Pocket multimeter quest - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Lomax
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 03:50:01 pm
content: I'm on a quest to find the smallest practical companion to the UNI-T UT210E clamp meter I keep in my travel kit. Beyond serving to provide second measurement capability, it needs to complement the clamp meter in a few important ways (in order of importance):While the UT210E does remarkably well clamp metering DC currents the measurement is not accurate when the current is small. I wouldn't trust it with anything below a couple hundred milliamps, and the UT210E doesn't do in-line metering. I already have a Brymen BM275s, and a TTi 1705, but these are far too big for the travel kit, so I'm looking for a pocket size meter that can do in-line current measurements of small loads.The UT210E runs off AAA batteries, as does my head and pocket torches, and I carry a NiMh AA/AAA battery charger in my travel kit to keep them all going. It would be great if the companion meter used compatible batteries.Another omission on the UT210E is the lack of a min/max function; It happens that I need to test things that are activated from another location, sometimes not even in the same room, and which can be momentary in nature. Being able to capture that a voltage was present - or the amount of current that was drawn - while I wasn't watching the meter is incredibly handy sometimes.Since I use the UT210E as a general purpose multimeter I always carry two pairs of test leads, along with a selection of probes etc. It would be convenient if the companion could use these as well.The UT210E has no frequency counter function, and although I very rarely need this it can sometimes be handy, so it would be good if the companion offered this functionality.I like having a backlightWhat isnotimportant to me:600 V rating6000 countHigh precisionμA rangeprice (within reason)I've looked through some of the earlier threads regarding pocket multimeters here, and have started compiling a spreadsheet of potential candidates:MakeModelCountJackMaxFreqLightBatteryCurrentLengthWidthHeightVolumeCEMDT-1134000--Y-CR2032400 mA113 mm61 mm13 mm90 cm³CEMDMP-336000YYY-CR2032200 mA115 mm60 mm16 mm110 cm³UEIDM5B3200Y---2xA76VP5 AUNI-TUT120C4000--Y-CR2032400 mA110 mm58 mm11 mm70 cm³UNI-TUT125C4000--YY2xAAA400 mA112 mm58 mm35 mm227 cm³ExtechDM1104000--Y-CR2032400 mA108 mm56 mm12 mm73 cm³WoodsDMMW34000YYY-CR20321 A115 mm60 mm20 mm138 cm³BrymenBM27s6000--Y-CR20322 mAAmprobeAM-474000--Y-CR20322 mASanwaPM34000--Y-CR2032-108 mm56 mm12 mm73 cm³SanwaPM114000----2xLR44-117 mm76 mm18 mm160 cm³DER EEDE-19S6000-YYY2xAAA-130 mm81 mm22 mm232 cm³DER EEDE-174300----2xLR44-117 mm76 mm18 mm160 cm³DER EEDE-154000--Y-2xLR44-121 mm68 mm20 mm165 cm³Chauvin ArnouxC.A 7032000----2xAAA200 mA104 mm55 mm33 mm189 cm³Fluke1076000Y-YY2xAAA10 A142 mm69 mm28 mm274 cm³To my surprise one of the meters that ticks the most of my boxes so far is the Woods DMMW3 - a cheapo consumer device from an unknown brand. Unfortunately this seems to no longer be available. Its only drawback is that it uses annoying CR2032 batteries. Another good candidate is the CEM DMP-33, but again this appears to be unobtainable. And it too uses a coin cell, and the 200 mA current capability is rather low. The DER EE DE-19S would have been a great option if it had current measurement, the Fluke 107 if it was smaller and had a min/max function, and the UNI-T UT120C lacks min/max and uses a coin cell.In other words, the ideal device eludes me, and so I turn to the forum for further suggestions!

author: simba15
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 04:10:56 pm
content: It seems its the Woods/ CEM is the tool for the job. I found another version under the brand Kobalt DMP-32 ( replaced Woods?) but it omits the "Max" feature (clearly a requirement)https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Pocket-Multimeter/5001926911I really like the Aneng A3008, but no current or max function.

author: wasedadoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 04:12:18 pm
content: Those two entries of 2mA in the current column are surely incorrect. As are the zero volumes.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 05:21:56 pm
content: Forget it.There's no perfect pocket multimeter.

author: Lomax
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 05:31:34 pm
content: @wasedadoc: Those two meters can actually only measure up to 2000 μA. I'm sure this is useful for some, but not to me. Even the 200 mA range available on some meters is pushing it in terms of usefulness. The zero volume is just a consequence of me being too lazy to update my spreadsheet formula with a conditional to only calculate volume when dimensions are known. I've removed them from the post.I accept that I will have to compromise on one or more of my requirements

author: Lomax
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 05:37:09 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 15, 2023, 05:21:56 pmThis is of course true. I'm just looking for least worst, where the DMMW3 is still in the lead - shame it is unobtainable.

author: wasedadoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 05:38:53 pm
content: Quote from: Lomax on February 15, 2023, 05:31:34 pmhttps://brymen.eu/shop/bm27s/says otherwise. I do not have one but yes on further examination I see that both the marking on the selector switch andhttps://www.manua.ls/brymen/bm27s/manual?p=3agree with you.

author: Lomax
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 05:52:19 pm
content: Quote from: wasedadoc on February 15, 2023, 05:38:53 pmYes, I saw that, and at first thought I had made a mistake. Sadly no.

author: Lomax
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 06:00:45 pm
content: Updated to add the Sperry DM6850T, which although not a "pocket" meter like the others (arguably neither is the Fluke 107), has a rather small volume and ticks all the other boxes.(and the volume calculation is now conditional on dimensions being present)

author: TomKatt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 06:24:05 pm
content: Quote from: Lomax on February 15, 2023, 06:00:45 pmI've never heard of that brand - it looks like a nice small meter! A quick forum search yielded nothing...Been thinking about a Fluke 107 for the travel bag, but haven't pulled the trigger because it just doesn't impress me much... I'll have to look into that Sperry a bit more. Thanks!

author: Lomax
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2023, 09:41:50 pm
content: Quote from: simba15 on February 15, 2023, 04:10:56 pmThank you for that - made me have a look for just "DMP-32 multimeter" and sure enough, here's another clone, from Standard Instruments:http://www.standardinst.com/2017/mobile/index.html#p=126This one does retain the min/max functionality. There are probably others...Also: holy crap the size of their catalogue

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2023, 12:31:51 am
content: Brymen BM22s plus a resistor shunt?

author: Wmesquite
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 16, 2023, 01:44:32 am
content: First post. Have spent way too much time in last months looking at getting a few more DMMS, the Mustool MT-108T is on my list for a small handy DMM. It has gotten some decent reviews, full details on Lygate-info.dk. Of course it pushes your boundary for size, but nails everything else- AAAs, small to full currents. You can remove the holster and it might be pretty close to the Fluke 107 in volume- the picture on Lygate with the holster off suggests it could lose almost 1 cm in thickness, but its just a picture and I don't have one in hand to measure. I wisely decided to spread out my new (to me) meter purchases, only 4 in the last 6 weeks.Following your format:Mustool MT-108T 6000 Y Y Y Y 2xAAA 145 mm 70 mm 37mm 380 cm^3, which without holster should go down to 300 cm^3.Or the Mustool MT66 (now sold as Bside ADM66. It loses the min/max (and manual ranges). It seems bigger with the side wing probe holders, but I am sure it gets smaller with holster removal, estimating from someone elses picture to about 310 cm^3Finally, pure volume calculated by largest dimensions is a rough guide to how much space something takes up, but the knob ridge protrusion on the two Mustool models might not use up much space in your travel kit. Or the side probe holders on the MT66 wouldn't add much more volume than the probes alone if there were a pair of probes in them wrapped around the DMM.Wade

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2023, 07:35:50 am
content: FWIW I wouldn't class anything as a "pocket" multimeter that doesn't have a place to store the probes. You reallydon'twant the leads to be flapping in the breeze or making holes in your pockets/leg.That should be #1 on the list even if it makes the meter a bit bigger.(Yes, that rules out several meters that are sold as "pocket meters", eg. the Brymen BM27)Quote from: Wmesquite on February 16, 2023, 01:44:32 amBut don't forget the leads...

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2023, 10:06:26 am
content: Amprobe makes a small, zippered case that holds the Brymen (and rebrands) pocket DMMs perfectly:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/amprobe/VC3A/4692532https://www.testequipmentdepot.com/amprobe/accessories/cases-and-holsters/soft-carrying-cases/zippered-carrying-case-vc3a.htmThis has been my go-to pocket setup for a while, plus there is room for a spare coin cell battery and the user manual.A big negative about the Brymen pocket DMMs (and rebrands) is the short length of the metal portion of the probes. Some deep outlets are out of reach...

author: Lomax
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2023, 04:41:35 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 16, 2023, 07:35:50 amI see your point(!), but personally I prefer a meter with removable leads. I've got pointy probes and alligator clips and these long Hirschmann clippy things, whatever they're called. Since I wasn't born with three hands I very rarely use pointy probes on both leads, preferring instead to clip one or both leads with alligator clips or those Hirschmann things. In my multimeter bag I always have two sets of leads, because they're handy for other things too. I've also got two needles that I've soldered wires to and covered with heatshrink, which are incredibly useful - for example when checking connector pinouts, or tracing SMD boards. An LED with a current limiting resistor can also be handy.I used to squeeze in my Brymen BM275s along with the rest but it makes it really awkward to fit the bag in my toolbox, so this time I decided to leave it at home - and of course immediately ended up regretting it.

author: AJbotic
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 07, 2023, 06:11:36 am
content: Lot's of great info here. Thanks for posting everyone. I need to travel internationally soon and a pocket meter of decent quality that lets me do voltage and resistance would likely be very beneficial. I looked at all the options on the list, but I'm going to venture off the beaten path and grab a Triplett 2030-C for $30 on amazon cause if it's complete garbage, I won't lose sleep. If it turns out to be any good (and from some of the research I've done, I think it might have a chance), I'll post again to say so.