UK - Donate Multimeter

[alin_im]

Hi guys,

Does anyone has a multimeter to donate I am a student and I am pretty low on money right now...

[Aodhan145]

You cant be that low in money to buy a multimeter.
Extech EX330 £30.30: http://www.test-meter.co.uk/extech-ex330-mini-multimeter/
Extech EX430 True RMS £52.20: http://www.test-meter.co.uk/extech-ex430-trms-professional-multimeter/
Just buy one of those. If you don't require true RMS go for the EX330, It was the winner of the EEVBlog $50 Multimeter shoot out.

[macbreak]

Lol. EEVblog is turning into donation central. You could just save up... perhaps? Even a CHEAP DMM is only a matter of £20. HOWEVER... if you want to review a multimeter, you have a VERY high chance of getting to keep it, once the review is done. You don't need to plead poverty when approaching the company or supplier - think like a pauper, you'll come across and live like one; you simply approach them, professionally and confidently, ask if they'd like for you to review their product on your YouTube channel, and offer links and mentions of their site, in return. 9/10 companies will allow you to keep low value items - but that SHOULD NOT be the motivating factor for approaching them - you need to want to review it, BUT, it will provide a mutually beneficial solution to a problem I do not even see existing, as advertising costs them WAY more than the cost of sending you a meter to review

Trust me, this is coming from someone who's done this for years, and they appreciate a good review, and are more than willing to allow you the small token of keeping something in exchange for an honest review. I've done reviews of many things, from coffee grinders to a multimeter, myself (Oh, and a few times, MUCH more expensive items)

All the best.

[rolycat]

If you only need a meter for low power work, how about a UT136B for £10.99? Lightages has reviewed it on the forum.

[rr100]

C'mon the cheapest sub-5$ (dollars, not pounds, leads and shipping included) multimeter would work for basic stuff. I know how it is when you can't afford stuff, I come from a poor country and there were times when I needed to save money to buy a regular 0.75A diode. But I can't believe somebody in UK can't afford nowadays 3 pounds and change for a multimeter.

[AndyC_772]

I'm inclined to agree. My '830' meter did me proud throughout my time at university, and further beyond that than I'd care to admit.

I find it downright weird that there's such hostility to basic tools like the 830 on this forum. It's not a tool to stick anywhere you wouldn't stick your fingers, but other than that, there's no good reason to avoid them IMHO.

[rolycat]

There was a debate about the DT830B on the forum a couple of years ago, and many people seem to have a sneaking affection for them as a beginner's tool or a cheap adjunct to a decent meter. I've had mine for many years and it still works and is still somewhat accurate.

I suspect the OP can afford something a little better, given that he is currently also looking to spend £40 or so on an FPGA development kit.

[Flump]

I am sure if you are considering buying a fpga kit you can spend £2.75 on one of these,
Or were you hoping someone would donate a nicer expensive one ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-DIGITAL-LCD-MULTIMETER-VOLTMETER-AMMETER-CIRCUIT-TESTER-/181644649821?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a4add655d

Granted it's cheap and cheerful but for low voltage and low energy work its fine,
I have one and although low resolution its accurate on all measurements,
although I have not used the transistor feature so dont know if it measures
gain accurately.

[urbis]

I really need to put a post up for someone to donate me the contents of their workshop... Can't afford my own! 

[Aodhan145]

I really need to put a post up for someone to donate me the contents of their workshop... Can't afford my own! 

I know your pain i'm 14 with no income and everything is so expensive. I need to get an oscilloscope but all the money I have is £20.

[rigrunner]

I am sure if you are considering buying a fpga kit you can spend £2.75 on one of these,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-DIGITAL-LCD-MULTIMETER-VOLTMETER-AMMETER-CIRCUIT-TESTER-/181644649821?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a4add655d

Granted it's cheap and cheerful but for low voltage and low energy work its fine,
I have one and although low resolution its accurate on all measurements,
although I have not used the transistor feature so dont know if it measures
gain accurately.

I agree with Flump on these. I bought half a dozen of them to use when out and about. They agree with my bench meters.  When i've trodden on the last of them i'll buy more 

[GreyWoolfe]

Too bad you don't live here across the pond.  Harbor freight puts coupons in their ads to get basically that same meter for free.  We have someone in my ham radio club grab them throughout the year and they become door prizes at our Christmas Banquet .  At one point I had a half dozen of them.

[rr100]

Let's face it, 2.75 pounds for a one-time purchase is just as good as free, even if technically infinitely more expensive...
Also it seems to be shipped from the UK so no 6 weeks wait or something.

[rolycat]

Let's face it, 2.75 pounds for a one-time purchase is just as good as free, even if technically infinitely more expensive...
Also it seems to be shipped from the UK so no 6 weeks wait or something.

If £2.75 is too expensive, there are some NOS DT-830D's for £1.95 here, also in the UK.
As a bonus, the 830D is the deluxe version with a continuity buzzer.

[rr100]

I can't imagine how this works, how much would be even postage for such a thing within the UK?

[Stupid Beard]

I can't imagine how this works, how much would be even postage for such a thing within the UK?

Probably more than the thing costs

[rolycat]

I can't imagine how this works, how much would be even postage for such a thing within the UK?

Probably more than the thing costs

The price includes postage, so the meter would be less than a pound. Since the vendor is also offering sets of ten for £9.95 delivered this seems reasonable.

I've ordered one just for the hell of it.

[Aodhan145]

Those meters are surprisingly accurate if calibrated with a decent meter using the internal pot.

[rolycat]

The meter duly arrived and a mini-teardown and review can be found here.