SUITABLE FOR OAP'S EYESIGHT

[Brunel]

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/8937896/

Large digits, backlight, good price.

Possibly can be obtained at a better price, if you can find the same model but different branding from one of the many Hong Kong or Singapore dealers on ebay.

[ppppenguin]

A properly CAT III rated (hence safe for any mains that most of us are likely to encounter) DMM for only £14.20 + VAT. from a reputable supplier Unfortunately out of stock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measurement_category

[Radio Fixer]

Its amazingly cheap and from RS. Everything used to be expensive from them and Farnell, competition has certainly made them get there act together.

Gary

[Mark Hennessy]

I wonder who makes it? I did a couple of Google image searches in the hope of finding the same product in different clothes, but no luck yet.

My understanding of the Cat rating system is that a manufacturer self-certifies. In other words, they can claim what they like, and testing is not mandatory. Fluke* submit their meters for independent verification.

* Having said that, I could just be falling for Fluke's marketing. They do make a big deal about safety, and shout loudly about the independent testing at every opportunity.

Looking more closely, I don't like the combined socket for volts and milliamps. I'd like to know more about the internal fusing - the datasheet simple says "0.2A/250V and 10A/250V fuse", which implies standard 20mm types - hopefully ceramic, but often just glass on these cheap meters. In fairness, you couldn't replace the fuses in a typical Fluke for £15, so we shouldn't expect too much here. But if not already fitted, I'd recommend that owners upgrade to ceramic fuses.

The reading rate is a bit slow at 2 per second. And accuracy is a bit pedestrian.

However, at that price, I'm tempted to buy one to see if they might replace (or at least complement) our ageing Fluke 75s in our funds lab. Funding for a set of new Flukes is roughly zero in the current financial climate.

[Mark Hennessy]

I wonder who makes it? I did a couple of Google image searches in the hope of finding the same product in different clothes, but no luck yet.

Just stumbled across this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-LCD-Mu...1100534241

OK, not identical, but this is as close as I've been able to find. Still no idea who makes it, but lots of them about:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-Multim...2263249134

Who wants to buy one? I have too many

[Mark Hennessy]

There's a variant branded "HYELEC" which comes with a yellow holster (don't tell Fluke!).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anself-MS8233D-A...B00M8TMFMW

[ppppenguin]

Mark, that last one is only Cat II rated. OK for work on radios etc but don't use it on a live fusebox etc.

[Mark Hennessy]

Yes, all 3 that I've linked to are only Cat II. Given the external similarities, not to mention the low price, I'd be interested to know what the RS version does differently to achieve the Cat III rating.

Some more bedtime reading for anyone not sure about Cat ratings: http://support.fluke.com/educators/Downl...NG_D_W.PDF - the box-out on page 3 mentions the problem of self-certification.

[ppppenguin]

In small print under the RS photo:

"Image representative of range"

[Brunel]

Slightly cheaper, if you do not req. temp. measurement.

Still rated Cat lll

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-mu...s/8937893/