Multimeter Replacement

[DanFen]

I'm doing mostly laptops / personal computer related testing, and am currently doing so using a Pro'sKit 903-150N-B meter.

Lately, it's been falling apart, display not working properly, etc... so I decided that it's just time to "upgrade", and was looking into this one:

UNI-T UT39E

What's your opinion about this.. the brand, the model, the features?

Thanks

[dicky96]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

Regardless of the make brand or features I would say that it is a reasonable replacement for the Pros'kit one you had

To be honest I would say any of the lower cost DMMs are going to have the features you require

In my opinion the main useful extra features on more expensive DMMs like for example the Fluke that I use are:

A bleeper on the low ohms/diode check range for quick continuity testing - which the UNI-T appears to have anyway

Autoranging on V/I/R - which you are going to have to pay more for but I find very useful

The ability for the meter to turn itself off if you leave it switched on and don't use it for a while - My Fluke does this but my other meters don't and I leave on one and flatten the battery more often that you may think!

Some DMMs like the Fluke also have Capacitor Range (but I tend to use a standalone Cap meter for that to be honest)

You may find ESR useful for what you are doing but I've not seen a DMM with built in ESR so have a separate meter for that. It is something very useful to have though in my experience

Depending on budget, I would go for a meter like the one you posted and a separate ESR meter rather than an all-singin-all-dancing meter that cost a lot of money.

The other thing I always do is ditch the test probes that came with a DMM and buy some of the needle point, insulation peircing ones you find on ebay and elsewhere. They will give much more reliable readings.

Rich

Hope that helps

[DanFen]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

Thanks for the detailed post.

Found some other models that are on the same price range (slightly more expensive), but the difference is minimal:

http://www.uni-t.cz/en/p/multimeter-uni-t-ut-50d

and

http://www.uni-trend.com/productsdet...733&CateId=733

I agree with the needle type probes. The ones that come with the meters are too thick for certain components, and for me as a beginner, it can easily confuse me.

[mariushm]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

The UT139C has better mix of features.
It's a 6000 count multimeter and it can measure capacitance, frequency and temperature.. and it also comes with a temperature probe in the package.
The UT139A is only 2000count and the UT139B is 4000 count and they don't come with the temperature probe in package.

I wouldn't get the UT39 simply because of the older style with manual ranging.

The 139 series is a newer one with a more modern "chipset" which is perfectly fine for beginners and repair shops etc

Here's a good video review for 139C : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KP1pB4JdGw

This model was also thoroughly reviewed and discussed on the EEVBlog forum: http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgea...available-now/

You can find it at lots of eBay sellers or at stores like DX.com or DinoDirect.com and maybe banggood or whatever is popular these days

dx : http://www.dx.com/p/uni-t-ut139c-2-6...7#.WPH693klEeM
bg: http://www.banggood.com/UNI-T-UT139C...p-1020193.html

ps. Note that Uni-T often used different "chipsets" in the same series of multimeters ... for example UT61E is the only one in the UT61 series that uses a 22000 count Cyrustek chip. Since the number of counts is different between UT139A, UT139B and UT139C ... that's probably the same deal (or the counts are artificially limited by the microcontroller inside the meter)
The UT139c is worth the money.

[DanFen]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

Thanks, yes, in fact it's DX I was looking at... since there's quite a selection.

Will go for the UT139C then mulțumesc!

EDIT: Found it 7 Euros cheaper on ebay, so the saved money will go for some thin needle style probes.

[dicky96]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

The UTC139C does look good for the price and it has the autoranging I was mentioning so nice find. I am sure you will find the needle point probes a very good purchase, I have some of the same type.

best regards
Rich

[DanFen]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

Thanks Rich Gracias

[Icitte]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

I am really not a pro, but one thing I learned will testing LCD monitor is that it is important to have the diode mode with at least around 3v. because some mosfet need that much voltage to get activated and tested!

Mayby some pro may confirm this

[Icitte]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

I really love this one:

http://www.reedinstruments.com/produ...tal-multimeter

3v diode test and good capacitance range

"Capacitance
Range 9.999nF, 99.99nF to 999.9uF, 9.999 to 99.99mF"

And I can get it for you for 109$CAD

[budm]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

I wonder what the current limit rating for Diode test mode is. It uses two 1,5V batteries so it cannot be higher than 3V and will be less as the battery Voltage goes down.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

^ This sort of reminds me of the old analog multimeters that shoot hundreds of mA through the test leads, forward biasing and killing sensitive semiconductors. Fortunately, most of today's semiconductors have no problem with 100mA for short periods of time.

I think most modern multimeters try to do no more than 5mA through diode test and the lowest resistance range - but yes it needs to be tested to know for sure. 5mA is usually not deadly to old semiconductors at least...

[retiredcaps]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

I really love this one:

http://www.reedinstruments.com/produ...tal-multimeter

Reed, like many "tool" manufacturers such as Southwire, MasterCraft (Candian Tire), Extech, Klein, UEI, etc get some Chinese multimeter rebranded in their corporate colors and logos.

In this case, the above Reed meter is a really a Uni-T UT139C.

You can often get the original Uni-T at a cheaper price. It is going for under $50 CDN + free shipping on ebay. That is, half the price of the Reed.

[Icitte]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

Reed, like many "tool" manufacturers such as Southwire, MasterCraft (Candian Tire), Extech, Klein, UEI, etc get some Chinese multimeter rebranded in their corporate colors and logos.

In this case, the above Reed meter is a really a Uni-T UT139C.

You can often get the original Uni-T at a cheaper price. It is going for under $50 CDN + free shipping on ebay. That is, half the price of the Reed.

OMG you are so right!!

[retiredcaps]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

OMG you are so right!!

That particular one you are looking at is a SCAM. I wrote about just after I posted my thread. See

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysell...cheap-on-eaby/

$50 CDN is the going price for a Uni-T UT139C, not $10 USD.

[Icitte]

Re: Multimeter Replacement

That particular one you are looking at is a SCAM. I wrote about just after I posted my thread. See

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysell...cheap-on-eaby/

$50 CDN is the going price for a Uni-T UT139C, not $10 USD.

good, thanks a lot for the info