Comparison of multimeters: which is better in quality and function

A multimeter is a measuring device that every electrician and home craftsman must have. Today there are a fairly large number of different manufacturers and models of these testers, therefore, before buying, you need to familiarize yourself with offers that are suitable for the price and compare their technical specifications. In this article, we have provided a comparison of multimeters in terms of quality and function. Find out which meter is better: digital or pointer, UNI-T, Fluke or Mastech.

Analog or digital?

First of all, you must decide on the type of device execution. To your attention, a comparison of a digital and a pointer multimeter:

1. The analog meter needs to be calibrated periodically as the batteries run out. Not very convenient, considering that the electronic model does not require calibration.
2. The values ​​on the digital display can be seen from different angles. On the other hand, you need to look at the arrow only at a right angle in order to take accurate readings.
3. The pointer mechanism is more capricious for transportation, falls, vibration and other possible situations. If you handle the device not too carefully, the measurement error may increase, which cannot be said about the electronic model.
4. Compared to analog meters, a digital multimeter has many more functions and capabilities.
5. If you measure the polarity incorrectly, a minus will appear on the electronic display, after which it will become clear that you need to swap the probes. In the case of an analog device, the arrow simply rests against the limiter without moving along the scale. It is also not very convenient.
6. A pointer multimeter can instantly view changes in measurements.
7. An analog instrument is more accurate when used in strong electromagnetic fields. Compared to a digital meter, which is more sensitive to interference, this is an advantage.
8. Electronics can be damaged by electrostatic discharge. The pointer mechanism is not afraid static electricity.

As you can see, if you compare a digital versus an analog multimeter, you cannot say with certainty which one is better. Each version has its own advantages, although we still believe that electronic meters compared to arrowheads are more preferable, since they significantly prevail in functions, and this is one of the most important selection criteria devices.

Briefly about manufacturers

Well, many novice electricians are interested in the question of which appliance manufacturer is better. Comparison of multimeters from Fluke, Mastech and UNI-T (some of the best manufacturers of measuring devices) can only be subjective, because each company has in its arsenal both successful models and not at all. Our opinion - in terms of price and quality, the UNI-T multimeters are still the best when compared to Fluke, the latter at the same price and functions will be inferior, tk. there is a fairly large overpayment for brand. Fluke meters are indeed very high quality and have been on the market for a long time with many positive reviews on the Internet.

If we talk about Mastech, recently the quality of products has become slightly lower, compared with devices that were produced 5-10 years ago. That is why reviews about multimeters can be found ambiguous: experienced electricians claim that these are the best meters, and those who bought them now say the opposite. I would also like to mention two more notable companies: Digital Multimeter and APPA. If we compare their technical characteristics and the price segment, then we can say that this is also the best option, but the quality is slightly inferior to the previous three brands.

Today, testers can be purchased at specialized stores. It is recommended that you contact a certified point of sale for the equipment, where an official warranty is provided, for example, multimeters in the online store Spetstekhconsulting.

The photo shows the measurement error of various models of devices (Fluke 87-V, UNI-T UT-70C, Mastech MAS-830L, DT-832 and B3-10A participated):

At the end of the test, it became clear that Fluke was better compared to other instruments (the measurement error was estimated). We also recommend watching the video reviews, which compare the UNI-T and MASTECH testers:

So we have provided a comparison of multimeters in terms of quality and function. We hope the information provided has helped you choose the right option for your own conditions!