Batronix BXM98P, Amprobe AM-510 or EXTECH EX330 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: metRo_
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 08:53:12 pm
content: Hi,I can get one of this for +- the same price.http://www.batronix.com/shop/multimeter/multimeter-bxm98p.htmlhttp://www.tme.eu/en/details/am-510-eur/portable-digital-multimeters/amprobe/#http://www.tme.eu/en/details/ex330/portable-digital-multimeters/extech/#Which one should I take?Really thanks

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 09:27:50 pm
content: The Batronix is a Victor VC9806+ or 9807+. I have a Victor VC9806+ and it has held its accuracy for two years now when compared to a DMMCheck. It is not safe for mains use as it uses little glass fuses for its current protection and the circuit board design does not meet its CAT ratings. However for the price it is a decent meter for electronics use and seems to be high accuracy for the price.The Amprobe AM-520 has been reviewed here on the forums and it looks like a good safe meter for general electrical work with good features. The AM-510 has lower accuracy than the Batronix/Victor meter but it is built much better for safety and I would prefer to have it as a general meter than the Victor.The Extech EX series have been demonstrated many times, here on this forum and other places, to be less than well built in in some cases dangerously so with parts falling out on the inputs. I would stay away.In short, get the Amprobe and have a good safe meter that should serve you well for anything you might want to do, and later if you need a higher accuracy meter you will know what you want. The Amprobe will last much longer than the other two IMHO.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 09:33:21 pm
content: Yep, I would also go for the Amprobe, for the same reasons, adding that manual ranging only on the Batronix would be a pain in the proverbial behind.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 11:14:59 pm
content: i like the amprobe. we've some in school and they do very well done meter!

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 11:35:18 pm
content: I have two Amprobe meters. I like them both a lot. I'm sorry I cannot speak for the others.

author: metRo_
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 12:44:52 am
content: Thanks for your opinionAmprobe looks a good choice:)You said that Amprobe AM-520 has high accuracy but look at the overviewhttp://www.amprobe.com/amprobe/usen/Multimeters/AM-500-Digital-Multimeter-Series/AM-510.htm?PID=74033it look that they have the same accuracy :sSorry my english:/

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 01:04:24 am
content: I can see why you might think I said the 520 was higher accuracy and that is my fault for my wording. The AM-510 has lower accuracy than the Batronix, is what I meant to say. The review of the 520 was to show the quality inside these meters. It is believed that the AM-5X0 series is made by Uni-Trend, but it is not confirmed. If it is so, I wish Uni-T had taken the design that Amprobe wanted and applied it to their own brand so we could enjoy things like a Uni-T UT71D with proper input protection.Either way it is clear the AM-510, 520, or 530 are good meters from their construction.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 03:25:16 pm
content: Quote from: metRo_ on February 17, 2013, 12:44:52 am@mechatrommerAnother one!

author: metRo_
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 04:44:43 pm
content: the purpose for the multimeter is electronics, low voltage and low currents so the protection for main voltage isn't something important.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 06:09:59 pm
content: Well if you are only going to use it for electronics, and won't use it to test anything over 300V, then I suggest you get a Uni-T UT61E from Franky here on the forums, his user ID here is iloveelectronics and he sells the UT61E here for a really good price with shipping includedhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/brand-new-uni-t-ut61e-for-sale/It is high accuracy, 22,000 count, but has no temperature nor back light. It does come with a PC connection and logging software though. The Batronix does not have temperature, so I assume you do not care. If you think you might use the multimeter for doing anything on mains then I would suggest you think about the AM-510 instead as it is much safer for testing high energy circuits.

author: metRo_
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 08:28:02 pm
content: thanks:)At maximum I'll measure the 230V main voltage. There are any review of the multimeter here in the forum? thanks

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 08:37:08 pm
content: Not sure if I'd trust the UT-61E with mains. Alothas been written about the UT-61E on this forum, I'm sure there are some reviews in there. Trythis thread, for starters.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 09:15:10 pm
content: Like a majority, if not all UNI-T meters, input protection on the 61E is very basic, but not much is likely to happen while measuring mains around the house. A blown fuse at most.A bit of long shot, but the Fluke 15B is pretty good as a first meter. Reasonably priced and well built, with decent features and good protection:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-15B-2-6-LCD-Digital-Multimeter-Meter-/310550622295?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item484e427057http://techno-mind.ru/files/fluke_15b_17b/fluke_15B_17B_user_manual.pdf

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 11:20:01 pm
content: I would trust the UT61E on 220/240 mains from the wall in a house. I would not trust it any higher voltage and not at the main panel.Wytnucls has a good suggestion for the Fluke, but be aware it does not have frequency measurement. It will be safer for mains than the UT61E but so will the AM-510 which has close to the same accuracy as the Fluke but also has many more features.So the choice as I see it is the UT61E with TRMS (AC only), high accuracy and counts, wide frequency measurement, PC connection included, no back light, no temperature, horrible burden voltage, and low safety for high energy circuits.orAmprobe AM-510 with no TRMS, lower accuracy, has back light, I see now the 510 does not have temperature too, no PC connection, slow continuity tester, no idea on the burden voltage, but high safety on higher energy circuits, plus flashlight and non-contact voltage tester.IMHO, if you are going to be sticking the probes in the wall all the time then get the Amprobe. If you are going to be using the meter mostly on electronics and only are going to check the mains once in a while to confirm power is getting into a piece of equipment then get the UT61E.Or if you want to spend a bit more money and have something well built and to do anything with confidence:http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm257/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/#or better yet from our friend here on eevblog, iloveelectronics on his ebay store:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM257-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Brand-New-Fluke-alternative-/200874532840?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec50e1fe8