Choices, choices (multimeters again) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2012, 02:49:24 pm
content: Choosing a second hand 'scope was easy - choosing a new multimeter is proving less so as there's justtoomany on the market!OK an 87V would be great but I can't justify the expense, maybe a 113 would be within budget but that seems quite modestly specified so it's probably going to have to be a "cheap" Chinese one.Having watched Dave's $100 shoot-out and read the recent UT61E teardown thread I'm leaning heavily towards the UT61E - slightly put off by the lack of a backlight but otherwise it looks reasonable.If I move up to the 71 series (or more likely the Tenma 72-7732 which is a UT-71D clone) I gain a backlight and more accuracy (0.05% vs 0.1%) but it's twice as much as the 61E so I'm not sure it's worth it. I'm also put off by the weedy input protection even though I won't be doing much in the way of high voltage stuff.However a couple of 'ringers' have made the decision a lot harder. First off is this "Rapid" branded unithttp://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Equipment/True-rms-waterproof-multimeter-79186which is similar to the 61E at essentially the same price but 40,000 count rather than 22,000, apparently better accuracy (0.06% +2 vs 0.1% +5)andgains a backlight and IP67 sealing. However the stated sensitivity (0.8V RMS < 100KHz; 5V RMS > 100KHz) seems to make the frequency counter mostly useless. Also, who knows what the build quality is like.Then over at CPC there's thishttp://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/st-9929/water-resistant-professional-trms/dp/IN05472- this is more in the 72-7732 range - in fact it's almost the same spec AFAICS but a bit cheaper. However it's difficult to find out ver much about it. Over the 72-7732 it has IP 67 sealing and there's a (not very good) photo of the PCB herewww.tagor.rs/e-katalog/instrumenti/multimetri/st-9939-1.pdfwhich suggests pretty beefy input protection, but not great construction otherwise (though it's hard to tell).It appears identical to the Amecal 9929 but that sells for three times the price.Thoughts - in particular has anyone in the UK experience with the Rapid or CPC meter.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2012, 03:26:04 pm
content: In the USA, a second hand Fluke via eBay can be had <= $100 for many of the top models, current and past such as the 25, 70 and 80 series. I got an 85I for $35 last year that I spruced up and gave as a gift; it was still in cal after over 20 years.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2012, 03:39:26 pm
content: Yes, considered eBay but prices in the UK fairly high and condition not always that great.Actually I know what the picture of the inside of the ST-9929 (CPC one) reminds me of now - that Extech 505 that Dave reviewed. Input circuit looks very similar but this is a higher spec meter. More like a 540/542 without the wireless interface (in fact identical specs except for the wireless).

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2012, 06:30:56 pm
content: I quickly perused eBay UK, there are listing in the UK area for Fluke 25 and 27, these are older but rugged variety, built to take abuse, basic DMMs, IIRC buy it now for 40 pounds.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 09, 2012, 08:19:40 pm
content: If I were in the market for another meter right now I would be buying this:http://www.tequipment.net/Protek608.aspIt is the right price, Protek has a reputation with some of its older meters, it uses high rupture strength fuses, and if it meets it specs it is a bargain.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2012, 08:31:25 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on January 09, 2012, 08:19:40 pmInteresting how that meter compares to the Protek 6500 in terms of similarities and differences. It seems like those two meters come from entirely different manufacturers and somehow overlap into nearly the same space.My 6500 meter annoys me by having a zero offset of -4 or -5 counts on DC V. Since the accuracy spec is 0.03% + 6d it is within spec, but annoying nonetheless. On examining some Fluke meters for comparison, it appears they are very good at auto-zeroing on DC volts and don't don't tend to have such an offset.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2012, 10:28:32 pm
content: @saturation - Yes the 25/27 are good meters. However the 27's on eBay at present are all from non-uk vendors. This poses several problems - shipping costs can exceed the value of the item and import duty and VAT are payable which adds yet more to the price. It's also much harder to resolve problems should anything go wrong. I don't buy from non-uk sellers for these reasons.Yes, there are some 25's from UK sellers - these all look to be ex MOD and from the photos some have had very hard lives.Even with the reputation of Fluke £40 for a battered Fluke seems not good value compared with £50 for a new UT61E (also from eBay, as it happens).@Lightages - can't see a UK supplier for the Protek although it looks an interesting meter albeit with some unusual features (such as the bargraph display)

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 12:11:47 am
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on January 09, 2012, 02:49:24 pmThis is probably OEM rebadging.www.major-tech.com/SiteCommon/Content/Downloads/MT1887.pdfVideo review byhttps://www.youtube.com/user/mjlortonsuggests it isn't very robust.He also doesn't like the slow update speed in this 59 minute video

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 12:54:08 pm
content: Thanks - that was really useful. Hadn't noticed the similarity with the Extech EX530 - I assume it's a clone, not a rebadge as the button placement/function is slightly different.That one's out, then :-)