UNI-T UT61E Worthy Successor - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 09:33:27 am
content: Hi everyone.The more you get involved in electronics the need for precision increases.The UT61E its a great multimeter for electronics, but now I need one more digit...The time has come for the next multimeter and I need some opinions in order to find aworthy successor to the UT61Eand by worthy I mean a better meter at a double ortriple price range max.The requirements would be the following:1 ) One more digit of resolution.2 ) Precision of at least 0.05% @ DC and 0.1% @ resistance measurement.3 ) Low Burden Voltage. (although the uCurrent Gold is a must...)4 ) Auto-ranging and with an analogue bar graph .5 ) Fast sampling. 3 times per second or more.6 ) Clear and high contrast LCD screen. Backlight will be a plus.7 ) Proper high voltage protection is not a requirement but will not hurt..8 ) Price range maybe around$150$250Can you think of one that will satisfy the above?(A second hand bench meter is not excluded.)Thank you.p.s. Uni-T has updated the page for the UT61E and now its says that it has a backlightand a 15 minute sleep mode. Anybody with a recent version to confirm it?http://www.uni-trend.com/ut61e.html

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 10:21:47 am
content: I doubt the 61E has been updated. Those specs are often wrong in the paper catalogue too. In 2013, the meter was listed as equipped with a backlight already.As for your quest, to find a meter with a 100,000 count for $150.00, is nearly impossible, unless you look at second-hand meters.The Brymen 867 or the Amprobe 140 would be the closest to your requirements, but they cost about $220.00 and $280.00 respectively.

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 10:42:05 am
content: Ok, maybe the price limit was not realistic...Lets say then , that the upper limit is $250.A second hand bench meter is not excluded as well.QuoteI see...

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 04:37:05 pm
content: Without a doubt, the BM867. With delivery and taxes it should be within your budget.http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm867/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/#

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 07:47:10 pm
content: It looks like that the BM867 would be the only option.What about used multimeters, bench top or handheld at that price range?

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 10:11:58 pm
content: Perhaps this one:Ideal 61-498100,000 count AC+DC0.01%+2020,000 point data logginghttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Ideal-490-Series-Digital-Multimeter-/331136761145?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1949fd39

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 10:18:45 pm
content: Amprobe 160A500000 counthttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Amprobe-AM-160-A-TRMS-Digital-Multimeter-w-PC-Connect-/201038729707?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eced791eb

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 11:33:15 pm
content: Quote from: hgg on March 02, 2014, 07:47:10 pmShould be easy to get an HP 3478/3478A for this price (just be aware of the NVRAM battery issue). Or some similar Keithley models (I believe the 19x series is all 4.5 or 5.5 digit). Possibly even an HP 3457A if it's a good day.However be aware many bench meters have pretty terrrible burden voltage and definitely won't have a bar graph. If LCD-based, a backlight is unlikely as well. Generally much less protection circuitry than a handheld one as well, since they're designed for lab use.

author: TMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 01:06:58 am
content: That Ideal 61-498 actually looks alright on paper though in most ranges the last two digits are still uncertain. You have to wonder about a meter where the duty cycle is called "Duty Factory" in the manual as well lol.If it were me i'd pick up a second hand Fluke 87III/V and a bench meter instead.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 01:15:27 am
content: Quote from: TMM on March 03, 2014, 01:06:58 amThe Ideal 61-498 is an Appatech. AFAIK, Ideal, like so many others, doesn't make their own meters.Martin has Iso-tech IDM 505 scheduled for review sometime.http://mjlorton.com/forum/index.php?topic=547.0

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 02:57:56 pm
content: I think I will start looking for a used HP 3478.Thank you for your suggestions!

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 11:19:19 pm
content: Do you really need that extra digit? I guess for relative adjustments that might mater but why have a 100,000+ count meter if the accuracy isn't better than a 20,000 count Fluke 87 or even 8060. A while back I reviewed a Metrix/BK meter that I got for $40 that was rated at .025% with a 50,000 count display. I think <.05 and 50,000 count for your budget should be easy (including used off ebay). Look at the Agilent 1251 handhelds, the Fluke 87-4, 89-4 and their twins the 187 and 189. Brymen also has some that were sold in the US as Greenlee, Amprobe and Extech meters.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 11:33:24 pm
content: Quote from: Robomeds on March 03, 2014, 11:19:19 pmBecause short term relative measurements. How do people not understand this?

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2014, 05:29:15 pm
content: Quote from: peter.mitchell on March 03, 2014, 11:33:24 pmActually I do understand that and indicated as much in my post. It doesn't make my question invalid. I've seen plenty of examples of people over specing hardware or equipment because they didn't understand what they were asking for. Even in this case it might be worth asking if a 100k+ count meter is the correct solution to this question vs some other way of measuring.

author: torr032
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 12:19:45 pm
content: BM867 has 10Mohm input impedance. That is not enough for a six digit resolution, it should be in the order of >1Gohm.High resolution is just the marketing trick with the 10Mohm impedance since it is not high enough and it is affecting the last digits:

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 01:43:50 pm
content: Input impedance is indeed critical for 6 digits of accuracy.Having said that, resolution is very useful for relative measurements or monitoring slowly drifting values,even if the multimeter is out of spec.

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 02:22:38 pm
content: The 3478A is indeed a nice fit for your requirements. Should be well within that $250 budget. Got mine for $145 on ebay from the Israeli instrument crusher. In surprisingly uncrushed state I might add.With patience you can probably get it for less than that. And hush, you American surplus hippies, we know you get can three 3478A DMMs for $50 with free pizza delivered.

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 02:30:34 pm
content: Yes, I saw this guy as well. Did you receive yours calibrated?

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 02:36:59 pm
content: Quote from: hgg on March 08, 2014, 02:30:34 pmI wish. I suspect it would have been a bit more expensive with calibration.But insofar as I can check it, all ranges look to be okay.

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2014, 03:53:12 pm
content: I guess I should ask him first if he has any calibrated units, otherwise there is no point of buying it.

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2014, 03:58:47 am
content: A number of meters have the high input impedance mode. I think the Fluke 187/189 have it. I know this Metrix/BK meter has it.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/metrix-mx56c-bk-precision-5390-multimeter-teardown/

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2014, 09:06:27 am
content: Quote from: hgg on March 08, 2014, 03:53:12 pmWell, I suspect thatanyDMM that is still officially within cal complete with sticker & paperwork is going to be more expensive than what you would like to pay. Mine measures perfectly fine, but no nice cal sticker.

author: hgg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2014, 09:56:42 am
content: QuoteInteresting multimeter.QuoteHow do you know? Did you double check with a calibrated one of similar precision?I don't want any stickers... Just to be accurate.I asked him, but he does not have any calibrated units.But anyway, what is the error drift of such multimeters?Do they really need calibration?

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2014, 10:25:53 am
content: Quote from: hgg on March 10, 2014, 09:56:42 amExactly.