Will there be another $100 multimeter shootout?

[jbuszkie]

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question...  But the original $100 shootout is about 5 years old.
I'm curious to know if there will be another updated one in the near future.  There's got to be better contenders now in 5 years?

Thanks,

Jim

[SharpEars]

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question...  But the original $100 shootout is about 5 years old.
I'm curious to know if there will be another updated one in the near future.  There's got to be better contenders now in 5 years?

Thanks,

Jim

Uni-T UT61-E is the easy winner if you ask me, at least for voltages <=220V (no matter what Dave says about Uni-T quality (based on his clearly made for China crappy review units) ). Just make sure you get one that is not targeted for China, if you don't want the innards to be crap.

[tautech]

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question...  But the original $100 shootout is about 5 years old.
I'm curious to know if there will be another updated one in the near future.  There's got to be better contenders now in 5 years?

Thanks,

Jim

Welcome to the forum Jim.

Much recent info can be found on how robust cheap meters are in this thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question...  But the original $100 shootout is about 5 years old.
I'm curious to know if there will be another updated one in the near future.  There's got to be better contenders now in 5 years?

Thanks,

Jim

Uni-T UT61-E is the easy winner if you ask me, at least for voltages <=220V (no matter what Dave says about Uni-T quality (based on his clearly made for China crappy review units) ). Just make sure you get one that is not targeted for China, if you don't want the innards to be crap.

Would you say that of the Fluke 101? 

[SharpEars]

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question...  But the original $100 shootout is about 5 years old.
I'm curious to know if there will be another updated one in the near future.  There's got to be better contenders now in 5 years?

Thanks,

Jim

Welcome to the forum Jim.

Much recent info can be found on how robust cheap meters are in this thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question...  But the original $100 shootout is about 5 years old.
I'm curious to know if there will be another updated one in the near future.  There's got to be better contenders now in 5 years?

Thanks,

Jim

Uni-T UT61-E is the easy winner if you ask me, at least for voltages <=220V (no matter what Dave says about Uni-T quality (based on his clearly made for China crappy review units) ). Just make sure you get one that is not targeted for China, if you don't want the innards to be crap.

Would you say that of the Fluke 101? 

Does the Fluke 101 have 22,000 count capability? I can measure 5.000 V or 10.000 V on my (calibrated 6 months ago) UT61-E to 1 millivolt accuracy. Also, I sure would like to see the (made for China, with no warranty outside of China) Fluke 101's innards...

[mtdoc]

Fluke 101 has no current measuring capability - making it unacceptable as an electronics bench meter IMO.

[Maxlor]

Does the Fluke 101 have 22,000 count capability? I can measure 5.000 V or 10.000 V on my (calibrated 6 months ago) UT61-E to 1 millivolt accuracy. Also, I sure would like to see the (made for China, with no warranty outside of China) Fluke 101's innards...

Doubtful. I've been tracking the drift of my UT61E against an accurate voltage reference for a while, and it has drifted from quite accurate to outside of its spec (high) back to slightly above accurate within 3 months. A 6 month old calibration on that meter means nothing, unfortunately. And the specs should realistically be adjusted to 0.2% accurate instead of 0.1%.

I agree on the Fluke 101, it's not interesting for electronics. The Fluke 17B+ is, though. I'd like to see that one in a shootout.

[tautech]

Fluke 101 has no current measuring capability - making it unacceptable as an electronics bench meter IMO.

Of course , in that you are very correct.

But to address this  'ing statement from SharpEars, an example to the contrary needed to be offered.

Just make sure you get one that is not targeted for China, if you don't want the innards to be crap.

[crispy_tofu]

Just make sure you get one that is not targeted for China, if you don't want the innards to be crap.

I think he means that the European version of the UT61E has much better input protection (i.e. HRC fuses, downgraded and honest CAT ratings) than the other version for the rest of the world.
It's not just targeted for China!! 

And I don't think the UT61E will win a $100 shootout, a ~$50 shootout is another story...

[SharpEars]

Does the Fluke 101 have 22,000 count capability? I can measure 5.000 V or 10.000 V on my (calibrated 6 months ago) UT61-E to 1 millivolt accuracy. Also, I sure would like to see the (made for China, with no warranty outside of China) Fluke 101's innards...

Doubtful. I've been tracking the drift of my UT61E against an accurate voltage reference for a while, and it has drifted from quite accurate to outside of its spec (high) back to slightly above accurate within 3 months. A 6 month old calibration on that meter means nothing, unfortunately. And the specs should realistically be adjusted to 0.2% accurate instead of 0.1%.

I agree on the Fluke 101, it's not interesting for electronics. The Fluke 17B+ is, though. I'd like to see that one in a shootout.

Then, it would seem that either I have a golden UT61E or you have a bad one. Or, as is more likely the case, one of ours is representative of the model, but which one? With a sample size of two, it is impossible to see a trend.

[Robomeds]

If only the Amprobe Am-270 was reliably priced at $100 as Amazon had it a few years back.  Hard to think of a better value in a new meter.  6000 count with a 0.08% DCV accuracy, strong feature set and first rate safety.  The only drawbacks are a poor backlight and a case that could be better.  Other than that you have a meter that is respectable even next to the Fluke 87.  These days it's going for more like $120-130.  Still a great value but not quite in the $100 price range.

[Fungus]

Fluke 101 has no current measuring capability - making it unacceptable as an electronics bench meter IMO.

Fluke 107 is like the Fluke 101 but with current (and a couple of other thnigs).

It's also nearer the $100 target - the 101 is only $42, shipping included.

[Fungus]

Dave alluded to doing a $100 DMM shootout in the Brymen review video he did. He has been using his Brymen a bit lately. So I am optimistic he will do one soon. Hopefully in time for christmas. 2015

Dave's hinted that there might be an EEVBLOG-branded meter soon...and I suspect it could be a Brymen 257.

[crispy_tofu]

...and I suspect it could be a Brymen 257.

Hmm... doesn't look like it (on his latest vid)

[Fungus]

...and I suspect it could be a Brymen 257.

Hmm... doesn't look like it (on his latest vid)

Hmmm.... 

[mtdoc]

Fluke 101 has no current measuring capability - making it unacceptable as an electronics bench meter IMO.

Fluke 107 is like the Fluke 101 but with current

Just barely. The current resolution is still too poor to make it a worthwhile electronics meter IMO.

[Fungus]

Fluke 101 has no current measuring capability - making it unacceptable as an electronics bench meter IMO.

Fluke 107 is like the Fluke 101 but with current

Just barely. The current resolution is still too poor to make it a worthwhile electronics meter IMO.

Yep, but most of you will have another meter which will measure microamps/microvolts if needed. Even a $5 meter will do that.

OTOH the 107 is fully CAT rated and is a tough little meter for general use*. I'd say it's a good addition to a bench/toolbox.

(*as shown in the "here kitty kitty thread" where it proved harder to kill than a Fluke 87V and high end Brymen).

But... yeah, it probably won't win the $100 meter shootout if you're only looking for a single meter to do everything.

[mtdoc]

Fluke 101 has no current measuring capability - making it unacceptable as an electronics bench meter IMO.

Fluke 107 is like the Fluke 101 but with current

Just barely. The current resolution is still too poor to make it a worthwhile electronics meter IMO.

Yep, but most of you will have another meter which will measure microamps/microvolts if needed. Even a $5 meter will do that.

Fair point but given all the other choices in that price range that are better suited to electronics work, I would question why one would make that choice. BTW - it doesn't even measure milliamps with any resonable accuracy.

OTOH the 107 is fully CAT rated and is a tough little meter for general use*. I'd say it's a good addition to a bench/toolbox.

(*as shown in the "here kitty kitty thread" where it proved harder to kill than a Fluke 87V and high end Brymen).

It's just the wrong tool for the job IMO. Good compact meter for an electrician or perhaps to stick in your car or truck but not a good choice for an electronics bench in my view. Likewise, the "here kitty kitty" videos, as entertaining as they are, don't hold much relevance for typical electronics multimeter decision making - just my view of course. 😄

[Fungus]

It's just the wrong tool for the job IMO. Good compact meter for an electrician or perhaps to stick in your car or truck but not a good choice for an electronics bench in my view.

I guess that depends on your definition of "electronics bench"...

All I'm saying is that it definitely has a niche where it's best in category (not your bench, obviously).