Inexpensive DMM with Data IO - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 06:37:48 pm
content: For Li-ION cell analysis and solar power monitoring.I could put together an Arduino but what are some very inexpensive OTS solutions that offer data output?

author: rvalente
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 06:43:30 pm
content: HP 75000B are cheap, many come with 5 1/2 meter card, a bunch of scanner boards, you can do a lot of multiplexing....https://www.ebay.com/itm/152382029993?_skw=HP75000&itmmeta=01K6NNYAEHF0RG2VQTZJKSTMHP&hash=item237aad40a9:g:hfYAAOSw3-te86kH&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAAwFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eyV5Fq%2Fqljss5TnrP0%2FGa52iX6e6yCkNLS1JOgmF4uUwFDkOjnLWbma1ODvg3fm23I6WWoKnhp8YsbFpx0NzQ%2FkuzOVuadfmYvjMLIPGmXSWnst%2FRZbeX%2BdklUvngWpVSuMSQsEWynVfqqSjX9WDmoH%2FryyIaF%2F2DLf7o2M7kqlQVguJybt6DXIXU5qhp%2BIHyyYqrKNCwEMi%2Fzz7quQLKe0f%2BQ7eIWOuyTQpHX3KnvzA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6So-bW1ZgYou can also find Keithley 2000 for "low cost" and it is a great and versatile instrumenthttps://www.ebay.com/itm/396995937233?_skw=Keithley+2000&epid=14017641872&itmmeta=01K6NP2PZZ00B0JJFD82NVZPMB&hash=item5c6ecd43d1%3Ag%3AZAcAAeSwmN5orX6x&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dCGopJrztvtB3gESUOvjlzjNmd2ZjnAWzVYdbEWaULQ1vFVFBL1M4EKWTHegxpMMPKphLOb%2BWZxPT%2BZNYZbC7JNjDvfSUA38xYM%2BZ%2FR7HF704zBbGJEuRbPgWh0UzLA0M6QijsNC%2FhIWCglHCkkqWdOoq3yc34mRVzy3OiLGtO0AE%2F%2B4FNKQMOgDvSBddYdqd0e6FMVJN4o30t7TCzWhbW%2FCiOOTLeQO9pdT%2BMlYGEyrj4wo8U0AlPKcnzJpnziuM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6zwira1Zg&LH_ItemCondition=4Other option is to get any DMM with COMM and make simple relay switcher with your favorite arduino flavor, labview is great for that

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 06:50:26 pm
content: Take a look at TestController:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/Lots of options work with that.

author: adam4521
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 07:56:33 pm
content: Owon XDM-1241 might be a candidate — you can power it from USB if need be and from a look at the data sheet can do simple logging, up to 1000 readings, autonomously. Also supports SCPI, apparently.For a cheap old meter, I’ve been pleased with Fluke 45, easy to control over RS232 but of course, mains power + computer needed.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 11:29:41 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/low-cost-data-logger/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/cheap-data-acquisition-device/Solar power monitoring is a bit different as you want voltage and current together, and I assume DC. There are some cheap Tuya clamp meters but they just have AC input voltage. I'm not sure if DC input voltage ones are commonly available.The scanner card is good if you will be moving it around from location to location, and not want stuff permanently monitoring in different spots.

author: kloetpatra
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 04:34:37 pm
content: It's not a DMM but maybe it suits your needs. If you do not wan't to use the app, you can also read the data using the tuya api for example with python:https://github.com/jasonacox/tinytuyahttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256807537881212.html

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2025, 04:46:41 pm
content: Thanks all - many good leads.I have a panel meter like the one above for the solar system and that was working well enough. Not taking data but it was at least showing me the metered values. But it said not to leave it connected to a dead load and that's what I did - left it connected to the solar panels, and apparently that wipes the cal data