate 4.5 digit meter. Mine cost $35 so you got a fantastic deal. I see people on eBay paying over $100 for them and asking over $200 for them too.I wonder who would pay over $200 when you can buy then for less than half that? It seems a lot of eBay sellers do not do their homework.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 08:30:57 pm
content: TE prices can be so volatile, I saw a Tek 224 make £450 the other day, loads of bidders. Madness!

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 10:22:36 pm
content: The switch contacts are a known issue. I picked up 6 faulty bench meters in the last year or so that used switches and every single one required work in that area, while the 5 with soft-keys had zero issues in that area.I did fix two 8050A units and kept the nicer one for myself, also got the touch & hold probe for it. So I'm not saying it's junk, but it's a bit questionable to suggest that as a solution for the OP who asked for something under $500, not under $100.The autorange & display speed of some of the VFD bench meters like the 8840A/8842A is unparalleled in my opinion. M-Ohm to Ohm in a blink... VFD is also far better for visibility than LCD, which can be a challenge due to viewing angles and lighting.So if you want to be nostalgic or make the claim that "it can be done" then that is fine, but for daily tasks a large/bright/visible display, autoranging and softkeys are all good features that boost ease of use and productivity. There is a reason these vary drastically in price points...

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 10:47:14 pm
content: Quote from: J-R on December 17, 2022, 10:22:36 pmI agree, the 8050A and its lesser cousins are something cute you buy for $5 and fix up for fun, but the displays and switches that need physical force make them less desirable to use. I've sold nice 8840A/8842A units with good displays or LED conversions for $250-400, so I can't imagine paying $200 for an 8050A.One meter I never see get any love is the 8800A. It's not TRMS (which is OK IMO) but 5.5 digits, 50ppm basic DC accuracy, 1200V, auto range, 4-wire ohms and nice red LED display all in a compact case about the same size as an 8050A.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 11:08:59 pm
content: If you look back, my recommendation was an SDM3055. I just threw in the 8050A after the horse had left. It wan't a serious suggestion. However, I do like mine and use it all the time. I do a lot of vintage computer fooling around and I like to use vintage equipment to work on them.

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 11:27:53 pm
content: Quote from: ElectricPower on December 14, 2022, 04:42:17 pmThe SDM3055/SDM3045 that have been recommended before are probably very good choices. I don't own a Siglent DMM myself but have read watched a lot of positive reviews/experience reports.Alternatively you could look at an Owon XDM3051 (comparison between the Owon XDM3051 and the Agilent 34461A by Jerry Walker is linked below). The Owon meters have some minor quirks (e.g. obnoxiously loud buzzer, the meter doesn't memorize trigger speed settings after poweroff, the ACV measurement is a bit sluggish at least on the lower end versions the higher end ones like the 3051 seem to be a bit faster.). On the positive side the Owon meters are surprisingly well made. The build quality is nice, for instance the mechanical power button on the Owon feels than the one used by Keysight in my opinion.If you are adventurous you could try out the Hantek HDM 3055/3065, which is a pretty new Keysight knock-off. There is not yet much info/experience reports available around this meters. SDG Electronics took a look (see second video below). Based on his observations I think the Hantek delivers relatively good bang for the buck. The problem with those meters is, nobody knows how they will perform in terms of long-term stability/realiability.

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 17, 2022, 11:41:27 pm
content: Fair enough the 8050A was an off-hand comment, but people come along later and read these threads looking for on-topic info. The 8050A is a bit out there!I will clarify that the Keithley 2015THD (and similar units) display is perhaps a little on the small side, compared to the 34401A and 884xA.Another interesting candidate might be the 34450A, although not sure how the OLED display holds up.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 12:16:21 am
content: Quote from: J-R on December 17, 2022, 11:41:27 pmIn this case yes.Consider this, I bought mine in 8+ condition for $35 CDN (about $25 US) and it needed nothing. It was even within spec. Would you be more liekly to reccomend such an 8050A to soemone looking for a $25US meter or something like this:https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08L84J9V4/ref?

author: nightfire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 12:28:20 am
content: Quote from: ElectricPower on December 17, 2022, 03:51:23 pmAt least with Fluke handhelds, they are designed for rough environments, so the private user will not use all features that have to be paid for. For a private workbench there are agreeably solutions available with better bang for buck.But in the used segment some old Fluke bench DMMs can still shine, if used correctly- I have a 45 and a 8600a on my bench, and they behave nicely. But you have to look at them closely before buying, because replacements of the display are hard to get. Depending on the requirements, a Fluke 45 still is able to deliver serious performance, when it comes to basic measurements. For the more fancy stuff, modern handhelds are better equipped, and cheaper.Regarding power consumption: Some handhelds have the possibility to get external power to save batteries- even my old Fluke 8020A had such a connector on the side ;-)

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 01:12:01 am
content: Quote from: nightfire on December 18, 2022, 12:28:20 amMaking it safe while it's sitting 1000V above ground, and not degrade common mode rejection, is what makes this tricky to do well, and is why you rarely see it on good quality modern meters. The Fluke ScopeMeters are a counter example, but at a much higher price than even many bench meters.

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 01:15:06 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 17, 2022, 06:03:15 pmThat, and on the other extreme, a handheld multimeter left forgotten for some time with batteries fitted, may have them leaking inside.I adopted a method of placing a sticker on the meters (and other stuff battery powered) with expiration date of the batteries, so I have a clue it they are expected to be good without open the device, but even that didn't kept me away from surprises with some Duracel, leaking years before the date printed on them.

author: nightfire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 06:39:11 am
content: Did you calculate the standby/leakage-power of the device into the lifespan?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 08:33:53 am
content: Quote from: Mortymore on December 18, 2022, 01:15:06 amBatteries have gotten a lot worse over the years. Just recently I took an AAA battery out of an old kitchen timer. That battery (Panasonic IIRC; or at least 'made in Japan') had been in there for at least 20 years and did not leak.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 10:53:10 am
content: Quote from: nightfire on December 18, 2022, 12:28:20 amI've a couple of Fluke 8300A's, one with the Ohms/AC option, and they both agree to within a count or two of my recently calibrated 8840A. I also have a Fluke 8000A, and it's absolutely terrible!

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 03:06:34 pm
content: Quote from: AVGresponding on December 18, 2022, 10:53:10 amThere was a fluke 8000A on my bench for my first ET job back in 1974. That brings back memories.

author: Sherlock Holmes
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2022, 03:22:04 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on December 14, 2022, 05:11:14 pmYes I agree, I bought two (yes a bit of a luxury, but I can measure voltage and current simultaneously when I might need to).Its a superb instrument for the price.