Help me buy a DMM

[DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL]

CQ DMM gurus....

I have had some personal correspondence with some of the usual
suspects here, but the advice I have received so far is too vague for
me to feel comfortable in making a purchase.

I see DMMs from Harbor freight for $4.99, $9.99, $29.99, $50, etc.  I
don't see a whole of specs on these so it is very hard for me to
figure out why they are such different prices.

RS has stuff like $30 and $50 but again not much info.

I checked out Sears (why not) and there is Sears model for $30 but
they sell a Fluke for HUNDREDS!  And again, I cannot discern why based
on the published specs (all rather skimpy).

I've been using a 30 year old RS VOM for basic continuity checks and
voltage checks (AC mains, batteries), but those in the know say NO NO
NO....get a DMM.  I'm told to get one in accordance with my budget,
but there has to be more to it than that!

What sort of specs am I to be looking for?  I have been told about
"response time" but nothing I've read talks about that (no specs).

Would someone be kind enough to point me in the right direction?  If
$4.99 is is good enough, I'll be happy.  My main reason for this tool
is to build (I mean assemble) the K3.

What's YOUR favorite?

Thanks!
de Doug KR2Q

PS here are the various search results

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=multimeter&Submit=Go

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=digital%20multimeter&origkw=digital%20multimeter&sr=1

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=%22digital+multimeter%22&gobutton.x=0&gobutton.y=0&gobutton=find
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[Dave, G4AON]

Doug (KR2Q)

When I built my K1 and K2 I used a 4 1/2 digit bench multi-meter, it's quite old but I was able to get it calibrated for free.

Since then I mostly use a very cheap 3 1/2 digit LCD hand held unit that cost the same as a replacement MN1604 battery! It claims
0.5% basic accuracy and is just fine for pretty much everything I need. I always have the fallback to the bench unit, but since
I can no longer get it calibrated (except a significant expense), it's lost much of it's higher specification
(basic accuracy when calibrated of 0.2% on DC ranges).

Unless you really need AC current and difficult to maintain specifications, I don't think you will regret a cheap meter.

73 Dave, G4AON

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[Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU]

Doug,

I've been quite happy with  a B+K 2704B I got a few years ago for about
$50; a quick Google search for 2704B shows they're now $60.

In addition to the usual current, voltage, and resistance it can measure
transistors (if you want to match them, though it doesn't do frequency
response), frequency to 15 MHz and capacitors from 1pF to 20uF.  The
capacitor function is particular useful for kit building, since
capacitor labels are sometimes small or hard to understand. Bigger
capacitors that are big enough that you can read the label, hi hi.  It
won't matter for a K3.

If you want a step up from Sears and Radio Shack, visit
http://wwwCircuitSpecialists.com
Circuit Specialists doesn't list BK meters at this time, but their CSI65
at $35 looks similar, and is $25 cheaper than the B+K's

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/4631

Sometimes for peaking a DMM with a bar graph or a real meter
(D'Arsonoval) is better, but the bar graphs can be slow and the cheap
modern analog meters often load down the circuit too much (not high
enough input impedance).

Leigh/WA5ZNU

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[J. Heide]

Doug,

My first post here is my DMM advice. When I was younger, i bought cheap meters. They worked but not for long, just wouldn't hold up to field work. I got smart and spent the $175 for a Fluke and have never regretted it.
Here's some advice, no matter what brand you buy... Look at the sample rate. The better meters take more samples per second, so the display is updated more often. Some cheap meters only update the display every second or so. You will miss peaks and dips when tuning circuits because of this. My Fluke is pretty fast sampling, but I still use an old Motorola analog meter for some tuning applications.

Hope this helps in your purchasing decision.
73 Josh K6ZRX
K2/100 #6097
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Josh makes a good point about the sampling rate.  On the cheaper meters,
they are slow responding, while the better meters are faster.  In my
experience, even the modern cheap meters are sufficiently accurate and
will do an adequate job for tasks like assembling the K3 as long as you
are willing to wait for the second sample time.

As the cost goes up, the sampling rates get better and the physical
durability improves.  My Fluke looks and feels like it could be tossed
against a brick wall and sustain no damage, but the several $4.99 meters
I have purchased from Harbor Freight tools, while useful when all I need
is a voltage measurement, have proven themselves to be 'throwaways'
after they are dropped if only because the battery compartment will not
longer stay closed or other parts of the case is damaged.

Consider your future use of the DMM while making your decision.  If you
want good performance and durabliity, plan on one in the $50 to $80
range, and if you want it to be a lifelong friend, look in the $100 +
range.  For one to just throw in toolboxes and use occasionally for
casual measurements, two or three of the less than $10 meters will serve
you well.

73,
Don W3FPR

J. Heide wrote:

> Doug,
>
> My first post here is my DMM advice. When I was younger, i bought cheap meters. They worked but not for long, just wouldn't hold up to field work. I got smart and spent the $175 for a Fluke and have never regretted it.
> Here's some advice, no matter what brand you buy... Look at the sample rate. The better meters take more samples per second, so the display is updated more often. Some cheap meters only update the display every second or so. You will miss peaks and dips when tuning circuits because of this. My Fluke is pretty fast sampling, but I still use an old Motorola analog meter for some tuning applications.
>
> Hope this helps in your purchasing decision.
> 73 Josh K6ZRX
> K2/100 #6097
>
>  

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[Samuel Strongin]

test test
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[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

[Dan Romanchik KB6NU]

The other guys  have gone into all the technical aspects of whether  
you should buy a $4.99 Harbor Freight special or a $300+ Fluke, so I  
won't do that. Instead, let me offer this analogy. If we were talking  
antenna tuners here, the $5 HF special would be akin to an MFJ while  
the Fluke would be something like a Palstar. Both will tune an  
antenna, but if money were no object, you'd undoubtedly would choose  
the Palstar.

73!

Dan KB6NU
----------------------------------------------------------
CW Geek and MI Affiliated Club Coordinator
Get my Tech and General Class study guides at www.kb6nu.com/tech-manual
LET'S GET MORE KIDS INTO HAM RADIO!



On Sep 23, 2007, at 3:54 PM, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote:

> CQ DMM gurus....
>
> I have had some personal correspondence with some of the usual
> suspects here, but the advice I have received so far is too vague for
> me to feel comfortable in making a purchase.
>
> I see DMMs from Harbor freight for $4.99, $9.99, $29.99, $50, etc.  I
> don't see a whole of specs on these so it is very hard for me to
> figure out why they are such different prices.
>
> RS has stuff like $30 and $50 but again not much info.
>
> I checked out Sears (why not) and there is Sears model for $30 but
> they sell a Fluke for HUNDREDS!  And again, I cannot discern why based
> on the published specs (all rather skimpy).
>
> I've been using a 30 year old RS VOM for basic continuity checks and
> voltage checks (AC mains, batteries), but those in the know say NO NO
> NO....get a DMM.  I'm told to get one in accordance with my budget,
> but there has to be more to it than that!
>
> What sort of specs am I to be looking for?  I have been told about
> "response time" but nothing I've read talks about that (no specs).
>
> Would someone be kind enough to point me in the right direction?  If
> $4.99 is is good enough, I'll be happy.  My main reason for this tool
> is to build (I mean assemble) the K3.
>
> What's YOUR favorite?
>
> Thanks!
> de Doug KR2Q
>
> PS here are the various search results
>
> http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?
> keyword=multimeter&Submit=Go
>
> <a href="http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=digital%">http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=digital% 
> 20multimeter&origkw=digital%20multimeter&sr=1
>
> http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=%22digital 
> +multimeter%22&gobutton.x=0&gobutton.y=0&gobutton=find
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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>
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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[Julian, G4ILO]

I bought a cheap DMM like that a few years ago to help align my K2. It
was perfectly adequate for that purpose, and all the other jobs I've
used it for since. Similar to you, I have a more than 30 year old
Russian made analogue VOM that would have been fine, except for its
higher circuit loading which would result in different readings from
those given in the manual.

The arguments put forward for getting a much more expensive
professional unit may be valid if you plan on using the thing all the
time, but if that were the case you'd probably have one already.
--
Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392  K3 s/n: ???
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.com


On 9/23/07, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Would someone be kind enough to point me in the right direction?  If
> $4.99 is is good enough, I'll be happy.  My main reason for this tool
> is to build (I mean assemble) the K3.
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[Brett gazdzinski-2]

I got a wavetek meterman about 5 years ago, under $100.00
and it does the usual readings, inductance and capacitance from
very small values to very large values, frequency to 15 Mhz, transistor
tests, temp with a probe.

Not lab equipment but very usefull if you are going to be doing
any building or home brewing, plus it comes in handy for non ham uses.

There are plenty of cheaper meters that do quite a bit, do most people
need lab equipment, or a meter you can drop from 50 feet?
I never broke a meter, the rugedized ones are for techs that throw them into
a work van. I have a fluke 87V in my work van, a well made expensive basic
meter.

Radio shack is generally poor quality at a high price, you can get great
buys on
line, or even ebay, or at a hamfest.

Brett
N2DTS


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