Multimeter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 05:16:42 pm
content: I have about 4300 to spend, and am torn between what multimeters to buy. A few choices I have:Flukes:Fluke 87/83-V ($33 more)Fluke 170 seriesFluke 70 seriesGossen Metrawatt:Metrahit WorldMetraline 16Open to any other suggestions, such as Brymen, Amprobe, etc. One more thing, what is the difference between all the Fluke series multimeters?

author: larry42
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 05:29:05 pm
content: Hi,We're going to have to flame you a bit because:What currency is that in? Lire, shekels, USD?Have you considered what you *need* a multimeter for?Have you watched the extensive reviews by Dave?You're 15 - you don't need a calibrated supermultimeter. Any of Dave's 100USD picks are more than enough.Have fun.Quote from: echen1024 on August 11, 2013, 05:16:42 pm

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 05:49:01 pm
content: He probably has $300 USD. He didn't hit the shift key when pressing 4 to get the $.Amazon sells the 87V for $333.16 which explains the $33 more.

author: IonizedGears
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 05:54:29 pm
content: Larry, I am 15 and I have a fluke 87V. I can say that I really haven't needed it's accuracy that much but here is where you are wrong:>These meters have very nice quality and warranties so they can be used for a long time which means he is set for many years with one of these meters.>These meters have many features in one so you really wouldn't need to get many different specialty meters for specific tasks.>Come on, you would have loved to get a meter like this or an equivalent Meyer of the time at age 15.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 06:33:17 pm
content: You can't beat the Brymen BM869 for $240 plus shipping from tme.eu. Even with the most expensive shipping option of $50 it still came under $300. Have a look here for reviews of the BM869. IMHO, it is the best multimeter under $400.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 06:52:35 pm
content: Nothing wrong with Flukes and Brymens, apart from the price, but as your main interest is electronics, consider that you will need 3 or 4 multimeters to cover all task requirements.Assuming that at 15 your electronics budget is limited, rather spend less on fancy meters and start saving for an oscilloscope, if you haven't got one yet.If you don't know what the differences are between the Fluke DMMs, you probably don't need one.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 07:09:04 pm
content: Yes, Wytnucls is correct too. You can buy one really good meter in your budget and have it for a long time, or consider getting less expensive meters to have the capability to do multiple measurements at the same time.I would still recommend a Brymen BM257 as a nice safe meter and couple f lesser meters to have more than one. The DT-2843R is a really nice meter for the money from iloveelectronics here on the forums. You could get two of those, and the BM257 for well under $300.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 10:29:26 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on August 11, 2013, 07:09:04 pmI'd recommend this route as well. BM257, Fluke 87V (OP already has it), and something else, at say in the $100 range for 3 DMM's. Anything left over could be used for other tools/supplies, such as a good electronics test lead kit (assuming the OP doesn't already have this).

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 11:02:16 pm
content: I couldn't quite tell if the OP has a 87V; seems like it is one of the DMMs he is considering.Based on the OP's questions and echo'ing some of the other posts, here are some thoughts.Before you are done you will probably want two or more DMMs (maybe several). One good strategy might be to have one very good DMM that you can rely on for accuracy for projects and as a reference for the other DMMs.On the high end I bought a Fluke 179 a number of years ago for a specific (wall AC type application). It is also good for "bench" electronics but if I had known then what I know now I probably would have gone the last mile on the budget and purchased a 87V. Along the way I did acquire a few other lower end DMMs but until I started (for me) intensively learning and developing electronics skills I didn't really know what I needed in a DMM so maybe one or two entry meters makes sense to help you figure out what is important to you in a DMM.Long way around, I'd say if you can afford a 87V it might last you a lifetime in terms of reliability, accuracy, and feature set and then you can start adding other less expensive DMMs based on what you learn and need along the way.For what it's worth, if you need to save a few $ and you can live with the feature set and specs of the 179 (or maybe the 177/175) I think you could be happy with the 170 series. In any event, once you have one Fluke you can get past all the threads that will say you don't need a Fluke and you can save money for this and that reason and you will be in a better position to make that decision regarding any more Flukes based on experience. Alternatively, you might spend the rest of your life reading about it and wondering about it.As an example, it's relatively expensive to buy a top end Agilent scope or Agilent bench DMM to see what the high end is all about, and it would be very expensive if it turned out you could have gotten by with a lot less - but with DMMs you can jump pretty close to the acknolwedged top (I know I will get flamed for this) and go for a 87V and you will have your reference unit for not an entirely huge amount of money. Given that DMMs are often cited as one of the very first and most useful pieces of test equipment and given that you are likely to wind up with more than one, I think if the overall budget allows it you could go for the 87V and save some large amount of (reading, research, wondering, thinking) time in your career and just cross it off your to do list.YMMV, EF

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 12:24:32 am
content: Sorry. That's $300 USD. Lol

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 12:31:04 am
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on August 11, 2013, 06:52:35 pmI do have an oscilloscope, a Siglent SDS1102CML. I purchased that 1 year ago, and have saved up enough moving used test equipment and fixing neighborhood computer for a new multimeters. So, as far as I'm concerned, the FLuke 87 has the extras such as ua, and temperature, which the other FLukes do not. One other meter I'm interested in is the Gossen Metrahit World. It seems like a good meter, and it costs around $300. Does anyone have any experience with this meter?

author: van-c
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 12:40:13 am
content: I'm also considering an 87V. Can you rely on a new Fluke to be calibrated to the maximum possible precision at the time of purchase?--Van

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 01:11:32 am
content: It will be calibrated to within Fluke's specifications on the production line, but not more than that.'Most Fluke tools receive a "Statement of Calibration Practices". This is our certification that your instrument passed Fluke Corporation's high quality production line standards, using calibration equipment traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) per our own ISO9001 quality standards. These Statements however are not recognized as a formal calibration certificate and do not reference your products serial number, date, or model number.'

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 04:04:28 pm
content: I have a Fluke 77-3 for about 17 years I think. It spend most of his years in my automotive toolbox. It is still spoton, used only two batteries all those years, looks like shit after all my abuse, (even drove a landrover over it by accident )but still working great.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 04:12:23 pm
content: Calibration by Landrover...don't try this at home!

author: larry42
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2013, 04:18:43 pm
content: Quote from: IonizedGears on August 11, 2013, 05:54:29 pmActually my interest for electronics didn't hit me til I was 17 and a half, but I'm glad you're telling me I'm wrong, as I only have more years experience as an EE than you have had hot dinners, in addition to having set up a few electronics labs, including my own. Sometimes people phone me for advice regarding T&M equipment purchases. But I digress...Therefore I re-iterate that for hobby use, any of Dave's recommendations at the 50-100USD level are pretty sound. For the money, I think that two good quality 100USD meters are more useful than 1 fluke. The Gossens are overpriced.The features on those Flukes are limited compared to modern meters. The Fluke designs are quite old, and are often meant for field electrician use, rather than electronics lab use. I have the much-vaunted Fluke 87V and think that for the money the Agilents are probably a better deal.In fact saving some money for an Hirschmann/SKS microprobe set (0.64mm) and an extra HRC fuse (about 30 USD and 10 USD, respectively), would be a smarter investment for anyone contemplating a multimeter for electronics use - the supplied probes have very large tips that are almost useless for modern electronic design.