Easy on eyes multimeter choice? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: garymck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 01:05:57 am
content: Hi,is there a good multimeter under $200AUS that is larger than say the Brymen BM235? I would have bought the Brymen, but my eyes are not what they once were and I'd like something a little larger and easier to read and handle. I would like one that performs as well as the BM235 if possible. Note though, that I have never seen one in the flesh, just trying to make a judgement on size from online videos.cheersGary

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 01:17:17 am
content: The display of the BM235 is a pretty good size. Do you want an even bigger display, or is the problem the size of the labelling of the switch and buttons?

author: garymck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 01:34:47 am
content: Hiprobably the labelling size more than the screen. I guess I could get used to it, but I have a bit of an accommodation problem with my eyes changing focus. To explain, If I focus on something at one distance, and then focus on something at a different distance, my eyes are slow to change or accommodate this. Thus, bigger labeling, makes it easier/quicker to read stuff as I change point of focus. Age is catching up :-(cheersGary

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:07:26 am
content: Quote from: garymck on May 04, 2017, 01:34:47 amYou know they have these things called reading glasses now...Seriously - I remember what it was like in my mid 40s when my ability to accommodate started going. My advice - stop resisting the inevitable and get a good pair of reading glasses - or better yet get a high quality pair with progressive lenses. It will make ALL your electronics (and other) work easier - not just reading multimeter labels.

author: garymck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:15:52 am
content: Hi,I actually have specs - bifocals, still have the accommodation problem even with these - also have a pair of specs specifically for using at the computer!Age sucks! Bits hurt, and don't work properly :-)Gary

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:21:48 am
content: Many autoranging multimeters have the off position fully anticlockwise, with most commonly used settings next to this - say volts as the first position, resistance in the second and diode mode/continuity testing in the third. So it is easy to use without looking at the switch.You could deliberately chose a multimeter with less switch positions (say no temperature, capacitance, mv Voltage ranges, etc) just to make it easier.As far as the display goes, some LCD's have better contrast then others, and some have different qualities of backlighting. You could probably even modify the multimeter so that the backlight is always on, if they helps. The battery life would be shorter, but with rechargeable batteries, it is not a big problem.If you are only using the multimeter at low voltages, you can even just go for the really cheap, simple multimeters - something like this:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Auto-range-Digital-LCD-Multimeter-Backlight-AC-DC-Ammeter-Voltmeter-Ohm-Tester/302280319362(Not sure about the "True RMS")If you are going to use it on mains or at high currents, you do need to go with one of the good brands for safety reasons. There is a spreadsheet on the forum surveying many of the multimeters available:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/multimeter-spreadsheet/msg393947/#msg393947

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:40:05 am
content: Quote from: garymck on May 04, 2017, 02:15:52 amI have just gone multifocal for the first time. I am a massive fan of the cheap internet ordering of glasses because you can make them up exactly for the job. It is great at having a dedicated single focus computer glasses, but I also made a pair that had computer distance at the top and close distance at the bottom. If you are only paying $30 for the glasses, if the first attempt is not ideal, you can have another go. The quality can be as good as the $500 optometrist glasses - sometimes better with more options available.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 02:55:21 am
content: Quote from: garymck on May 04, 2017, 02:15:52 amAccommodation is simply the eye changing the shape of the intraoccular lens to alter the optics and focus the image on the retina. That is lost with age (presbyopia) due to changes in the lens. It's a straightforward optics problem to compensate for that loss. If you can't get glasses that completely compensate then something else is going on.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 06:16:15 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on May 04, 2017, 02:55:21 amIt is the problem I have. Up till mabye 5 years ago, I was able to just use one set of glasses for everything (I am short sighted). Now I need the different lenses for the different distances.It was a relevation to get exactly the lenses I needed - I was struggling with a lot of the computer and electronics work and suddenly it became no problem again.When the optometrists check your eyes for a prescription, there is an "ADD" number for reading glasses and it does not necessarily handle the close vision needed for electronics work. I use progressive lenses instead of bifocal and I tailor then for the job. So for driving I used the prescription number and halve the ADD numbers - gives me progressive glasses that can see everything from distance down to the dashboard clearly. For electronics work, I add half the ADD number to the prescription so the top of the glasses act like computer glasses, and put an ADD number in that is more then half the prescribed number - maybe 2/3 of the prescribed ADD number so I can focus on objects maybe 20cm away. If I was doing all close work I might start with a reading glasses prescription (prescription numbers + ADD numbers) and have an extra ADD number for closer work at the bottom of the lenses.You have to know the Interoccular Distance (PD) if you get your own glasses on the internet, and it decreases for closer focussing. For very close work, it could be 5mm less then for distance glasses. If you get it wrong, the glasses are just not perfectly comfortable as you are not looking through the center of the lens.Have to pick the right frame shape. Too big and it is heavy and uncomfortable. Too thin and the different zones in the progressive lens are far too narrow.