Will there be another $100 multimeter shootout? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: jbuszkie
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 30, 2015, 07:00:08 pm
content: Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question... But the original $100 shootout is about 5 years old.I'm curious to know if there will be another updated one in the near future. There's got to be better contenders now in 5 years?Thanks,Jim

author: SharpEars
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 30, 2015, 07:05:54 pm
content: Quote from: jbuszkie on October 30, 2015, 07:00:08 pmUni-T UT61-E is the easy winner if you ask me, at least for voltages <=220V (no matter what Dave says about Uni-T quality (based on his clearly made for China crappy review units)). Just make sure you get one that is not targeted for China, if you don't want the innards to be crap.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2015, 08:25:38 pm
content: Quote from: jbuszkie on October 30, 2015, 07:00:08 pmWelcome to the forum Jim.Much recent info can be found on how robust cheap meters are in this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/Quote from: SharpEars on October 30, 2015, 07:05:54 pmWould you say that of the Fluke 101?

author: SharpEars
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 30, 2015, 08:31:15 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on October 30, 2015, 08:25:38 pmDoes the Fluke 101 have 22,000 count capability? I can measure 5.000 V or 10.000 V on my (calibrated 6 months ago) UT61-E to 1 millivolt accuracy. Also, I sure would like to see the (made for China, with no warranty outside of China) Fluke 101's innards...

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2015, 08:58:00 pm
content: Fluke 101 has no current measuring capability - making it unacceptable as an electronics bench meter IMO.

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2015, 09:12:14 pm
content: Quote from: SharpEars on October 30, 2015, 08:31:15 pmDoubtful. I've been tracking the drift of my UT61E against an accurate voltage reference for a while, and it has drifted from quite accurate to outside of its spec (high) back to slightly above accurate within 3 months. A 6 month old calibration on that meter means nothing, unfortunately. And the specs should realistically be adjusted to 0.2% accurate instead of 0.1%.I agree on the Fluke 101, it's not interesting for electronics. The Fluke 17B+ is, though. I'd like to see that one in a shootout.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2015, 09:19:58 pm
content: Quote from: mtdoc on October 30, 2015, 08:58:00 pmOf course , in that you are very correct.But to address this'ing statement from SharpEars, an example to the contrary needed to be offered.Quote

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 12:11:50 am
content: Quote from: tautech on October 30, 2015, 09:19:58 pmI think he means that the European version of the UT61E has much better input protection (i.e. HRC fuses, downgraded and honest CAT ratings) than the other version for the rest of the world.It's not just targeted for China!!And I don't think the UT61E will win a $100 shootout, a ~$50 shootout is another story...

author: SharpEars
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 12:45:18 am
content: Quote from: Maxlor on October 30, 2015, 09:12:14 pmThen, it would seem that either I have a golden UT61E or you have a bad one. Or, as is more likely the case, one of ours is representative of the model, but which one? With a sample size of two, it is impossible to see a trend.

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 12:50:50 am
content: If only the Amprobe Am-270 was reliably priced at $100 as Amazon had it a few years back. Hard to think of a better value in a new meter. 6000 count with a 0.08% DCV accuracy, strong feature set and first rate safety. The only drawbacks are a poor backlight and a case that could be better. Other than that you have a meter that is respectable even next to the Fluke 87. These days it's going for more like $120-130. Still a great value but not quite in the $100 price range.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 08:32:21 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on October 30, 2015, 08:58:00 pmFluke 107 is like the Fluke 101 but with current (and a couple of other thnigs).It's also nearer the $100 target - the 101 is only $42, shipping included.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 09:17:42 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on October 31, 2015, 01:17:08 amDave's hinted that there might be an EEVBLOG-branded meter soon...and I suspect it could be a Brymen 257.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 09:21:13 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on October 31, 2015, 09:17:42 amHmm... doesn't look like it (on his latest vid)

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 11:34:17 am
content: Quote from: crispy_tofu on October 31, 2015, 09:21:13 amHmmm....

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 04:07:50 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on October 31, 2015, 08:32:21 amJust barely. The current resolution is still too poor to make it a worthwhile electronics meter IMO.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 06:49:00 pm
content: Quote from: mtdoc on October 31, 2015, 04:07:50 pmYep, but most of you will have another meter which will measure microamps/microvolts if needed. Even a $5 meter will do that.OTOH the 107 is fully CAT rated and is a tough little meter for general use*. I'd say it's a good addition to a bench/toolbox.(*as shown in the "here kitty kitty thread" where it proved harder to kill than a Fluke 87V and high end Brymen).But... yeah, it probably won't win the $100 meter shootout if you're only looking for a single meter to do everything.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2015, 07:21:15 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on October 31, 2015, 06:49:00 pmFair point but given all the other choices in that price range that are better suited to electronics work, I would question why one would make that choice. BTW - it doesn't even measure milliamps with any resonable accuracy.QuoteIt's just the wrong tool for the job IMO. Good compact meter for an electrician or perhaps to stick in your car or truck but not a good choice for an electronics bench in my view. Likewise, the "here kitty kitty" videos, as entertaining as they are, don't hold much relevance for typical electronics multimeter decision making - just my view of course. 😄

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2015, 02:57:13 pm
content: Quote from: mtdoc on October 31, 2015, 07:21:15 pmI guess that depends on your definition of "electronics bench"...All I'm saying is that it definitely has a niche where it's best in category (not your bench, obviously).