DMM: Hioki DT4253 Vs Greenlee DM510-A (BM257)? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Seven
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 03:54:42 pm
content: I'm looking for my second multimeter. Currently I have a $30 job from Lowes. I wanted a second so I can measure current and voltage at the same time, or measure something else without unhooking the other. I'm really just getting started in electronics as a hobby, but have a pretty wide range in interests from audio crossover and speaker building to microcontrollers like Arduino.I figured my second meter may as well be an upgrade while I'm at itI also have an old 100MHZ EZ-5100 (used to be LG-5100 I think) that I'm learning to use to compliment the meters. Any opinions for other meters are welcome.Currently looking at :Hioki DT4253Greenless DM510-A which I believe is a Bremen BM257 rebadge

author: kcbrown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 08:39:24 pm
content: What's your price range? The Hioki sells for $150 on Amazon, as does the Greenlee. Is that the upper bound on your budget?

author: Seven
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 08:44:44 pm
content: Staying around 200 USD max.

author: bobaru
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 09:01:48 pm
content: Check out this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/bunch-of-keysight-u1252b-meters-around/He accepted my offer of $200 on the previous batch.-bob

author: kcbrown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 09:04:12 pm
content: You might want to take a look at Joe Smith's videos on multimeters and how well the various models hold up. It can at least give a feel for how well constructed they are. That may or may not matter to you, however (given the choices you've put on the table so far, however, I suspect it does). He covers a variant of the Hioki here:If your budget can stretch to just over $200, and you don't need temperature capability, then the Amprobe AM-140-A might suit you very nicely. It's *fast*, and can go to 500,000 counts for DC voltage (it's 50,000 counts for most other things). It's a rebadged Brymen 857a.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 09:19:04 pm
content: Like Bobaru says: Keysight U1252B for 200$. No brainer.Hioki 4253 not bad, but no A range, doesn't measure mA AC currents and has a 1nF resolution only.Brymen 257 OK, but not in the same league as the Keysight.

author: bobaru
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 10:27:37 pm
content: Here is the direct link to the meter on eBay. I have no affiliation with the seller. Just a satisfied customer.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Agilent-keysight-u1252b/292002301363-bob

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 11:00:54 pm
content: Don't want to be party pooper but it might be worth investigating this issue to see if it applies to Keysight U1252B in question..https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-933-keysight-u1272a-emc-issue/msg1126658/#msg1126658

author: Seven
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 12:38:54 am
content: Hm, well hopefully it's not too big of an issue since I did reach for the Keysight on Ebay after some thought and further comparison. I appreciate the advice, it turned up a couple models I'd somehow overlooked. The 140-A in particular was a very close thing until the U1252B opportunity was mentioned.My current DMM is a Southwire 10040N that measures temperature, but I don't know how accurate it (or any DMM) is. I may actually use the temperature function and data logging of the Keysight in an incubator project I've been working on. I've got a couple different heat sources and I'd like to see if one is superior as far as temperature "ripple" is concerned.Guess I need to make a decision on the IR USB cable vs the Bluetooth radio method for the U1252B and find a decent price on either.

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2017, 03:18:14 am
content: Unless you need the better features of the Greenlee 510 you might consider the Greemlee 200A (a lesser version of the same meter). Also, the Amprobe AM-270 is just a bit over $100 and a VERY good meterhttp://www.testequipmentdepot.com/amprobe/multimeters/industrial-true-rms-digital-multimeters/trms-industrial-multimeter-with-temperature-am-270.htm?ref=gbase&gclid=CJvc1cW48NECFdW3wAodTOYOygYou could also pick up this Extech/Brymen. Same meter (same guts) as the Amprobe. Very good meter that is almost Fluke 87 quality and abilities for far less money ($50 used)http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extech-530A-MultiPro-High-Performance-True-RMS-Multimeter-w-Test-Leads-amp-Case-/292016382854?This Matco MD257 sure looks like a Brymen 257... $70http://www.ebay.com/itm/MATCO-Automotive-Digital-Tech-Multimeter-Auto-Ranging-Auto-Check-NICE-MD257-/391671524862?hash=item5b31712dfe:g:vW4AAOSwUKxYZ7r4&item=391671524862&vxp=mtrThis is the current large Brymen/Greenlee. It's the update to the meter that was the Aprobe above. I've got one and the only two drawbacks are size and lack of a Fluke type touch hold feature.http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1312.R1.TR11.TRC2.A0.H0.Xgreenlee.TRS1&_nkw=greenlee+multimeter&_sacat=0Yeah, if you trust the sellers ebay can offer some real deals.