Any digital multimeter recommendations

[marley459]

It's been a couple years and it's time to get a DMM.  Does anyone have recommendations for an affordable one that is dependable and also measures HFE of transistors?

[pianoman_282]

I recently bought this one from Harbor Freight ->https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html. It appears to be pretty heavy duty. It seems to do everything I need and wasn't too expensive.  They always have coupons so you may be able to get a few dollars knocked off the price.

[GibsonGM]

I have an Extech MN26T, which does most all measurements you'll ever need, tho not HFE.    It is in the same price range as Pianoman's suggestion...it is bomb-proof, auto-ranging, accurate with good sample rate.  Cap measurement works well (I've had others that did not).  Mine has been so reliable as to be out of mind for nearly a decade; it's just THERE and I use it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Extech-MN26T-Autoranging-Multimeter-New/192847455456?epid=1300328044&hash=item2ce69aa4e0:g:5PAAAOSweGpcfts8:sc:USPSFirstClass!04958!US!-1&frcectupt=true

7.5Meg input impedance, temp probe, measures frequency...to do other things like inductance measurements and HFE, i just got a cheap chinese 'tester' on Ebay for $8...I don't find I use that much, tho.

[mth5044]

I recently bought this one from Harbor Freight ->https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html. It appears to be pretty heavy duty. It seems to do everything I need and wasn't too expensive.  They always have coupons so you may be able to get a few dollars knocked off the price.

I've had this for a half a dozen years and it's working out. Wish the frequency counter was better though.

[bluebunny]

I have a Vici VC99 that does all that I need of it, and loads more that I've not even investigated.  Seems pretty rugged too.  I can't remember what I paid for it, but it seems to be going for £25-30 according to Google.  (Also seems to get rebadged occasionally, so just search for "VC99".)

[merlinb]

It's been a couple years and it's time to get a DMM.  Does anyone have recommendations for an affordable one that is dependable and also measures HFE of transistors?

Get any DMM, and buy a cheap component analyzer separately. This will do your transistors and everything else (you don't even have to poke the legs into specific holes!)

[antonis]

Can't suggest any "light duty" DMM.. 
(due to pro measurement involvement, the "lightest" DMM I ever used was a FLUKE 87..)

IMHO, for amature/hobbist measurements, don't spend money for resolution/digits/counts e.t.c.
(but high input impedance worths its money..) 

[Sooner Boomer]

I've bought two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Multimeter-Resistance-Transistors-Temperature/dp/B071JL6LLL/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2AU27W4FWMRH0&keywords=digital+voltmeter&qid=1551876319&s=gateway&sprefix=digital+v%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-9

(the first was stolen)

They seem to be decent enough.  I needed a fairly good "jack-of-all-trades" that would do the normal volt/ohm/amps, but also capacitors and frequency.  At least in the audio range, frequency is good, but display updates are somewhat slow.

I've got a bunch of these:
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-63604.html
I pick one up every time I get a free coupon.  Again, decent enough, especially for free, and they even do hFe.  The main problem with them is that they have a rather low value fuse soldered on the PCB, and if you blow it, you have to take the case apart to fix it.

[marley459]

I recently bought this one from Harbor Freight ->https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html. It appears to be pretty heavy duty. It seems to do everything I need and wasn't too expensive.  They always have coupons so you may be able to get a few dollars knocked off the price.

I've had this for a half a dozen years and it's working out. Wish the frequency counter was better though.

I'm probably going to buy this one. What does the frequencies counter measure?

[GibsonGM]

You can use a frequency counter for a lot of things.  You could use it to measure ripple on a power supply...the frequency that an oscillator is running at, that sort of thing.   It's the same principle of how a guitar tuner tells you you are "in" or "out" (it compares your input signal freq. with a known standard).  When you have one, you start to find uses for it, ha ha. 

Beware that most meters require your signal to be over a certain voltage to measure, which may mean amplifying something before you measure.  For the Extech I showed, it's 5V.  And the sampling rate is better on higher-quality meters, but whatever you choose is up to you.   

[Rob Strand]

I've had this for a half a dozen years and it's working out. Wish the frequency counter was better though.

More often than not cheaper meters use analog techniques for the frequency measurement (555's circuits are not uncommon).  A few good meters  use digital techniques.  The specs usually hint at what method is used.

IMHO transistor hFE measurement is convenient but DMM's won't give you leakage and true gain of a germanium transistor.    It's easy to build and external adaptor.   That being said a hFE measurement is pretty common on low and mid-price DMM's so you more or less get it for free (it's rarely available on high-end stuff, eg Flukes.)

[njkmonty]

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LCR-T4-Transistor-Tester-With-Clear-Acrylic-Case-Shell-Housing-ESR-SCR-MOS-PNP-/191975713206?hash=item2cb2a4e9b6&_uhb=1

not cheap the dmm but so glad i got this , continuity test very fast, reliable safe on high voltages, has the right fuses, magnetic holder great.
Ive had copies and $100 ones this is a joy to use , like any tool , buy the best you can!

[amptramp]

A lot of the cheaper multimeters have a resistance range that only goes up to 2 megohms.  Higher value resistors are common in LFO oscillators and various other places, so make sure your DMM reads up to 20 megohms (and the one I usually use goes up to 30 megohms).

[alfafalfa]

What is affordable ? I myself hardly ever buy any because sooner or later a part of the thing you bought is gonna give you trouble, like switches etc.
My main digital multimeter is a Fluke (76), it was not cheap but I have never regretted buying it.

So my advice is: buy quality stuff.

Besides this meter I have a cheap multimeter which has a transistor tester in it and a capacitor meter.

And fairly recently I bought this transistor tester which Merlin showed a picture of in this thread and an ESR meter.

[amz-fx]

Get a free multimeter at Harbor Freight... the price is right, and if you stick with building electronics, you can buy a Fluke later:



regards, Jack

[Rob Strand]

What is affordable ? I myself hardly ever buy any because sooner or later a part of the thing you bought is gonna give you trouble, like switches etc.
My main digital multimeter is a Fluke (76), it was not cheap but I have never regretted buying it.

So my advice is: buy quality stuff.

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