HariFun #120 - Cheap Multimeters - Would they even work?!

I need to purchase a bunch of multimeters for an Arduino class I'm teaching at my local makerspace, so the hunt for cheapest multimeter is on! Please comment if you know of a better deal. :-) Thank you!

[karlramberg]

It's probably good to mention to your students that these multimeters are fine for electronics, but can be dangerous for high voltage/current

[Henry_Jones]

I got that harbor freight one on ebay for 6 bux. I also have a amazon elekcity branded one that cost 10. The elekcity is more durable, had better leads, has a memory, backlight, and audiable continuity but doesnt have the transistor or capacitor testing. Both can test a 120v ac wall outlet without frying so theyre good!

[AriBenDavid]

I check with a 6 1/2 digit meter! But the success of these inexpensive meters is due to the availability of chipsets that do the "heavy lifting." The problem with the meters is usually in the contacts under the rotary dial which become flaky. Of course, Chinese business and labor practices keep these prices so low.

[talonfluff]

Aneng/RICHMETERS are the best multimeter for the price for electronics in my opinion.

[jeffreydeutsch]

The rule of thumb is that the calibration standard should be 10 times more accurate than what you are calibrating. A 1% accurate meter should be calibrated with a standard that is accurate to at least 0.1%. That being said, any of those meters are good enough for what your readers are using them for. Also, there is such a thing as linearity. Two meters may match at one point on the scale but not at another. One test point should be full scale. The HF meter has a calibration pot inside and on YouTube there is a video where the guy is recalibrating with another cheap meter at a point that might be nowhere near full scale. Unless the meter is way out of the ballpark it is best not to mess if you don't have the equipment.

[MVDCode]

A bit late with the response, but the dt830d is pretty much the model on the middle but with a beeper. Don't know if they are cheaper than the A380 that with a beeper and a backlight looks like a great deal!

[cbmamiga]

There are also little more expensive multimeters available but much better.
Look at Vichy/Vici VC99 (with bargraph, 6000 cnts) or VC97 for about $23-29
or good pocket DMM Victor VC921 - $10-12 (but no current)
All mentioned models are from China, they have APO, autorange, 4000 or 6000 counts

[trialen]

This is worth it just as a transistor tester.

[mokus]

that little harbor freight jobby can do some things in the right hands..i can use it to troubleshoot an sx 99 hallicrafters receiver for voltage and resistance values and have done so many times...careful work and circuit knowledge were necessary...it us not a Fluke but I routinely measure 250 volts dc and routine out of circuit ohms resistances

[DiyintheGhetto]

Hey Hari love my cheap meters got to love Harbor Fright :)

[jeffreydeutsch]

How did you arrive at rhe conclusion that the meter in the power supply is dead on and the multimeters are wrong? I have used power supplies like that and they are hardly calibration standards. The only reasonanably valid standard is a good meter, not comparing one cheapo against another. For practical purposes, they are all close enough. That last one is a bargain with backlight and beeper for continuity. The probes really are junk and I have had the insulation separate at the connectors.

[hawkagent]

Hi, how accurately does this multimeter measure current? Thanks!

[thegee-tahguy]

Just wondering.... Do you (or anyone reading this) know of a SUPER INEXPENSIVE DMM that will test household batteries (9v, 1.5v) under load, test continuity with sound and test impedience? This is for guitar repair- I'm putting guitar maintenance kits together for players who want to do their own work. I am asking this same question on several other good YT DMM videos, so don't be surprised if you see me asking elsewhere. Thanks in advance.

[slap_my_hand]

your power supply is even less accurate than your multimeters. Don't use it as a reference. Get a voltage standart for a few bucks and use that.

[Gen-Plus]

bang, itu ngukur arus bisa ? bisa sampe berapa?

[slap_my_hand]

666 in the tumpnail. this video is satan.