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Looking for a good mid-range DMM

post #1 of 33
3/8/07 at 7:04am
Thread Starter 
Well I want to upgrade from my no name one. Reason I want something that can do True RMS, capacitance, frequency and is more accurate. Plus I want a new toy and an 'investment' as I've decided I want a job in this field later on.

I've been looking at the Fluke 117 or 170 and they are in my price range at the moment. Anyone have any comments on these models or anything else that may be better around that price point ?
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post #2 of 33
3/8/07 at 11:40am
A well made meter is worth the investment.

I have a Fluke 111 at work. It is about 3 years old. Sees some abuse as I do occasional field work. It was at the zoo yesterday. It has worked well. No problems. I think it is more or less the previous model to the 117.


I use a Beckman at home. I've had it forever. 20+ years. It just refuses to die. Too bad Beckman got out of the business.
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post #3 of 33
3/8/07 at 12:29pm
You might find that a used bench meter gets you more value, depending on what you're looking for. You generally won't get L, C or diode tests, but basic accuracy and stability is generally much better. You can probably find a recently calibrated Fluke 8842A or Agilent 3478A 5-1/2 digit meter for < $200 on eBay if you watch them for a bit. Just don't outbid me, I'm looking too right now :P.
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post #4 of 33
3/8/07 at 12:56pm
That's a good thought on the bench meter. I picked up a used HP3268B (IIRC) 5 1/2 digit meter for under $100 a couple of years ago (ePay), and it is very useful., particularly for the 4-Wire resistance function. I also use a Protek 608 (Morsel's recommendation), that, while probably not as good as a Fluke, was ~$105 on sale. If I was going to buy a Fluke, I would probably shoot for the 187/189. I would avoid the 170 series (search here for posts by BigCat, who is a metrologist and discussed meters in a couple of threads).
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post #5 of 33
3/8/07 at 1:59pm
Thread Starter 
Please stop making me jealous.

"I can just pick up good used equipment off ebay for cheap... " - That's you guys. First it was a bench DC supply, now a bench DMM...

I can't get that sort of thing over here like you guys can, well at least not as easy as going on ebay. You also get them very cheap but the shipping costs are so high it would have to be going for pocket change for me to get a good deal.

Also want to get just a handheld meter at this stage so I can use it on the go and I also can actually afford to get them internationally if needs be. Bench will be something on my to buy list eventually though.

Protek looks fairly good as a cheaper alternative. Couldn't find any posts by BigCat though. Well I would like a 187/189, but well sort of out of my budget, pretty much as the title says, mid-range is what I'm after. Unless you want to donate towards the cause.

Well another I'm looking at is a Meterman 37XR.
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post #6 of 33
3/8/07 at 2:37pm
double post...
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post #7 of 33
3/8/07 at 2:38pm
Ooops, sorry

Now you know how we feel when the Canadians (Toronto, etc.) talk about walking down the street to browse the shop with BlackGates, etc. I can't even walk down the street and buy a resistor.

It was bigcat39. IIRC he said to avoid the Fluke 170 series...
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post #8 of 33
3/8/07 at 4:01pm
How about the Protek 6500? It doesn't say "Fluke" on it, but nevertheless it's a high-end 50000-count DMM with all the bells and whistles, and specs are right up there with the Fluke 187/189, except the price is much lower:
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=protek%206500 (can be found at less than USD$150).

Or the Protek D620, a 100000-count DMM? Currently at only USD$169 from Circuit Specialists/Webtronics:
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/9052
http://webtronics.stores.yahoo.net/pr10coprdalo.html
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post #9 of 33
3/8/07 at 6:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by amb View Post
How about the Protek 6500? It doesn't say "Fluke" on it, but nevertheless it's a high-end 50000-count DMM with all the bells and whistles, and specs are right up there with the Fluke 187/189
The front-page specs of the Protek are the same, but dig into the accuracy specs and you see that they only claim half the accuracy. Which is sensibile, since it's half the cost.
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post #10 of 33
3/8/07 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
True tangent but apples to apples, for the same money the protec is better specs wise over a 117/170, although a few things such as capacitance have a smaller range. Do you actually use them amb ?

Just curious on how well built they are, reliability etc.

Also looking at Wavetek/Meterman as I said before.
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post #11 of 33
3/9/07 at 8:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by splaz View Post
Do you actually use them amb ?
No, I don't own any Protek DMMs, but have read positive reviews about them in these forums in the past (specifically, the Protek 608 which is now discontinued, and apparently the 6500 is the updated model).

Quote:
Just curious on how well built they are, reliability etc.
I've briefly played with a 608 and a 6500 at a local electronics store, and they both looks and feel nice. I have not heard reports about undue problems with them either. I do have a Protek 100MHz analog oscilloscope, and it's on par in quality as others of this class, except it was far cheaper.
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post #12 of 33
3/9/07 at 10:43am
I've sold off some of my surplus to Australian eBayers. I even sent a tube preamp. Airmail shipping was not too bad. FedEx prices were very high.


Since reading this post, I've been looking at what is on eBay. If I was looking to spend very little money, there are some old Beckmans listed. Overseas shipping would end up being more than the meter is worth though.

There are also several HP 3478As. I used one at a previous job. There are several other HP/Agilent benchtop DMMs worth a look. Many have recent calibration. All have 4 wire ohms. A new Agilent DMM that has 4 wire ohms is something like $1000 -- The used ones could be considered a bargain. Of course the new meters are umm new and have USB and .... anway The old HPs might be worth the shipping costs but I'd ask the seller for a shipping quote first.
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post #13 of 33
3/9/07 at 11:23am
I use a fluke 87 III at work and it is great. I am unsure about the price though. It is probably a couple hundred or so.
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post #14 of 33
3/9/07 at 12:22pm
Thread Starter 
Well I'll keep that in mind when I do want a bench one.

headphonejunkie, 87 is a bit out of budget... just a bit.

Think I'll go for one of the proteks, seem to be good value for money.
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post #15 of 33
3/9/07 at 1:06pm
You know at home I am using a radio shack special and it works fine for what I am doing with it.
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