I was searching for a good multimeter under 200 USD and found on ebay the UNI-T 81b handheld scopemeter, which also works as a DSO.
Has anyone experienced this instrument? Does it works well as a multimeter?
Or it is better to go for a good (>20000 count) multimeter?
My main interest is in audio stuff, both analog and digital.
Best regards.
Paul
Has anyone experienced this instrument? Does it works well as a multimeter?
Or it is better to go for a good (>20000 count) multimeter?
My main interest is in audio stuff, both analog and digital.
Best regards.
Paul
Sandor
Start with a good Fluke meter. I have bought one for a friend receiently for for a friend for less than 100 dollars. You could spend a lot more money and buy the Fluke handheld scope like this
Fluke_FLK-123_003_Handheld_Oscilloscope but they are like 1500 dollars.
Stay away from the cheaper hand held scopes, get the meter first. These tools are the backbone of the hobby or profession and the "all in one" solutions just dont cut it.
The tektronics bench scope I am using now cost 300 at a flea market. Be patient get the good stuff.
Start with a good Fluke meter. I have bought one for a friend receiently for for a friend for less than 100 dollars. You could spend a lot more money and buy the Fluke handheld scope like this
Fluke_FLK-123_003_Handheld_Oscilloscope but they are like 1500 dollars.
Stay away from the cheaper hand held scopes, get the meter first. These tools are the backbone of the hobby or profession and the "all in one" solutions just dont cut it.
The tektronics bench scope I am using now cost 300 at a flea market. Be patient get the good stuff.
Small accurate basic DMM (digital multi meters) are cheap these days and I see no good reason to spend a lot as a hobbyist. Most of the time you need to know if a resistor is good or bad, ie 15k ohms instead of 3 ohms or 100 M ohms, or if a rail voltage is ok, and a $5 Chinese DMM will do that fine as long as it lasts. Around $20 to $30 USD should get you a decent meter, and I suggest getting one that includes capacitor and/or transistor checking.
Unless you absolutely need it to be portable you will be much better off buying a good used bench sized scope.
Unless you absolutely need it to be portable you will be much better off buying a good used bench sized scope.
I purchased a Uni-T DSO, the 2042C model, three monthes ago. Prior to this, I did not find many advices about chinese DSOs and almost nothing about Uni-T, bar a good assessment for a multimeter. But I was curious as the features seemed fine and the price low, it was something of a gamble. I may say it works very well, it is fast (much more than Fluke Scopemeters I know) and the screen is nice.
I would like to see a user manual first. Also the specs say best accuracy. Does that mean that the numbers are the best it can attain and typically they are worse?
dvm's
digital voltmeters typically integrate the voltage over 3 or 4 seconds and report an average, so I am not a fan for their use in industrial situations on signals. I get better real time results from an analog VOM that can respond up to 3 or 4 hz, I really detest DVM's however cheap they are. DVM's mostly hide the integration time, don't report it in the specs, I think Fluke actually tells the truth on some models but not their industrial DVM. For factory use on prox switches etc. I was happier with level meters with LED's that would flicker instantaneously. So if there is a scopemeter that scans up to 20000 times per second for less than the week's wages a fluke scopemeter costs, I would be real tempted to buy one. I found an old fashioned 20 MHZ B&K scope for $25 recently, useless for computer work but okay for audio and organ repairs. I wouldn't carry it around a food plant though, too much water being squirted around to clean up. A scopemeter would fit in your water resistant tool box.
digital voltmeters typically integrate the voltage over 3 or 4 seconds and report an average, so I am not a fan for their use in industrial situations on signals. I get better real time results from an analog VOM that can respond up to 3 or 4 hz, I really detest DVM's however cheap they are. DVM's mostly hide the integration time, don't report it in the specs, I think Fluke actually tells the truth on some models but not their industrial DVM. For factory use on prox switches etc. I was happier with level meters with LED's that would flicker instantaneously. So if there is a scopemeter that scans up to 20000 times per second for less than the week's wages a fluke scopemeter costs, I would be real tempted to buy one. I found an old fashioned 20 MHZ B&K scope for $25 recently, useless for computer work but okay for audio and organ repairs. I wouldn't carry it around a food plant though, too much water being squirted around to clean up. A scopemeter would fit in your water resistant tool box.
PDS5022S 25Mhz Color LCD Scope + Accessories ($287.00) : Saelig Online Store
I used one of these a few years ago. Emailed the manufacturer and asked them about extending the sample time to use the scope as a data logger. Said I was looking to buy 30. They said they would have the updated firmware in two weeks. Try that with one of the big boys in the scope world.
Anyone used the OWON digital scopes?
I used one of these a few years ago. Emailed the manufacturer and asked them about extending the sample time to use the scope as a data logger. Said I was looking to buy 30. They said they would have the updated firmware in two weeks. Try that with one of the big boys in the scope world.
Anyone used the OWON digital scopes?
Thank you for your replies.
I am a hobbyst diyer and sometimes need an oscilloscope. I aleady have a Velleman PCS500 PC-DSO, but it is not portable because my laptop has not a parallel interface.
This said, I need a good multimeter under 200 USD. The suggested instruments are all above my budget.
I have found this Protek 506
Protek - Test and Measurement
Price is 100 EUR (about 130 USD).
Adding as little as 30 EUR (40 USD) I can buy the UNI-T 81b, which I could also use as a portable scope.
1) Is that Protek a good multimeter?
2) Does the UNI-T a good job as a multimeter? (the scope is just a plus to me)
Regards.
Paul
I am a hobbyst diyer and sometimes need an oscilloscope. I aleady have a Velleman PCS500 PC-DSO, but it is not portable because my laptop has not a parallel interface.
This said, I need a good multimeter under 200 USD. The suggested instruments are all above my budget.
I have found this Protek 506
Protek - Test and Measurement
Price is 100 EUR (about 130 USD).
Adding as little as 30 EUR (40 USD) I can buy the UNI-T 81b, which I could also use as a portable scope.
1) Is that Protek a good multimeter?
2) Does the UNI-T a good job as a multimeter? (the scope is just a plus to me)
Regards.
Paul
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I see all of the responses and I just must put in a word here. For someone starting out in electronics, or a seasoned professional, the answer is obvious.
go to E-bay and search for Fluke Multimeter. They own the market for qualtiy in this field. The products really are that good. Rugged, accurate, and easy, almost foolproof to use. This is one busness where a manufacturer has been creating a better product for decades. Don't hate me because I am beautiful!
If imitation is the sencerest form of complement then Fluke is greatly complemented. Used items under 200 are all over the place on the bay. With the possible exception of a special application insturment, this is the real deal.
go to E-bay and search for Fluke Multimeter. They own the market for qualtiy in this field. The products really are that good. Rugged, accurate, and easy, almost foolproof to use. This is one busness where a manufacturer has been creating a better product for decades. Don't hate me because I am beautiful!
If imitation is the sencerest form of complement then Fluke is greatly complemented. Used items under 200 are all over the place on the bay. With the possible exception of a special application insturment, this is the real deal.
The Fluke 73 or 77 are great meters, you can own them a lifetime. But if someone is looking for a truly cheap meter, the UEI ULT-33T is a good choice. I was told this by an HVAC tech who uses it everyday on the job. It also does temperature. The truly cheap stuff like the Horrible Freight meters are garbage, won't last a year with minimum use.
http://www.ueitest.com/IMAGES/Product Sheets/utl/L636-UTL33T-PS.pdf
http://www.ueitest.com/IMAGES/Product Sheets/utl/L636-UTL33T-PS.pdf
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For $201 MSRP the Agilent U1241 is quite nice. Not quite as well built as a Fluke, but better featureset and basic accuracy than the Fluke models at a similar price, and still very well built by a reputable firm.
Thank you for all you advices.
I went for a Fluke 87 III, which I found, used but in excellent conditions, for about 110 USD. It appears to be a very good instrument. Did I pay the right price?
Regards.
Paul
I went for a Fluke 87 III, which I found, used but in excellent conditions, for about 110 USD. It appears to be a very good instrument. Did I pay the right price?
Regards.
Paul
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