Cheap Multimeter Fact or Fiction
Hello All,
Recently I read a thread on FABO about testing and troubleshooting electrical circuits.
The majority of the responders to that thread warned about using cheap Electrical meter’s (Harbor Freight)
This got me wondering how cheap is cheap? What is the accuracy of the so called cheap meter?
Well I decided to put a cheap meter to the test and see for myself how cheap is cheap!
First I did some research to confirm that the Harbor Freight meter was in fact cheap, sold in numerous outlets, and last but not least I was able to borrow a DT830B from friend. He keeps it in the trunk of his car (yes it’s a late 60s Mopar) to do trouble shooting / repairs on the road if needed.
E Bay is selling the DT830B for $3.78 shipping included.
DT830B Digital Multimeter AC DC Voltmeter Ammeter Ohmmeter Voltage Tester Meter | eBay
Harbor Freight Salvage is selling the DT830B for $6.39 you pick up Or add $6.99 S/H fees.
7 Function Digital Multimeter
To use as for comparison to the cheap test meter the following two meters I have were used.
Meter number one = Fluke 105B Scopemeter Series II
Fluke 105B Series II Digital Scope Meter Portable Oscilloscope 100MHz | eBay
Meter number two = Amprobe ACDC-3000
Amprobe Acdc-3000 1000a Multimeter Clamp Meter Cc-acdc Carrying Case Accessory for sale online | eBay
Meter number three = DT830B Digital Multimeter
The following resistors were used to compare the three meters.
8 kΩ Gold band from DigiKey.com
330 KΩ Gold band from DigiKey.com
1 Meg Ω Gold band from Radio Shack
Power supply used = Leader LPS 151
OHM resistance test.
Test one.
8 KΩ resister used as test subject.
Fluke 105B displayed 08.04 KΩ on the + 30 KΩ scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 08.01 KΩ on the + 40 KΩ scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 8.04 KΩ on the + 20 KΩ scale.
Test two
330 KΩ resister used as test subject.
Fluke 105B displayed 0.324 KΩ on the + 3 KΩ scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 325.3 KΩ on the + 400 KΩ scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 327 KΩ on the + 2000 KΩ scale.
Test three
1 meg Ω resister used as test subject.
Fluke 105B displayed 0.982 KΩ on the + 3 meg Ω scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 0.979 meg Ω on the + 4 meg Ω scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 983 meg Ω on the + 2000 meg Ω scale.
Voltage DC test using the Leader LPS 151 Power supply.
Test one.
10 Vdc (no Load)
Fluke 105B displayed 10.00 Vdc on the +10v scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 10.6 Vdc on the 40v scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 10.06 Vdc on the 20v scale.
Test two
25 Vdc (no Load)
Fluke 105B displayed 25.00 on the + 30v scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 25.14 Vdc on the 40v scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 25.6 Vdc on the 200v scale.
Test three
5 Vdc (no Load)
Fluke 105B displayed 05.01 Vdc on the + 10v scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 05.05 Vdc on the 40v scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 5.04 on the 20v scale.
As you can see the data collected the results are surprisingly eye opening.
Who would think the El Cheapo Harbor Freight DT830B could hold its own compared to the more expensive well-known brands. If you read the specification sheet this El Cheepo it has some impressive accuracy for only $3.78 shipping included. And as an added bonus it will also do Transistors for those of us that want to repair that AM radio in our ride.
Please draw your own conclusions from the information provided and testing depicted in this thread.
I have more pictures of the meters used during the testing but I am limited by this site to the number I can upload.
Notes:
All tests were performed using alligator type jumpers to connect meters to test items to prevent / minimize faulty connections.
All tests were performed three times to confirm repeat-ability.
All meters were powered by their own internal battery power to prevent / minimize outside noise / EMI.
All resistors used during testing were new.
All meters were on auto scale where applicable or scaling was selected closest to the expected outcome.
Testing was done to represent actual tests that would be completed on older type cars (FABO)
Happy Mopar :)
Arron.
Hello All,
Recently I read a thread on FABO about testing and troubleshooting electrical circuits.
The majority of the responders to that thread warned about using cheap Electrical meter’s (Harbor Freight)
This got me wondering how cheap is cheap? What is the accuracy of the so called cheap meter?
Well I decided to put a cheap meter to the test and see for myself how cheap is cheap!
First I did some research to confirm that the Harbor Freight meter was in fact cheap, sold in numerous outlets, and last but not least I was able to borrow a DT830B from friend. He keeps it in the trunk of his car (yes it’s a late 60s Mopar) to do trouble shooting / repairs on the road if needed.
E Bay is selling the DT830B for $3.78 shipping included.
DT830B Digital Multimeter AC DC Voltmeter Ammeter Ohmmeter Voltage Tester Meter | eBay
Harbor Freight Salvage is selling the DT830B for $6.39 you pick up Or add $6.99 S/H fees.
7 Function Digital Multimeter
To use as for comparison to the cheap test meter the following two meters I have were used.
Meter number one = Fluke 105B Scopemeter Series II
Fluke 105B Series II Digital Scope Meter Portable Oscilloscope 100MHz | eBay
Meter number two = Amprobe ACDC-3000
Amprobe Acdc-3000 1000a Multimeter Clamp Meter Cc-acdc Carrying Case Accessory for sale online | eBay
Meter number three = DT830B Digital Multimeter
The following resistors were used to compare the three meters.
8 kΩ Gold band from DigiKey.com
330 KΩ Gold band from DigiKey.com
1 Meg Ω Gold band from Radio Shack
Power supply used = Leader LPS 151
OHM resistance test.
Test one.
8 KΩ resister used as test subject.
Fluke 105B displayed 08.04 KΩ on the + 30 KΩ scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 08.01 KΩ on the + 40 KΩ scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 8.04 KΩ on the + 20 KΩ scale.
Test two
330 KΩ resister used as test subject.
Fluke 105B displayed 0.324 KΩ on the + 3 KΩ scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 325.3 KΩ on the + 400 KΩ scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 327 KΩ on the + 2000 KΩ scale.
Test three
1 meg Ω resister used as test subject.
Fluke 105B displayed 0.982 KΩ on the + 3 meg Ω scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 0.979 meg Ω on the + 4 meg Ω scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 983 meg Ω on the + 2000 meg Ω scale.
Voltage DC test using the Leader LPS 151 Power supply.
Test one.
10 Vdc (no Load)
Fluke 105B displayed 10.00 Vdc on the +10v scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 10.6 Vdc on the 40v scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 10.06 Vdc on the 20v scale.
Test two
25 Vdc (no Load)
Fluke 105B displayed 25.00 on the + 30v scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 25.14 Vdc on the 40v scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 25.6 Vdc on the 200v scale.
Test three
5 Vdc (no Load)
Fluke 105B displayed 05.01 Vdc on the + 10v scale.
Amprobe ACDC-3000 displayed 05.05 Vdc on the 40v scale.
DT830B Digital Multimeter displayed 5.04 on the 20v scale.
As you can see the data collected the results are surprisingly eye opening.
Who would think the El Cheapo Harbor Freight DT830B could hold its own compared to the more expensive well-known brands. If you read the specification sheet this El Cheepo it has some impressive accuracy for only $3.78 shipping included. And as an added bonus it will also do Transistors for those of us that want to repair that AM radio in our ride.
Please draw your own conclusions from the information provided and testing depicted in this thread.
I have more pictures of the meters used during the testing but I am limited by this site to the number I can upload.
Notes:
All tests were performed using alligator type jumpers to connect meters to test items to prevent / minimize faulty connections.
All tests were performed three times to confirm repeat-ability.
All meters were powered by their own internal battery power to prevent / minimize outside noise / EMI.
All resistors used during testing were new.
All meters were on auto scale where applicable or scaling was selected closest to the expected outcome.
Testing was done to represent actual tests that would be completed on older type cars (FABO)
Happy Mopar :)
Arron.
