My first Multimeter Need some help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Dellyjoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2013, 09:16:07 pm
content: Hello everyone im new here i have watched EEvblog#75- Digital Multimeter Buying guide for beginners.I just sill have some questions.Im doing EE for my major in College at PSU and i have a 20 dollar multimeter that is just not doing the job, so this is what i found that i can spend.I can spend no more then 120 dollars.http://www.lowes.com/pd_391406-85476-EX505_0__?storeNumber=3169&Ntt=multimeter&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%4064446444%5D&productId=3652778&ipTrail=98.225.138.159&Ns=p_product_price%7C1plase let me know what you are useing if it is my range of price .I would like to spend less if i can.Thanks for reading,Joe

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2013, 09:36:22 pm
content: Watch Dave's $100 shootout and you will forget about the Extech 505.http://www.eevblog.com/2010/07/11/eevblog-99-100-multimeter-shootout-extech-amprobe-bk-precision-ideal-uei-uni-t-part-1of2/

author: Dellyjoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2013, 10:46:44 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on June 01, 2013, 09:36:22 pmThank you so much for showing me this video, i after viewing the video i really need to set down and do a little more research

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 01, 2013, 10:50:49 pm
content: http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/amprobe/multimeters/am-270.htmhttp://www.testequipmentdepot.com/amprobe/multimeters/34xra.htmhttp://www.testequipmentdepot.com/uei/digital-multimeters/dm393.htm( I have had an issue or two with a DM397)http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/bk-precision/multimeters/2709b.htmor sold by iloveelectronics here on the forums, contact him for a lower pricehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E-UT61E-22-000-count-Digital-Multimeter-/200901686717?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec6ac75bdand he might be able to give you a lower price for this too. Get this if you can.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-BM257-Digital-Multimeter-6000-count-Brand-New-Fluke-alternative-/200922627340?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec7ebfd0cThese are just some of the better suggestions. Read up on them in the forums here.

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2013, 11:44:20 pm
content: UT61E seen here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/uni-t-ut61e-multimeter-teardown-photos/Note that this is not the one in the shootout (UT61D).

author: Dellyjoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 12:06:54 am
content: Im really liking BK Precision 2709B im going to look more into it, but i think this will be the one i will get.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 01:09:27 am
content: Quote from: Dellyjoe on June 01, 2013, 09:16:07 pmJoe, where do you live? And what is PSU? Penn State Univ? Phillipsburg State Univ?Penitentiary Secured University?If you are in the USA, the student doesn't need to bring his own DMM.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 01:33:11 am
content: I've got the B+K 2709B.It's a nice meter, but a few criticisms:- After about a year and a half the stop-point for the range switch broke somewhere inside the unit, which allows you to turn the switch past the off position. Admittedly not a major issue. The meter doesn't do anything on these ranges or enter any unsafe condition, they all appear to emulate the off position.- After about two years part of the plastic on the tilting bail for the meter broke. B+K sent me a free replacement, after some fuss with their support department. (My thread on this issue:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/no-support-from-bk-precision/msg130981/#msg130981.)- The "rel" feature shows a minus sign e.g. -0.000V when inputs are equal, seems like a bug in the ASIC design. Not a real issue but a little strange.Overall, it's a nice meter, no major issues with it, battery life is OK (about 6~9 months with my fairly regular usage) and it's survived the odd mistake such as 230Vac on ohms.For the £70 or so I spent on it at the time, it's been a good workhorse and I would recommend one to someone looking for a mid-to-low-end meter.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 03:43:42 am
content: Dave gets a commission if you buy through his amazon store ($94.50 USD + free shipping)http://astore.amazon.com/eevblogstore-20/detail/B004O8Z89C

author: Dellyjoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 09:11:24 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on June 02, 2013, 01:33:11 amthank you so much for telling me your experience with the multi meter that i have been looking into.Quote from: retiredcaps on June 02, 2013, 03:43:42 amthank you so much for answer my question i have taken your writing into good look idk what i will be doing. maybe a fluke 17b maybe just a B+K 2709B. idk yeti will end up buying a meter off this website for Dave.thanks for the heads up.

author: Dellyjoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 09:15:53 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on June 02, 2013, 01:09:27 am

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2013, 11:01:05 pm
content: Quote from: Dellyjoe on June 02, 2013, 09:15:53 pmAh ha - must be ESP, Penn State Univ was my first guess and I hit it. (I changed the quote line here for you so others can see your reply. At first, I thought you mistakenly hit the post button without entering a reply. I read it two or three times before I saw your reply since your reply was embedded in your quotes of me. ).

author: Dellyjoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2013, 12:43:20 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on June 02, 2013, 11:01:05 pmya rick idk what i did but thanks for the info you gave me im working on a solar project i will be making a post soon about it if i can find the wright topic to put in under

author: Dellyjoe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 04:45:02 pm
content: thank you everyone for all your help. i went ahead and just broughthttp://astore.amazon.com/eevblogstore-20/detail/B004O8Z89Cand i hope i love it as dave loves it as well.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 05:54:45 pm
content: QuoteHow much is a Mohm in inches?

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2013, 11:20:48 pm
content: About 3 volt-inches.