28 thoughts on “Eevblog #6 – part 2 of 2 – why cheap multimeters suck”
2023 . Jaycar sells the digitech brand of multimeters. They are the biggest pieces of crap going . That seems to be what Jaycar does these days. Sells over priced Chinese rubbish.
I think I have that very meter! I paid $30 US for it, not $20! I like the big display. Been using it for years to verify the readings from my box of freebie Harbor freight meters. 🙂 I blow them up sometimes because I do something dumb, or slip when I'm stretching to get a measurement. Of course I also have 3 or 4 Fluke handhelds and 2 or 3 Fluke bench meters for measurements that matter. But I generally find that in my applications the meters are mostly used for 'go/no go' sorts of things. "Is the fuse open? Is the wall-wart producing 5 Volts? Has the Zener popped?" That sort of thing. For my government repair work I use the high-end gear. About once a year I go through my meters, check the batteries and see if all the functions still work and are accurate. Then I toss the defective ones in a junk box for spare parts for the rest.
My small €10 meter is great for little quick jobs. Measure I/V to 5% accuracy, up to 20V/5A. That's not the spec claimed by the device, but it's the boundaries of how far I'd be willing to trust it.
Virtually weightless and absolutely tiny, but it'd probably break if I dropped a mug on it. For everything else, I have the Fluke.
When your “Vichy VC97” tells you, after a year of ownership, that you have 320v AC is coming into your house, as mine does, it is unfortunately time for the bin. How can you trust ANY measurement that comes from it when it’s 75+/- volts out on AC???? A shame to toss it out but it’s a piece of shit, a banana would give me a better reading!! I could just imagine the reaction if I took it somewhere professional to be calibrated 😱😱😱😱😱
I have an old cheap chinese meter 20 year old and still working like a charm. I check it s calibration with my new multimeter and it passes. I know it is mostly luck 🙂 but they have their use in hobbyists applications.
This guy who uses a multimeter for work all the time: It’s all about reliability. That’s all. I need to get my job done quick, and reliably. The only way i know my measurments are good is with my expensive high quality multimeter.
The comments: I USE MY $7 MULTIMETER TO MEASURE THE RESISTANCE OF MY BODY THROUGH MY FINGERSSSSSS IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. HE DOESNT KNOWWWWWWWP
those cheap multi-meter's rubber boot seems similar to fluke 80 series, I lost/damaged mine and fluke's original would cost around 50 bucks , this one looks very similar, hopefully size wise they will fit; You get a free cheap multi meter as a bonus for those rubber boot.
I bought my Fluke 189 when I started reading for my first EEE degree in 2001. This lasted well into 2018, but the main issue by then was the LCD started going bad. Fluke said they couldn't repair it and I would have to buy a new one, so now I've added 2x 87-V's and 1x 287 to my bench.
LOL you're so right about not using them and leave them on the bench and they just die! I had a Victor 890C+ meter. It literally just sat on the bench for quite a long time without being used, and it died.. wouldn't turn on after changing batteries, no battery leak or whatsoever. Cleaned banana jack contacts, no success. I don't understand why lol.
One simple answer: If you are going to trust your life to an instrument which tells you that the circuit you are going to handle with your bare hands is not energized & safe….it had better be a the best & for me this means a Fluke….
Fast forward 10 years…Today's CHEAP-O Multimeters offer incredible bang for buck! 20-30$ Gets you a highly accurate TRMS DMM that can easily rival the big guns. Confidence is a given, sustainability and accuracy are also usually par for the course. Yes, there are some horrid cheap meters but there's also alot of expensive junk out there. Don't throw the baby out with the proverbial bathwater…you'll be glad you didn't!
Can you provide any feedback on the Micron brand, I looking at one from Altronics the Q 1090, looks pretty flash but not much out there in terms of reviews.
If dealing with extra low voltage, use whatever the hell you want. Dealing with low voltage, don't trust anything other than a reputable brand, or Fluke. If dealing with high voltage, that a different ball game all together. You'll need more than a multimeter when dealing with HV transformers and transmission.
2023 . Jaycar sells the digitech brand of multimeters. They are the biggest pieces of crap going . That seems to be what Jaycar does these days. Sells over priced Chinese rubbish.
Thanks for the video. Fluke or Brymen?
I think I have that very meter! I paid $30 US for it, not $20! I like the big display. Been using it for years to verify the readings from my box of freebie Harbor freight meters. 🙂
I blow them up sometimes because I do something dumb, or slip when I'm stretching to get a measurement. Of course I also have 3 or 4 Fluke handhelds and 2 or 3 Fluke bench meters for measurements that matter. But I generally find that in my applications the meters are mostly used for 'go/no go' sorts of things. "Is the fuse open? Is the wall-wart producing 5 Volts? Has the Zener popped?" That sort of thing. For my government repair work I use the high-end gear. About once a year I go through my meters, check the batteries and see if all the functions still work and are accurate. Then I toss the defective ones in a junk box for spare parts for the rest.
all i hear is a spoiled rich chick
A particularly incoherent rant.
Other then the dial wearing out and effectively bricking the meter, their great.
Had mine close to 20 years. Still going strong .
My small €10 meter is great for little quick jobs.
Measure I/V to 5% accuracy, up to 20V/5A.
That's not the spec claimed by the device, but it's the boundaries of how far I'd be willing to trust it.
Virtually weightless and absolutely tiny, but it'd probably break if I dropped a mug on it. For everything else, I have the Fluke.
This is the story of my life.. I have like 5 crappy multimeters, the one I'm using atm just turns beeps and turns off while I'm using it.. Nightmare
When your “Vichy VC97” tells you, after a year of ownership, that you have 320v AC is coming into your house, as mine does, it is unfortunately time for the bin.
How can you trust ANY measurement that comes from it when it’s 75+/- volts out on AC????
A shame to toss it out but it’s a piece of shit, a banana would give me a better reading!!
I could just imagine the reaction if I took it somewhere professional to be calibrated 😱😱😱😱😱
you like talking
wow such salt from the cheap seats… he's just showing you how to avoid expense or injury due to faulty equipment….jeeess people.
I have an old cheap chinese meter 20 year old and still working like a charm. I check it s calibration with my new multimeter and it passes. I know it is mostly luck 🙂 but they have their use in hobbyists applications.
This guy who uses a multimeter for work all the time: It’s all about reliability. That’s all. I need to get my job done quick, and reliably. The only way i know my measurments are good is with my expensive high quality multimeter.
The comments: I USE MY $7 MULTIMETER TO MEASURE THE RESISTANCE OF MY BODY THROUGH MY FINGERSSSSSS IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. HE DOESNT KNOWWWWWWWP
Tosser
those cheap multi-meter's rubber boot seems similar to fluke 80 series, I lost/damaged mine and fluke's original would cost around 50 bucks , this one looks very similar, hopefully size wise they will fit;
You get a free cheap multi meter as a bonus for those rubber boot.
Bawo nimo
Cheap meters can be used for low energy measurements only.we can never trust them for theire low input protection.who do not agree assumes all risks.
I bought my Fluke 189 when I started reading for my first EEE degree in 2001. This lasted well into 2018, but the main issue by then was the LCD started going bad. Fluke said they couldn't repair it and I would have to buy a new one, so now I've added 2x 87-V's and 1x 287 to my bench.
I bought an excellent 7 Euro autoranging multimeter.
You should review that really cheap Harbor Freight multimeter that takes about a minute to display a reading. *LOL*
LOL you're so right about not using them and leave them on the bench and they just die! I had a Victor 890C+ meter. It literally just sat on the bench for quite a long time without being used, and it died.. wouldn't turn on after changing batteries, no battery leak or whatsoever. Cleaned banana jack contacts, no success. I don't understand why lol.
I'm a cheap skate…. buy a USED high quality meter for 20$
One simple answer: If you are going to trust your life to an instrument which tells you that the circuit you are going to handle with your bare hands is not energized & safe….it had better be a the best & for me this means a Fluke….
Fast forward 10 years…Today's CHEAP-O Multimeters offer incredible bang for buck! 20-30$ Gets you a highly accurate TRMS DMM that can easily rival the big guns. Confidence is a given, sustainability and accuracy are also usually par for the course. Yes, there are some horrid cheap meters but there's also alot of expensive junk out there. Don't throw the baby out with the proverbial bathwater…you'll be glad you didn't!
Can you provide any feedback on the Micron brand, I looking at one from Altronics the Q 1090, looks pretty flash but not much out there in terms of reviews.
If dealing with extra low voltage, use whatever the hell you want. Dealing with low voltage, don't trust anything other than a reputable brand, or Fluke. If dealing with high voltage, that a different ball game all together. You'll need more than a multimeter when dealing with HV transformers and transmission.
I’m not spending $500 on a damn fluke multimeter. That’s retarded. I’m gonna get like a used $60 off brand meter from a pawn shop or something.