Multimeter recommendation?

[AWI]

@TheoL great meter for that money. Would not hesitate to buy

[NeverDie]

This post is deleted!

[marchen]

Anyone reading this post, and thinking of buying Multimeter , I recommend buying a like this one,.
Because you cannot measure AC current using that traditional multimeter like this one.
Accuracy of clamp is greater than the traditional one, you can also detect the flux or EMF using clamp meter. It will be very usefull in detecting live wires with current and in the projects related to coils as it can detect EMF.

[gohan]

It depends what your main usage is: the clamp meter is not very handy on a desk for example.

[Nca78]

@marchen how good is that to measure currents below 10uA ? :D

[marchen]

@Nca78 Yes it may be a problem to measure currents in micro amperes but normal multimeter can't ever measure the current in milli amps accurately.

[alowhum]

I have a completely automatic one, and I love it. It doesn't have a dial you have to turn to determine sensitivity.

All it basically has is an on button and two leads.

This gives me much more assurance that I won't fry the multimeter, so I use it a lot more.

[alexsh1]

OK, my best recommendation is Brymen BM869 (with logging) or there is a model without logging.

I have also supported a kickstarter project for a new Dave's multimeter EEVblog 121GW - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eevblog/eevblog-121gw-multimeter

There is another model EEVblog BM235 which I can highly recommend.

I have changed my mind about Vichy VC99 multimeter. Mine failed after a year and the build quality is just poor - you would not want to test even 240V with it. However, it has been very accurate in the beginning and extremely cheap.

[alexsh1]

@nca78 for such a low current the best bet would be EEVblog's uCurrent
https://www.adafruit.com/product/882

[Nca78]

@alexsh1 yes and no. I measure at 3.3V then run my low power nodes on a button cell so below 3V voltage, so I measure current a bit higher than the real one when node is on battery and I'm sure the battery life I calculate will be met. I don't need an ultra precise measurement I just need to know if I'm in the expected range or if something is wrong.

[alexsh1]

@nca78 Sometimes I need to measure current as low as 2uA. I do not think I can do that with my multimeter. So uCurrent is a good investment from my perspective.

[gohan]

@alexsh1 https://www.openhardware.io/view/380/Micro-nano-ampere-meter-double I think it is a good alternative from a cost perspective

[alexsh1]

@gohan I have looked at it, but never managed to complete it.

[gohan]

same here, I made the PCB with all headers and resistors but need to prepare che enclosure

[JohnRob]

I already had a Fluke 72 (old one with no current range below 10 Amps).

So for better accuracy, I purchased an HP 3478a digital multimeter on eBay for about $140. It gives me all the accuracy I want (but probably don't need) and has 1 µA resolution (accuracy is somewhat less but for tweaking battery usage stability makes it usable.

Of course it is not as portable as it needs mains power.

[mfalkvidd]

I just realized I forgot to report back. I bought a multimeter called pm18c. The temperature sensor is very fragile - broke almost immediately. But the rest works well. I still use my old small multimeter a lot though, the pm18c is a bit bulky.

Big thanks to everyone for the input!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33043413742.html

[gohan]

Aneng an8009 or similar is still a really good buy, 9999 counts is not something you get usually from cheap meters

[Nca78]

@gohan said in Multimeter recommendation?:

Aneng an8009 or similar is still a really good buy, 9999 counts is not something you get usually from cheap meters

I bought one and I don't suggest to buy it for MySensors projects.
Plugs for mA and uA are separated, and it makes it a pain to measure current consumption in battery powered nodes, you have to unplug/replug the wire to change scale between the 2 modes. When node is sleeping and you are in mA modes you don't see anything. When you are in uA and node is waking up it doesn't have enough current going through the multimeter and it resets.

[gohan]

It is a common issue I see in these small cheap meters. There is always the openhardware current meter for what you are suggesting

[Nca78]

@gohan said in Multimeter recommendation?:

It is a common issue I see in these small cheap meters. There is always the openhardware current meter for what you are suggesting

Sure but there are other multimeters with a common plug between mA and uA so you can just change range on the selector and you don't have to cut the power to your node during that switch.