multimeter for a electronic beginner snd student - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: bnrr
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 09:56:10 am
content: Hello, I am a student (first year) and a beginner for electronics. I have search the EEV forums for mutimeters with allfeatures that are needed the electronic field. I don't know much about multimeters, but I would like to have one on hand that I'll need for testing, then one that dose not have the feature. I am looking at price range 350 if much higherthen I'll work it out for my advantage. I just want to be prepared for anything when it comes to testing componentsor anything. Thanks

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 04:55:23 pm
content: 350 in what currency and where does the meter have to go (your location)?

author: Holograph
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 05:09:50 pm
content: Yeah, a currency/country would be helpful, but I'll assume your currency is something like USD, CAD, AUD, EUR, etc. For that price, you should be able to get a Fluke 87V, Agilent UA1272A (will be close), or step down to a UEi DM393, etc. Edit to note: I've read several posts from a few people on here praising Brymen meters as recommended in the post following mine, but I have no personal experience with that brand. They are probably also a good choice. A lot of it is going to depend on where you are and what deals you can find.You could potentially go a bit lower end and buy something else like a CRT oscilloscope with the difference, or split your budget for 2 multimeters (as Dave constantly explains, having 2+ can be useful if you want to measure current and voltage at the same time), etc. If you do go for 2 multimeters, I'd go for like a $50 one and a $200 one or something before getting 2 of the same. Make sure the $50 one is good enough for current and voltage, while using the higher-end one for mains (since it will likely be safer to use) and for other tests like resistance or capacitance. I still have the first multimeter I bought (the 3rd or 4th I owned in total), a cheap Chinese jobber I bought for around $20, and it's reasonably decent for current and voltage but is WAY off for resistance and some other stuff. (I do not recommend getting a crap $20 meter, even as a secondary - I just had very little money when I bought it)Functions you should look for: AC Voltage, DC Voltage, AC Current (down to milliamps should be good), DC current (down to microamps would be best, unless you're sure you won't be working with circuits that precise - but better to have the feature and not use it than to need it and not have it), resistance, frequency counter, diode/continuity test with buzzer. For current, a 10A+ mode (with a separate input jack) is helpful if you ever work on relatively high-power circuits.Some nice-to-haves: temperature, capacitance, transistor tester. Then there's other stuff like datalogging, hold and store, etc. that depends on application and could be of use to you (though datalogging in particular will add significant cost and you likely don't need it). I'd also say inductance, but inductance is hard to find on a multimeter - you usually need a separate LCR (inductance, capacitance, resistance) meter for that. If you will be diagnosing/repairing stuff, an in-circuit ESR meter is also helpful to quickly identify failed capacitors (the most common issue in failed electronics) but again that's a separate purchase.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 05:28:34 pm
content: For 350 USD, you can get a BM869 and a UT61E shipped + duties to Canada.You will not however, be able to fit the cost of the USB connection package for the BM869 in that (it's 55$ usd + ship&duties)Or, you could even do 2* BM857, no USB connections.

author: Electric flower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 05:59:37 pm
content: If you are first year in electronics im assuming you have no equpment, with 350 USD i would buy UNI-T UT61E or something simmilar and osciloscope, if you allready have a scope go with a multimeter of your choice.Have in mind im no expert, im going to highschool and i have a multimeter (to be honest 3 of them) and it is okay, but many times i wished i had a osciloscope. Also if you don't have adjustable power supply you could build one by yourself cheaply, in the end if you buy used scope and used power suppy or build one you could have much more for 350USD than just buying a multimeter with that budget.However i don't know how much money you have and i also dont know if anything else you need to buy besides multimeter.Also i would recommend buying 2 multimeters insted of one (one ~300dollars and one ~50 if you are planing to spend that money on multimeter(s) ), you will often need to check your measurments if your multimeter has gone out of spec or measure voltage / current at the same time.I hope i helped.And also an advice, just build and take apart stuff, it doesent matter if you don't need it, just build it and you will learn things no book will teach you.

author: bnrr
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 04, 2014, 05:08:44 am
content: Hello to everyone and thank you for your replies to my post. I am sorry I did not mention my location in my post.First I am from an island out in the south pacific waay past Hawaii called Guam. It is a U.S. territory, the currency isof US standard, the same with electricity at 110 volts or hihger. I am looking for a multimeter just to be ready for allkinds of test. In other words I do not want to be in a position of 'Oh man .. this meter is not for this test'.. and runningoff to a electronic shop to buy the meter with need feature, thats it. Need a serious recommendation. Oh one morething,, I got my self a Hakko FX888D-BY23, which includes 5 T18 tips for $119.96(free shipping) from Amazon.com.I took Dave advise in his solderig tutorial, just received today and will try it out. Once again eveyone thank you,

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2014, 05:57:24 am
content: There isno one multimeter that "does it all". There are some that have high accuracy, high safety, can measure resistance and capacitance and inductance, conductance measurement, logging, non-contact electric field detection, etc. No one multimeter has all of these things at the same time so you need to be a bit more specific. However, based on your posts I get the idea you are not sure what you want/need. I also have no idea what being in Guam does for you as far as access to USA companies and shipping or other considerations.So, based on limited information I would suggest you look at a Fluke 87V, or a Brymen BM869, or an Amprobe AM270 or AM160A or 37XR-A or Agilent U1252B or U1272A.My personal favorite is the Brymen BM869 or if you want built in logging a BM525.Give us some more feedback on your expected uses and price you want to pay.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2014, 06:46:53 pm
content: Guam is a U.S. territory. If you have stuff shipped using USPS it'll be about the same as shipping to Hawaii. FedEx or UPS will probably be very expensive. If you buy off eBay and get quoted an extremely high shipping cost, the seller may be unaware that it can be sent by regular mail, just request First Class package or Parcel Post.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2014, 07:50:33 pm
content: Guam? Near my old haunts in Micronesia, spent a bit of time in the airports and nearby areas enroute to the mainland.My personal preference is to get an industrial grade Fluke 87V or Agilent 1272a. Having used it in islands for many years know the heat and humidity there kills gear; you cannot suffer a failure with your tools since its pretty hard or take lots of time to get spares or repairs; Flukes are proven in high humidity and saline environments, is a favorite of most repairs in the USN both land and shipboard, even if they are not IP rated for such. You can get a used Fluke 87V for $150-200 via eBay or a new one for $350, delivered. The Agilent has far more features and bang for buck at $380, is truly IP65?? rated but is less ergonomic. I've used it at times for shipboard service work, and its does the job quite well, easy to find it because of the bright orange chassis, but the contrast on the LCD are not as easy to see without backlighting compared to the LCD in Fluke.Now that said, during Christmas time last year you could find a new Fluke 87V or 1272a for under $300 but right now the prices are the highest its ever been.Quote from: bnrr on April 04, 2014, 05:08:44 am