Options for a 5.5 digit bench DMM ?

[Geoff_S]

Just wrapping up this thread.  I ended up getting a second-hand Agilent 34401A.  Spent about US$350 for a unit in pretty clean condition, good display, and as best I can tell, about 10-11 years old.  It is out of calibration, but only just (was calibrated last year, due for re-cal in Jan 2017).  Shipping to Aus was a bit of a hassle to organise, but ended up ok in the end.

To be honest, the Instek 8251 would have been sufficient for the work I had to do in the short term, and if money was very tight I would have bought one.  But I'm happy that I've now got a unit which I can rely on for many years to come.

Thanks to all who posted their thoughts and suggestions.  All very helpful.

[mzacharias]

KEITHLEY 2015 6-1/2 Digit, about $370 on ebay, sig gen, and thd, seems many here have liked them, and was a fit for me,
just throwing this one out there.

EDIT, i can not recommend this at all, I got a rock, unit in bad shape, had issues as well, sent back and do not recommend it.

That sucks. I recently bought a 2015 off eBay for about $450.00 plus freight. I was willing to pay more for fresh cal, a bright clear display with apparently low hours, clean physical condition and a handle included. I've been extremely happy so far.

[julianhigginson]

Aaaaah you didn't go for the current Australian ebay 34401A for AU$500 + $45 shipping? US$350 is close to AU$545 at the moment, and for $45 domestic shipping it should be coming to your door very fast on a velvet cushion....

[Geoff_S]

Aaaaah you didn't go for the current Australian ebay 34401A for AU$500 + $45 shipping? US$350 is close to AU$545 at the moment, and for $45 domestic shipping it should be coming to your door very fast on a velvet cushion....

sorry, that one came up AFTER I'd already gone ahead with one from the US 

[usagi]

KEITHLEY 2015 6-1/2 Digit, about $370 on ebay, sig gen, and thd, seems many here have liked them, and was a fit for me,
just throwing this one out there.

EDIT, i can not recommend this at all, I got a rock, unit in bad shape, had issues as well, sent back and do not recommend it.

who was the seller? the one I got from vswitzer2902 was good shape and fully working except THD measurement. I still have to diagnose that.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371582307445

[julianhigginson]

sorry, that one came up AFTER I'd already gone ahead with one from the US 

Heh, I've been looking for a good usable 6.5 for the last month and when that showed up I kept coming back to it and hovering over the buy button, but wishing it was a bit cheaper for its condition and level of testing, and possibly resenting the shipping price more than a little bit.

Now I have a keithley 2700 on its way from thesteve. similar landed price, but I really like the idea of the installable switching options on the 2700. And at least the cal of this 2700 has been compared to something else by someone on the forum who knows his stuff.

So now I guess I can sit tight and have something good that's usable for the foreseeable future, and wait for a really killer deal on a 34465A to eventually come along, one day.

[bitseeker]

Congrats, Julian. The K2700 is nice (I have one, too). It's like the venerable K2000, but with the dual scanner slots and more onboard logging memory.

[Dwaine]

Wow....  This one looks like a toy..

http://m.ebay.com/itm/5-1-2-Bench-Multimeter-3-5TFTLCD-Square-Wave-Output-Trigger-Test-USB-RS232-/302293939724?_trkparms=aid%253D222007%2526algo%253DSIC.MBE%2526ao%253D1%2526asc%253D20150519202348%2526meid%253De20d5d7fdef740428a2c131d80c5484f%2526pid%253D100408%2526rk%253D18%2526rkt%253D25%2526sd%253D371582307445&_trksid=p2056116.c100408.m2460

[Vgkid]

Wow....  This one looks like a toy..
*snip*

Who is going to buy one, and tear it down

[bitseeker]

Someone with a pretty good teardown budget.

[Dwaine]

The 6 1/2 digit version is $899.99.  Yeah, with that cash I would be sporting a Keysight meter.
I would love to see a tear down.   

[Dwaine]

I maybe stand corrected.  Those meters are rated @ 1000vdc and 750vac input. 

[rsjsouza]

The 6 1/2 digit version is $899.99.  Yeah, with that cash I would be sporting a Keysight meter.
I would love to see a tear down.   

Hey, I found a bargain! the 6-¹/₂ for $685 only! (plus $85 shipping)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-1-2-Bench-Multimeter-Hi-accuracy-DCV-0-0035-3-5TFTLCD-USB-RS232-LAN-Trigger-/302295918267?hash=item46623da6bb

[Dwaine]

I like the smashed USB connector.   

[coromonadalix]

me too and the 300$ added for one digit more  loll   

A teardown would be nice, don't know if those models are popular or worthwile ??

[HighVoltage]

This one has a "Hi-accuracy" for $ 890 and still has a bad USB connector,
Who would buy anything like this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hi-accuracy-6-1-2-Bench-Multimeter-3-5TFTLCD-USB-RS232-LAN-GPIB-Trigger-In-Out-/282455516837?hash=item41c3a926a5:g:yuQAAOSw4A5Ytuvv

[bitseeker]

This one has a "Hi-accuracy" for $ 890 and still has a bad USB connector,
Who would buy anything like this?

But, but it goes up to 12A!