Picking a multimeter for work - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 01:31:17 pm
content: I got a word that my boss is planning some bigger spending and we have to prepare a list of what we need and on this list I have a new multimeter, but I need some help picking one up.We're maintaining over 100 PCs and several server machines and a medium network, but I also look after some Siemens Logo, S7-200 and S7-300 PLCs and associated stuff. Almost all low power stuff, some motors, analog sensors (mostly RTDs), simple digital electronics, Profibus network. So I'm looking for a general purpose multimeter that would be handy in this kind of environment.First of all, it must be near damn indestructible (something on the order of surviving a nuclear war along with the cockroaches) and it must have a good input protection, I don't want this thing to explode in my hands. I don't need any specific accuracy, being able to tell if voltages on ATX PSU and mains are within specs is enough. Built in non-contact voltage detector is almost required (you can't even imagine how often we find unidentified cables coming out of the wall with the other end somewhere in Narnia!), temperature measurement and duty cycle/frequency for PWM signals would be also very nice. Besides that just standard ohms/continuity, diode, min/max and peak capture functions. I could most likely live without current measuring, but it wouldn't hurt to have A/mA/uA scales (just amps would be useless). I don't need capacitance and current loop. As for the brands I'd prefer something easily available in Poland, like Fluke, Agilent, Brymen, Sanwa or Extech.That is what I have figured out so far, any additional suggestions useful for this kind of environment are welcome, I've surelly missed something. Unfortunately what I don't right know is the maximum budget, but let's say for now it's within 450 USD.What I've already found at different price tags are Agilent U1241B, U1233A, Extech 470, 330, Bryment 907, but I haven't read through all the specs yet and this is just a preliminary list. Unfortunately I can't find any Fluke meters with voltage detector, but I could live without it if the meter is really good otherwise.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 02:03:42 pm
content: The Fluke 117 has non-contact voltage detection and low-impedance mode that might be useful for your applications. It should be well below $450. Dave did a review a while ago. It's an electricians meter though, so no mA/uA. No advanced features like peak hold (it does have normal min/max) or duty cycle either, just the basics.

author: jabramo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 02:08:50 pm
content: If ruggedness is what your after don't look further than a Fluke, the things are indestructible.Doesn't sound like you need anything above a 3.5 digit meter for the testing you'll be doing.Your right that Fluke doesn't have a non contact voltage detection and Agilent as well as far as I can tell.Honestly both the Brymen and Exetech 330 would most likely do the job for significantly less that the Fluke and Agilent. I have a 330 and it has all the features you've mentioned and it's significantly cheaper than a Fluke or Agilent. As a general handheld meter the 330 is great in a small package that easily fits into your hand. It doesn't have a max/min.Maybe you could also consider the Fluke 17b great build quality and Fluke reliability, has most of the features your looking for. It's a China only meter and you can only buy it on ebay or DX for around 100US shipped worldwide. I dont think it has a voltage checker but you can always just buy one of those voltage pens for really cheap.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 02:28:14 pm
content: Quote from: jabramo on December 09, 2012, 02:08:50 pmReports are that the Fluke 17b build quality is decent, but not up to the level of the 'real' Flukes that are sold in the rest of the world. Why would you buy a Fluke DMM without any warranty or support for professional use? Especially since the indicated budget isn't particularly tight.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 03:10:00 pm
content: I also second the Fluke 117 due to the contactless voltage detector and overall build quality, but if you are looking for something that survives a nuclear blast, I would look into the27 II / 28 IIor the "intrinsically safe" series like the28 II Exor the87V Ex.There is also a canyon trip made by a certain aussie that showed the survivability of an Extech EX505 (here).

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 03:19:29 pm
content: Extech 330, seriously? that thing is gonna blow up in your hands if you accidentally put amps to measure mains voltage!And unfortunately the low-end ones usually then and only then will you get a NCV, i guess it's better to have a cheap NCV probe (One that isn't crap, have a UT12B which has sound and visual warning) but a MS8260F has NCV but i'm not too sure about that meterExtech 430 will be excellent thenIf you want a brymen Franky can probably help you out, the BM257 has TrueRMS and auto-mode switching and LoZ mode plus actual relative if you ever need it plus it has NCVhttp://brymen.com.tw/product-html/cata250/BM250_Catalog.pdfOr a UT61A perhaps?And if you do not want the BM250 series you can pick thehttp://brymen.com.tw/product-html/cata200/Bm200s.htmBM200 seriesThe agilents are fantastic too if you like great quality and have the ability to shell money out for the U1241BBut guys, the fluke 117 costs 200+$ and it just isn't like the U123X

author: zaoka
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 04:53:29 pm
content: You will mostly need it for ATX power supply testing so I recommend Agilent U1272A because it can measure AC up to 100Khz and can help you identify noise on DC outputs. For example if you have bad capacitors in ATX power supply regular ATX tester wont detect it because it measure voltage without a load.This meter has AC mV range and is able to detect that condition.

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 05:08:36 pm
content: Thank you for all the opinions. I'll read some datasheets for those meters now and assemble the final list tomorrow morning. I'll let you know which meter won.EDIT:Also feel free to add more opinions and suggestions about multimeters and other hardware that could be handy, but isn't much obvious.

author: StubbornGreek
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2012, 06:21:55 pm
content: The Fluke 28 II is the most bulletproof meter design out there but it will take you above $400 and it doesn't have a wireless voltage detect. So, how about a Fluke 87 V (same meter just not as rugged - although more so than most other meters) and a Fluke VoltAlert pen (about $30). The pair will do what you need and you get an electronics meter for when you need it.