Multimeter spreadsheet (80 manufacturers and over 400 meters listed)

[videobruce]

To confirm; all of these are 'Autoranging'??

I was looking for non autoranging since I don't like the delay waiting for the meter to do what I already did. And yes, I know the single disadvantage, but in 30 years, I never wiped one out..

[Wytnucls]

Yes, as stated in the intro on post one, all meters are autoranging. Most, if not all, also have manual ranging, for some specific applications.

[AE7OO]

Hi,

I did not see my favorite meter(Because I got it super cheap last Christmas), the Holdpeak 6688G. 
https://holdpeak-store.com/hp-6688g-multimeter-1000v-20a-capacitance-ammeter/

While it has some problems(the continuity beeper is a nightmare), it's hard to approach 40000 counts for around $50.  And since I use it more or less as bench meter, the fact that it's a BRICK, is not down check for me.

[Wytnucls]

Thanks. It will be included in the next revision. Remember that a high count meter without a decent voltage reference will drift eventually. Not impressed with the internal construction. Beware.

[Trader]

Thanks. It will be included in the next revision. Remember that a high count meter without a decent voltage reference will drift eventually. Not impressed with the internal construction. Beware.

I think that table should list only the "best" DMMs

What is best? several specs e.g.: very small long term drift.

Today there are a LOT of DMMs with +50K counts, but in 5 years, how many will keep the calibration?

* Voltcraft VC890 (60,000) # https://www.conrad.com/p/voltcraft-vc890-oled-handheld-multimeter-digital-oled-display-data-logger-cat-iii-1000-v-cat-iv-600-v-display-counts-124600

* Tenma 72-3540 (60,000) # https://uk.farnell.com/tenma/72-3540/dmm-handheld-true-rms-auto-manual/dp/2667186

* Prova 903 (60,000) # https://lygte-info.dk/review/DMMProva%20903%20UK.html

* TPI 194 II (50,000) # https://www.testproductsintl.com/digital-multimeters-dmms/194-digital-multimeter/

* RS PRO HS608 (with oscilloscope) (50,000) # https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-multimeters/1445337/

* CEM DT-9989 (with oscilloscope) (50,000) # http://www.cem-instruments.com/en/Product/detail/id/889

* CEM DT-9987 (50,000) # http://www.cem-instruments.com/en/Product/detail/id/896

* RuoShui 189A (55,000) # https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001483719011.html

[AE7OO]

Yes, I know that the Holdpeak HP-6688G has problems.  Poor QC is at the top of the list.  As far as the design goes, let's not go there.

As soon as I received it, I popped it open.  I just wish I would have taken photos. 
I found 2(TWO OF THEM!?!  ) tombstoned caps right off, which I fixed.

I picked it up CHEAP(about $16 Prime) from Amazon a couple of years ago.

A recent use I put it to recently was when I started gathering the materials to make one of Conrad's Kelvin-Varley Dividers.  Instead of building one of the bridge circuits to sort the various resistors I just used the meter after making a simple fixture to easily change the resistors out.  For things like this, it works just fine.

[LeonR]

I've been wondering for some time now: Does any of the Chinese OEM use feedback given on electronics forums like this to improve/fix stuff in their meters?

[rsjsouza]

I've been wondering for some time now: Does any of the Chinese OEM use feedback given on electronics forums like this to improve/fix stuff in their meters?

Probably yes, given that I have seen a lot of marketing sentences and design changes reflecting what is commonly said around here - things such as ceramic fuses, demonstration of protection in all ranges, etc. It is basically free consulting services for anyone in the business.

[Wytnucls]

Having spent a fair amount of time in China, I doubt very much manufacturers spend any time following discussions on electronics forums.
First of all, few people understand English and YouTube videos are not readily accessible.
With few exceptions, companies cater mostly for the local market and local regulations.
They may sometime be influenced by requests from large retailers from India, for instance.

[HKJ]

Having spent a fair amount of time in China, I doubt very much manufacturers spend any time following discussions on electronics forums.

I do not know if they follow youtube, but I (my reviews and direct communication) have been the reason for some changes in battery chargers.

[Wytnucls]

Have you had similar experiences with multimeter manufacturers?
Where in China was the product from?

[HKJ]

Have you had similar experiences with multimeter manufacturers?
Where in China was the product from?

No, but then I have never received a multimeter for review, all my DMM reviews are done on meters I bought. With chargers some manufactures often send me one for review.
I do not remember the locations, but probably Shenzhen (I do not want to specify any brand names).

[wally2q]

Good table - first time I noticed it.

I noticed one of the columns are labelled mF... right next to pF.
I know pF is picoFarads, so is mF meant to represent miliFarads on the capacitor measurement scale?...

if so, miliFarads is not a common order of capacitance values.
As you know, there are
pF = picoFarads
nF = nanoFarads
uF = microFarads
and then for values larger than microfarads, they either show a value of 1000uF or 10000uF for 1miliFarads or 10miliFarads.
Sometimes, supercaps then use Farads by themselves.
But I have never in my 30years of electrical engineering, came across a miliFarad unit used on a meter, or on a capacitor.

I have seen some capacitors incorrectly labelled as miliFarads (mF), where the actual value was teh same but in microFarads.

cheers!

[tautech]

 
Typo I'd bet as m is next to n on a keyboard.

[rsjsouza]

No, it's not a typo. Given the table already is very cramped, the "mF" is the maximum capaacitance measurement in milifarads or thousands of microfarads.

To be honest, nowadays a very broad range of DMMs that measure large capacitances (larger that 10000uF) tend to use mF in the annunciator. I have seen models from Keysight, Uni-T, Aneng, Richmeters, Sanwa and others.

[Wytnucls]

While traditionally caps are not marked in mF (possibly to avoid confusion with nF), it is still a valid SI unit and used liberally in documentation.

Here is a Vishay example:

[Wytnucls]

[tautech]

While traditionally caps are not marked in mF (possibly to avoid confusion with nF), it is still a valid SI unit and used liberally in documentation.

So therefore so it is plainly clear you've used mF, correct ?

[Wytnucls]

Of course. I need to keep the columns as narrow as possible.

[wally2q]

OK cool.... it was intentional... and yes it is an SI unit....
so as unusual as I may find it - i'm good.

On the Vishay cap table example - some were listed in mF and some in uF... ex 10000uf in one line... and 1.8mF in another -> why not just converge on a single unit - say 1800uF, instead of 1.8mF..... or 10mF instead of 10000uF... ??   

Oh well...

[Wytnucls]

Most current spreadsheet with the latest multimeters added and some housekeeping.

[Analog4]

Thanks for the update!

I see it now includes the Bryman BM789, which only has 20k BW compared to 100k BW for the Bryman BM869 & Greenlee DM-860A. I prefer the 100k BW & had been thinking about the Bryman BM789, but now more seriously considering the Greenlee DM-860A for the USA warranty.   

[vutt]

Hm I think there must be some mistake with Advantest R6551 spec in your .xls
My R6551 looks like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnozavvCiIU, no VFD, no Frequency counter.

[Wytnucls]

Thanks. I will correct that in the next revision.

[Trader]

Brymen BM789, AC Bandwidth is 100kHz (not only 20kHz)

https://static.eleshop.nl/mage/media/downloads/BM780_datasheet.pdf