Author Topic: Good cheap multi-meter? (Read 18265 times)

kgavionics · « **on:** April 13, 2020, 01:05:32 am »

Hi guys
I'm looking for a relatively good True RMS multi-meter to use for my small projects at home.I'm not looking for a high end one,as i have one fluke at my work.I'm looking for one good bang for the buck!

thank you in advance

stafil · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2020, 01:15:12 am »

Did you have a look at: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/multimeter-spreadsheet/

Edit: Also https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/a-list-of-recommended-multimeters/

Edit2: UniT UT139C is quite popular

Adrian_Arg. · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2020, 01:55:58 am »

uni-t ut61e

Shock · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2020, 02:33:55 am »

What Fluke are you using at work? What features do you need at home? Budget? You might be disappointed in the feel compared to the Fluke.

Have you considered a secondhand Fluke on ebay? You could pick up a Fluke 117 for probably about $100 in unmolested condition if you are willing to put in an offer. You can also get a Fluke 87 for around that same price, will be a bit older but it's common to find them in perfect cal. If you really hunt you can even get a Fluke 87V for a little more.

kgavionics · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2020, 03:05:11 am »

Thank you guys for your suggestions!
I have a fluke 87 at work.I forget to mention that i have at home, an old Fluke 8060A True Rms multi-meter (its an manual range MM).I want a new multi-meter just to work on some electronics projects and repairing.
This meter is working great, but i want some features like the fluke 87, without paying a lot of money, because it's just for hobby use!

Mp3 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2020, 03:34:29 am »

About 2 years ago i spent a lot of time looking at the options of budget multi=meters that weren't junk.

I ended up watching and reading tons of reviews of different meters.

I ultimately chose the Fluke 101 because it seemed to consistently provide the most accurate results, even in strange use cases, and could withstand some very powerful arcing and keep working just fine. Has lots of safety certifications and is true RMS (I believe).

I'd entirely trust measuring up to 600V with my Fluke 101. It's also been taken all over the place with me and ends up getting wrapped up and tossed in a bag a lot. Definitely reliable.

It is still less than $50 new and i wouldn't pick another meter instead of it unless I was spending $100 or more.

- This isnt even the craziest one.

(I recently got a used HP 3478a bench meter, but i'm keeping my fluke; i just need one on the bench which can show more digits.)

kgavionics · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2020, 03:48:11 am »

Fluke 101 is not true Rms and can't measure current as far as i know and that 's why is no go for me!

Mp3 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2020, 04:05:20 am »

Quote from: kgavionics on April 13, 2020, 03:48:11 am

Fluke 101 is not true Rms and can't measure current as far as i know and that 's why is no go for me!

I thought it was true RMS. I stand corrected.

It can measure current with a shunt resistor. This is demoed in the video above. It always worked well enough for my needs.

I guess the 101 is not good enough for your needs after all?

Shock · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2020, 04:07:49 am »

Fluke 101 is missing True RMS, stand and current. So keep that in mind if important to you. I have a Fluke 112 an older model with a similar form factor which I like more, it's not perfect either but it has True RMS, min/max, manual range and current.

I say go Fluke 87 or 87V you have plenty of time to hunt around for one if you already have a working multimeter.

Fungus · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2020, 04:59:57 am »

Quote from: kgavionics on April 13, 2020, 01:05:32 am

Hi guys
I'm looking for a relatively good True RMS multi-meter to use for my small projects at home.I'm not looking for a high end one,as i have one fluke at my work.I'm looking for one good bang for the buck!

thank you in advance

You'll have to be more specific than that. Are you going to poke it into mains-AC or not? What's "cheap" for you?

For non-mains-AC work I recommend Aneng 860B+:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33003108881.html

Edit: Or Aneng 870 - it looks like they're on special offer, that's a bargain for $30

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33052395019.html

(you can find other colors if you dig around)

PushUp · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2020, 12:24:30 pm »

Some years ago, I was in the same situation..., however, I have to admit, that I

and collect DMMs...

I started with a Fluke 113, 117, 179, 87V, 289 and Agilent U1272A, Keysight U1233A, U1273A and Brymen 829, 867.

The only Fluke with real True RMS AC and (!!!) DC is the 287/289 series. All other only have True RMS as far as AC is concerned. The relative function starts with the 87V, no cheaper Fluke has it, as well as no dual display.

Any DMM has its own advantages and disadvantages, but if I am forced to choose only one, which is affordable, I would take the Brymen 829 or 867 (no temperature => 869 has it).
I don't like the rotary switch and that the backlight doesn't stay on. But you have a dual display showing e.g. AC and DC offset, you have the best fuses in it (the same as in the expensive DMMs), you have the relative function and it is a real True RMS for AC and (!) DC...you even can buy an USB interface to use it with your pc.

https://www.welectron.com/Brymen-BU-86X-USB-Interface

...and in combination with "TestController" it is a brilliant and affordable (!) measuring tool!

The downside: in contrast to the 829, the 867 has no temperature measurement (=> 869 has it, but it is more expensive), but you can choose the one you like...just have a look:

https://brymen.eu/product-category/multimetry/?orderby=price-desc

The one who buys cheap, often buys twice!

...just my experience...

Edit:
I have forgotten to tell the extraordinary and unique function of Brymen (compared to Fluke and Keysight): They keep the setting referring to the last measurement.
For example you measured mA DC the last time, than this is kept, no necessity to press the select button such as with your known Fluke 87V which always starts wich mA AC e.g. and you have to press the yellow button to go to mA DC, which is often forgotten, if you are in a hurry... ;-) This is regarding to any function of the rotary switch, which is really helpful!!!

kgavionics · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2020, 02:35:48 pm »

Thank you guys for all your input.After watching the video below, i went with this 35 Canadian dollars MM ( ANENG AN8008)

kgavionics · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2020, 10:29:50 pm »

After receiving the meter it turns out that the display is junk, it works, but is full of color patches which make it unreadable in certain angles.I returned the meter today!Dave is right to not recommend cheap MM's!
I've seen some reviews on brymen's multi-meters and i'm quite impressed, especially the dual display BM869, but i can't find it neither on amazon nor ebay! I'm located in Canada, can someone give me a heads up where can i order one?
Thanks in advance

Shock · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2020, 10:58:17 pm »

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/lfs-where-to-buy-brymen-867s-869s-with-shipping-to-usa/

Try the usual suspects like amazon and ebay, to the best of my knowledge it's not counterfeited but check that as well.

J-R · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2020, 11:09:03 pm »

I've dealt with https://www.welectron.com/ before and can recommend them. Their shipping is global and pretty reasonable.

You could also look around for some used or new old stock DMMs. UEi is an option (although somewhat rare and not that great anyway!). Amprobe and Greenlee have rebranded some Brymen DMMs over the years. Amprobe proper has some decent DMMs that can be found for pretty cheap. I've been able to pick up some of all of those for well under $50 in new or like new condition and the quality you get for the money is pretty good.

joeqsmith · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2020, 12:02:04 am »

Quote from: kgavionics on April 23, 2020, 10:29:50 pm

After receiving the meter it turns out that the display is junk, it works, but is full of color patches which make it unreadable in certain angles.I returned the meter today!Dave is right to not recommend cheap MM's!
I've seen some reviews on brymen's multi-meters and i'm quite impressed, especially the dual display BM869, but i can't find it neither on amazon nor ebay! I'm located in Canada, can someone give me a heads up where can i order one?
Thanks in advance

I havn't been real impressed with ANENG's products. I bought the Brymen through TME. You may want to consider them.

Electro Detective · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2020, 12:13:44 am »

Re: Good cheap multi-meter?

Fluke 114 has TRMS and Min Max and keeps up and agrees well enough with the 87V and 8060A afaict
the bonus is it has the Low-Z feature the other two Flukes lack
and because of no current inputs, so no expensive fuses ~~or suicidal operator~~ to fry
it's a great little troubleshoot prodder

with believable CAT ratings

If you don't need current measurements or some other features it lacks, it's cheap/er and has that Fluke professional vibe

~~and leaves many other Fluke and Aneng cheapies in the dust~~

Otherwise consider a Fluke 117 which has more bells and whistles and can take a bump or two as well,
or go the Brymen big daddy meter if you're pushed into that spend ballpark

SpecialK · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2020, 12:27:36 am »

Canadian Tire's selection of multimeters is decent. When on sale they represent good value.

I have the Maxiumum #052-1898-4. It's been good around my bench,

Fungus · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2020, 05:22:39 am »

Quote from: kgavionics on April 23, 2020, 10:29:50 pm

I've seen some reviews on brymen's multi-meters and i'm quite impressed, especially the dual display BM869, but i can't find it neither on amazon nor ebay! I'm located in Canada, can someone give me a heads up where can i order one?

Look to see if you can find "Greenlee" meters. They rebadge Brymens over there.

tooki · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2020, 06:37:42 pm »

Quote from: kgavionics on April 23, 2020, 10:29:50 pm

After receiving the meter it turns out that the display is junk, it works, but is full of color patches which make it unreadable in certain angles.I returned the meter today!Dave is right to not recommend cheap MM's!

That's really weird. Every review of the AN8008 I've seen has praised its LCD, and based on my own unit I completely agree. (It's a clearer, more contrasty LCD than what my Fluke 87V uses.) I wonder what happened with yours.

joeqsmith · « **Reply #20 on:** April 25, 2020, 12:04:23 am »

Quote from: tooki on April 24, 2020, 06:37:42 pm

Quote from: kgavionics on April 23, 2020, 10:29:50 pm
After receiving the meter it turns out that the display is junk, it works, but is full of color patches which make it unreadable in certain angles.I returned the meter today!Dave is right to not recommend cheap MM's!
That's really weird. Every review of the AN8008 I've seen has praised its LCD, and based on my own unit I completely agree. (It's a clearer, more contrasty LCD than what my Fluke 87V uses.) I wonder what happened with yours.

I wondered if they had found a way to make the clear lenses less expensive and it causes some distortion. Maybe it wasn't a problem with the actual LCD.

Fungus · « **Reply #21 on:** April 25, 2020, 05:05:32 am »

Quote from: tooki on April 24, 2020, 06:37:42 pm

Quote from: kgavionics on April 23, 2020, 10:29:50 pm
After receiving the meter it turns out that the display is junk, it works, but is full of color patches which make it unreadable in certain angles.I returned the meter today!Dave is right to not recommend cheap MM's!
That's really weird. Every review of the AN8008 I've seen has praised its LCD, and based on my own unit I completely agree. (It's a clearer, more contrasty LCD than what my Fluke 87V uses.) I wonder what happened with yours.

Yep. I can only imagine that you got the 1 in a million bad ones.

LCDs are really cheap technology. Even those freebie DT-830D meters have really good LCDs (why aren't Flukes that black?)

kgavionics · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2020, 07:42:41 pm »

I've seen a lot a 8008 reviews on youtube and haven't noticed any problems with the LCD, I must be unlucky to get this crappy one.
Anyways, i ordered the Brymen BM986S from welecton.com after seeing a lot of Joe Smith reviews about that particular meter!
They haven't shipped it yet, but i guess with the pandemic it gonna take a while before i'm gonna receive it !
Thank you all for your help

zabov · « **Reply #23 on:** July 09, 2020, 12:23:03 am »

Rather than opening a new thread, I decided to reply here.
Not looking for a cheap DMM but not going to spend a kidney on it either. My thoughts were to get a fluke 117 but then found out I can get a brymen 869s for the same price. Any advice? I’m a mechanic and have a cheap innova multimeter. Looking for something better.

Lightages · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2020, 01:38:24 am »

You cannot go wrong with any Brymen. For a car mechanic and general use I would say go for a Brymen BM235, BM257, or bigger models if you can spare the cash. You also might want a clamp meter to look at battery currents. This opens up a whole new can of worms.

I suggest that you start a new thread for you. Starting a new question in someone's thread is confusing and can dilute the answer the original poster is looking for.


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Author Topic: Good cheap multi-meter? (Read 18265 times)

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