looking for a good quality multimeter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: autumn day
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 12:52:17 pm
content: Hi,ive watched quite a lot of reviews in the last days. It kinda looks like there is no multimeter that full-fills my demands.1. AA Battery powered (Agilents run on AA)2. a GOOD continuity aka instant audio latching response (Agilent fails miserably.http://youtu.be/bKvyoZa5J8Q?t=14m40s)3. 4+/ updates per second screen4. long battery life5. decent design. (yes, if i pay 300bucks for a piece of plastic, it better looks and feels nice) (thumbs up for the agilent u1272a on this part)The flukes blow it on the design(imo)/battery part compared to the agilents.Atm im using a peaktech 3360, which is a piece of crap. Its build quality, safety wise seems fine to me, but it has lots of issues/ design failures. Badly positioned input jacks, sometimes stops working, slow display refresh (maybe once a second)....list goes on.if anyone knows, that agilent fixed the continuity bug, i would buy it in a heartbeat. Other ideas are welcome.

author: Cones
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 01:56:26 pm
content: A second hand Fluke 189 or 289 both are AA powered. Or the 189 even has an optional C battery box when used for data logging.HTHMark

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 02:23:43 pm
content: The Kyoritsu 1061 might fit the bill, albeit at a price. You didn't say what budget you're working with. 4 AA batteries, but not sure about continuity, update rate and battery life.http://www.ebay.com/itm/KYORITSU-1061-Digital-Multimeter-High-Accuracy-High-Performance-Brand-New-/261297765041?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd68f7ab1Update:Measurement cycle: 5 times per second (except frequency measurement : one time per second, Resistance measurement (6Mohm/60Mohm) : 2.5 times per second, capacitor measurement (1000uF) : max.0.14 time per second)Battery life: Approximately 300 hours (Operating hours of alkaline batteries when in DC voltage-mode.)

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 02:25:08 pm
content: Main problem will be AA batteries + long battery life. In general manufacturers choose AA batteries over 9 V because of their increased capacity. For example the Fluke 189 has a mediocre battery life with 4 AA batteries, so the battery life with 9 V batteries would be terrible. Its battery life is not unusable by any means, but definitely worse than that of the Fluke 87 V. I think the Fluke 289 is better, but it uses half a dozen AA batteries.

author: autumn day
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 02:51:43 pm
content: the kyoritsu 1061 is way to expensive for my taste. i would say 400EUR max. although i might be willing to pay a bit extra for the agilent 1273a.I dont really care about the battery life. I can just use a couple of AA accus. The fluke 289 is nice, but expensive and huge.It would be awesome if someone could test the current u1272a firmware. Because the review clearly shows that its just a software bug. The display reacts instantly, while the sound doesnt. If they still dont work, i guess ive to look into the fluke 289 :/

author: AG6QR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 04:39:26 pm
content: Quote from: autumn day on October 03, 2013, 02:51:43 pmI sort of look at it from the other direction: As long as the battery lasts well over a year in service, and is easy and cheap to replace, I don't care so much what kind it is. I get much more than a year out of an alkaline 9V battery in a Fluke 179. I'm a hobbyist who is not using it 24/7 -- heavy users may get much less than a year's use. It's rated for 200 hours. The 289 has worse battery life with its 6 AAs. Its primary benefit is the logging ability, which I'd love to have, but that beautiful graphic screen carries a penalty in energy consumption, and as you note, the meter is expensive and huge.As alm indicated in an earlier post, the meter builders tend to use 9V batteries when the power requirements of the meter are very low. They typically switch to AAs when the meter requires a lot more power.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 05:37:24 pm
content: Consider the Brymen BM257. It uses AAA instead of AA but it should last over 300 hours on one set of cells.

author: jamesp15
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 06:16:01 pm
content: The Fluke 289 (and 287) is essentially the same size as the Agilent 1272A. The Fluke is a LITTLE bit larger maybe 1cm taller and wider at most. The "wasp waist" of the 1272 makes it look a bit less bulky, but when holding/using both they are essentially the same size/desktop footprint.

author: Galaxyrise
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 06:16:56 pm
content: Why the attachment to AA?

author: autumn day
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 09:04:39 pm
content: Quote from: Galaxyrise on October 03, 2013, 06:16:56 pmi think they use AAA not AA (my bad). Well ive lots of rechargeables flying around. I simply dont like wasting money on batteries, because the meter will get a lot of useage. This way im sure to always have full batteries around.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 09:19:06 pm
content: In these days of cheap DC-DC converters, equipment should really standardize on AA cells (or AAA for smaller devices). They are more common, cheaper and have a higher energy density than 9 V batteries.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2013, 10:19:18 pm
content: Quote from: autumn day on October 03, 2013, 12:52:17 pmFluke 28 II uses 3 AA with 800 hour battery life.QuoteDemonstrated by Dave in his Fluke 28 II review (episode #64 and 66). Martin Lorton also has a Fluke 28 II video review as well.Quote4 times/sec update in 6,000 count or 20,000 count.Quote800 hours. I use AA eneloops and they work great.QuoteOnly you can decide in the 28 II has decent design or not. See video reviews.Some other comments.Compared to your Peaktech 3660, the 28 II is slightly larger, but much heavier at almost 700 grams. Both Dave and Martin mentioned the size of the 28 II has a negative.Others will also point out that Fluke is premium priced.Due to its pricing, Fluke will never be the best "bang for buck".I have no idea if the 28 II can be purchased for 400EUR since we don't know where you live and what procurement taxes, shipping, duty, options, etc you have.

author: simpson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 03:01:59 am
content: Quote from: autumn day on October 03, 2013, 12:52:17 pmI have an Agilent that I use for everything but continuity (for the reason you mentioned) and, for continuity, I use an older Fluke that I got on eBay for about $40.Best of both worlds.

author: true
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 10:06:41 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on October 03, 2013, 10:19:18 pmI second this. I was going to mention a second-hand 189 (can be had for $200 or less in the States - no idea the country of the poster with mention of both "bucks" and "EUR") but a Fluke 27II or 28II seems like it fits the bill on all points (except design? maybe? I think it's fine). Continuity is a bit quiet / annoying but usable; I consider it better than the annoyingly loud 1272...It seems some 27II are going the surplus route like the 27 did...I got a freshly calibrated pristine condition surplus 27II for $100 a few months ago.