Digital Multimeter dilemma - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Balazs
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:13:59 am
content: Hello everyone!I'd like to ask for you help at diciding which digital multimeter to buy. I'm on a low buget (50-70$) but I'd need someting safe as I want to use it for electronics and power electronics projects as well. So it should work fine on low and high currents and voltages. (*by "high"I mean 600V AC or maybe 1kV and the max current at least 10A).I spent some time searching them but I can't decide between:Brymen BM257MASTECH MS8260FAny suggestions are welcome

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:22:36 am
content: brymen > mastech

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:24:25 am
content: 50-70$ for a Brymen 257? Good luck with that.

author: Balazs
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:29:09 am
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on June 12, 2015, 08:24:25 amhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/new-Brymen-BM257s-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Fluke-alternative-/171822429820?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item28016a367c

author: Balazs
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:31:42 am
content: That 45$ is a bit suspicios to me all the other sellers have 2x or 3x of this price... hmmm...

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:32:47 am
content: Quote from: Balazs on June 12, 2015, 08:29:09 amFrom the seller with zero rating who is registered in US but item location is Hong Kong.Quote

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:33:03 am
content: Rather buy from Franky:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM257s-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Brand-New-Fluke-alternative-/200922627340?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec7ebfd0c

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:39:19 am
content: Quote from: Balazs on June 12, 2015, 08:29:09 amThat's either insanely cheap (actually below FOB cost), or dodgy...

author: Balazs
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:43:13 am
content: Yes, I think it's sadly a fake one

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:47:59 am
content: To stay within your budget, have a look at the UT139C:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Uni-T-UT139C-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-with-Temperature-NCV-Backlight/171213085325?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D31233%26meid%3D955ccd68946e4109a40e0a5a1ba0b8f8%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D200922627340&rt=nc

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:49:53 am
content: Quote from: Balazs on June 12, 2015, 08:43:13 amCan't say I've ever heard of a fake Brymen meter though?More likely a dodgy ebayer. But if so, why chose a $45 multimeter?And the ebay ad is ripped from Franky's review on this forum!https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/brymen-bm-257-pictures-and-mini-review/

author: Balazs
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 09:34:29 am
content: So the final conclusion is that I gonna spend more then 50$, because I don't want to kill myself with some crap while measuring stuff at a 3 phased induction motor...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 11:38:47 am
content: Quote from: Balazs on June 12, 2015, 09:34:29 amI would not use a $50 meter on a 3 phase induction motor.

author: Wim_L
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 03:47:12 pm
content: For high current measurements, especially on big electric motors, most people would prefer a current clamp instead of the current input on a multimeter. Unfortunately, the cheaper clamp meters usually only allow for AC measurements so they're not as versatile.

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 04:02:17 pm
content: Quote from: Balazs on June 12, 2015, 08:29:09 amHe STOLE my product pictures and MY OWN review!!

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 04:11:34 pm
content: You'd better lock your door Franky, he's coming to get your last 7 meters.

author: Fat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 04:22:48 pm
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on June 12, 2015, 08:33:03 amI just ordered a BM257s from Franky. Great deal, fast shipping and a wonderful meter. You won't go wrong getting one from him. Saving for a 869 next.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:18:14 pm
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on June 12, 2015, 08:47:59 amI am not sure I would be happy poking around that kind of equipment with a UT139C. It seems well protected but unless I see the third party testing and approval of its supposed CATIII/600V rating I would not use beyond normal domestic equipment measurements. I would also not trust any Mastech at all for what you want to do.Have a look at the Brymen BM80X and BM90X series fromwww.tme.eu. You can trust the CAT ratings on these and are probably the safest you can get close to $70. The BM805 probably is the minimum you want to consider but if you can spend the extra then try to get the BM807 as TRMS can be useful for power electronics.If you can spend even more, the best bet in a Brymen would be the BM822 or BM827. These are rated at CATIV 1000V.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 08:39:16 pm
content: Surely he means a 600VAC/1000VDC CAT rating.Anybody actually working at these high voltage levels, should know what kind of meter to buy.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 09:03:59 pm
content: Quote from: iloveelectronics on June 12, 2015, 04:02:17 pm@Franky, I'm sure you will remember our discussion about watermarking your photos. Anyway, I tried to file a "report an item" for you, but I can't because it says the original owner of the photos/text must file the grievance with ebay.The seller, tre-bsdf, is certain to be 100% scam artist. We have all seen this before with 0 feedback, items priced well below market value and stolen pictures/text with the Fluke 17B, Fluke 87V, Greenlee DM860, Vichy VC97, etc.Now, if tre-bsdf, sold an used one (qty = 1) for $45 USD, then that might be legit.BTW, modemhead's blog pictures are also stolen and used in ebay auctions. I'm sure the winning buyer is wondering WTF when what he receives is different from the listed picture and the seller claims "actual photos of the item".

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2015, 09:31:22 pm
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on June 12, 2015, 08:39:16 pmYou could be right, but I wanted to err on the safe side.

author: muki16
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 10:39:02 am
content: I recently bought a second hand Fluke 83 for 70€. It is rated at 1000V Cat4, has really nice probes and should be safer than most other meters you can get in this price range.

author: Balazs
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 05:30:38 pm
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on June 12, 2015, 08:39:16 pmPractically I'm just a student who wants to play a bit at home. Some hobby build just to get a deeper understanding of the subject...@Lightages Thank you for your advice, I think I gonna get a BM807 because sadly can't afford the more expensive ones. (*Spent my money on the AoE 3rnd)

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 05:46:40 pm
content: Quote from: muki16 on June 13, 2015, 10:39:02 amThere is no Fluke handheld series 80 (83, 85 or 87) that is CAT IV (4) 1000V rated. Do you mean CAT III (3)?

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 08:50:34 pm
content: Quote from: Balazs on June 13, 2015, 05:30:38 pmIf you aren't going to be working on big drive electronics like you said you would be, then you can buy a UT139C like Wytnucls said. When you can afford more or you are going to be playing around with higher energy things, then you need a higher rated meter. But you won't be disappointed with the Brymen.