Digital Multimeters (Also Brymen BM869 repair)

[retiredcaps]

Re: Digital Multimeters

still dont know the voltage but i thought it could handle over 1kv without exploding.

Any multimeter regardless of brand or country of origin, when subjected to enough abuse (high voltage in your case), should fail safely and protect the user. Secondarily, it should protect itself from catastrophic failure.

The better meters will have input protection. See

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUhnGp5vh60

Over at eevblog, you will see lots of people asking for help with Fluke meters that have been subjected to abuse. Luckily, we have been able to fix many of them because the input protection components did their job and protected the user and the meter.

Here is an excellent write up by modemhead, also a member here.

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/fluke-87-fusible-resistor/

The lower quality made/designed meters, regardless of price, will have little to no input protection and the main IC gets fried.

[ratdude747]

Re: Digital Multimeters

I don't know why you always assume people have a hidden agenda in every statement. There was no subtext in my factual statement. I didn't say it was junk or it was good.

I just stated a fact that it was Made in Korea and that Klein and UEI get Fine Instruments to make it for them.

Sorry about that. It came off sounding that way when I first read it.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Digital Multimeters

Yeah, so what?

Not to say that there isn't a trend (there generally is) but just because it says "made in korea" makes it automatically junk.

I don't know why you always assume people have a hidden agenda in every statement. There was no subtext in my factual statement. I didn't say it was junk or it was good.

I just stated a fact that it was Made in Korea and that Klein and UEI get Fine Instruments to make it for them.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Digital Multimeters

1) The three SPG (blue components) are your spark gaps. With another meter, they should each measure infinite resistance (or 0L).

I should have said SPG/MOVs.

[ratdude747]

Re: Digital Multimeters

Some of UEI and Klein meters are made in Korea by Fine Instruments.

http://www.finest.co.kr/pi.html#hd

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgea...-meter-review/

Yeah, so what? The build quality is just like the two meters mentioned. Honestly the "bad hand solder job" isn't all that bad IMHO if that is no-clean flux... last time I had mine open I didn't see any corrosion so it must be OK.

That said the linked klien meter has IDENTICAL accessories... different brand, same guts.

I've beat the hell out of mine... the probes have seen better days (but they're like $10 a set on ebay, with the screw-on alligator clips included) but other than scuffs and dirt my DM393 still works great. I'd take it over a meh build quality uni-T any day.

I've seen stuff made in china have great build quality and stuff made in USA be complete BS. Not to say that there isn't a trend (there generally is) but just because it says "made in korea" makes it automatically junk.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Digital Multimeters

I've had good luck with my UEI dm393. UEI is owned by Klein tools, so it's good stuff.

Some of UEI and Klein meters are made in Korea by Fine Instruments.

http://www.finest.co.kr/pi.html#hd

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgea...-meter-review/

[Jack Crow]

Re: Digital Multimeters

J
Ever think to look at some real instruments from 'days gone by'.

For example I use an HP 3456A for fancy stuff on the bench.
Six and a half digits impresses the heck out of the neighbors.
I can connect it to a D battery and watch the cell decay one micro volt at a time. Has a killer AC RMS section and a very cool four wire ohm's ability.

Not at all portable but one hell of an instrument.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-3456A-Dig...gAAOSwfY9XP70P

A more realistic tool would be this.
Fluke 8600A, a pro tool that is hard to kill.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-8600A-...gAAOSwoydWorsU

The Fluke 8050 ain't bad either.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-8050A-...AAAOSwYmZXLoNB

If your willing to look to the past, there is a lot of good gear out there for cheap.

My regular meter, is an old Fluke 77, had it for years.
Looks a lot like this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-77-Han...0AAOSwZ8ZXBBA7

The portable instruments show up at pawn dealers all the time, so you might score a deal. Bring some batteries with you, leads and a couple of test parts to check it out.

Much luck.
Jack Crow

[retiredcaps]

Re: Digital Multimeters

Okay, if volts and ohms are not working, you may have blown one or more of the input protection components.

Assuming your meter looks like this (pictures from eevblog)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/eevblo...7632878242654/

you can test the components in-circuit with another meter. Remove the battery from your BM869.

1) The three SPG (blue components) are your spark gaps. With another meter, they should each measure infinite resistance (or 0L).

2) The two grey components in the black heatshrink are PTCs (just right of the 3 blue spark gaps). They should each measure around 1k ohm.

3) The two resistors (grey color body with brown band) just right of the PTCs should be your power resistors. I believe they should measure around 1k ohm.

4) I'm not 100% sure what the component in black heatshrink (marked CSA) is, but I'm guessing it could be a fusible resistor. It should measure around 1k ohm.

[ratdude747]

Re: Digital Multimeters

I've had good luck with my UEI dm393. UEI is owned by Klein tools, so it's good stuff. No Fluke, but a lot cheaper with comparable build quality.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Digital Multimeters

killed my $250 bm869 trying to measure the voltage of a step-up transformer. still dont know the voltage but i thought it could handle over 1kv without exploding.

If you would like to take a shot of fixing the BM869, I suggest with starting with some clear focused pictures of the pcb.

I can also make suggestions if you want to try and fix it. If not, send me a PM as I would be interested in possibly purchasing your dead BM869.

[jasonbay13]

Re: Digital Multimeters

looks like i should have just bought the fluke. killed my $250 bm869 trying to measure the voltage of a step-up transformer. still dont know the voltage but i thought it could handle over 1kv without exploding.

anyway, since i've no longer a decent meter, what should i get? some of those harbor freight meters so i dont feel like driving off a cliff when i fry one or something more expensive so when i kill it i can curl up and start crying myself to sleep hoping it will all be better when i wake up?

stupidity is ridiculously expensive

[stj]

Re: Digital Multimeters

desktop? portable?

for desktop there is some real impressive kit from Rigol.
http://www.rigol.com/prodserv/Digital%20Multimeters/

for portable,
if your doing something where it could get broken - UNI-T.
if you want he best then look at something like Agilent.

[jasonbay13]

So i'm looking for a new dmm to replace my cheap craftsman. preferrably one that is:
Nice to use, capacitance of at least 5000uf, and true rms.
bonus if it has a db scale and useful extras.
Price is not important (just keep it under 500).

I was looking at either a klein 2300, fluke 117, or fluke 87v.
though i have heard klein is supposed to be coming out with new meter line soon? and i dont know of any other brand besides uni-t or mastertech.

any suggestions what to get? what not to get?