Hioki DT4282 or Brymen BM869s digital multimeter - which is the best choice?

[pascal_sweden]

Hioki DT4282:
https://www.hioki.com/products/dmm_insulation_clamp/dmm/1431



Brymen BM869s:
http://www.brymen.com/product-html/cata860/Bm860s.htm



The Brymen has 500.000 counts, while the Hioki has only 60.000 counts, still the Hioki is much more expensive. How come?

The build quality is most likely better in the Hioki. Japanese quality outperforms Taiwanese quality

Any specific advantages/disadvantages on each of these models, that would make the decision easier?

[timofonic]

Hioki is sexier too.

I was disappointed they sell you an expensive separate module for connectivity. USB is okay, but IR? Are you serious? What about Bluetooth? They should bundle that shit into the DMM case and use that slot for interesting addons, like the functionality of these LCR/ESR transistor checkers and slots to insert components easily to check them.

I did see some teardowns of Hioki DMMs. They seem to have good quality, but there are some obvious design flaws that some users wrote here (one was about traces fit the probes not being enough isolated, some DMM PCBs even have cutted parts to have extreme isolation).

I also don't understand why they don't get full certifications from other organizations.

They look promising and have good base, but they can do it better. Let's go Hioki! Your country survived lots of nasty shit and advanced more in technology in a short period of time, I'm sure you can kick the ass off Danhaler/Fluke mafia!

Anyway I would buy one if their DMMs were cheaper, but these are made in Japan and I suppose they can't complete in costs with Taiwanese and Chinese fabs.

Despite Hioki have two high precision DMM models with custom IC, they can't go to the precision of uCurrent. Maybe that's too much for a handheld DMM.

[Muxr]

That Hioki has auto hold and a latched continuity test, but it's also almost 3 times the cost of the Brymen. Personally I'd get a Hioki if it was cheaper.

[Lightages]

Well the Hioki has some real advantages over the Brymen. as already mentioned, auto hold is nice to have, most people prefer the latching continuity test, and it uses AA batteries which means it could be easier on the pocket for batteries because you can use rechargeables more easily.

There are things that are better with the Brymen, on the other hand.

It comes down to if you want to spend the extra money for a Hioki. And the price is around twice as much, not three times.

[timofonic]

Well the Hioki has some real advantages over the Brymen. as already mentioned, auto hold is nice to have, most people prefer the latching continuity test, and it uses AA batteries which means it could be easier on the pocket for batteries because you can use rechargeables more easily.

There are things that are better with the Brymen, on the other hand.

It comes down to if you want to spend the extra money for a Hioki. And the price is around twice as much, not three times.

Well, you mention Brymen have better "things", but you don't provide data as facts. This is a geek forum, that should be mandatory to provide in the messages

[pascal_sweden]

Here is a nice video from the Hioki Corporation about their DT4282 digital multimeter



Enjoy the music! Very well put together!

[Lightages]

Well, you mention Brymen have better "things", but you don't provide data as facts. This is a geek forum, that should be mandatory to provide in the messages

OK, a few quick things better on the BM869s: Dual temperature, CATIV/1000V, better AC accuracy for most of the bandwidth on volts and current.

The BM869s and the DT4282 go back and forth on accuracy ratings and features. It is not easy to choose between them if they are the same price. So in reality it comes down to what features and specs are the most important, and if the price is what you want to pay for the things that are important to you.

[Wytnucls]

The Hioki has internal memory (400 data points), shutters on the jacks and a 3 year warranty, which all add to the price.

I like the fast ASIC (0.6s), adjustable backlight auto shut-off (40s or 3 minutes), the fast peak detect (250uS), the optional slow display filter (5 sample average), the auto red backlight used for warnings and visual continuity test and the very low burden voltage (1mV/mA and 100uV/uA).

I don't like the fact that the bar graph is missing and that there is no AC+DC measurement for current (As far as I can tell).

There isn't much difference in voltage and current measurement accuracy on AC signals, except that the bandwidth is higher for the Hioki for AC current (20kHz)

[Lightages]

Yeah, hard to pick between them depending on what you want/need. If price is the major concern then we know which one wins!

[Wytnucls]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hioki-DT4282-High-Precision-Digital-Multimeter-/331514228084?var=&hash=item4d2fc9ad74

376USD with free shipping in the UK.

[Lightages]

Still much more expensive, but that seems to be one of the lowest prices I have seen. TME has the BM869s for 145 GBP plus shipping.

[mos6502]

Wait, the Hioki has no bar graph? At this price? WTF?

[Wytnucls]

The Gossen MetraHit 28S, 29S, 30M, don't have a bar graph either. That's also true of their modern high-end meters, like the M249A Energy and M248A Ultra.
High resolution and accuracy meters aren't meant for fast changing signal measurements.

[timofonic]

The Gossen MetraHit 28S, 29S, 30M, don't have a bar graph either. That's also true of their modern high-end meters, like the M249A Energy and M248A Ultra.
High resolution and accuracy meters aren't meant for fast changing signal measurements.

Why not?

[BravoV]

The Gossen MetraHit 28S, 29S, 30M, don't have a bar graph either. That's also true of their modern high-end meters, like the M249A Energy and M248A Ultra.
High resolution and accuracy meters aren't meant for fast changing signal measurements.

Agree bar graph is not a major deciding factor, but its nice to have and definitely at certain cases its handy.

Like Fluke 28X series, it's bar graph updates 30 times/sec and its much more intuitive when observing a relatively fast changing input rather than reading the jumping numbers.

[mos6502]

The Gossen MetraHit 28S, 29S, 30M, don't have a bar graph either. That's also true of their modern high-end meters, like the M249A Energy and M248A Ultra.
High resolution and accuracy meters aren't meant for fast changing signal measurements.

Well, the Fluke 87 and the Brymen BM869s have a bar graph. The Brymen has 500.000 counts ... I don't see how high resolution or accuracy would somehow prevent you from adding a bar graph. A bar graph is quite an important feature for a handheld multimeter. I can see how a $40 meter may be missing one, but not a $400 meter.

[Wytnucls]

I can only guess that their ADCs were mostly designed for high accuracy combined with high resolution, which requires a slow update rate.
A fast analogue display can be useful in special cases, but probably judged not very important on such instruments.
It could also be a case of available screen real estate for some meters and necessary compromise.
Hioki does have a bar graph on their cheaper meters.
The 500,000 count on the Brymen is a high-res mode, not paired with better accuracy.

[Wytnucls]

Still much more expensive, but that seems to be one of the lowest prices I have seen. TME has the BM869s for 145 GBP plus shipping.

After VAT (25%?) and postage to the UK (10GBP?), the difference in price is only 40 quid. Well worth considering for extra safety, internal data storage and 3 year warranty.

[TheBay]

Well I had my heart set on getting the BM869s, but just spotted the DT4282 Delivered in the UK for around £220...

Decisions!!

[TheBay]

Still much more expensive, but that seems to be one of the lowest prices I have seen. TME has the BM869s for 145 GBP plus shipping.

After VAT (25%?) and postage to the UK (10GBP?), the difference in price is only 40 quid. Well worth considering for extra safety, internal data storage and 3 year warranty.

20% is the vat, I was looking at this from TME, but I found the Hioki from Tester.co.uk which I have used before and easy to send back if it gets a fault.
For me there is about £30 between the two models.

[Wytnucls]

That's a no brainer, I know which one I would get. 

[rvalente]

Still much more expensive, but that seems to be one of the lowest prices I have seen. TME has the BM869s for 145 GBP plus shipping.

After VAT (25%?) and postage to the UK (10GBP?), the difference in price is only 40 quid. Well worth considering for extra safety, internal data storage and 3 year warranty.

20% is the vat, I was looking at this from TME, but I found the Hioki from Tester.co.uk which I have used before and easy to send back if it gets a fault.
For me there is about £30 between the two models.

Take 30 pounds in 3, 5 or even 10years? Your family will probably inherit this meter from you, 30 pounds in this amount of time is just nothing!
Just cut out this weekend beer and you can get the meter! There is no comparison in feeling from a Hioki to a Brymen, its another class (event if the specs of the brymen macth or overcome the Hioki, I'd still go Hioki).

[TheBay]

Still much more expensive, but that seems to be one of the lowest prices I have seen. TME has the BM869s for 145 GBP plus shipping.

After VAT (25%?) and postage to the UK (10GBP?), the difference in price is only 40 quid. Well worth considering for extra safety, internal data storage and 3 year warranty.

20% is the vat, I was looking at this from TME, but I found the Hioki from Tester.co.uk which I have used before and easy to send back if it gets a fault.
For me there is about £30 between the two models.

Take 30 pounds in 3, 5 or even 10years? Your family will probably inherit this meter from you, 30 pounds in this amount of time is just nothing!
Just cut out this weekend beer and you can get the meter! There is no comparison in feeling from a Hioki to a Brymen, its another class (event if the specs of the brymen macth or overcome the Hioki, I'd still go Hioki).

I don't drink 

Money isn't the issue, just wasn't sure which one is better, that meter is £220 with a Hioki Voltstick and also a set of 3 CK Pliers! Bargain.
I wish it had a bar graph though. Though just logged in to their site and its £215 - VAT, it's £258 inc Vat meh...

Check out the range on tester.co.uk, over £199 you get the CK pliers set.

Not sure what the difference is with the DT4281 though?

[rvalente]

Basically the DT4281 has no 10A current range, which is a must have, for the 4181 they say:

•   Measures large currents with optional clamp probe (only for DT4281, which has no 10 A terminal for accident prevention)


Get the DT4282

[nanofrog]

FWIW, I've an older Brymen (BM857), and really like it (quality is a lot better than you'd imagine, and compares well to more known brands).

Given the small price difference however, I'd opt for the Hioki* (support and longer warranty alone would be worth the extra funds).