Multimeter request - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: LEENO
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 08:51:56 am
content: hi, i search for multimeter with following features:1) continuity buzzer immediate with no lag2) truerms3) usb for pc interface4) autorange volt, resistance5) Henry until 20h (this is no essential feature, i ordered lcr meter just for henry)i tryed victor vc9808+ but it is not autorange and it detect until 5h, officially 20h but for coils grater than 5h it give no valuetryed victor 86d and mastech 8229 but no henry and buzzer is no immediate and have lagi watching for uni-t ut-71E, is it good choise or you suggest a better one?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 09:01:27 am
content: UT61E is close to that if you get one with the USB instead of RS232 cable.Continuity isn’t particularly laggy but I haven’t found a modern DMM that it doesn’t suck on to some degree until you start paying for bench meters with fast count.Forget inductance or capacitance on a DMM. Really need an LCR for that as you already worked out

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 10:53:03 am
content: I have used Victor 86's for over 8 years for monitoring my coffee roasting. DON'T buy one their software sucks and intentionally encoded and twisted data makes them a PITA to write your own unless you like decryption.Apart from that I just checked my 2 86 D's that are 6-7 years old against my recent Agilent purchase and some 0.005% resistors and they are absolutely bang on for DC and Ohms at least.So for me they are a love hate thing

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 11:08:14 am
content: i found for me ms8250cit is fast6600meter at the same chip like some bk precisions

author: WhichEnt2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 11:51:21 am
content: Quote from: LEENO on November 14, 2017, 08:51:56 am71e is ok if you are buy it to measure ac power.I have it and I absolutely don't like the resistance measurement.Also disadvantages of 71 series are hugely discussed around here.

author: LEENO
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 09:40:30 pm
content: So since now the favourite is ut61e, i can buy usb-rs232 converter.I hope ut61e continuity buzzer is same as my VC9808+, really immediate without microlag

author: HalFET
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 09:50:28 pm
content: The 61E is ok overall, but keep it away from mains.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 09:59:31 pm
content: Yes definitely keep it away from the mains.If you do have to use it on the mains, don’t probe live, don’t change any setting while it is live, don’t hold it while it is live, wear safety glasses and stand back. Also throw the provided probes in the bin and get some Pomona or probemaster ones.Actually screw it just buy a Fluke or Keysight if you’re going near something dangerous.

author: HalFET
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 10:21:56 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on November 14, 2017, 09:59:31 pmI'll go out on a limb here and say that the re-badged ones Tektronix/Keithley sells are probably also acceptable. But the Fluke ones use that smooth ultra flexible silicone, it's so lovely. You'd want to hug them and flex them all day!

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 10:42:33 pm
content: Haha. The Pomona silicone ones are like that as well. Know what you mean.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 11:05:43 pm
content: Look out for a 2nd hand Fluke 177 or 179 or one of the lower end Brymen meters. Neither does H but like you say your getting a separate for that. TBH H is one of the least used features but a separate machine for when you do is a good idea.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 11:03:46 pm
content: Look out for a 2nd hand Fluke 177 or 179 or one of the lower end Brymen meters. Neither does H but like you say your getting a separate for that. TBH H is one of the least used features but a separate machine for when you do is a good idea.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 14, 2017, 11:22:25 pm
content: Quote from: HalFET on November 14, 2017, 10:21:56 pmYou can also buy gold plated Brymen leads from Frankie's eBay store. Very supple. I have 5 sets and plan to get a couple more. I want each of my meters to have their own set.

author: LEENO
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 06:52:06 am
content: Quote from: bd139 on November 14, 2017, 09:59:31 pmYou mean ut61e can be dangerous with high voltage mains?I use it only for mobilephones and notebook

author: LEENO
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 06:58:43 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 14, 2017, 11:10:41 amWith continuity buzzer it is immediate with no lag?

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:31:34 am
content: Ut71 c d e buzzer sucksBut will do You spend $100-200 for buzzer? Keep separate meters for mains and bench works

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:37:51 am
content: Quote from: LEENO on November 15, 2017, 06:52:06 amIt’s fine for that stuff.

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 07:56:25 am
content: Quote from: LEENO on November 15, 2017, 06:52:06 amUNI-T has made the same meter with different protection levels, depending on the market. I.e. the EU version has full protection for the marked CAT rating, some other versions do not and may also have a higher CAT rating. The last UNI-T I saw, that was made for the Chinese market, had fairly good protection.http://lygte-info.dk/review/DMMUNI-T%20UT139C%20UK.htmlBut even with simple protection it is fairly safe to use on normal residential mains, at least after the fuse/breaker.

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 08:11:57 am
content: YesSafety categories are only disclamer to save manager or seller ass. But real problem with nice uni-t is what "billion counts" is only for marketing purpose since acuracy and stability +/- two counts

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 08:20:11 am
content: Not strictly true. Safety categories say what things have been formally designed and tested against. China likes to stick the labels on everything despite testing not being done. It’s “looks about right” engineering.DT830 is CAT rated apparently but if you stick it on ohms mode and plug it into a socket it will catch fire. Hmm.

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 08:33:44 am
content: If i will kill myself with high rated $$$ dmm then produser will say what he have alibinothing elseBut it is awesome to use good built things

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2017, 08:47:00 am
content: I actually cracked the back of my Victors 86's for the first time after 8 years todayGlass Fuses, solid input connectors and a fairly miserable Cap on the input. Don't get me started on the 10A shunt with 'calibrating solder'There is a buzzer on the board so why they didn't add conntinuity IDK.All that said it is rated Cat2 instead of the BS so called cat 3 or 4 of some like UniT and their ilk and I have measured 240-415 mains plenty of times and the meter and I have both survived and will no doubt do so again.Figures are in the Feeltech 6600 thread but up to 1000Hz it tracks my Agilent very well on ac RMS and frequency at 10k it gets the frequency correct but has lost the plot with ac voltage.

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2017, 01:00:03 am
content: Amprobe 37XR-A is a decent meter that does inductance up to 40H, but it doesn't have an interface.Maybe check the newer ones?