I know. It's good to ask. But it so strange that these almost never ends up in any consensus 🙂
But of course inspiration!
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But of course inspiration!
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I work in a test&measuring instruments certification laboratory, so I probably have my own points of view.
A multimeter is within spec when it leaves the factory. From that point, you don't know. Better manufacturers specify long-term accuracy, that is amount of drifting within 1-year. They guarantee that the instument is within spec until 1 year. If you want to trust it, you have to send it to a lab to re-check yearly. In DIY it is seldom needed, though. You assume it is not drifting out of spec. Don't confuse the resolution (digits after the decimal point) with accuracy, they are independent parameters. In short, accuracy is always worse than the resolution in a given range.
Anyway, for serious work (be it handheld or desktop) I would buy something that is pretty stable (1 year spec!) and whose input is well protected against mishandling. Autorange is a nice feature, too. In DIY 4 1/2 digits is enough for most tasks.
A multimeter is within spec when it leaves the factory. From that point, you don't know. Better manufacturers specify long-term accuracy, that is amount of drifting within 1-year. They guarantee that the instument is within spec until 1 year. If you want to trust it, you have to send it to a lab to re-check yearly. In DIY it is seldom needed, though. You assume it is not drifting out of spec. Don't confuse the resolution (digits after the decimal point) with accuracy, they are independent parameters. In short, accuracy is always worse than the resolution in a given range.
Anyway, for serious work (be it handheld or desktop) I would buy something that is pretty stable (1 year spec!) and whose input is well protected against mishandling. Autorange is a nice feature, too. In DIY 4 1/2 digits is enough for most tasks.
Check out the EEVblog forum - they have a list of recommended meters at various budgets. They also have a list of ones that have fake safety ratings - annoyingly I've just found my UniT 61e+ is in this category! I can't think I'll have any need for more than UK mains voltage, at least I know not to use it at 1000V before trying 😱
The Fluke 8060A is the best portable multimeter for audio. The designer (on EEVblog) said that was a specific design feature.They can be had reasonably second hand. My 8060a has not been adjusted in 20+ years and is still in spec.
EEVblog is the resource for durability and safety info in multimeters.
EEVblog is the resource for durability and safety info in multimeters.
I knew my 61E had false ratings before I bought it (like many cheaper DMM's), but I didn't care as I don't test HV. So I just use my tongue.
Surplussed a few about ten or so years ago 🙂 I bought my ex US military Fluke 27 for £40, 27 years ago and have been using it ever since 🙂
I had a look on eBay and yes, there are quite a few for sale in the US (the 27 I mean). Postage/shipping is always too high nowadays though, at least to us here in the second most remote city in the world!
Dave at EEVBlog (as mentioned) has been a great resource for me. My Fluke 112 recently blew so I went on the hunt, and now my current shortlist contains just a few Brymen meters. There are some others I considered, but the Brymen has better specs than the 112 (by a good margin) and a display that won't take me a month to get used to.
Au contraire!
I think this just shows how far technology (in multimeters) has stepped forward. Non-compliant CAT ratings/safety aside, even a device for 10 EUR/USD is quite useful and reliable. The price of a multimeter is no longer an indication of how good it is, there are so many choices, so there just isn't a "best" choice, but plenty - so it's no surprise everyone has his/her own favorite instrument.
For those that have time to read:
Multimeter spreadsheet
Multimeters that do not appear to meet their safety specs
In the second link there is info for Brymen BM867 CATIV/1000V:
"Fuses rated only for 600V which is strange because the bigger brother BM869 which is built the same way has 1000V fuses. It appears that this problem can be corrected merely by installing the higher rated fuses."
Multimeter spreadsheet
Multimeters that do not appear to meet their safety specs
In the second link there is info for Brymen BM867 CATIV/1000V:
"Fuses rated only for 600V which is strange because the bigger brother BM869 which is built the same way has 1000V fuses. It appears that this problem can be corrected merely by installing the higher rated fuses."
Today I picked up the UT61E Plus at a really great price.
Thanks to everyone for your many info.
Thanks to everyone for your many info.
Very nice. For me, a friend gave me a Simpson 260 4M. You are right - it does take a bit of time to learn how to use it. I'm sure the accuracy has drifted far from it's published specs, but in the meantime I agree that analog meters can be a good choice. I should find somewhere to get it recalibrated...
EDIT: Just realized I can send it back to Simpson!
These are also marketed under the 'Voltcraft' name. You can get a few of them for the same price as a Fluke, and I can tell you right now that owning a FEW middle-of-the-road DMM's comes in HANDY.