First Multi-Meter for University Classes - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: gmanlikescheese
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 07, 2016, 05:22:15 pm
content: Hi Everyone,This is my first post on the forum. I've been watching the channel for a while to get some basic knowledge on circuits, technology, etc.. I am a Freshman at Texas Tech University, and will be doing an Arduino project for the rest of the semester. I was advised to purchase a multi-meter to troubleshoot my circuits connected to the board, and I am looking for some good recommendations for a budget oriented meter that I can use for the rest of college.Thank you!gmanlikescheese

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 07, 2016, 06:07:54 pm
content: What is a "budget" meter to you? Is Daves' Brymen too expensive? Personally I'd just recommend a Uni-T (UT61E?)

author: KMoffett
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2016, 06:27:01 pm
content: You could go as low as this and get by:http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-multimeter-98025.htmlI've used cheap meters like this if accuracy is not a big issue. For basic Arduino projects this would probably work OK.They also have more expensive versions:http://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-multimeter-98025.htmlandhttp://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-1-digital-multimeter-98674.htmlKen

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2016, 06:32:27 pm
content: Get more than one meter. The BM235 is a good starting point, and a UT61E can fill in as a secondary meter.Your life really will be much easier with at least 2 meters.

author: B-17
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 03:20:13 am
content: GO FLUKE! You'll totally use it eventually! (Don't go Fluke, some one will steal it and sell it to a professor or whomever)The lab kit the college I went to arranged for us to purchase (with totally no kickbacks) included a "Mastech MS8268 Digital AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter"It works pretty dandy-like and will give you the full range of what you want it to do for classwork to personal projects. Just don't get a cheap-o chinese one for $5 on alibaba and you'll be gucci to go!

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 03:36:08 am
content: Quote from: KMoffett on November 07, 2016, 06:27:01 pmI second this. I use these for current measurements and they do a good job. If you blow a fuse or a meter, it is no big deal.For a better meter we need to know what "budget" means. Some think $600 would be a budget meter.If you can spring for $125, Dave's meter is equal to a $175 meterhttps://www.amazon.com/EEVblog-BM235-Brymen-Multimeter/dp/B01JZ1ADCO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1478575970&sr=1-1&keywords=eevblog+multimeterTry and find one that uses AA batteries (not HF ones) it will make your life easier. See the multimeter spreedsheet

author: gmanlikescheese
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 04:04:31 am
content: I think this one might work for me. Dave's Brymen looks nice, but I'm not sure how often I'll be using a meter. There are a couple models of the UT61. The E variant should work?

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 04:14:48 am
content: This one can open new methods (data recording), it workshttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C3IQDE8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Especially in a school environment where you can leave a paper trail with this

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 04:17:59 am
content: Quote from: gmanlikescheese on November 08, 2016, 04:04:31 amYou may not be using it often but you will always have it in the future to fault find that car electrical problem, check that battery in the faulty remote control or repair some household appliance.

author: MechEng87
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 04:30:31 am
content: I was in a similar scenario a few years ago looking to buy a few meters as well. For general purpose troubleshooting of circuits I agree with FSK, at least two is great to measure both voltage and current. Depending on what is a budget meter I could suggest looking online places like MCM electronics can carry decent meters in the $150 or so range. Even going to a local Home Depot or Lowes and picking up a $60 or $80 DMM is going to get you what you need for looking at circuits with an Arduiono and small projects in college. i have a few of those and they work quite well, and are good in the long run if you don't want to spend a lot and don't plan on using a meter in the future although I can say from experience that you can always find a use for a multi-meter.

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 05:19:03 am
content: Quote from: gmanlikescheese on November 07, 2016, 05:22:15 pmIf you are like I was during college, you don't have a lot of money to spend. The Harbor Freight (HF) cheapo meters linked above would be just fine for your stated purpose, and can even be found for free with coupon during some HF sales events. As far as accuracy goes, ISTR that Dave tested a cheapo HF Cen-Tech meter that someone sent him in the mailbag, and found it to be pretty much dead-on in terms of accuracy. He didn't like the construction and rather trashed it, somewhat unfairly IMO. The good thing about these meters is that they are so inexpensive it doesn't hurt (much) when someone "borrows" it or you drop it out of your dorm window or something. They usually even come with a battery! I don't think I'd use it to probe mains-connected stuff but for your Arduino-related work it would be just fine and you wouldn't have to worry about someone stealing it.I even have a little board setup with 2 of the Cen-Techs velcroed to it, and purpose-made patch cords, so that I can measure Voltage and Current simultaneously.On the other hand, "cheap tools are no bargain" as they say. If you intend to be in this hobby-profession after your present coursework is over with, and you have a bigger budget, get the best meter you can afford: Fluke 87-V would be my suggestion. Just don't loan it out to someone else.My meters: Fluke 83 (over thirty years old, heavily used indoors and out, still working perfectly); Fluke 87-III; about 5 of the Cen-Techs from HF; a Cen-Tech HF clampon ammeter; a Simpson benchtop DMM; an old Simpson analog VOM; an Excel xl8301 (about the same as the Cen-Techs); a ProsKit MT-5210 LCR meter; an Extech LT300 light meter.

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 05:35:56 am
content: I bought a 2000 count non-RMS meter for college > 20 years ago. It was $40 in 1991. It still works find and is bang-on accurate. I have a bunch of nice meters now, but that thing is still an old friend that gives value. What I'm saying is that anything above the Harbor Freight level is going to serve adequately in an undergraduate engineering environment.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 05:52:24 am
content: Reliable enough, tough enough, does everything needed and will last quite a while: $50 Unit-T UT139C.

author: AG6QR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 06:02:35 am
content: I assume your Arduino work will involve things powered by low voltage DC supplies, either small batteries or "wall wart" style UL-listed ac to dc converters.If so, then almost any meter will do. The cheapest Harbor Freight special or other low priced meter will work OK, provided you keep a fresh battery in it. If you probe a strong voltage source when you're in resistance mode, you may damage the meter, so don't do that. The accuracy of cheap digital meters is plenty good enough for almost any purposes. A meter that is one step above the bottom of the barrel may have nicer probes on it, but I'd probably be staying pretty close to the low end of the price scale.Sure, a Fluke is much better in many ways. Mostly ergonomics and safety. But safety is irrelevant if you're only using it with low energy, low voltage power supplies. And while the ergonomics of a good Fluke meter is better than the ergonomics of a bottom-of-the barrel cheap meter, it's not THAT much better.I say that as someone who owns a couple of Flukes, along with a junk Harbor Freight meter. Of course I reach for a Fluke most of the time. Certainly any time I'm dealing with mains power, or working on high voltage tube equipment, I use a meter that I can trust at 600V. But for checking a typical Arduino circuit, there's an awful lot that a cheap multimeter can do quite well. And the numbers it gives under normal circumstances are extremely close to the numbers given by much more expensive meters.You'll soon want more than one meter, anyway. Two meters are handy for doing simultaneous voltage and current measurements, for monitoring two points in a circuit (input and output of a device?), or for cross-checking to be sure the meters are reading reasonably close to spec (if they're wildly divergent, you'll need access to a third meter to serve as a tiebreaker).I would assume that, as a university student, you'll have occasional access to a high quality meter in a lab for those times when it's required for your course work, but a top quality meter probably won't be required very often.It brings me to one more point: Ask for some suggestions from your professor, advisor, or another person from the school who understands the program. If they insist my advice to "go cheap" is foolish, and if they can clearly explain why a more expensive meter is worth it for your expected projects, then believe them. But otherwise, go cheap.Finally get yourself something like a Fluke 87-5 after you're professionally employed and can comfortably afford it (or maybe ask for it for Christmas if you have someone who wants to be generous to you). It's a very nice meter, but you can buy a lot of other, more immediately useful stuff for the pricetag.

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 07:23:44 am
content: One thing that I _really_ like about the cheapo Cen-Tech meters is that they have a separate ON-OFF switch. This means you don't have to turn the rotary function select knob every time you use the thing. Say you generally use it to measure volts. With a Fluke and many other meters, you have to turn the relatively fragile and hard-to-fix rotary knob every time you want to use it. With the Cen-Tech you can just leave it in the mV mode, or whatever, and turn it on or off with the simple slide switch. And the meters are so cheap you can just get a bunch of them and leave their rotary switches in the modes you use most often.I do wish they'd use a better socket for the transistor hFE function though.

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 07:59:02 am
content: You will need a meter, if not two, but in addition to them...If you have the budget and the long term aim to stay with electronics, a Digilent Analogue Discovery might fit the bill for your first lab especially if you are not at home.It is small, as dual-rail power supplies with metering, 4 channel scope, wave generator, multichannel logic analyser, data logger, network analyser and so on.Sure, it isn't minblowingly awesome at any of these functions, and is more aimed at learning and prototyping than probing thing on a bench, but paired with a breadboard and parts it really does give you a complete low-end lab in a lunchbox.If that is too pricey (even on academic discount), have a look at a Sealeae logic analyser. It has really great software, and paired with a lowend meter would be much better than just a high end meter for microcontroller projects (for example it can decode most serial protocols with it). If you are doing mainly digital work and can get access to a good scope when needed, this too is a great way to go to allow you to debug away from the lab.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 08:06:14 am
content: Nothing beats a dedicated DMM with a screen and knob. I don't care what magic device you have, if it requires a USB cable, a PC and software to display a reading - I'd rather not even bother.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 09:13:33 am
content: In the under $50 category the UNI-T UT139C is only $35.12 on this seller:http://www.ebay.com/itm/262506462347If you need PC data logging the slightly older UT61E can be had for $44.97 both with free shipping. Check out the specs on UNI-T's website and there are lengthy threads here as well.Both of those will make fine benchtop meters. If you need a logic analyzer like an analog discovery etc it's still no replacement for a full featured multimeter.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 09:30:40 am
content: Quote from: gmanlikescheese on November 08, 2016, 04:04:31 amYes, don't get anything but the E variant.The difference are massive. Uni-T are weird like that.

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2016, 10:15:47 am
content: If you are a studen on a budget (what student isn´t) I would recommend using the MF-47, its an analog kit multimeter. Easily repairable since it uses through hole components, and you learn more from its use since the scale would be analog and therefor somewhat simpler to comprehend. I say this because the mind comprehends things better in the analog world. Of course the trade off its harder to read. You can get one for 11 dollars. Its big and comes with a bail. Im sure you can hake in a buzzer for continuity testing.

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2016, 06:44:12 am
content: I've found perfectly good Fluke 87IIIs for $100 at pawn shops. That's more meter than you'd need but you'd be surprised at how cheap you can find some old Flukes and most of the time they will be bang on for accuracy but be sure to check them and open them to check the fuses.If you must buy new, you have a lot of good options around $100-$150...I wouldn't spend more because I know a lot off people that have change majors, a $150 meter you will always be able to use as a home owner, tinker-er and a automobile owner. If you stick with it you'll eventually want to buy a better meter but you'll have plenty of time to save money. I personally want to try the EEVB Brymen but I really have too many DMMs already and most have better stats and I paid less(used).

author: MechEng87
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 07:03:49 am
content: i know this seems like a dead topic but i purchased the eevblog meter several months ago and have not put it down. its a great meter for my purposes as a hobbyist and a back at school electronics engineer. for the price its great and seems more trustworthy as far as accuracy than some of the other ones i have.(compared to a fluke 179 for reference anyways)

author: mgraves235
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 08:06:01 am
content: in the university class i assist with, the instructor insisted on everyone getting the same meter, since it was a start from basics class. he settled on the amprobe 15xp-b for whatever reasons. out of literally hundreds of those, i've seen one failure that wasnt caused by a student. i've used it inmy career as a field tech including alot of industrail instrumentation work, and have no complaints. they're about $60USD new there are probably good or better choices out there for the money, but i'm just reccomending what i'm familiar with. of course, i also have a craftsman 82139 that i've kept as a glove-box meter for years that works fine and it has more features than the amprobe, like temperature, fequency/duty cycle and a limited capacitance meter. It sells for around $30 and is a damn fine meter for the money. Hell, even a $5 harbor freight meter will be fine for basic low voltage measurements.so there's you a range of budgets there. I've been a fluke man since i started, so i'm not as familar with the selection of meters out there as alot of folks here are. basicallly, figure out what you have to spend and go from there. when it comes to tools, i tend to get the best i can afford, so as not to outgrow it, whereas a cheapo meter will do the job, but you'll NEED a batter one of you continue in the field.

author: mgraves235
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 08:20:52 am
content: Quote from: BMack on November 09, 2016, 06:44:12 ami realize this is an old post, but just as a point of discussion, i would not reccomend an analog meter for a beginner. recently, working as an instructor with students who had zero electrical knowledge, it never occurred to me how much difficulty some people having reading and using analog meters. My mentor starting mw with a simpson 260, so analog was all i knew for several years and it all seemed like common sense to me, but after having a bunch of adults completely fail to properly read analog measurements, it was a bit of a wake up call. i have now set up instruction labs just for working with analog meters and instruments and that has helped greatly, but a simple lecture on the various scales and modes gets met with a classroom of glassy eyed stares everytime.