Multimeter? TENMA 72-6130 or FLUKE 106 any good?

WARNING - THIS IS A JUST JOKE!

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For nothing you can lick your fingers, grab and feel the tingle or jolt!

If you're thrown across the room then it's probably DC.

If you're stuck to its then probably AC.

WARNING - THIS IS A JUST JOKE!

PLEASE FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS!

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Can't buy second hand DMM here in India as there is no well known second hand market and I am afraid that they might sell me a not good(Chinese duplicate) DMM. Yes, scope is the second thing on to buy list but it has to wait.

After researching for few days I came to know that it's really tough to buy a so called good (or say intro to professional life) DMM below $200. You just need to drop the word "good" and use only DMM in that range. It just does not matter if I buy a $10 or $50 DMM, also If I am going to add extra $50- $80($130 range) I am just getting a $50 DMM with little extra features like Good built and little high protection but with almost same or little increase in accuracy/resolution.

shabaz You are absolutely right that >$250 is the range where the difference starts i.e. FLUKE 170 series or similar other competing DMM manufacturers. above $400 good DMM starting range.
No dis regard or dis respect but the only DMM's I am not going to buy are TENMA or UNI T because they both are same and have almost No/sickening regards toward safety(you can check their tear down and compare with other DMM's).

FLUKE 11x series are just same with less or more features Agilent  U1232AU1232A or BK2709B are like$10 DMM's for Hobby thing/newbie in electronics I am not saying that they are same as cheap DMM no they are nice but just start up toys for electronics fresher's

Now I am confused , I can't buy those fancy FLUKE 170 series and I can't wait as well. I guess I have to go to electronics market and choose between BK, FLUKE, Agilent price for features as they almost have same accuracy.

mudz

If it were my $100 I would do one of three things:

1) buy a second hand scope

2) save up and buy a better scope

3) if there is some reason you really need a better DMM then buy a second hand one, you'll get better value in the second hand market with a bench style DMM.

I don't know where you are - the best second hand market is in the US and the UK is not too bad, shipping to other countries makes a mess of the prices and might rule out second hand.

A scope is far more versatile, and a really cheap DMM can cover most of the things it can't do.

If you want to measure frequencies accurately then you could make a frequency meter quite cheaply - and it would be interesting to do.

MK

The problem is, your budget of originally $50 gets you something perhaps close to what you already have with a $2 one.

With $100 budget you can get a device with a good spec (on paper) - that Tenma one I mentioned.

If you want a Fluke or Agilent, you're looking at a further 3-4 times the cost (so about 6-8 times your original budget) before you're approaching something you might want.

You can check the spec sheet of the Fluke you mention, would you be happy with the resolution on the current range? If so, then great, but I can't see this

as being suitable. Basically, you can decide for yourself based on the specs that you think you need.

The particular Agilent you mention has some quirks on its current measurement range too according to the detail in the spec sheet.

If you're going Fluke then about the minimum you should consider is something like the 170 series.

But basically, check the specs because if your existing meter doesn't cut it any longer then based on whichever bottleneck (specification) you

are hitting, you can check to see if your planned multimeter spec solves it.

Multimeters start from being a Dime a dozen to sophisticated, accurate and sensitive ones that cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.

If you have minimal budget then I recommend that you have two cheap multimeters.

An analog one and a digital one.

The analog one is good for real time approximate readings for things like checking approximate resistances or checking switch operation.

The digital one provides a bit more accuracy but with a slower response.

Don't be fooled by meters that have both a digital display and analog meter display because the meter display is usually digital control as slow as snail.

Having two multimeters allows you to simultaneously measure two readings such as reading current and voltage which I find quite handy.

If you already have two multimeters (and power supply) then the next piece of equipment to obtain should be an Oscilloscope.

This is because it gives you a great visualisation of what your DUT (device under test) is doing.

It provides a continuous log of readings over time like so!

Remember when using this equipment - "SAFETY FIRST!"

Obtain equipment with correct safety category.

I'm actually hoping to get a Keithley  DMM7510DMM7510 or Keysight 34470A(with options but I'll have to win the lottery twice first

Here's hoping!

Sorry, not an area I am comfortable with.

Clem

michaelkellett clem57 COMPACT
Any suggestions?

Hi shabaz
Thanks, I was waiting for your reply only as no one else is jumping into this important(well for me) thread and I am really considering to buy one good multi-meter. So, I am raising my budget I can now purchase $100 multi meter but I believe I would not be getting any good multi meter in this range as well?
I am considering FLUKE 115 True RMS or TENMA 72-774572-7745 or Agilent u1232a ?

What should I choose? Or there is some other meter around $100(+$20) range?

Hi!

I actually have that current clamp meter - Not amazingly constructed but it is cheap and was what I expected. It does the job (I don't use it often - and can always borrow a better fluke clamp meter on the rare occasion I need it).

Unfortunately I'm going on the spec sheet alone, I don't have that Tenma multimeter I'm afraid