# Favorite bench top digital multimeter? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281 "2018-10-21T12:57:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/1 "2018-10-21T12:57:08Z")
What is your favorite DMM for workplace bench top use? Keithley, Agilent, something else? Keysite, with whom I have no experience? Is BK Precision up to good quality these days? I need voltage and 2 & 4 wire resistance, and I would probably occasionally use current, capacitance and inductance, but they’re not critical. I do have another meter for measuring down in the microohms and yet another for up in the teraohms, and neither of those needs are high precision, so I don’t think extreme resistance range is that critical. I don’t remember ever measuring voltages over 240 or so. But I have wished for good accuracy in millivolt and sometimes even microvolt ranges. My preferences are for accuracy (including short and long term stability) and reliability and simplicity of use. I’m thinking maybe 0.01%, 5 or 6 digits. It’s hard to say exactly how much accuracy I need, because it is hard to predict where my future research will take me, but I do keep bumping into worries and limitations with the handheld DMMs I have available, whether accuracy or even just precision and short term stability. I think it’d be preferable to have autoranging with manual override. I actually would like to avoid the more feature rich meters, as their programming and user interface is so much work to learn and remember, and they tend to get into weird modes I don’t recognize. I’m not really interested in logging data or interfacing with computers with the meter (I do a great deal of this but with other dedicated equipment). I have a Fluke handheld, an 87 I think (maybe it was $300 or $400). It’s at least around 5-10 years old and it’s never been recalibrated. In fact I don’t even know if they recalibrate handheld DMMs, or if the cost is so high one just replaces them. And I need it; I might want to buy another DMM just so I am not without one before sending the old one out. The other day I did a voltage measurement inter-comparison between four handheld DMMs, none of them new or recently calibrated, and without a voltage calibrator (just a 0-30 VDC supply). They all agreed within 1% but not 0.1%. I’m anticipating $600 to $1500 price range. What are your favorite models or brands, and why? Thanks!!! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/2 "2018-10-21T14:00:22Z")
My precision meter is a Fluke 8840A, which I bought used and had calibrated and certified. I’ve made one repair to it since (bad transformer solder joints), but other than that it’s been perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/3 "2018-10-21T14:57:23Z")
My favorite benchtop DMM is the **Keithely 2001**. Very stable, low uncertainty, and has a fantastic user interface. A new one would be out of your price range, though; check eBay. A **Keithley 2000** is almost as good and a lot cheaper. If you want the ultimate in stability and precision, get your hands on an HP/Agilent/Keysight **[3458A](https://hackaday.com/2015/12/03/nuts-about-volts/)**. A testimony to its awesomeness: it first came out in 1989, and it is _ **still** _ being made by Keysight today. They’re mostly found in electrical metrology labs. We own eight of them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/4 "2018-10-21T15:29:52Z")
Dang. I didn’t realize who Keysight was! Just read up on them. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/5 "2018-10-21T16:43:55Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > […] get your hands on an HP/Agilent/Keysight **[3458A](https://hackaday.com/2015/12/03/nuts-about-volts/)**. A testimony to its awesomeness: it first came out in 1989, and it is _ **still** _ being made by Keysight today. They’re mostly found in electrical metrology labs. We own eight of them. 😃 That’s more digits than I want. The price, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/6 "2018-10-22T02:24:47Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I have a Fluke handheld, an 87 I think (maybe it was $300 or $400). It’s at least around 5-10 years old and it’s never been recalibrated. In fact I don’t even know if they recalibrate handheld DMMs, or if the cost is so high one just replaces them. They definitely recalibrate handhelds. My Fluke goes out for calibration every year (a wast of money IMHO, considering what I use it for, but it’s not my decision, or my money). > [@beowulff](#): > > My precision meter is a Fluke 8840A, which I bought used and had calibrated and certified. I’ve made one repair to it since (bad transformer solder joints), but other than that it’s been perfect. I don’t know if it was an 8840 or another similar model (8842 maybe?), but I have used one of these Flukes and it was perfect for what I needed. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/7 "2018-10-22T02:50:23Z")
For years I have been using the Agilent/HP 34401A. Just got a couple reconditioned ones a couple of years ago right in your price range. It’s always nice to have access to the venerable 3485A, but it’s not nearly as convenient as the 34401A for everyday use. At home I have a couple of Fluke 45 meters, OK but I far prefer the 34401A. Note the 34401A has been discontinued, I haven’t tried the replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/8 "2018-10-22T02:54:41Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > If you want the ultimate in stability and precision, get your hands on an HP/Agilent/Keysight **[3458A](https://hackaday.com/2015/12/03/nuts-about-volts/)**. A testimony to its awesomeness: it first came out in 1989, and it is _ **still** _ being made by Keysight today. They’re mostly found in electrical metrology labs. We own eight of them. 😃 Still the most accurate standalone meter out there (at least last time I looked). We would use them for ADC/DAC characterization/debug. There is a National Instruments PXI module that is supposed to be a little better, but PXI is a PITA for the bench (unless you need to automate a lot of measurements). ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/9 "2018-10-22T12:37:18Z")
I have a Hewlett Packard 3478A, too, rescued from a salvage pile years ago. It gives 6.2518 ohms for a 6.25 ohm 0.1% resistor, and they sell these on Ebay, so maybe it’s worth getting calibrated or refurbished. But it looks to me like the Keithley 2000 is winning… ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/10 "2018-10-22T21:38:28Z")
We use a lot of Fluke, Agilent and older HP meters at work. Have a look around for a used 3478A and you’ll be fine. We send our Fluke handhelds out for regular cals but I suspect they don’t ever really need it. I think I’ve seen one meter come back tit’s up for out of cal and beyond economical repair in 20+ years. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-bench-top-digital-multimeter/823281/11 "2018-10-22T23:09:43Z")
Keithley 2000 won, partly because the user interface looks straightforward and it has RS232 (not USB). There are lots of good old meters on the market, I know. We have a rule at work against buying used equipment. I’m amazed at old meters that are working just fine. When I think about the times in winter that I’ve gotten a spark out of static electricity, and working around them, you’d think they would come back with little black spots inside…