I'm sure this issue has been addressed here before, but I couldn't find an answer, so here goes:
I want a new multimeter.
Requirements:
Accurate and consistent measurements, good electronics inside, fused.
AC/DC voltage and current (I already have a clamp meter, but if the multimeter is clamp it is also ok), resistance, good LED/continuity testing, temperature.
No need for capacitance (I think), and I have no idea if I need frequency testing.
Battery internal resistance test would be appreciable, but I think these devices are too costly.
I got a used Fluke off eBay for not too much money. The ex-(British)military ones are being sold off in quantity just now. There were a lot more listings for these last month.
Try a new battery in the existing meter first though.
Beyond that, I haven't enough expertise in these to add any more. But there are people around here who do, hopefully some of them will add their thoughts.
i look over your evaluating post and some parameter you described about the beamshots, then agree that it does the time to have a multimeter, here i may point out that there is no need to invest a small fortune.precision,reliable must be,and Test Lead must be durable.no need for the multifuctions.so you can try some entry class products:
So, after some searching (which wasn't very productive - budget multimeters is an extremely neglected topic on the web), it has basically come to choosing between the Vichy VC99 (a knockoff of the Fluke 17B) or some of the cheaper UNI-T, or a Minipa.
I haven't found almost any reviews for any of them.
The crazy guy from EEVblog reviewed the VC99 and found it is good crap or something. Well, he compared it with some Extech and AMprobe and some other not-very-cheap multimeters, and it measured quite the same measurements as they did, and did better with diode tests. The build quality was worse than the Extech and AMprobe, but these are ~50$ multimeters, compared to the ~30$ Vichy.
The same crazy guy tested a UNI-T UT61 (can't remember the exact model) with other ~100$ multimeters, and its build quality really wasn't good, even compared to the 50$ multimeters mentioned above. I wonder how the cheaper (~30$) UNI-T are constructed.
Here's a table that about summarizes what I found regarding the differences between the different brands, not comprehensive in any way.
pros
cons
Vichy VC99
fused 20A, reported good accuracy compared to high end multimeters like the Fluke V77
slow auto ranging, continuity test not great, diode test not great (only lights up a cree, doesn't measure; lights and measures a standard 5mm), manufacturer's (?) site not working
Cheap UNI-T (e.g. UT39C)
ok accuracy, well liked in the budget multimeter sphere (i.e. DX), official numbers slightly better than the Vichy
mostly unfused 10A, build quality worse than the Vichy, not so many buttons (no relative measurement, no manual range setting, no min/max etc.), with the cheapest (e.g. UT33C) the V and mA use the same input
Minipa
fused 20A, probably ok accuracy, official numbers about on par with the Vichy
no extensive reviews I could find, generally more expensive than the Vichy
There's also Mastech which looks about the same quality of the UNI-T, but I haven't found much info on them.
I've got it from DX and later I bought better leads for it. Now it's perfect for me. The temp leads were included and work fine. I didn't think I would need these, but I actually use them quite often now.
I'm still worried about the unfused 10A input. If a short would kill both the LED and the multimeter... not happy about it. If a fuse could protect them both (well, maybe the LED would die, but not necessarily) - could be better. Maybe I can install a fuse myself (if I buy the Vichy, I intend to replace the glass fuses by ceramic ones anyway, if possible; I think - should I?), but I don't think this is a good idea.
Easiest way is to buy used .. it used to be an easy pawn shopp item . means ebay is your friend .. I have two old flukes77& a 78 I didn't pay much for.takes a while to find a super deal but decent meters are out there pretty cheap compared to what people paid new . My friend gave me a harbor freight meter ...I was like Oh great a crappy meter I can beat up ...Nah it's such a piece of garbage I can't take it out of the packaging ......................i'm afraid it might come apart :)
I would've considered a used Fluke (or some other higher end brand) if shipping costs weren't such a killer... these are usually found only in the US, and with shipping (even First Class or Priority) it's more than twice or thrice the price I wish to spend right now.
It's got it all a flashaholic would ever need excepet a better dealer record would be even more nice. Granted this ain't FLUKE but does a flashaholic really need a multimater of that class? Can't find it cheaper anywhere else althrough ebay rips off the merchants by 10%.
It's VICHY AC97 which some dare to compare to Fluke 15B. I would not dare to say that but it probably is not your 3usd multimeter either. Thre is also the model VC99 but i don't feel the added expenses would be beneficial for what i need the tool to do.
All DMM even the cheapest are accurate enough .The quality lie in features as sample rate, resolution , display info and such which are not key for no professional use. Enough display characters are nice to have , some of the cheap only show the numbers relying in the selector switch to know what is measuring, avoid those.
The diode function while could be use to check leds aren't aimed at that use, in fact is only to check the voltage drop through a semiconductor juncture, most below 3V, don't expect otherwise.
The Budgeter's one look good to me since has Temperature function, a must have..
Yeah, I was thinking the same, because I have dedicated stuff for that never used that function, right now I'll go to see if that multimeter's function work witch such waveform , many times this kind of counters only work with 50% duty cicle signal.
Then I bought this 3 dollar one off ebay. It is pretty much identical except the leads are smaller and it only measures 1.52 amps on the same light! But when I put the 18awg leads from the harbor freight meter on it, it reads around 2.95 amps......so its all about having AT LEAST 18awg leads.
GoodLuckBuy and maybe several merchants at eBay have it for 1$-2$ less, but I trust DX more (dunno why).
The deciding factor for it over the VC97 was the better low voltage range arrangement - the VC99 has 600mV/6V whereas the VC97 has 400mV/4V/40V, so for li-ions @ ~4.0V the VC97 would switch ranges quite annoyingly, I think, while the VC99 would stay at the 6V range (and I don't think I'd like setting the range manually to 40V, for the sake of accuracy).
I also would like to check the bar graph display. Could be handy (should be faster updating than the digits, if the range is set manually).
The VC99 also has a min/max mode.
It lacks backlighting and operates on 2xAAA, but backlight mod and 2xAA mod are reported in DX comments and user photos, so I guess I'll do them too sometime.
All that I now need is to replace the glass fuses by ceramic ones, but I'll wait till I get the meter for the exact dimensions of the fuses before I order some. (they're very cheap and provide far better protection to the meter and the user in terms of breaking current and breaking voltage, and also they break much more nicely, without spreading hot glass all over the PCB).
I'll tell you more when it arrives... can't wait. :)
looks like a good one! but 33 bux...ouch! I guess if your going to use it for many years to come it is a worthy investment but im too....frugal...to pay that kind of money lol.
