Is this a good meter for the money?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Bishop
    Senior Member
    • Apr 2009
    • 99

    #1

    Is this a good meter for the money?

    NT DT-9205A Digital Multimeter, There's one on Amazon now
  • retiredcaps
    Badcaps Legend
    • Apr 2010
    • 9271

    #2
    Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

    Originally posted by Bishop
    NT DT-9205A Digital Multimeter, There's one on Amazon now
    Before answering, what do you need a multimeter to do? In addition, what is your budget?

    If you are a professional electrician and need this for your field job, you would be wiser to spend more than $10 USD on a meter because your life is worth more than $10 USD.

    If you are just measuring 9V or less circuits on a breadboard, then this meter might meet your needs.

    Note the 20A range is unfused and could lead to once in a lifetime lesson depending on what you do.
    --- begin sig file ---

    If you are new to this forum, we can help a lot more if you please post clear focused pictures (max resolution 2000x2000 and 2MB) of your boards using the manage attachments button so they are hosted here. Information and picture clarity compositions should look like this post.

    We respectfully ask that you make some time and effort to read some of the guides available for basic troubleshooting. After you have read through them, then ask clarification questions or report your findings.

    Please do not post inline and offsite as they slow down the loading of pages.

    --- end sig file ---

    Comment

    • stj
      Great Sage 齊天大聖
      • Dec 2009
      • 31015
      • Albion

      #3
      Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

      a link to see the price would be good.

      Comment

      • retiredcaps
        Badcaps Legend
        • Apr 2010
        • 9271

        #4
        Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

        Likely some variation of this?

        https://www.amazon.com/Excel-DT9205A...dp/B006TOJ9Q2/

        $10 to $15 USD is the going price depending on which site you visit.
        --- begin sig file ---

        If you are new to this forum, we can help a lot more if you please post clear focused pictures (max resolution 2000x2000 and 2MB) of your boards using the manage attachments button so they are hosted here. Information and picture clarity compositions should look like this post.

        We respectfully ask that you make some time and effort to read some of the guides available for basic troubleshooting. After you have read through them, then ask clarification questions or report your findings.

        Please do not post inline and offsite as they slow down the loading of pages.

        --- end sig file ---

        Comment

        • stj
          Great Sage 齊天大聖
          • Dec 2009
          • 31015
          • Albion

          #5
          Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

          it would be wise to atleast get one with autoranging.

          Comment

          • Mint Waxed
            Member
            • Aug 2016
            • 35
            • USA

            #6
            Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

            Originally posted by Bishop
            NT DT-9205A Digital Multimeter, There's one on Amazon now
            Yes good for the money but you get what you pay for. I would recommend Fluke. You'll pay more but will be getting quality.

            Comment

            • Bishop
              Senior Member
              • Apr 2009
              • 99

              #7
              Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

              I do have a Fluke multi-meter that is about six years old, and I can test caps, to a degree, with it but I only want a cap meter to check pulled caps.

              I save good name 105c brand caps that I pull from boards to us later.

              I found my first Fluke meter sitting on top of a A/C home central unit fuse box. I retired from the telephone company 17 years ago. I visited homes and businesses installing and repairing telephone, ISDN, ADSL and fiber optics cables and links.
              The home owner said the A/C man had left the meter on the outside fuse box five years ago. He said he called A/C company about the meter but no one every came back, and then he ask me if I wanted it.
              The Fluke meter has sat out in the rain and snow and the hot, sun baked location for five years.
              When I picked it up and turned it in the screen lit up, it still worked. I took it home and removed the tough rubber case it was in and replaced the battery.
              I used that Fluke meter for 24 years.
              When it died five years ago I pulled off the rubber case and put it on the replacement Fluke meter to remember how well made Fluke meters are built.

              I didn't have or needed a cap meter until I saw the one in question.

              I was just wondering if this $11 cap meter will give accurate results on pulled caps?

              Comment

              • vinceroger69
                Badcaps Legend
                • Mar 2012
                • 6714
                • uk

                #8
                Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

                a lot of multi meters that are cheap only measure up too 200 uf etc if you want a meter too test capatience and esr what about one of the cheap esr meters?
                This is the one i have there are loads of diffrent ones though
                http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-EZM32...gAAOSwu1VW4pY2
                Last edited by vinceroger69; 08-31-2016, 09:08 AM.

                Comment

                • retiredcaps
                  Badcaps Legend
                  • Apr 2010
                  • 9271

                  #9
                  Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

                  Originally posted by Bishop
                  I do have a Fluke multi-meter that is about six years old, and I can test caps, to a degree, with it but I only want a cap meter to check pulled caps.
                  No Fluke handheld meter, or any multimeter that I know of, can measure ESR. If you are going to be reusing capacitors, regardless of brand, you need to know its ESR in addition to its capacitance.

                  When it died five years ago I pulled off the rubber case and put it on the replacement Fluke meter to remember how well made Fluke meters are built.
                  If you still have the old found Fluke meter, there may be a chance to fix it. If yes, start a new thread and I can try to help. I like fixing meters as a hobby.

                  I was just wondering if this $11 cap meter will give accurate results on pulled caps?
                  As vinceroger69 pointed out, there are many sub $20 component testers on ebay, aliexpress, that can measure both capacitance and ESR. For your purposes, it is likely good enough.
                  --- begin sig file ---

                  If you are new to this forum, we can help a lot more if you please post clear focused pictures (max resolution 2000x2000 and 2MB) of your boards using the manage attachments button so they are hosted here. Information and picture clarity compositions should look like this post.

                  We respectfully ask that you make some time and effort to read some of the guides available for basic troubleshooting. After you have read through them, then ask clarification questions or report your findings.

                  Please do not post inline and offsite as they slow down the loading of pages.

                  --- end sig file ---

                  Comment

                  • Bishop
                    Senior Member
                    • Apr 2009
                    • 99

                    #10
                    Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

                    I've decided on this one, what do you think?
                    Attached Files

                    Comment

                    • vinceroger69
                      Badcaps Legend
                      • Mar 2012
                      • 6714
                      • uk

                      #11
                      Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

                      Looks ok ive updated the one in my link above too 16 mhz crystal and does seem to work well ive not got that tester you have linked but im sure stj will advise you if these can be updated to better firmware etc

                      Comment

                      • stj
                        Great Sage 齊天大聖
                        • Dec 2009
                        • 31015
                        • Albion

                        #12
                        Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

                        that one is crap, it's a T4 - very basic.

                        you should get an AY-AT "TFT colour kit", that's the best value at the moment.

                        Comment

                        • vinceroger69
                          Badcaps Legend
                          • Mar 2012
                          • 6714
                          • uk

                          #13
                          Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

                          this one?
                          http://www.banggood.com/DIY-M12864-G...-p-997023.html

                          Comment

                          • Bishop
                            Senior Member
                            • Apr 2009
                            • 99

                            #14
                            Re: Is this a good meter for the money?

                            The ESR tester arrived yesterday and I've already checked the loose caps in by recycle bin, and only found one defective.
                            I like the fact it identifies a device on it's own.

                            It's a cheap esr tester but for a retired, home repair junkie, security and PC testing it works fine.

                            Most of the boards I repair I do it for friends or friends of friends that always give me old PC boards, Dish Network, direct TV equipment that in exchange for service.

                            Retired, I'm in it for the tech of electronics that I never had time for while I was working. People give me older laptops and PCs when they buy new stuff. I repair or update them and give them away for free to families that can't afford new computers.

                            For my use the little esr tester works fine.

                            Comment

                            Related Topics

                            Collapse

                            • Cookybaby
                              Samsung UN60ES6500FXZA Power Supply Issue
                              by Cookybaby
                              Hello Everyone, this is my first post and I am excited to be a part of such a great community. I've been reading these forums for awhile and there really is some good friendly people here. No bashing and being rude like 90% of other forums Ive been to. Lets get to the good stuff.

                              I have two years of college in Electronics Engineering Technology. Ive been tinkering with electronics sine about 1990. I know enough just to be dangerous, so be gentle.

                              Make: Samsung
                              Model: UN60ES6500FXZA
                              Power Supply P/N: BN44-00525A

                              Symptoms: The TV was...
                              08-20-2023, 12:26 PM
                            • chth96
                              Is it possible to test small ceramic disc capacitor with analogue meter?
                              by chth96
                              I read EBOOK of Testing Electronic Component and found that

                              "In order to test the small blue resin coated ceramic disk capacitor which has 104 50v specification,it is possible to test this small ceramic capacitor by making use of analogue meter.
                              Set to times 10Kohm that has 12v output from the probe to check disorder of ceramic capacitor.
                              It is not uncommon that testing result of digital capacitance meter is okay,But It show shorted reading when you check it with analogue meter."

                              Is it really possible to test small ceramic disc capacitor with analogue...
                              03-09-2024, 10:03 PM
                            • carrzkiss
                              Cyberpower cps1500avr not charging batteries
                              by carrzkiss
                              Hello, all.

                              Cyberpower Battery Backup Unit.

                              I bought two new ML18-12 batteries through Amazon (They have already refunded my money for the two batteries as we thought the batteries might have been bad.)
                              When I got them in, they were not fully charged. I connected them to the UPS and waited 24 hours before connecting any networking equipment.
                              In parallel, they read 24v, but within 24 hours, the meter on the front of the unit dropped from 4 to 3 bars on the battery charge indicator.
                              Checking the voltage, it was down to 22v.
                              I quickly removed everything...
                              06-15-2024, 02:10 PM
                            • sam_sam_sam
                              Modification of a Fluke multi meter that uses three AA batteries to use a 14500 lithium ion battery
                              by sam_sam_sam
                              I have had with regular AA batteries that leak this meter is expensive new I already replaced the battery battery clips once and the same thing happened again and I am tried of so it is getting modified to accommodate lithium ion batteries that are the same size excluding the positive terminal and removing the battery clips I will have enough room for the BMS protection board

                              I going to put 3 lithium ion battery in parallel with the BMS protection board and a way to charge the battery externally and heat shrink the battery pack and use a JST connector so I easily remove the battery...
                              12-31-2023, 06:04 AM
                            • quickname
                              Cyberpower 1500AVR UPS repair
                              by quickname
                              I'd like to start out by thanking this forum for providing the info to be able to repair my 15 year old CP1500AVRLCD UPS. Here is all the info I gathered during my trouble-shooting and re-capping.

                              Like clockwork, I've had to replace the SLA batteries every 4 years. It was about that time and the UPS was acting like it needed new batteries... randomly shutting off with AC present, not being able to charge fully, and poor runtime when AC was removed. So, I replaced the batteries but noticed that it was not charging properly.

                              I decided to verify that the batteries were...
                              11-12-2023, 09:57 AM
                            • Loading...
                            • No more items.
                            Working...