I need to buy a good multimeter.
I have watched many reviews on YouTube regarding meters ,but I thought I would get your opinions on multimeters
I need a meter that I can trust its readings!
I would like it to be of quality, but simple in operation as I'm still just a learner with electronics and the less going on is better really. I have looked at some Flukes and some Brymen meters.

What type of work will I be using it for you may be wondering ???
Radio and Radiogram chassis and sometimes very basic b/w TV work.
What meter am I using now ? I'm using 2 multimeters ,one is a old analogue and the other is a real cheapie I just bought until I know what meter to buy.
Perhaps you have some thoughts on multimeters

Pete

I got a cheapie the other day from Jaycar for $10.

It's well protected though, because I went to measure 240v AC, and the knob was in the wrong position by 180 degrees, because the arrow on the knob is barely visible. So, it was actually in the ohms position. An analogue meter would have exploded, but this digital one kept right on working.

So, these days, I'd expect any digital meter to work well and be reasonably accurate. It's more a matter of how easy it is to change the battery, what assortment of test leads and prods you get, and so on.


EDIT: wonder why an extra "ue" keeps getting added onto my spelling. It's annoying.

I've been using Fluke since my apprenticeship days of 30 years ago. No issue, apart from them actually being worth pinching and I've had two of them walk over the time. At the moment I have a Fluke meter and tong tester and I even use Fluke leads on my test lamps because they can cop a lot of punishment without the volt rating going down. Hang on to the analogue meter if it is also a decent one. There are times when analogue meters are better for measurement than digital ones.

Yes, sometimes a digital meter will see a phantom voltage where there is none, due to the meter's very high impedence. That's where an analogue meter will show you what's actually happening. A digital one is better for measuring the voltage on a signal grid though, because the analogue meter's low impedence will falsify the reading and change the operating conditions.

Brad,
Yes Fluke is very appealing, plus its commonly found with other people who play with electronics and so if you are communicating your both on the same page so to speak!
Plus the leads! Other meters tend not to have such good leads . everything I have read regarding leads everbody agrees about the leads.
Not sure what model to aim for at this stage though.
Pete

One of the models that can measure up to 1,000 volts is probably ideal. They are more expensive than the 600 volt one that I am currently using. I think all Fluke meters are TrueRMS too, also an important consideration when dealing with AC.

With a Fluke, assuming it doesn't get stolen, you are unlikely to ever need to replace it. I had my first one for about twenty years and that was used almost daily in a trade environment.

Yes, 1000 v is a must. Trouble is the price skyrockets for true RMS plus a 1000 volt max in Fluke....but might have to just bite the bullet. Not worried about it being stolen as I just use it at home .
The Fluke has a simpler lay out in functions that I prefer over other meters that are more like luna park with features! This can be an obstruction when your learning as I am .
So , yes it seems to point to buy a Fluke.

wonder why an extra "ue" keeps getting added onto my spelling. It's annoying.

Brad's system does it automatically. Annoys me too, but hey it's his sandpit.

Now if it would remove spurious and incorrect apostrophes from "radio's" and "dynamo's" and such, then it would be a fine thing.

What one has to be aware of is that many meters are not suited to valve radio and are more directed at solid state, as is much modern equipment: The other issue is RF. Analogue meters (Not VTVM etc.) in the main will not see RF above a few thousand hertz and not on the DC range.

Some Digital meters will not only see it, they will confuse them selves with it, some times by rectifying it and adding it to the result. Some flashed over because of it. It is important that this is in the specs. I have not checked the new transformer

Because of the way they sample & read they can have serious issues, with dirty input like brush motors & Dynamo's so one chooses very carefully. Mine for the valve radios, are all Industrial spec. And as I have old machinery DC Dynamo / Generators in the older machines are set with an AVO 7X. The analogues can also cause considerable damage, when used in an inappropriate way in transistorised equipment.

Also note when referencing to older equipment measurements, they often used meters of around 1000 ohms per volt, which loaded the circuit considerably as the resistance increased. Digital does not do that to the same extent as they present a constant not variable loading and use power from the circuit to drive them.

It is therefore extremely important to be guided by the end use and not the price, lest you buy a pig in a poke. Design is also a menace and I wonder at times if the designer had much experience, or using test instruments. The new digital I have requires the switch to be turned to the range every time, from off. When doing lots of measurements, but intermittently, requiring it to be turned off, that can be a real pain.

The "Micronta" digital which even with several incidents, lasted for decades, had a separate on / off so you could leave it on a range. I did convey that to those I got it from.

With the "ue" Its probably because in proper English "Analogue" is spelt that way: Since the British left America, they can no longer speak, or spell the latinised English of the Queen: They even put "Z" where it should be "S" and can't spell Aluminium (yet alone pronounce it) & similar. That is why, we kept telling Americans coming out for the Olympics, who wanted to know if they could use English in Australia. Yes! But it is strongly advised to learn it before you get here.

How much are you willing to spend?

I have one of these, which is my daily go-to. Check out the reviews of it:

https://www.eevblog.com/product/bm235-multimeter/

I also have a second hand Fluke 27/FM. It's a military version and built like a tank accordingly:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/fluke_digital_multimeter_27fm27.html

I have various analogs from years ago, and an AWA VTVM. Analogs are good for peak tuning and for watching events over time, but be careful of voltage limit and low spec test leads.

Hello G,
Yes I know that meter. It had a good name all over the net!
Then they made another model with true RMS , 257? I think ? And it was 1000v too, But there was a reason in was not so suited to electronics, something to do with frequency? But I read so much I cant recall the details.
But Brymen have become very sought after and in the forums and youtube videos they are very much liked.
There is a south African fellow on youtube who seems to be extremely knowledgeable with electronics and I watch his videos to help me learn more about electronics.
He did a multimeter test of them all in the mid price range and the Brymen was his favourite meter.
I will see if I can find the link.
Pete

There is a south African fellow on youtube

Yep, I know the guy you mean: mjlorton.

The 235 is true RMS.

Yes thats the follow, likes to talk !! But he seems to be a very knowledgeable man. I watch his videos. Just he waffles on ,but you can see electronics are his passion so why not.
So the 235 is True RMS ? I best do a bit more reading up.

Since the British left America, they can no longer speak, or spell the latinised English of the Queen

Given their history, why would they want to have anything to do with the English Crown?

The redundant endings of words are relics of the French invasion.

Regardless of their spelling, they usually know that the plural of a word is not formed by adding 's to the singular form. Making howlers like that on a regular basis is the habit of Italian and Greek greengrocers.

Marcc,
It's the word "solder" That has me in fits of laughter when spoken by an American!
Im sure you have heard it a million times!
Mind you, if I ever win lotto I'm going over there to buy up stuff!
Soooo cheap ! Compared to here! But I would not want to live there., Thank you also for your option on meters.
Pete