Choosing a budget Digital Multimeter (DMM)

RE: Choosing a budget Digital Multimeter (DMM)

grondak — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 00:20:59 GMT

Years later, do you like your choice?

I looked at my meter and got jealous.

I am trying a similar comparison with products offered via element14.

RE: Choosing a budget Digital Multimeter (DMM)

evmyt — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:10:11 GMT

It's also worth checking out the Megger AVO835 (they also do the AVO830, a great value meter with excellent safety and CAT4 certification. Yes its more money but safety is more important than £ when buying anything to measure lethal voltages that can kill, burn or seriously injure you. Good writeup and a very rational decission process [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-a0171c7b-d151-403b-83b5-8d90a9af7980/6076.contentimage_5F00_1.png:16:16] https://youtu.be/xRkMdbNCBWo Megger are a large British company with a heritage of excellent meters. I'm not affiliated with them, just reviewed their meter and was impressed.

RE: Choosing a budget Digital Multimeter (DMM)

phoenixcomm — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:13:57 GMT

Hi Joffrey, You did a really good write-up of the meters but you forgot about good quality used meters from you local PAWN SHOP... Which have a better "Bang for Your Buck" quotient. I shop at pawn shops because one, I am cheap and two as now retired.. I don't have much left over at the end of the month. Now don't get me wrong, I like opening the nice boxes too, with their warranties, and paperwork(download it). But the more I save on this stuff the more I have to spend on things that you can't buy used. Like food, gass and 35mm film to feed my Nikon F4. . I therefore will introduce 3 meters, now remember that I have always used some best equipment in the world while in the employ of USAF, Hughes Aircraft, Grumman, for starters.. So here we go.

AMPROBE 30XR-A This meter is on ebay from about $80 to $125 This meter performs well with AC/DC Volts, Amps, and Ohms. Rock Solid.
FLUKE T5-1000 This meter is on ebay from about $90 to $200+. When I work as an Electrician (Master) or any thing with high voltages, this is my go to meter. It also has a non-contact current probe which is great for power balancing.
FLUKE 113 TRUE RMS This meter is on ebay from about $80 to $180 No words...
HP 3435A This meter is on ebay from about $90 to $200+. Old school no price. still in-use on my bench but old style probes... (:

[View:/resized-image/__size/217x289/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-a0171c7b-d151-403b-83b5-8d90a9af7980/contentimage_5F00_177980.jpg:217:289][View:/resized-image/__size/215x287/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-a0171c7b-d151-403b-83b5-8d90a9af7980/contentimage_5F00_177981.jpg:215:287][View:/resized-image/__size/215x287/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-a0171c7b-d151-403b-83b5-8d90a9af7980/contentimage_5F00_177982.jpg:215:287][View:/resized-image/__size/382x287/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-a0171c7b-d151-403b-83b5-8d90a9af7980/contentimage_5F00_177983.jpg:382:287]1. Amprobe 30XR-A2. Fluke T5-1003. Fluke 1134. HP 3435A

Now for pricing or how much did I pay for this stuff.....

FLUKE 113 $65
FLUKE T5-100 $65
AMPROBE 30XR-A $35
HP 3435A Basicly free as this was left over from auction lot that I purchased that did not sell. I have had this on my bench for 10+ years..

I also have a Fluke 87 which is dead.. and so others lying around as well....

Thanks

Cris H.

RE: Choosing a budget Digital Multimeter (DMM)

DAB — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 00:52:34 GMT

Nice post.

You did a good job of describing your needs and the features you need.

Knowing that you have a good quality DMM is essential if you are dealing with sensitive circuits.

I think most hobbyists can get by with lower quality, but if you can afford good quality, you are seldom disappointed.

I still use several old analog MM that I picked up long ago. They are still perfectly accurate and they give me what I need.

Yes I do have a couple of DMM's but they are cheap models for use when I just want to verify 5 or 12V levels.

Thanks

DAB

RE: Choosing a budget Digital Multimeter (DMM)

vsluiter — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 10:17:58 GMT

Nice post, really helpful!

What I really like multimeters to have is a min-max-average function. Of course those come with a price tag, but these do allow some nice troubleshooting, especially if beeping when a new min/max value is found. This way you can monitor faster transients (for example dips in power supply) than the display can show.

I'm using an Agilent (now Keysight) U1272A at work, and an almost vintage Philips PM2521 (lacking this feature) at home:

[View:/resized-image/__size/764x320/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-a0171c7b-d151-403b-83b5-8d90a9af7980/contentimage_5F00_177978.png:764:320]

RE: Choosing a budget Digital Multimeter (DMM)

jw0752 — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 05:48:11 GMT

Hi Joffrey,

I enjoyed reading about the different meters that you profiled. This type of blog is great and very helpful to anyone looking for a new meter. If nothing else you have given a good example of how to research a buy to have a better chance of getting what one wants.

John