Multimeter suggestion

[dR-mR]

What do you think about this multimeters, which one of them you prefer.

VOLTCRAFT VC880  € 215,00
Extech EX530  € 239,00
Greenlee DM-860A  € 299,00
Ore used Fluke 187  around € 250,00

[optikon]

Fluke 187 -quality and long history of reliable, robust design.

[cup58]

Completely agree with optikon. I'd choose an used Fluke 187 over any new multimeter of the other manufacturers.

[flyback]

I have the same opinion as optikon & cup58. Just a remark: the so nice lifetime warranty drops if you are not the original owner. Grrr..
Otherwise the Extech have PC link feature, which may be useful.

[dR-mR]

I decided for Fluke187
I bought a used Fluke 187 for 227 euro with ir-usb cable

[Captain_Boblo]

I have the Greenlee 860A (aka Brymen 869s) it's a well respected meter and I have been very happy with mine.  I've just ordered another one of them and a Brymen 525s (primarily for the 20sps sampling rate).  There is a USB IR cable available which works with Brymen's PC graphing/logging software. 

[PaulH]

I do have a VOLTCRAFT VC940 and very content with this DVM, the question which DVM you need to buy is more based on what you want to use it for?. Do you need to measure small currents or maybe capacitance ?. This is what you first need to make clear to yourself and than you need to look for the DVM to buy. Fluke is very good but also not cheap compared to less common brands.

[bobcat1]

Hi

I have Fluke75 for more then 20 years - and I would not replace it nor plan to ....
But whether i need to buy a new one i will also consider the multimeter from keysight with RMS measuring capability

all the best

Bobi

[roscoe]

If you have the use and can spend the money, it's pretty hard to beat a Keithley.  You can pickup a second hand Keithley 2000 off of eBay for $500-700 if you wait around.  If you want to spend a little more, you can look at a 2001.  If you do end up going this route, be sure to check if the VFD displays are good though because now that Keithley is owned by Tektronix, they won't sell you the replacement VFDs directly any more.  You have to send the units into them for "repair and calibration" which tends to be a little spendy.

[Vineyards]

I have had all sorts of multimeters so far. I had a Fluke 179 some 5 years ago which gave up the ghost when it started to rain during an outdoors job (and the rain was in no way heavy). Then I had a 289, it was too heavy to carry around but it seemed to be very accurate. Sometimes, I took my very old Kyoritsu with me and sometimes I took lesser quality multimeters out for non-demanding jobs. All this while, one multimeter that has stayed with me without wearing down is a cheapish old Agilent one. (It is not around so I don't remember the model name). Agilent is good enough for most tasks, cheap enough to not burn your pocket. It is always ready for action. However, Fluke retains its value very well. After using for more than a year I sold my 289 at something very close to the purchase price. (It looked brand new though.)

[CocaCola]

I have nice multimeters that I keep in the shop, but for a vast majority of outside the house stuff I the dirt cheap single chip Asian ones...  They are accurate enough for basic stuff and it truth disposable...

If you live in the US Harbor Freight Tools constantly has FREE multimeter coupons with any purchase, I literally have a drawer full of them...

Sure you are not going to win any bragging rights with them but those free multimeters have served me very well and diagnosed untold problems just fine...

[Gallymimu]

Fluke 289 is junk compared to the 187/189 (slow update, low contrast display, poor battery life, very bulky).  I watch for 187/189 and fluke 87-IV on ebay all the time.  These are the best meters fluke ever made.

I don't know why we resurrected a 6mo old thread.  roscoe must be hunting for post points

[epi]

My current multimeter: Agilent U1252A. Rugged, fast display update, many functions (my favorites: True RMS, uA scale, square wave output).
Fair price too.

[flyback]

I got a Keithley 2015 for 350 USD, basically it is a Keithley 2000 (6.5 digit) with a THD measurement. The voltage reference is a well proven LM399 which is very stable. The calibration was expired on 2012, but I had a chance to get it checked in an university, all ranges still within specs. highly recommended (of course double check for the VFD).
the drawback is it not portable at all.

[HULK69]

Personnally I would not go for a non portable multimeter, as I very rarely require a very precise measurement.

On top of that most of the "wired" multi-meters are not even more precise. You have to spend $$$ to get something much more precise

[zac]

The Fluke 287/289 take a few seconds to power up which I find a bit annoying, but the dot matrix display provide some capabilities not available on non-dot matrix displays.  I find the 50000 count resolution to be adequate for 99.9% of my needs.  Even the 20000 count of the 1980s vintage 8060A is adequate for nearly everything.  

I have the 8060A, 867B, 189, and 289 meters.

The 867B is an interesting instrument that also provides limited oscilloscope function.  They can sometimes be found on ebay in good condition for $300.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-867B-graphical-multimeter-Misc/dp/B0064SE64I

http://www10.ujaen.es/sites/default/files/users/ingele/manualfluke867b.pdf

[adamantium]

My current multimeter: Agilent U1252A.

I have this one too, it's fantastic DMM. I think it has since been discontinued but anything from Agilent (now Keysight) is going to be good.

The U1250 series has 20MHz frequency counter, programmable square wave generator and data logger, all 3 I find quite handy when debugging a new board & testing battery charge/discharge characteristics.

[ReefGuru]

I prefer bench meters for hobby use. They are easy to read and don't fall off the bench when you stretch a lead too far. You can find older HP/afilemt models on eBay for a few hundred,,or a older fluke 8050A for less than $75. I guess it all depends on what features you are looking for.

[hef4015]

Bench multimeters are nice. Just beware of the Keysight 34465A series. They dropped prices, but some functionality is broken by design.  The older models with a more simple screen are better. 

The successor most likely will be better as well, as they will fix their mistakes.

[Old_but_Alive]

These are brilliant for $18.  I now have 3 of them.

https://www.banggood.com/ANENG-AN8008-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-AC-DC-Current-Voltage-Resistance-Frequency-Capacitance-Test-p-1157985.html

[mars01]

Old_but_Alive, good find. I needed something new to keep in my car
Have you opened it and had a look at the fuses and amp circuit? Our Chinese friends have a habit of not being too careful when it's about safety ...

[Old_but_Alive]

not opened it at all, apart from fitting the 2x AAA batteries

I only use them for low voltage and current, so not too concerned

I will open it and take a piccy if you wish.

there are cheaper ones with 2000, and 6000 range, but I think the  9000 range is worth the extra cost.

[udhay_cit]

Agilent is changed to keysight. I got few old stock multimeters from supplier in the neame of agilent for half the original price. OMG the meters are excellent. Now I have U1272A, U1251B & U1252B. Still the have lot of U1272A stock.

[techneo]

I am a staunch follower of Fluke and its products. I have one Fluke 187 myself with excellent results and reliability.

As far as Voltcraft is concerned , i have heard that their stuff is assembled in China in collaboration with Uni-T. I don't know if they follow strict production standards, but a couple of years ago i also had a Uni-T MM, which worked good except high battery consumption.




-Techneo

[beto333]

Hello if I can afford you I do not recommend the VOLTCRAFT VC880 I bought it on Amazon but I did not feel well and returned it after a few days and then move to the fluke 117 even if less complete than the voltcraft

[bobcat1]

Hi

If you can spend some $$ buy a fluke meter, I have fluke 75 who is still working (almost 30 years now) ,
Today you can get good price for 2nd hand equipment from Ebay.
Look for those who except offers where you can get up to 50~75% of sell price.
but be careful and stay away from prices below 50% market price, always use ebay payment method and never transfer payment to privet accounts.  


All the best

Bobi

[h0nk]

Hello,

the 30 years can be easily excelled by my oldest Fluke 8020A which was made in 1978.
Ive got it after finishing the school.
Its still in very good shape and of course in specs.
I had only to replace the LCD, which is a common problem of the 8020A.

For benchwork i prefer the Fluke 8600A.
As zac wrote: "the 20000 count of the 1980s vintage 8060A is adequate for nearly everything."

For more resolution i build a meter with only one range (0 - 16.777215 V)
with a Silicon Labs C8051F350.
This is sometimes useful to measure voltage drops across pcb-traces.
Of course there is some noise in the reading, even after some filtering.


Best Regards

[sarah90]

I have both the U1272A and the U1282A from agilent/keysight. They are practically indestructible and will last you a lifetime. I find the U1282A a bit too bulky.

[HackAndCrack]

Fluke 115 or 117 True RMS Multimeter will be a good one. I have both of them. Gives true RMS AC voltage and current readings.

[kreutz]

I have a Fluke 87-IV and a Fluke 89-IV, both have been working perfectly fine for the last 25 years.

[intel]

I use the Fluke 87V in our office. Precise and reliable. Fast from standard multimeters. It's taken my many mistakes. About 380 USD.
I am using Unit UT 61E at home. Very cheap but not very reliable. It endured a few minor mistakes. About 70 USD.

[Just4Fun]

Because this is a sort of "running" thread here my 5 cent... I've a Fluke 73 I bought more than 20 yrs ago and it works  perfectly.

Than an yrs ago I have bought a most modern Fluke 175 with true RMS on Amazon (about 200·€ if remember well).

Because I'm setting up a lab in my office, I've ordered "some" Fluke too... (I'm not sponsored by Fluke...  ).

[Git]

They must be the best, I used to design them . If you are a more realistic budget then I think UNI-T are good value for money despite the ill reasoned reports to the contrary.

Git

[bobcat1]

Hi

If you live in the US there are plenty of auction sealing test equipment among this you can find lot of Fluke multi meters and other type of equipment at less then 50% market price.

It is difficult to participate in this auction's if you are not US resident as the packing and delivery cost might cost more then what you Buy so be careful with this.

for more info look at https://www.go-dove.com/en/index.

All the best

Bobi   
 

[pickit2]

Hi

If you live in the US
It is difficult to participate in this auction's if you are not US resident as the packing and delivery cost might cost more then what you Buy so be careful with this.
All the best

Bobi   
 

We in the are having a meltdown with Brexit. Miss May our PM said we will Trade Outside the EU.

We have a special relation ship with the USA. well the thing is we have a poor exchange rate for the US Dollar
£1 = $1 then a fee £4 or more, then postage small item to UK = $20 to $60. same item China Post = free.

Then there is inport taxes - Vat 20% plus a fee £15 so if the item is not exempt from vat and the seller over values the Item.
you pay the value.


Down side is there is noway I wish to trade with the USA. 

post might no make sense as I just finished a late project (burning the midnight oil)