Best Budget Multimeters for Beginners and Professionals

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the top 4 Multimeters available in the market. Whether you’re a dedicated DIY enthusiast or a seasoned professional electronic engineer, finding the right multimeter is paramount for your electrical projects. Let’s embark on this informative journey!

What is Multimeter?

A multimeter, also known as a volt-ohm meter, stands as an indispensable tool for individuals engaged in electronics or electrical systems. The beauty of a multimeter lies in its ability to amalgamate various measurement functions into one device, allowing precise measurements of voltage, current, resistance and more. The diverse array of multimeter types caters to different skill levels and user requirements.

Why you need a Multimeter?

Voltage and current play important roles in an electrical circuit or component. If you find out the voltage and current, then you can easily find out your component’s fault. To measure voltage, current, resistance, and capacitance, you must have a multimeter. You can measure all these parameters with one device.

Key Features to Look for

When you’re on the hunt for the perfect multimeter, certain key features must be prioritized to ensure both accurate measurements and user convenience. These crucial factors includes:

  • Accuracy
  • Voltage Range
  • Current Range
  • Display Quality
  • Diode testing function
  • Capacitance measurement

4 Best Multimeters in 2024

Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter

If you’re looking for a professional grade multimeter, then Fluke 117 is the best choice for you. Its advanced features cater to AC measurements, with a built-in non-contact AC probe and an intuitive interface. The true-RMS capability, coupled with automatic voltage detection, enhances precision. If measuring above 10 amps, a separate current probe can be added.

Primarily intended for home or commercial wiring, the Fluke 117 offers diverse measurement functions. However, it’s less suitable for hobbyists exploring DC circuits due to its higher cost and lack of NPN/PNP transistor testing. Nonetheless, as a top-tier professional multimeter, it excels, albeit with a specialization beyond typical electrical projects.

Specifications

  • AC/DC Voltage measuring range: 600 V
  • AC/DC Current measuring range: 10 A
  • Resistance: 40 MΩ
  • Capacitance: 9999 μF
  • Display: Digital, 6,000 counts, updates 4/sec; Bar Graph: 33 segments, updates 32/sec

Key Features

  • VoltAlert technology for non-contact voltage detection
  • AutoVolt automatic ac/dc voltage selection
  • True-rms for accurate measurements on non-linear loads
  • Measures 10 A (20 A overload for 30 seconds)
  • Resistance, continuity, frequency and capacitance measurement.
  • Min/Max/Average to record signal fluctuations.
  • CAT III 600 V safety rate

Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter: Check on Amazon.com

Klein Tools MM700 Multimeter

For a multimeter that guarantees remarkable reliability and precision, the Klein Tools MM700 is your ideal choice. With its automatic ranging true root mean square (TRMS) technology, accuracy is elevated, and it offers an array of additional features that enhance its value as an indispensable tool.

This Multimeter measures up to 1000V AC/DC voltage, 10A AC/DC current, and 40MOhms resistance. Notably, it also covers temperature, capacitance, frequency, duty-cycle, diode testing, and continuity checks, all backed by a CAT IV 600V Safety Rating. This multimeter is suitable for both the beginner and professional engineers in electrical and electronics field.

Specifications

  • AC/DC Voltage measuring range: 1000 V
  • AC/DC Current measuring range: 10 A
  • Resistance: 40 MΩ
  • Capacitance: 4000 μF
  • Display: Digital, 4,000 counts

Key Features

  • Multimeter with automatic ranging true root mean square (TRMS) technology for increased accuracy
  • CAT IV 600V Safety Rating
  • Low Impedance (LoZ) mode for identifying and eliminating ghost or stray voltages
  • For use in basic and controlled electromagnetic environments such as residential, business and light-industrial locations
  • Low battery indicator and easily accessible battery and fuse replacement compartment

Klein Tools MM700: Check on Amazon.com

Klein Tools CL800 Digital Clamp Meter

To measure current, you need to place a multimeter in series. But measuring high currents with a probe is very dangerous. Hence, a clamp meter is the best solution for measuring high current because it measures current without any physical contact.

Klein Tools CL800 is an automatically ranging true root mean squared (TRMS) digital clamp-meter that measures AC/DC voltage, resistance, continuity, frequency, capacitance, and tests diodes via test-leads, and temperature via a thermocouple probe. It also features a Low Impedance (LoZ) mode for identifying and eliminating stray voltages.

Specifications

  • AC/DC Voltage measuring range: 1000 V
  • AC/DC Current measuring range: 600 A
  • Resistance: 60 MΩ
  • Capacitance: 6000 μF
  • Display: 6000 Count LCD

Key Features

  • Automatically ranging true mean squared (TRMS) technology for increased accuracy
  • Test leads measure AC/DC voltage, resistance, continuity, frequency and capacitance and tests diodes
  • Thermocouple probe measures temperature
  • Low Impedance (LoZ) mode for identifying and eliminating stray voltages.
  • CAT IV 600V, CAT III 1000V, Class 2, Double insulation safety rating

Klein Tools CL800 Digital Clamp Meter: Check on Amazon.com

AstroAI Digital Multimeter and Analyzer TRMS 6000

If you are new to electronics and are looking for a low-budget multimeter, then the AstroAI Digital Multimeter is the best choice for you. It has almost all the features of a good multimeter. You can measure voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, and also test the diode in your electronics projects. You can also measure temperature with this multimeter.

It has Support Data Hold, Large LCD Backlit Screen, Auto Shut-off and Hanging Magnet, and Kickstand make the process of measurements easier. Professional level is reflected in some features include Auto-Ranging capability, and True RMS for measuring both AC Current and Voltage.

Specifications

  • AC/DC Voltage measuring range: DC: 1000 V, AC: 750 V
  • AC/DC Current measuring range: 10 A
  • Resistance: 60 MΩ
  • Capacitance: 600 μF
  • Frequency: 0-60 MHz

AstroAI Digital Multimeter and Analyzer TRMS 6000: Check on Amazon.com

My Recommendation

If you are a professional electrical engineer and you deal with high voltage and current, then the Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter is the best choice for you. Because it’s more reliable than any other multimeter, and its accuracy is far better than others. And if you are a hobbyist in electronics and deal with low voltage and low current circuits like electronics circuits, then the AstroAI Digital Multimeter is the best choice for you. Because it is easy to use and very low-cost.

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Rana Bhuiyan

I hold a B.Sc degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. I am an Electronic circuit designer and Microcontroller programmer. I am interested in Robotics, Embedded System Design and IoT.

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