Hand Held USB Digital Multimeter reviews or recommendations for less than £100 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: imk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 06:31:31 pm
content: Hello,My main trusty old MM has died so time for nice shiny new one.But figure i would like one with output to PC for some data logging.Been looking about at some reviews Ebay/RS/Farnell and bit confused so thought i would ask the experts.Need USB output to PC; True RMS, Vac/dc, Iac/dc, Resistance/Continuity.Would be nice to have Cap, Temp, Hfe, Hz meter/Duty Cycle, Inductance maybe.Ten Samples a second would be wonderful.Range of Quality probes would nice as under bonnet of car one day and PIC microcontroller the next.Many thanks in advance imk

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 07:51:19 pm
content: Any multimeter worth having does not Hfe. It is a wank feature that also lowers the safety of the meter. I would suggest you omit that requirement from the list.Inductance is also not common but everything else is. The few meters I know that have inductance don't have USB connections. I also don't know of any meter that has these features never mind for $100. I suggest you need to change your budget considerably and look at getting a decent multimeter like a BM235 or BM257S, and then get a DER EE DE-5000 LCR meter.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 08:47:00 pm
content: Sorry I misread your budget. Even for £100 you won't find anything that meets your requirements. But for a bit more than double you can get this:https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-TL-23/282040803373?epid=691179223&hash=item41aaf1202d:g:-CAAAOSwazJZ4-Hiand if you keep the test probes away from high energy, like wall sockets:https://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UNIT-UT71D-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-Tester-DMM-USB-Auto-Data-Log-AC-DC-Power/222858230685?epid=8009507414&hash=item33e362bb9d:g:FlMAAOSw-mNalNm5That will meet all your requirements except for Hfe, but just get a $10 tester from ebay if you really need one.I am not a fan of the UT-71D but it fits your needs with the highly recommended DER EE DE-5000 as a companion.

author: imk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:06:18 pm
content: lightages,many thanks for the input as i had not consider two MM as a solution.But then thinking about how often do i measure C or L away from my bench, never.While V,I,R i use all over the place and Hz/RPM is useful in my mechanical shop.IMK

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 09:19:43 pm
content: OK, so if you want to measure motors and such then don't get the UT71D. It is not suited for that work. Instead get a BM257S or even better a BM829S. They both have USB options if you really need and are both highly regarded here by many people. You might even be better served by a clam meter like the BM089.https://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm257/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm257s/https://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm829/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm829s/https://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm089/meters-and-acdc-clamp-probes/brymen/