hand held multimeter under 200$ - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: nour
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 11:05:49 am
content: I want to buy new or used (prefer new) handheld multimeter under 200$My main concern is about precision --> 4 1/5 or better with at least 40,000 or 50,000 counts, of course with a good accuracyalso I prefer pc connection feature to be presentI have no concern about safety --> low voltage low current applications (under 60 volts) mainly for electronics stuff .no fluke please reason: very expensive for those specsI have found this onebk precision 393I went through the datasheet and it seems to be the oneI need to know what do you think about it and if there is other good devices that I may have missed out therethanksEDIT: one more thingIt would be very nice if it can take 2 measurements at the same time like for example voltage and hertz

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 11:13:35 am
content: I can easily recommend a Brymen BM857S. You can even get the PC connection kit and stay under $200. You said you don't care about a "safe" meter but this is also CATIV 600V ! You get 50,000/500,000 count and 0.03% basic accuracy. It does not have temperature measurement if that is important. You can get temperature meters witha thermocouple pretty cheap though.http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm857s/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/

author: marber
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 12:39:43 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on November 29, 2015, 11:13:35 amBut that doesn't have dual measurement displays (a requirement that I think was added later.)The more modern BM867S does, and also meets the other requirements I believe.~$150 at tme.eu. The PC connection kit is an additional ~$45.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 01:29:46 pm
content: BK393 is fine if you can put up with the narrow true RMS bandwidth (2kHz) and short battery life (50hrs). Slow continuity may also be an issue.For a dual data display, look at the new Uni-T meters, like the UT171A/B.

author: nour
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 03:25:12 pm
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on November 29, 2015, 01:29:46 pmactually you have pointed out some good (bad) points for me that I didn't notice beforeI think I will drop this oneWhat about UNI-T 171B ?

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 03:55:02 pm
content: The lowest price I have found for the UT171B is around $230 including shipping. This is quite a bit over your limit of $200. If you are referring to the UT71B, then that is a different price. It is also an older design and I would recommend the UT71D instead at around $140 shipped. It is an OK over all multimeter for electronics but it does have a slow continuity tester. It has every function most people could want so it isn't bad a buy.Now that you want dual display, yes the BM857S is not going to meet your requirements. As mentioned already, the BM867S is more but has dual display.

author: nour
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 04:11:46 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on November 29, 2015, 03:55:02 pmif the meter have extra good features and I can't find something under 200$ I can go up to 250$ MAX

author: marber
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 04:19:18 pm
content: Quote from: nour on November 29, 2015, 04:11:46 pmThen BM867S or even BM869S are going to be hard to beat.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 04:21:08 pm
content: Yes, at those price levels you should go for a Brymen multimeter, and definitely not waiste your money on a Uni-T multimeter.You can spend at most 25-50 USD on a Uni-T multimeter, that's acceptable, but if you start spending in the order of 200 USD, it would be a crime to spend that on a Uni-T multimeter.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 04:22:11 pm
content: It is difficult to give recommendations when you keep moving the target.The BM869S would be in under $250 shipped, has 0.02% accuracy, dual temperature, and possible PC connection in the future.http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm869/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm869s/The UT171A or B are also nice meters but nowhere in the same league of build quality as the Brymens. They main benefit is the PC connection included for that price. At this price level I would buy the Brymen especially seeing as you are going to get a benchtop meter with PC connection built in anyway.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 05:38:57 pm
content: I think they wanted an additional $40 for the serial interface for my Brymen BM869s. The cost to the US would have been closer to $280. Still not very much considering what you get. I had no need for this feature and was nice to see them separate it out.There are a few things that after having this meter that I have really come to enjoy. The first is how it stores the last settings. I discovered this early on and liked it. I used my Mastech the other day and every time it would shut down, I had to reset the modes. How did I ever live like this??This Brymen has spoiled me.When I first got it, I compared it with a few different Flukes, including the 87V. One of the things I noticed was how fast the bar graph responded by comparison. This turned out to be very useful.I picked it up in August and have used it as my primary meter since, so it gets a fair amount of run time. I was a little discouraged when it arrived that it only had a 9V transistor battery in it and figured I would need to switch to a rechargeable battery. Turns out this was not the case at all. It still has what ever battery was in it.Three months is not a long time to look at the drift. Picture showing meter today in the mV range. Keeping in mind that I purposely damaged this meter and repaired it. These meter specs are hard for me to understand. They have 0.02% + 2d. If we assume this is +/-0.02% of reading and +/- 2 counts. If it is in 500000 count mode, I would assume a count is 1uV, or +/-2.2uV from the nominal. They spec the tempco at 0.15 x specified accuracy/deg C. So I would guess that's 330nV per deg C. Anyway, it's tighter than what I can measure at home.Quote from: pascal_sweden on November 29, 2015, 04:21:08 pmI agree with Pascal.If you just want to do data logging with multiple channels, you may be better off with a low cost data acquisition system that's made for this.

author: marber
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 06:46:41 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on November 29, 2015, 05:38:57 pmSame here, since May. I'd say its battery life is in no way problematic for at least hobbyist use.If there's anything I dislike about it, it's the tilting bail. Having it hinged in the rubber holster makes it not the steadiest.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 07:27:56 pm
content: Quote from: nour on November 29, 2015, 03:25:12 pmThe 171B is pretty good, it has internal memory (10,000) and a nice STN screen. I believe continuity is latched, but on the slow side. Perhaps just outside of your price range. There is a new version 171B+, but no details on improvements. The meter is listed with Intertek.

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2015, 07:36:16 pm
content: What's the small opening at the top of that Uni-T multimeter?That could have been done better, I believe.

author: nour
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 01:57:42 am
content: I see that people likes the BM869SI think If I need this kind of specs I will need to push my limits a little bitas I have said I will consider up to 250$does any one knows store that sell this BM869S in the USwhat is the location of tme.eu it seems to be in Europe if I am not wrong!

author: rgawron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 02:15:11 am
content: QuoteIt's located in Poland, Central Europe.AFAIK they have the best prices in Europe.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 02:47:19 am
content: TME supplied mine. No problems at all. Very fast shipping, packing was fine. Just keep in mind, $250 would not get you the serial interface for it.

author: nour
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 06:36:06 am
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on November 30, 2015, 02:47:19 amunless I am mistaken it says here on there page it just 209.51$http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm869/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm869s/this is the one we are talking about, right?!by the way the limit that I have set didn't include shipping anywayalso for the serial interface I think I can hold on for this for a while

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 07:03:42 am
content: nour:If you want relevant information, stop moving the goal posts. Now you can spend anything up to $250 plus any unspecified shipping costs? You originally wanted something under $200 and didn't specify that it did not include shipping nor that it had to have dual display.So now with your latest revision of pricing, you could buy a BM869S with the serial interface plus shipping.I suggest that you get the BM869S and be happy. The link has been provided and yes you have repeated the same web page.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 07:02:15 am
content: Quote from: nour on November 30, 2015, 06:36:06 am$ 209.66 when I just looked. It was $224.66 when I bought mine.I have been looking at the Fluke 17B+. It's around $160 and no where near the class of the BM869s.

author: kj7e
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2016, 08:28:44 pm
content: For anyone in the US, here is a local UT171B <$200 FS.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-uni-t-ut171b-handheld-dmm-new/msg837621/#msg837621

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 03:52:42 am
content: The Brymen 869S looks like a very good meter. It appears the 867S is similar and about 75% of the price but doesn't have a temperature function? But it appears that both of these models and some other 800 series meters are 104 x 64.5 x 208mm and 635g. As a frame of reference I've been using a Fluke 179; it doesn't match the Brymen on some specs and it is more expensive but it is 90 x 43 x 185mm and 420g. Of the DMMs I have the 179 is by far the largest and heaviest. IMO, the size and weight of the Brymen 257S would be preferable to the 800 series (the 257S is 80 x 50 x 161mm and it's weight is 340g) but of course the 257S doesn't have the performance of the 800 series. Just checking to see if Brymen users think the 869s and similar 800 models might be a tad large or if you get used to the size and weight? I'm guessing that Brymen users consider the size and weight to be a non-issue but figured I'd put it out there for discussion.- For the OP, possibly another Bymen model to consider is the (I think new) 525S. Seems to have the dual display (but less digits) and the USB connector (which I think means it can do data logging); it is listed as True RMS AC, True RMS AC+DC and it does temperature. If you don't need temperature the 867S might be a better value in terms of price/performance.- A thought on temperature. Using the wired thermocouple can be a handy feature and depending on the range and accuracy needed it's a nice accessory on a DMM but I recently had an opportunity to use an inexpensive IR thermometer to check on a chip's temp before and after using a heat sink and the point and shoot non-contact approach has some advantages. I'm sure this one isn't the end all and be all for accuracy (it doesn't adjust for emissivity) but if you mostly use a DMM to measure electricity this might an alternative for temp; for the difference between the 867S and 869S it's probably possible to get decent IR thermometer.http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Lasergrip-774-Non-contact-Thermometer/dp/B00837ZGRY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452226799&sr=8-1&keywords=ir+thermal+temp

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:02:19 am
content: It is hard to have a big 500,000 count display, dual display, CATIV 1000V input protection and still have a small meter. Compromises, always compromises.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:15:36 am
content: Quote from: Lightages on January 08, 2016, 04:02:19 amI guess that means you get used to the size and weightAnother question: what are the most popular use cases for using the two displays at the same time?

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:25:38 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on January 08, 2016, 04:15:36 amA few off the top of my head:1) A complex AC+DC signal: Dual display lets you see both components at once2) Monitoring both ACV or ACI and Freq at the same time.3) Monitoring dual temperatures (can measure a heat sink and ambient at the same time)

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:31:36 am
content: Quote from: PedroDaGr8 on January 08, 2016, 04:25:38 amWow - those are good use cases, the first two especially. How do you probe (with one set of probes?) for V and I at the same time? Can you also probe for DCV and DCI at the same time?

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:37:38 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on January 08, 2016, 04:31:36 amSorry, you misunderstood number two. It can read ACV and Freq or ACI and Freq at the same time. That I know of, measuring ACI and ACV at the same time is only found in bench meters (I'm sure someone will prove me wrong if that's not the case)

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:49:24 am
content: Quote from: PedroDaGr8 on January 08, 2016, 04:37:38 amOk, roger that - sorry I didn't read carefully. If it had the V&I feature I was about to move closer to being a Brymen customer soonerBut the dual display still sounds useful. Is there a manual available on-line that explains how the dual display is operated?

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 04:58:19 am
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on January 08, 2016, 04:49:24 amIt's pretty straight forward. You select a function where it is a possibility, such as ACV, and the 'select' key cycles through the various formats.

author: daybyter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 06:23:11 am
content: Looks good...

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2016, 06:34:34 am
content: I'll throw it out as a dark horse: the TES Prova 901 (TRMS) or the 801/803 (not TRMS). But there's very little by the way of independent reviews of these, and I've never touched one.I do have some other TES products and they're fine, but definitely a little strangely constructed.