Palm-Size Handheld Digital Multimeter - DT830B
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Palm-Size Handheld Digital Multimeter - DT830B
Customer Review: Better than the old model
Summary: 4 Stars
OK, I'll go ahead and say that no, this multimeter doesn't hold a candle to a Fluke, no, it doesn't "feel" as solidly built, and no, I'm sure it's not as accurate as the "professional" multimeters.
But I'm not a professional electrician, I'm a hobbyist.
I owned the previous incarnation of this meter, which is the "DT830B" pictured. However, what arrived was the "MM2003", looking like this: [...]
It's got a bigger display, the "audible tone" actually works in this version, and it has a signal generator which I will probably never use.
Also, the previous version seemed to "drift" under open circuit conditions...in other words, I would switch it on to measure voltage, and it would start showing fairly random numbers until I either placed the test leads on my voltage source, or touched them together. I guess there must have been some leaky grounding somewhere. This version no longer has that annoying behavior. However, the resistance measurement seems noisier.
And did I mention that the battery is included?
This is a great, CHEAP product for the casual hobbyist or someone who just needs to check continuity or make sure that their voltages are in the right ballpark. Toss it in the toolbag and don't fret about it.
Now, if you plan on doing any serious electronics work, you owe it to yourself to get a higher-end meter. But you already knew that, didn't you?
Customer Review: Faulty display, dangerous inaccurate readings
Summary: 1 Stars
Yes, I know it's very cheap but I've gotten much better results from other sub $10 multimeters - including the $4.99 "Trisonic" I found at the dollar store.
First, right out of the box the display is incomplete as some digits are missing segments. Looking inside once sees the display panel is coupled to the main circuit board by a commonly used conducting strip. The circuit board and display are sandwiched together, held only at the far ends by screws. If you push down on the middle of the strip the display works properly. There is a plastic post on the back lid which is supposed to do that same pushing when the case is closed, but it doesn't push quite enough. So I placed 3 layers of electrical tape on the circuit board where this post makes contact, and now the display is readable when you close the cover.
I only bought this meter to have an extra "sanity check" in another location to double check unprotected lithium-ion cells for over-discharge prior to placing them on the charger (discharged below 2.75 volts or so they can explode when recharged). My first measurement was a pair of 10440 (AAA-sized) unprotected cells - and I turned white when the meter said ~1.15V on both of them. Close call? No. I took the cells with me to a location where I had a "known good" meter and (sigh) they read 3.98V. That's more like it. Now ... after that try-out, how can I ever trust this thing for anything that matters?
Customer Review: Not Bad At The Price, But With One Big Irritation...
Summary: 3 Stars
I acquired this on sale at a local electronics store rather than through Amazon. In general, it's everything one can expect from a multimeter at this price point. I use mine mostly for automotive and motorcycle troubleshooting, and having a tool which isn't expensive enough to worry about in that environment is useful sometimes.
Note that my unit was black rather than yellow, but otherwise appears to be identical from the picture.
The LCD display is generally easy to read.
There is one major irritation with this unit. It requires a 9V transistor battery. Rather than having the typical snap-on wired battery connection, this was made with a simple sheet metal plate to make contact with the battery poles. This was unreliable on my unit until I bent it out substantially to make the contact more secure. It was about to go into the trash until I noticed that.
This is not a Fluke multimeter and one should not expect accuracy at that level. With that caveat, a cheap multimeter is often handy to have around, and this fits the bill in that regard.
Customer Review: Good Value Multimeter - Recommended
Summary: 4 Stars
The DT-830B Multimeter is not a high-end Multimeter, nor is it priced like one. It is an inexpensive multimeter that is good value when you consider all of the features.
This multimeter performs all of the standard functions you would expect, Resistance, DC Current, DC Voltage, AC Voltage, and Diode checker. So far my meter has proved to be fairly accurate, but I wouldn't trust it for detail work involving tight tolerances.
Note: It does not have an audible tone on the Diode or Resistance testers and it easy to misread the manual to assume it does because the documentation covers more than one model. You have to locate the 830B in the chart to see which features are included and ignore the features in the instructions that not on this unit.
For the low price of this multimeter I will not be too worried about losing or damaging it and if it breaks I will likely buy another one.
Recommended as an inexpensive basic multimeter for the casual user or hobbyist.
Customer Review: Do you feel lucky?
Summary: 1 Stars
By buying this rubbish you're simply sending a message to whatever manufacturer in China is pumping these things out by the millions, that we're all so stupid that we'll buy anything they make if it's cheap enough.
These multi meters are sold under a myriad of brand names, and in several cases, from yellow, black, grey and red, with or with out a fancy rubber condom, for prices starting at a few dollars, up to $30 or $40. Yet they all have exactly the same circuit board. They are cheaply made junk, and verge on being dangerous.
They can be identified by the range scale, the three probe ports on the right side, and the hFE socket on the left. Regardless of brand or case colour, it's the same meter. The same rubbish circuit board, the same inaccurate dangerous junk. They are usually labeled 830B, which helps identify them.
You're measuring electricity, your life is worth more than this.