Recommend a good digital multimeter

[brewdexta]

Well, I bit the bullet and bought a Brymen, plus a couple of spare sets of silicon leads and the monitoring software/dongle, a bit more than I budgeted for however given that these things should last a good while then I thought it was worth it. There were a few features that I seemed likely to use I ended up with a top end device for a similar price as a mid range Fluke with what looks like comparable build quality. Obviously there's not as many about so not the same dealer network/spares but that's a risk I'm willing to take. I'm not a pro, if I was I could justify spending more and get a Fluke/Agilent etc. as turn around time when you wanted it fixing would be paramount.

This is the one I ended up with (the BM869) when it arrives from Poland from here, I have a few Polish mates who can chase things if they go Pete Tong however they seem to have been around since 1990 so I don't envisage any issues.

The Fluke turns out to be a BT special based on an Fluke 8020A. I think BT messed about with the leads as I seemed to remember having a problem getting new ones. I think they but a higher shoulder around the socket on the meter and the hole in it is smaller than average. The plug that goes in the meter has a 30mm long shroud and the shroud is 6.6mm OD with a 3mm plug hidden it. The other end of the lead is a 3mm socket in a 9.2mm OD shroud. If I can find some 3mm leads that are long enough I shall dump 'em. These are heading the right way however I just want 4mm plugs on the other end so I can use what probes I want and I'm not too sure if the shroud will fit.

I've tied testers.co.uk for leads, any other good places?

Cheers
Andy

 

[Screwdriver]

I bought these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291056567605

and they appear to be decent quality. I needed croc clips at the end.

S.

 

[brewdexta]

Thanks S, They look good but I need a 3mm plug to fit in the old BT Fluke. I think I may have to make an adaptor so I can just use standard 4mm leads

Cheers
Andy

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Thanks S, They look good but I need a 3mm plug to fit in the old BT Fluke. I think I may have to make an adaptor so I can just use standard 4mm leads

Cheers
Andy

I use these:
http://www.jmwlimited.co.uk/index.html
for my telecoms test kit, seeing as your Fluke is ex-BT they might have something of the right size.

 

[brewdexta]

I use these:
http://www.jmwlimited.co.uk/index.html
for my telecoms test kit, seeing as your Fluke is ex-BT they might have something of the right size.

Thanks for the link, I had a look but I think its too old even for them....

 

[Welderpaul]

Slightly off topic, but you might know.....what is the name for the little clear crimps used in the green outdoor cabinets...linking loads of blue/yellow wire 'jumpers'? together??

 

[brewdexta]

Its been a few years Paul, in my day they were blue not clear and they were filled with petroleum jelly, and they were just called crimps. In BT they use a "rate book" to catalogue all the individual items, a military/ex civil service type of thing I believe. Each items was given a number, for example snipe nosed wiring pliers were Pliers Wiring no. 81 so they were always called "81s" in pass me my 81s will you?". So to cut a long story short, not sure of their rate book name/number but will be something like Crimps Jumpering (PJ filled) no32

I can probably find out though.

 

[sparkysy]

Slightly off topic, but you might know.....what is the name for the little clear crimps used in the green outdoor cabinets...linking loads of blue/yellow wire 'jumpers'? together??

we use those they are known as gel crimps most citys edmonsons kew ect keep them on the shelf.
fair play brewdexta at least you got the meter that was right for you. nice meter hope it serves you well
Sy

 

[Welderpaul]

Just out of interest really Andy, used to see a lot of it going on. Found em...the blue ones and the clear ones? Ideal for speaker cables! The clear ones were 3 way i think.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

we use those they are known as gel crimps most citys edmonsons kew ect keep them on the shelf.
fair play brewdexta at least you got the meter that was right for you. nice meter hope it serves you well
Sy

I've always known them as Jellies, nice to use. Not so nice to use is the external multicore cable as that is also jelly filled. As you strip the insulation off to separate out the twisted pairs the petroleum jelly gets on everything and all the dirt and crap sticks to everything.
One of the worst jobs I did was terminating a 100 pair external cable to a 100 pair internal cable in the eaves of an insulated roof space, the fibreglass insulation stuck to everything because of the jelly.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Just out of interest really Andy, used to see a lot of it going on. Found em...the blue ones and the clear ones? Ideal for speaker cables! The clear ones were 3 way i think.View attachment 58911 View attachment 58912

Two or three way are available in 2 different gauges, we buy them in by the 1000.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

It's easier to crimp them with the proper pliers, they have a groove ground in them the width of a closed crimp so the final squash is parallel.
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/251681...1=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

 

[Welderpaul]

It's easier to crimp them with the proper pliers, they have a groove ground in them the width of a closed crimp so the final squash is parallel.

What did you squeeze the blue ones up with? Pliers knackered the insulation on them...they always seemed to be made of tough stuff.


Sorry for the hijack Andy, i'll go soon

 

[brewdexta]

NP Paul, its a nice trip down memory lane.

Blue, Orange, Green, Brown, Slate for the first conductor, now what was the second?

There were special parallel crimping pliers

 

[brewdexta]

fair play brewdexta at least you got the meter that was right for you. nice meter hope it serves you well
Sy

Cheers Sy, its got some features that sounds good on paper but not sure I will get the benefit of but I couldn't find the mix of features I wanted on others and knew I would kick myself if I needed it later. The Wendel had to mentioned data logging and solar PV which I;m having a go at soon and there's the VFD function, so I thought sod it, if I buy the all singing/dancing one then I least I will be looking at the function not looking for it. What swing it for me was a review where they took the meters apart to look at the innards. Looked very well made except for the dozy placement of the fuses if they need replacing but apart from that very well designed and on par with other makes.

 

[sparkysy]

i like that looking at a function not for it! they all seem to put their internal fuses in silly places, the megger mft tester i have is the best placed fuse i have seen on a meter under the battery cover and there's even a slot for a spare fuse. The data log function would be very handy as you say too,we did some solar pv a year or so ago, it was good for a change but i did struggle with the amount of paperwork connected to one job too many surveys and things for me! was a good crack though some amazing views from rooftops

 

[Sidewinder]

You really must look at the build quality, please.
I know guys that have been injured using cheap meters which are not really suitable for the job, but, it is difficult to tell this unless you understand the requirements, one guy I know has been scarred for life due to the failure of a meter, which on the face of it seemed suitable for the job.
Remember, electricity is energy, and it will cause damage.
For the price of leads, I don't repair, I replace, my life is worth more than a set of leads.
The same as cheap meters, I don't buy meters unless they meet all of the relevant standards and are tested and certified, that way I can hope that if they do go wrong, I'll be there to tell the tale about how rubbish they were.

 

[sparkysy]

i think that most of the guys replying to this thread are suitably qualified to tell if a meter is going to try and kill them tbh! the ones that have been mentioned are reputable manufacturers that have been in the test instrumentation business for longer than i have been here!

 

[brewdexta]

One of the key requirements of my new meter was safety, the Brymen has passed relevant tests carried out by external assessors and the internals compare favourably with Fluke et al.

The el cheapo ebay special will get a new set of leads but won't be used on anything mains related, mainly as a continuity tester when neighbours want need a meter, they're not getting their hands on my new posh one. The old Fluke is safe enough at the moment apart from the annoying probes and will be kept in reserve in case my new one needs attention and if a neighbour intends working on 240v.

There is the possibility that a neighbour could do something stupid with the cheapo one, it has no input protection. I'm considering just binning it, the neighbours will have to look at the screen on the Fluke for continuity rather than listen for a buzz. Its usually farmers with tractor wring in various stages of decomposition that ask for a meter. Given I live in the hills and rely on neighbours to look out for the missus when I work away, I make sure I'm helpful as possible, its paid dividends so far.

 

[mag]

Spotted this thread.I want to buy a multimeter I need a small one for checking battery. Do any of you have a source on Amazon or Ebay for mobile type multimeter?

Mod Edit: Link removed.