TOP 10 Best Digital Multimeters

The number of tools for any man who knows how to work with his hands should include a multimeter, or tester, a device designed to measure the characteristics of electrical circuits and their components. With its help, you can detect a malfunction of a battery, a light bulb, a heating device, wire integrity, determine the battery charge level, measure quantities such as current and voltage in a circuit, its resistance, surface temperature. We have collected the best multimeters for DIYers, radio amateurs and professionals.

Today, you can see a large number of testers on sale, differing in their functions, sizes, cost, and in order to choose the most suitable one, you should determine the range of tasks that the device should solve.

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How to Pick a Good Multimeter

Let's take a look at the criteria that should be taken into account in order to choose a good multimeter.

Data display. Until now, along with digital, there are dial gauges on sale, which, having some advantages, lose in the main thing - accuracy, convenience and reliability. Therefore, a good multimeter can only be digital.

A set of functions. Any multimeter is able to measure AC and DC voltage, resistance and DC current. These capabilities, as a rule, are sufficient for household needs - wire ringing, checking the mains voltage or battery charge level, detecting a burned out light bulb.

Voltage. DC voltage is required to be measured when testing batteries or various batteries. Household voltage is detected in AC voltage measurement mode.

Current strength. DC current is useful to measure when checking battery capacity. The short-circuit current (SC) of a new penlight battery is usually equal to several amperes. If it is necessary to measure alternating current, which is required when determining, for example, the presence of a short circuit in the winding of an electric motor, it is better to use a multimeter with a current clamp. Their presence makes it possible to measure without breaking the circuit, which speeds up the process and reduces the risk of injury.

Checking the wires. The quality of the wires is checked by measuring their ohmic resistance. In this case, it is better to have a tester that, with a low resistance of the circuit, gives a sound signal, which speeds up the work.

Temperature. In the case of poor contact between the elements of the circuit, this place heats up, which can be determined using a temperature sensor, which is included in some testers.

Additional features. Testers intended for specialists are also able to measure ohmic resistance, capacitance, inductance of circuits and their elements, characteristics of transistors and diodes. There are models that make it possible to determine the location of a break in a hidden wiring. The reader will get acquainted with the best multimeters in the next section.

The best multimeters for home use

Mastech MAS830L is a representative of the most versatile M83 series of a well-known Hong Kong company - the world's leading manufacturer of measuring instruments.It is remarkable for its combination of small dimensions with the ability to solve basic problems that can arise both for a home craftsman and a car enthusiast.

Additional features inherent in this device are also useful: display backlighting in case of insufficient illumination and fixation of readings on the screen when taking measurements in hard-to-reach places.

The multimeter is able to check diodes and transistors, as well as beep when the wire rings. The package includes a cover. Unfortunately, there is no fuse protection for the current measurement circuit.

TDM ELECTRIC DT9208A – development of a Russian company. The chip of the device is higher than that of analogs, the values ​​of the measured quantities, including the current (up to 20 A), both alternating and constant, and resistance - up to 20 MΩ. It is also possible to measure temperature, electronic circuit capacitance, frequency and signal strength. The device is equipped with an automatic shutdown system. The presence of a folding leg and the ability to rotate the display creates additional convenience for the master working at the table.

ELITECH MM 200K is a cheap tool for the professional electrician. A distinctive feature of the device is the presence of a current clamp in it, which allows you to measure the current strength without breaking the electrical circuit. The multimeter is capable of measuring alternating current up to 1000 A. Direct current measurement is not provided, but it is possible to determine the temperature using the included thermocouple. Auto power off, memory mode and display backlight are not present.

ROBITON DMM-500 boasts a very low weight - only 143 g with dimensions 138x69x41 mm. It has everything that is necessary for household needs - the ability to determine the magnitude of the DC and AC voltage, DC current and resistance. In the presence of a lot of additional functions - data storage, display backlighting, diode test, transistor gain, sound signal when dialing. There is a diagnostics of batteries with a voltage of 1.5 V. There is no temperature measurement.

The tester of the Latvian company Resanta DT 838 at a fairly low price can satisfy the needs of not the most demanding home craftsman. In addition to basic functions, it can detect temperature. Of the additional ones, only testing of diodes and transistors. Complaints can be caused by the delay in the sound signal when the wires are ringing, as well as the poor quality of the probes, which are better to replace immediately after purchase.

The Tesla DT832 multimeter is the most compact of the presented ones - it weighs 111 g. Despite this, the device is able to cope with almost any task that arises in front of a home craftsman - it determines AC and DC voltage, DC current and ohmic resistance, tests diodes with a fairly high accuracy and transistors, ringing out the circuit.

As a bonus - measuring the signal frequency.No latching mode, auto power off, backlight.

TOP Multimeters of a wide profile

CEM DT-9915 has a wider range of capabilities than those presented above and is usually demanded by professionals related to electrical measurements. It has a lot of additional options that make your work much easier:

• protection of current measurement circuits by fuses;
• automatic range selection;
• the ability to fix readings on the screen;
• automatic shutdown.

The tester, in addition to voltage, current, including alternating, and resistance, can measure the capacitance of the part and the frequency of the electrical signal. Temperature measurement, as well as transistor gain is not provided. Includes a 3-digit display (displays 4000 numbers).

The Mastech MY-68 multimeter has all the options listed in the previous paragraph. In addition, it can be used together with a clamp meter, which are not included in the basic delivery set. You can also measure the parameters of the transistor.

There is a delay in results in auto ranging.

CEM DT-912 is a small size model that fits comfortably in the hand. Nevertheless, like the rest of the devices in this section, it has a shock-softening cover made of rubberized plastic. The 3-digit display is capable of displaying 2000 numbers. Temperature, frequency and capacitance measurements are not provided. However, the instrument is able to test 1.5V and 9V batteries.

IEK Professional MY61 is the only Russian multimeter in the section. Like the previous model, it is equipped with a 3-digit display and is small in size. It does not have the ability to measure the strength of the alternating current, but it can be used to determine the capacity.

Video: How to Choose a Good Multimeter