What multimeter in the 100$ price range in 2019? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: jtruc34
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2019, 04:48:55 pm
content: Almost everything is in the title.I also should mention that I'm in Europe and that some MM are pretty hard to find there. And if the shipping is of the same order of magnitude as the multimeter itself, it doesn't really worse it.I have considered buying the EEVBlog Brymen 235, but the shipping scares me a little.My use would be the one for typical hobbyist electronics, and I want it to be a least a bit durable as a really don't want to throw it away in 15 years.Thank you for your replies.

author: soren
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2019, 06:15:12 pm
content: Brymen is a popular choice in that price range, and you can have it shipped from Europe:https://www.welectron.com/HandmultimeterHowever, I just spotted a new lower-cost meter from Gossen Metrawatt, which might also be of interest:https://www.reichelt.de/metraline-dm61-multimeter-digital-6600-counts-metraline-dm61-p253286.html(averaging)https://www.reichelt.de/digital-multimeter-metraline-dm62-6600-counts-trms-metraline-dm62-p238143.html(TRMS)

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2019, 07:00:17 pm
content: I don't know exact models but I'm betting the manufacturer begins with a 'B' and ends with 'rymen'.You can buy them directly frombrymen.euand get three years manufacturer's warranty. What's not to like?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2019, 09:28:56 pm
content: Quote from: jtruc34 on April 04, 2019, 04:48:55 pmWelcome to the forum.Well you could buy the 235 from the forum's moderator Simon's shop in the UK:https://simonselectronics.co.uk/product-category/eevblog/

author: The Soulman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2019, 09:48:56 pm
content: Quote from: soren on April 04, 2019, 06:15:12 pmNice! I did notice the new and very affordable current clamps, but these look pretty good as well, especiallyifreliability and build quality is the same as anything else from metrawatt.Made in?There is also a dm41 (4000 count and non trms), looks like a perfect toolbox dmm to me.

author: jtruc34
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2019, 10:24:40 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 04, 2019, 07:00:17 pmYes, I just saw this website. That is pretty great, the shipping is very low (less than 10€), and, yes, three years warranty. The problem with Europe is that much of the very good deals one can find on e-bay in the US aren't such good deals anymore.Quote from: soren on April 04, 2019, 06:15:12 pmThe problem with the Gossen Metrawatt is that the haven't any microamps feature. If these are the cheapest, it will definitely be out of my budget to buy a more expensive one.I'm probably going on the 829s.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2019, 10:56:31 pm
content: Quote from: jtruc34 on April 04, 2019, 10:24:40 pmI havn't seen that model before but it looks like a very solid choice.The spec sheet reads a lot like the 869s with fewer counts (10000 instead of 500000), but it adds a fully-automatic mode and for a lot less money. I'm almost tempted.If only they weren't so massive.

author: Welectron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 05, 2019, 06:04:26 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 04, 2019, 10:56:31 pmIn the price range between 110 and 150 EUR excl. VAT there are three interesting Brymen models:BM829sBM867sBM839All of those feature auto ranging, True RMS up to 20KHz bandwidth, dual display with a fast bargraph and white backlight, high safety ratings and a broad range of features.Here is a short guide:BM829sSpec: AC+DC TRMS, 10'000 counts resolution, 0.08% basic DCV accuracy, CAT IV 1000V safety rating, optional USB-interfacePros: lowest price, Lo-Z mode, AutoCheck mode (automatic DCV, ACV, Ohms measurement), dual temperature measurements, non-contact EF measurementCons: lowest resolution of the three modelsVerdict: most complete feature set at a really attractive price pointBM867sSpec: AC+DC TRMS, 50'000 / 500'000 counts resolution, 0.03% basic DCV accuracy, CAT IV 1000V safety rating, optional USB-interfacePros: high resolution up to 500'000 counts (DCV/DCA) and high accuracyCons: no temperature measurementVerdict: highest accuracy and resolution at the best price/performance ratio if you can sacrifice the temperature measurementBM839Spec: AC TRMS, 20'000 counts resolution, 0.045% basic DCV accuracy, CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V safety ratingPros: 4xAA batteries (easy to change), VFD (variable frequency drive) measurementsCons: no USB interface availableVerdict: rugged meter with high accuracy, VFD measurements and easy-to-change AA batteries with long battery lifeAll Brymen meters come with nice PVC test leads with sharp gold plated tips as standard.We also offer anEdition+for most Brymen meters. The Edition+ comes with temperature-resistant and really flexible silicone test leads with screw-on banana plugs as well as a bolstered Brymen carry pouch.Your Welectron TeamP.S.: We offer free shipping within the EU and to Switzerland.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2019, 02:18:20 pm
content: Damn, now you made me go and re-read all the specs of the meters on the Brymen site. There seem to be a lot of new ones (or at least, meters I haven't seen before).Looking at the two cheapest 500,000 count meters: The 857 and 867, is there any compelling reasonnotto buy the 857s?Yes, I know it's 'legacy' design, doesn't have dual display, has a slightly lower CAT rating, but ... the measurement abilities of the two are almost identical (if anything, the 857 isslightlymore accurate), it's smaller, I kinda prefer the industrial look.I'm not really into AC stuff so I don't care about the lack dual display.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2019, 05:09:20 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 06, 2019, 02:18:20 pmWith everything you said I don't see how you could go wrong then.Fluke 87V is SINGLE display and nobody seem to care..

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2019, 05:31:05 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on April 06, 2019, 05:09:20 pmI have a pre-production BM857 and I really love it. Sure, it does not have all the bells and whistles but it surely is a very solid meter. The capacitance is a bit on the slow side, but I like its "squaredness". I even have the rare RS232 communications cable. Mine has the horrid green backlight, but more modern versions have a nice white backlight. The 500000 count mode is great for my battery/supercap measurements. It has AC+DC, it is silent (does not beep for everything), memorizes the last selection, has V/A input alert...Last time I checked, though, the 857's price was on par with the 867. If you don't care for the dual display, then by all means!

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2019, 11:36:29 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on April 06, 2019, 05:31:05 pmNice! I wondered if that might be missing in the old ones.Quote from: rsjsouza on April 06, 2019, 05:31:05 pmLess than 2 Euros difference in price.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 11:46:33 am
content: I had the 857s (s=enhanced backlight) made a mistake to sell it, worked very well, rock solid, and hold better on a bench than the 86x models

author: Cnoob
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 12:26:00 pm
content: No matter which Brymen you buy, they are built to a high standard and are affordable industrial grade meters which should last you a long time.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 03:08:44 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on April 06, 2019, 05:31:05 pmYep. You'd think there'd be more of a market for making them look tough and military, not shaped like barbie dolls.(or whatever effect it was they were trying to achieve with the modern ones)

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 05:28:14 pm
content: I'm pretty sure the design is modeled on the "Transformers" movie franchise.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 10:29:34 pm
content: Quote from: joseph nicholas on April 07, 2019, 05:28:14 pm

author: windsmurf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2019, 10:33:42 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 07, 2019, 10:29:34 pmI thought it was built for Minecraft.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2019, 12:15:58 pm
content: I just ordered a BM857s from Welectron with their "+" package (carry case+gold plated leads) and some alligator clips.My first "grown up" multimeter.

author: Cnoob
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2019, 12:29:16 pm
content: QuoteAbout time

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2019, 02:14:03 pm
content: Quote from: Cnoob on April 08, 2019, 12:29:16 pmYou finally saw the light! About time to give your AN870 a run for its money, huh?Congratulations! You won't regret it.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2019, 03:49:55 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on April 08, 2019, 02:14:03 pmI'm not sure how much it will improve my daily life but but I wanted a "reference" meter.I figure it will last a few years so in real terms 155 Euros is only a couple of Euros/month (that's what I tell myself, anyway).

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2019, 05:38:53 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 08, 2019, 03:49:55 pmExactly. That was the reason why I got my Fluke 179 years ago. Spent quite a lot of money for it, but the payback in years of use would be completely reasonable. The thing is that I sold it a few years later to cover the expenses of the U1273A (where I obviously used the same reason).But, before all that happened, I got the BM857 for a completely different reason: it was simply too cheap to pass ($89 in 2013 dollars).

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2019, 11:55:59 am
content: It's on the way today!They didn't have any "Edition+" BM857s in stock at welectron but they've cobbled one together from an ordinary BM857s and a set of the fancy gold leads so I didn't have to wait.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2019, 04:17:15 pm
content: It arrived this afternoon, all the way from Germany. Thanks to Welectron for getting it here so fast.All seems present and correct and it even came with a battery installed (is that normal or is it from welectron?)It passes quick function tests, I'll give it a workout in the next couple of days.