Cheap Multimiter choice

[macstr1k3r]

I'm looking at these three multimeters

UNI-T

Mastech 8268
Mastech 8229

If we were to set the price difference apart for a moment and look at the bare specs the UNI-T one wins out.
What concerns me althugh is weather those specs are legit. UNI-T is a bit of a nonme AFAIK, unlike Mastech wich are a well established brand in the low price end of stuff

Advice away

[mariush]

The Uni-T UT61E has a huuuuuuge thread here on EEVblog : https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/uni-t-ut61e-multimeter-teardown-photos/

It's a very good meter for the money, but a bit lacking in protections for mains or high voltage stuff. Basically, it will work, but it's not recommended to use it on 250v+ for more than just basic measurements.

It's very well documented, datasheet available, you can mod it to add backlight or auto power off (they're detailed in the thread) and you can also replace the built in voltage reference and calibration potentiometers with higher quality parts if you so desire.

There's also an extensive video review of it on mjlorton's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/mjlorton/search?query=ut61e

I own one and I'm quite happy with it. 

If you decide to buy it, I'd suggest buying one from Franky's eBay store :  http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E-UT61E-22-000-count-Digital-Multimeter-/200901686717?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec6ac75bd
He's a well known member on this forum : https://www.eevblog.com/forum/profile/?u=26834

I don't know anything about those Mastech meters.

[Wytnucls]

The 61E is one of the best meters at the 50$ price point. Well built and sturdy. The only downside is that after a few months, one cannot put too much faith in that last digit, as the meter drifts quite a bit over long periods.

[Lightages]

IMHO, forget any Mastech. I think they are all generally junk. The UT61E is OK and what needs to be said has already been said. Another alternative is the Digitek DT2843R http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digitek-DT-2843R-AC-DC-True-RMS-Multimeter-Backlight-and-Temperature-/171080136251?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27d52bb63b for which I did a video review. Except for a slow continuity test it is a nice meter for the money. Keep it out of the wall socket though.


There is another Uni-T that has yet to be proven in the long term but it appears to built with proper input protection http://www.ebay.com/itm/Uni-T-UT139C-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-Temperature-NCV-Backlight-/171213085325?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27dd185a8d

[Prime73]

take a look at Digitek DT-4000ZC Seems like a good choice for the money.

[Lightages]

Yes the DT-4000ZC is also a good buy as it has a PC connection but loses TRMS. The thing that keeps me from recommending it is that it uses the same input jack for voltage and current measurements. To me this is just asking for someone to make a mistake and blow something up. Other than that I would be happy with it too.

[peter.mitchell]

The 61E is one of the best meters at the 50$ price point. Well built and sturdy. The only downside is that after a few months, one cannot put too much faith in that last digit, as the meter drifts quite a bit over long periods.

That said, it's absolute accuracy isn't why you'd buy it anyway, you'd use the extra resolution for relative measurements.

[macstr1k3r]

Your comments made me rethink my choices again. I was pretty much set on buying both the mactech but I'l probably go for two UNI-Ts after this

[pomonabill221]

Yes the DT-4000ZC is also a good buy as it has a PC connection but loses TRMS. The thing that keeps me from recommending it is that it uses the same input jack for voltage and current measurements. To me this is just asking for someone to make a mistake and blow something up. Other than that I would be happy with it too.

This, to me would be a BIG deal breaker!!!!  Even my cheap,cheap harbor freight giveaway dvm (mormally about $5), has separate amp/miliamp jacks.
You BET that EVEN seasoned techies will damage this one at some point!
BAD design!

[TorqueRanger]

I was looking at a new too and the uni-t looked really good ..But I just saved  up my money  and bought a used  fluke 87 series I for a little more than a uni-t price....

[deth502]

i have an 8229. idk what the going rate for them is, but i got mine (centech rebranded from harbor freight) for around $35. hf has them for 44 and they usually always have some kind of % off coupon out.

imo, its not a bad meter. this is my only exposure to mastech meters at all, and again, its not bad, imo. certainly not the best, but you cant expect a lot for $35. i have had a few uni-t's, and as ive said before, i have had very bad luck with them. it was probably just me, most ppl seem to like them, but id never touch another one. (unlike your op, i would say uni-t is a bit more of a respected band, while mastech are usually put down as bottom of the barrel). if the mastech 8229 was my only meter, i wouldnt feel under-gunned. amof, for a performance to price ratio, id say this may well be the 2nd best meter i have. the best would be a $20 small craftsman one that is no longer made (they still have a similar one, manual ranging)