Many new budget meters since last shootout...input please - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Absentminded
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 04:59:34 am
content: I feel horrible guilt for making first post in the test equipment forum. I did search, but I am still torn.I have a lower budget than I would like. I need to be under $50.I was previously torn between the uni-t ut61E and amprobe AM-510 or cheaper meters from mastech. After searching here, it seems like all have troubles. I also noticed that there is a whole new lineup of largely untested budget meters since the last eevblog shootout.What I do:I currently have an old RadioShack analog meter, but it just can't do much beyond voltage and resistance. I am a hobbyist with electronics and build arduino/raspberry pi projects, goofy robotics, audio, power supplies, and just miscellaneous toys. Years of this and I have mostly gotten lucky that the analog meter could troubleshoot problems. Now that I am getting into more advanced circuits I need to be able to check capacitance, diodes, and frequency. Accuracy is important. I can't see myself ever testing more than a 220 volt socket, so I wasn't that worried about the uni-t 250v problem.So, what is the best budget option these days? I am not opposed to used, but the pricing on used flukes is way out there lately.Thanks!

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 05:22:50 am
content: Quote from: Absentminded on December 21, 2015, 04:59:34 amWelcome to the forum.Yes it's a big thread but all the answers you need are in it:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/Joe has made a spreadsheet of his test findings:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/?action=dlattach;attach=188165Most of the ones he's tested are under $50, you just need to pick the ones that best suit your needs.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 06:26:27 am
content: If you don't require a true RMS meter and don't care about direct current measurement, the reliable Fluke 101 is just within your budget:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-101-Pocket-Digital-Multimeter-Meter-600v-CATIII-F101-/391237944455?hash=item5b17994487:g:mtUAAOxy3cJTjAL6

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 06:33:52 am
content: And of course there is this incomparable work by Wytnucls:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/multimeter-spreadsheet/Very remiss of me to overlook it.

author: Absentminded
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 08:10:43 am
content: Quote from: tautech on December 21, 2015, 05:22:50 amThat is indeed a monster thread. Lots of interesting info thanks. The UT61E flamed out on the bbq grill piezo. That sounds a little too wimpy, which is another point to the amprobe.There is a whole new line up from the budget brands this year. For example, Mastech with the DM500 through DM503, MS8250 series, MS8360 Series, MS8321, MY70/75/78 etc etc etc.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 08:16:39 am
content: Quote from: Absentminded on December 21, 2015, 04:59:34 amOK, so buy a meter for doing that. The UT61E seems suitable.Quote from: Absentminded on December 21, 2015, 04:59:34 amWhy the obsession with connecting multimeters to mains AC sockets? The numbers that appear on screen are meaningless - it's never going to show the wrong voltage or frequency (your circuit breakers will trip first).Plug a lamp in instead (or even just an extension lead with a red indicator lamp). If it lights up, there's your answer.PS: It's not the 220V that's the problem. It's all the huge spikes that happen whenever household motors switch on/off, etc.

author: Absentminded
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 08:30:23 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on December 21, 2015, 08:16:39 amUnsupervised "jr engineers" is the best reason for 220v safetyI know I was THAT kid that fried my dad's nice multimeter when he was at work and mom wasn't looking

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 08:59:43 am
content: Quote from: Absentminded on December 21, 2015, 08:30:23 amThere's no hope then. There's no meter under $50 that does all the hobby electronics measurementsandthe people on here will point at and say "safe".(PS: Theonlymeter I'd say is jr-engineer-proof is the Fluke 101 but that's no use for EE work. Very cheap though - cheap enough to have one of those plus something else in a boring color that won't attract jr...)

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 09:29:32 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 21, 2015, 09:17:15 amYep. That's the problem.I wouldn't have a problem measuring the occasional mains voltage with a Uni-T but I'd double andtriple-check the range selector before connecting anything. The problems happen when you connect it up andthenturn the range switch into position (or connect the leads wrong, or any number of other stupid things).The UT61Edoesrequire you to swap the leads around to measure currentandthe AC volts range is the first click on the dial when you start from "off". Both of these are good safety features, but not jr-engineer-proof.The UT61E fell at the first hurdle in the mains spike tests done in the 'here kitty' thread, ie. The "CAT IV 600V" printed on the front is a lie. Would you trust a meter that lies about its CAT rating?

author: Absentminded
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 04:58:23 pm
content: Thanks. I think I have convinced myself to buy a fluke 115 or 117 after all of the threads I have looked at. I will just have to wait until I get a tax refund or find one used.Or maybe I need a cheapie and a scope...

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 06:31:25 pm
content: Quote from: Absentminded on December 21, 2015, 04:58:23 pmThe Fluke 115 I looked at was very robust. Just keep in mind that the 117 is a different meter and don't expect it to have the same robustness. Look at how different the Amprobe AM510 was from the AM530. Any buyer would expect these two meters would behave the same. (wow proof read..)QuoteBoth 5ky's UT61D & E failed that piezo ignitor test which is my poor man's ESD test. The 1KV surge test is the first hurdle in the mains test unless you want to count the rectified 220 volt test. They never even made it to the hurdle. Sad.

author: Absentminded
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2015, 06:35:50 pm
content: http://www.tequipment.net/Triplett/1401/Multimeters/This looks interesting on paper too.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 22, 2015, 12:33:46 pm
content: To me the answer is pretty easy. Amprobe 5x0 series or the UT139C. Both are good ask round meters at a reasonable price. Joe's tests show just one aspect of what makes a good meter.

author: bookaboo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2015, 01:26:50 pm
content: It's a little over your budget but who the hell sticks to budgets then test equipment is concerned.http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm257/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm257s/Very rugged, has all the ranges you would usually need and safe for mains work (UL Listed CAT3 600v).Lots of review material:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/differences-between-brymen-bm-257-and-bm-829/http://mjlorton.com/forum/index.php?topic=164.0

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2015, 07:30:14 pm
content: You could always wait for the EEVBlog meter. Aka Brymen BM325.