Hello. I’m just getting into electrical diagnostics. I come from an automotive diagnostic background and have mostly used handheld DMM. I would like a bench top DMM to have always on and also not so top heavy so as to fall over. My budget currently is around $450 but obviously if something quality can be had at a lower price point, I’d be ok with that! Most of what I currently use are DC V/A, continuity, resistance, diode and sometimes AC V/A, but I use my handhelds for AC as I’m usually working with AC on some vehicle sensors or residential electrical. I’d like faster sampling and maybe three digital after the decimal. Any suggestions? I was looking at the Siglent SDM3045x, that seems to be a popular recommendation. A bit pricey but maybe worth it? I don’t really do any electronics projects (yet) but would like to set myself up for the future in case I decide to go that route. Currently just taking broken electrical devices apart and trying to diagnose/repair.
Also, any resources to better understand electrical design, diagnostics, etc would be great. I’m mediocre with an o scope and also would like to get better with that and learn a bit more where to use it in circuits. I’ve really only used it in car audio situations and CAN-BUS networks.

 

If you can bring yourself to use a $20 or $25 handheld multimeter you can find one with good voltage/current/resistance accuracy and a thermocouple, and with auto power-off after a period of use.

 

If you can bring yourself to use a $20 or $25 handheld multimeter you can find one with good voltage/current/resistance accuracy and a thermocouple, and with auto power-off after a period of use.

I have a bunch of higher quality meters. What I don’t like about them is the smaller display and difficulty to keep upright. Battery power isn’t an issue but being able to leave the unit on is a plus as well.

 

I was looking at the Siglent SDM3045x

That is an excellent 4½ digit bench multimeter, but it's industrial quality and likely overkill for your needs.

Likely one of the less expensive Chinese bench multimeters would work for you, but I have no particular recommendations as to brand or model.

 

Welcome to AAC.

Siglent is a good choice. Great value and decent build quality, but—

As @crutschow says, you really don’t need that. It isn’t that you aren’t getting good value for the money in theory it‘s that in practice you just won’t use that “value”.

This ~$130.00 Owon will cover you now and in the future unless you really get into something obscure—in which case you will just need to buy something then and it will probably be better.

​

 

Is this the same meter?

https://a.co/d/bUVqPqb

I found these:

https://a.co/d/3wDImVj

https://a.co/d/6gcoTMt

https://a.co/d/9OP6VRi

https://a.co/d/gwP2w4O

Which are all under 200. Are they slow?

 

Are they slow?

Slow?
What speed are you looing for?

 

I’ve used some meters that take a while to buzz for continuity or switch voltage when there is a slight change. just don’t want a slug! Lol

 

I’ve used some meters that take a while to buzz for continuity or switch voltage when there is a slight change. just don’t want a slug!

Model numbers for the meters that you thought were slow would be helpful.

I have a handheld Fluke that is set to autorange by default. I dislike autoranging. My cheaper handhelds don't have it and I'm fine with that... My HP bench meter has it and I use it very rarely.

 

Model numbers for the meters that you thought were slow would be helpful.

I have a handheld Fluke that is set to autorange by default. I dislike autoranging. My cheaper handhelds don't have it and I'm fine with that... My HP bench meter has it and I use it very rarely.

I don’t remember the meters, I gave them away lol. The one I use the most is a fluke 179. Next to that is a test products international model 194.
The screens are sometimes too small or dim for my work area and they’re very easily knocked over.
What is the difference between the Owon XDM1041 and the Siglent SDM3045x as far as usage and accuracy. Besides quality inside and out what are the standout differences from a users standpoint?

 

It’s really impossible to specify a meter without a set of requirements. You don‘t really have one.

The reason I suggested the Owon is the company’s reputation as a solid maker of midrange test gear and the price. The feature set of that meter is more that you could currently use.

Accuracy is very unlikely to be a consideration for any digital meter given that you are just measuring for troubleshooting and what you would do with the information that something is 1mV or 1mA or 1mΩ different than something else is hard to imagine.

Continuity test speed could be something—check for YouTube reviews.

As far as I can tell, and really I don’t have much to work on, buying the Siglent or anything in its class would be like buying a Victorinox Swiss Champ because you need a small pair of scissors. This is no dig at you, it’s just a matter of proper tools for the job.

 

I dislike autoranging. My cheaper handhelds don't have it and I'm fine with that...

One thing I don't like about autoranging meters is some of them have very small indications of mV vs V and mA vs A. It can be way to easy to miss the indication. Say you're troubleshooting a power supply. It may read 5.10 in be bold numbers followed by a small V at the power supply, then you look away to move the probes and when you turn back it's displaying 4.95.... and you don't notice a small m has appeared next to that V.