When a presentation ages well, it demonstrates the wisdom of the presenter. This demonstration has aged excellently. The actual test sequence used here is well grounded---pun alert--and thorough enough to help almost anyone make a correct decision. Thank you!
I've wanted a Fluke 87V for a long while but this Brymen has turned my head more than somewhat. It looks like a worthy adversary. I appreciate your interesting quantitive tests.
@@JohnFHendry Fluke still makes some of the best meters on the market. They are very well made and hold up for a long lifespan. A good friend of mine still has the one he bought in the late 80s, still working fine. But, it looks like Brymen are on their game. They are responsive to the customer and seem genuinely interested in making their product the best it can be. I have two of them and I am impressed with their accuracy, speed and the build quality. The leads are very good quality too.
@@JohnFHendry I initially picked up a BM257s for basic diagnostics work (I work on arcade games). I liked it, so I made that one my work meter and got a BM829s for home, as I do more indepth stuff there. I don't need 50K count, so the BM829s was my choice. It's very similar to the BM869s and the price was impressive. Bought them both from TME.
@@brianthompson1138 I sure hope Brymen reads these posts. I really like having the 50K count.... lets you see a tiny flow moving other meters miss. But I want DNA/RNA count settings to keep up with technology. Did you know last June a discovery was made that "upended the current, accepted notion of matter" and "rocks our current understanding of matter" ? Check it out... a researcher by the name of Monica Olvera de la Cruz at Northwestern University discovered it working with nanoparticles engineered with DNA in colloidal crystals. They said: "It’s not an electron. But it sure does act like one." I say who cares as long as the meter can read it... just have to wait it out now, darn...;-)
Thinking about buying a Multimeter for my Process job. Was watching Fluke V87 vids and reading comments. Then a commenter mentioned Brymen 869s which lead to more research and vids. Then I ran into a bunch of video comments where people were mentioning someone called Joe Smith and his testing vids for Brymen DMM. That’s how I ended up here. After watching almost a dozen vids today, think this Multimeter fits my need and price compared to a Fluke V87 or a fluke period.
I have been using this brymen meter (albeit branded as Greenlee) for over 6 months now with no issues. Fine meter for the moderate price. Great review. Thanks.
I have a 869s and 87v and use the brymen all the time for years now for my lab work. We also have hiokis laying around the lab which are very good 60k count meters. Flukes, Brymens, Hiokis are definitely the top meters for accuracy as of 2024. I was looking into kps meters and this review somehow came up. Thought i would comment. Good job on the comparisons.
I've been following you for quite some time now and appreciate your efforts and expertise. About a year ago I purchase the 869s from TME in Poland (very professional transaction) and have been very pleased. In fact, I've now relegated my Fluke 287 to secondary status/use.
I'm grad you're finding the videos helpful. I had thought about buying a Fluke 289 but after loaning one out to try, I ended up with the Brymen BM869s (also purchased from TME).
After watching all your Brymen videos I've got convinced that I should give a try for the 869s as my multimeter. I'm currently using a UT181A but need some a little more robust for the high voltages. For those who are looking for it, I've just got it from Eleshop in Netherlands (EU shipping) for about 144€ the unit... very cheap. Just missing a probe master for it now... Thanks again.
My BM869s came in this week , i really love it ! Its 100khz ac trms is ideal for my audio repairs. The fluke 87v only measures up to around 19khz , this Brymen is unbeatable in price and performance.
As always, GREAT JOB on the review Joe. I would add the Bremen 867s/969s english manual is very good and seriously better than Chinese meter manuals I either have or have seen. My Bremen did NOT come with a case but had good quality probes. IF I were going to have ONLY ONE NEW meter today, I'd likely buy the Brymen BM869s. Even with its optional computer interface and software, it's priced less than a new Fluke 87-V. It is larger, but has a dual display. I frequently use the computer logging feature. If you don't, you can save $100+ . Main gripe regarding computer interface is it SHOULD BE USB in this day and age... Today, in my "active" world, I have 2 Fluke 87-Vs (both purchased used), a Fluke 287, and the Bremen 869s. The Bremen BM869s has replaced my previous 22,000 count Mastech MS8040 "Bench" meter due to the DC voltage resolution and computer interface. The Mastech MS8040 was my first true-RMS meter and I retain it due to it's excellent AC/DC current probe with 10 ma resolution. My Fluke 289 is my clearly most capable meter, except for the BM869s's 500,000 DC Volt count mode. However, the 289 tops $550.00 with its USB interface and software. I use my 289 mainly for field and lab logging for Solar Systems / Inverters installation and characterization on RVs. It has much poorer battery life, so it's less desirable for an everyday bench meter. It's plenty capable, but a little complex and has fiddly controls for most general bench work. My 2 ea. Fluke 87-V meters are my grab-and-go / bang-around meters. They are TOUGH but smaller than their water-proof cousin the Fluke 28 II . If you want a water/environment-proof meter, the Fluke 28-II is basically an 87-V in a environment-proof case for only about $40.00 more (Amazon) , but it's considerably larger and a little heavier than the 87-V. Remember, the "extra" digit in the BM869s's 500.000 count mode only works in DC Volts measurements. As stated in the BM869s manual: "It (the 500,000 count mode) is available to single display DC Voltage function ranges. Measuring speed is reduced to 1.25 times per second." Folks, I guarantee your mileage will vary...
The strange thing about that 1.25 measuring frequency per second in the 500k mode: I use 3rd party logging software, and it logs fine at 5 times per second in 500k mode. And the logging results are all unique values.
Very interesting comparison, love your tests specially the latching showing how fast the readings are and the display backlights is waaay better!!! Well done =]
I've had a Fluke 87V for over a year now, but I'm now seriously looking at getting a BM869s to replace it. I don't like the Fluke's darker display background and smaller digits, and would enjoy the bigger, brighter, dual display of the Brymen. Not to mention the faster bar graph and additional features and higher precision. Thanks for a good comparison.
I've ran similar tests on some of the more recent meters where the 87V and BM869s were included. Maybe have a look at the OWON video. There you can see the 87V 189 and BM869s all together.
Great video. On the Fluke 87v vs 'crest mode' of the Brymen, you need to turn on the Fluke 'crest mode' or the peak mode, you used only the standard mode. Safety: the issue is protection from faults within conditions of the meters appropriate usage, impulse tests were to simulate worse case conditions. Users should expect those capabilities to work as designed, i.e., CAT rating. Brymen history. The only way to find out is to give Brymen a history, how does its build quality hold over time? You can see a semblance of its history by comparing the equivalent Greelee models with months to years of ownership, there are a number of them reported on Amazon for different models.
***** After reading your comment about the crest mode, I downloaded the manual for the 87V and saw the continuity button selects this mode. I would have never guessed this when I looked at the meter. Thanks. Looks like it should detect an even shorted pulse. I may check that out.
+Ig Saturation I looked at an 87V again. I am curious if it will detect both peaks? Say I have a signal at zero volts with a positive and negative pulse on top of that. Can it detect both? Reason I ask is that they call it a peak detect.
Hi Joe. Yes. Peak negative is stored as minimum value and peak positive is maximum value. When on the 87v does not auto sleep so it will monitor until you manual set it off.
FYI, the fluke 87v also has a crest feature called "smoothing" from the off position, hold the range button on while turning the meter on. You should see an "S" for smoothing. Who knows, it may be close to the Bryman?
@@stm3252 Thanks a lot for your answer, yes that's a possibility and a simple and smart solution. But I think he may be using an electronic load of some sort. I have thought it could be a great test device if, as you say, you could control a circuit with a signal generator. A sort of "signal mirror". 1V in = 1V or 1A load, by that way could you generate all sorts of dynamic load profiles.
I think you are asking which one you should choose, which of course I can't answer. However, I have said that if Fluke offered a meter I liked, I would buy it. I use the Fluke 189 because it's a good fit. Same for the BM869s. You don't see the 289 because it's not a good fit. Not because of the cost but the poor display, long boot times, slow graphing.. If Fluke came out with a new 189, I would purchase it. If UNI-T made a higher quality version of the UT181A that used standard batteries, I may take that. The 181A improves many of the things I dislike about the 289 but it comes with it's own problems.
@@joesmith-je3tq Thanks a lot for your answer! I'm leaning more towards the BM869S, since the Fluke 289 is already quite outdated, but I came across an offer to purchase it for $ 300. I am mainly interested in accurate and fast measurements. That is, checking the accuracy of the readings of various testers, chargers and voltage converters. I also plan to use a multimeter to calibrate cheaper testers. For me, 300 dollars is a rather large amount, I would not like to make a mistake when choosing, so I was interested in your opinion as the owner of many multimeters.
@@SkompomRuBlog I purchased a brand new HP34401A when they first came out. These can be found fairly cheap now, along with other high end bench meters. From your description, you may want to consider a used higher end meter and have it professionally calibrated w/ a report.
@@SkompomRuBlog Of course, you may end up with a small paper weight and $300 less in your pocket. It's a large about of money for you and I suggest you take your time to determine what your real requirements are first. Separate your likes and wants from your actual requirements. Then try to find a product that meets those needs. Be smart about the choices you make and you will be fine.
A friend had recently purchased a Fluke 87V. He discovered the Brymen 869S months later and recommended it to me. I have the 869S and sent it to my calibration lab. Calibration was all within tolerance. I am very pleased especially with the 500,000 count for measuring very low voltages.
At the moment I am leaning towards fluke87v for its reliability.Nothing wrong with new company trying to to good job, every good reputation companys had to start from scratch, time will tell how brymen will hold against big boys.
Yes, I saw it with Keysight 1282A too, it's got much faster continuity test than 87V. But let's be frank, no one would switch between various elements 4 times a second :) I don't know why, I'm using Fluke much more often than Keysight, despite the fact that KS got better spec.
@@joesmith-je3tq I am not sure how are you sweeping this QFP but if you sweep it fast and hear a beep you need to do it once more, slowly (and the difference between F and B gets neglected). From what I understand Fluke 'merges' 2 beeps into 1. The more important test would be to check which meter picks up shorter 'signal' I suppose. Of course, Brymen feels better but in practice I am not sure if it is important. But you're right - depends on the use case, personal preferences etc.
The 3 meters on the left are all saying, what the **** is he doing here? Good that you're willing to try something outside the fluke safety net. One of the best 'real' comparisons too.
Buenos días, mi pregunta es la siguiente, el Brymen tiene función Autohold? Otra pregunta, la retroiluminacion de la pantalla cuanto tiempo dura? Éstas dos cuestiónes son muy importantes en un Multímetro.
New BM869s have a 256 second back light timeout. Not all the Fluke products have the auto hold. The BM869s doesn't have an auto hold but it does have a Crest and Rec mode. Just depends what you need. The best thing to do is read the manual to see if a product fits your personal needs.
@@joesmith-je3tq Muchas gracias Joe, Fluke 175 177 179 ,287 289, 27, 28 /serie 80 y 87-V disponen de esta importante función de retencion automática, que funcionan, con tensión resistencia y amperios. Es importante por que sólo tenemos 2 manos 🙌 😉. Un saludo desde España ,y gracias por contestar.
@@elektrikahectorfernandezol5341 Have a look at their new 78x series. The auto hold testing starts about 16 minutes in. ua-cam.com/video/UY9Myo5ngPQ/v-deo.html
this multimeter is obtained with the green lee brand the DM860A, but the DM830A is the same as the fluke 87 v with a little more functions these green lee multimeter are excellent nothing to compare to fluke
Hi, really Brymen is it worth for money? I have only fluke how 87V, 289 and clamp meters of fluke. But I interested about brymen for its resolution and 4-20mA function. The single feature I don't like is the 0.8 ms of peak detect.
Hello, I would like to ask. Fluke 117 and brymen bm869s. Which one to choose? Brymen is made in Taiwan. Is there much difference between Taiwan and China? And the main question would be this. Are the battery contacts good? What are the chances of them coming off when replacing a new battery?
I assume you are asking about 9V battery connectors. When I was young, and pocket transistor radios were popular, I repaired several of them. You see a lot of damage when you give china to a gorilla. I have had the BM869s for several years and have yet to damage the connector or cable attaching it.
@@joesmith-je3tqIt's just that, for example, I don't take out the battery with a cheap multimeter because the cable cannot be removed. I wonder if the connection will be the same here. Although everything was OK in most of the devices. Maybe it just fell that way. By the way, how long does the screen last? Is it possible to turn off the automatic screen backlight?
Hello, I was hoping you may have some insight of the accuracy differences of different ac line splitters. I have read reviews where some people say the 10x and 1x are off on some models when in theory they should be the same reading but just need a decimal place shift for the 10x vs 1x. Any thoughts on which models may be more accurate ?
I was checking an LED circuit with the Brymen and found the shunt resistance notable on the more sensitive ranges - enough to visibly dim the LEDs. Is this normal? Is this a differentiator between meters? I guess if you're normally wanting to measure low currents in battery drain scenarios for example then the meter resistance is tiny in comparison with the load? Where my LEDs were a very non-linear load.
I would have no idea what your circuit was or what your were trying to measure. It seems like you may have been using the meter to measure current. Yes, the meters will drop some amount of voltage. Yes, it will be dependent on the range. Yes, it will be meter dependent. Assuming this is what you are referring to, it is known at the burden voltage.
This was dabbling - effectively using the ammeter to show a child which link had to be repaired in their LED circuit by shorting the bad link, while also showing the current in the circuit at the time. As the LEDs are running straight off battery but below their rated forward voltage any additional resistance seems significant. I'd take that as being a factor of the high slope of the diode response. Amazingly the LEDs while dim were still clearly on at 2mA. I've found this which is really interesting - www.ni.com/tutorial/5448/en/ I wonder if any DMMs use that circuit to reduce effective shunt resistance in their microamp range. The other factors such as noise pickup are significant though. My interest in low currents, and a reason for factoring that into my DMM purchasing choice, would be monitoring microcontroller based circuits and their use of the microcontroller's power save features. For example the PIC has a sleep instruction which will allow it to mostly power down until it receives an interrupt. The burden voltage should be small in comparison with the supply voltage in this case. Thanks - Richard
I am not sure which circuit you are referring to. The article has a few. All of the handheld DMMs I have looked at will use various shunts. I have a meter that uses the feedback method for very low currents. Of the videos in the playlist, the ones that may most be of interest to you are the first and third. I am not surprised by your findings with the little LED experiment.
Sure I can comment. You are not asking a question so I will just go on to add that I can't test any diodes with a drop higher than 2V. This means all of my HV diodes are out. That said, my first meters did not have a diode check mode. So I'm used to testing HV diodes using an external supply.
I know you rarely do anything with "clamp" style meters but I'm wondering if you might consider doing a review on a fairly new offering from Brymen...the BM037. It is a fully featured clamp meter and very small in size. It might be a contender with the now famous Uni-T UT210E. Price range on the BM037 is pretty good and you seem to enjoy all the Brymen products that you test, so this could be an interesting little meter to look at.👍 Thank you for all the videos that you do.
The whole reason I like the UT210E is the 1mADC resolution. I am not aware of a Brymen product that would compete with it. I have not tried testing any clamps outside of the Fluke open fork non-contact unit. All of the Brymen products I have looked at have held up very well in my tests. Maybe if they make a clamp similar to the UT210E, I will have a look at it. Maybe do a shootout between them. I have never plugged the leads into my UT210Es.
Hello Mr Smith, some times we loose control to acually test the devices,as a result we loose also making difference between what is important and what is useless facts.the update rate doesn't matter ,when we talk about out of 2 updates/sec , I think the important thing is to have an accurate and precise readings.I can wait the multimeter 1 sec if it is accurate,humans are not fast enough to deal with 5 updates per sec .
That's why we have 20,000,000,000 sps scopes, because we humans can't deal with it. Understand that your opinion is just that, and it may not reflect the general population. Someone once posted why anyone would ever need to look at currents higher than 100Hz.
@@joesmith-je3tq Mr Smith , you want esolate my opinion ,simply you can ask every one," can you realy your brain and eyes deal with 20 updates / sec?" I think no at all when we see there is a couple of hundreds of miliseconds to from understand what we see, we cant se 20 updates in one second and understad all each one and understand them.the same thing with beeping speed of a multimeter, are we fast enough to figuere out what we connect . for example 5 latches per sec. no but we "feel"that we are blocked a litle bit by the response of the continuaty beeps and the insufficient control on it . best regards
@@TruthDigest I have no desire to run such a poll but you certainly can if you feel it will gain you something. Companies don't offer faster update rates for the fun of it. Customers want it. 30Hz and up bar graphs are common. Imagine what watching a video at 2 fps would be like. I've seen people that can consistently cut 0.00 lights (professional drag). If you see no reason for faster update rates, that's fine. Just don't assume you are in the majority.
I feel it will gain me something :) just to complete the cycle companies offer faster update rates because customers want it, why customers want it and what is the real sufficient , comfortable and useful update rate for the customer.I think 4 updates/sec is great and 30 /sec also but there is no considerable change. our brains are not fast to deal with 30 updates/sec.as an example , if you have a camera and you want know who is the person next to your home.if this camera make a single capture and you see this picture and you recognized the person, the task is done if I make other pictures to the same person that will make no difference, I recognized him . but this aditional pictures are not a problem.and I'm sorry to bother you again Mr smith but I want to make make point of view mre clear, no more. I have a question if you can Mr smith ; what is the lowest capacitance value can the fluke 87 v read.even the brymen 869 doesn't mention that clearlypicofarads are important for me and us the industrial multimeter have a litle bit highest values on capacitance.thank you for the feedback.best regards.
@@TruthDigest The youtube filter placed your comment into the spam area due to your grammar. Use a space after each period and you should be fine. I am not aware of ANY meters that will update the digital readout at 30Hz. It seems there are some at 5Hz. The bargraph on the better meters will normally be much faster. But again, if you are happy with a 2Hz bargraph, digital display and continuity test update, that's fine. Just don't expect the majority of people to be happy with that level of performance. I imagine the manual for the 87V is still available to download for free. It seems you don't understand what you are looking for is all. Check the meters accuracy and resolution. From this, you should be able to sort it out. Normally, I will use an RLC meter to measure capacitors. If I am looking at small values for RF and want more information than the RLC meter provides, I use the vector network analyzer.
I have not yet found anything a current production meter that suits me better. That by no means suggests it would be a good fit for you. Do your homework and buy the right tools for your jobs.
@@joesmith-je3tq I have. I need to be able to accurately measure currents in the 0 to 10 microamp range. I also need to be able to log the measurements on a computer, and this one has a USB interface. On paper, it's the one for me.
Hello, I have the Uni-t ut17B PRO model and when I measure a voltage around, let's say 5 volts, if I measure with the probes + with plus and - with minus, it gives me 5,003 volts, let's say, if I reverse the probes + with black and - with the red probe, it gives me another type value - 5.007 volts, so a difference of 4 millivolts inverse of the probe in DC (direct current). Do you think it's normal? is it part of the tolerance of the device or is it defective? Thanks
If my meter was displaying 5000 volts with 5 volts applied, it would be heading to the trash. I doubt you would find anyone who would think this is normal.
@@joesmith-je3tq not 5000 volt, displaying 5,(comma)003 , but whe i reverse the probes displaying -5,(comma)007 not the same voltage ,is a 4 milivolt diference ,is normal displayig this milivolt diference if i reverse the probes? or is part of tolerance?
Do you still love your Brymen ? I struggled with ordering this very meter a bit before you made this video apparently, but then came across a 189 at an estate sale which had the minimum features I needed over my old 85 III.
Love is a pretty strong word. It's the best meter I have come across. A friend of mind gave me a 189 which is pretty nice general purpose meter as well but obviously, they are only available used. I like the dual thermocouple inputs the Brymen offers but if Fluke was still selling the 189 and kept it updated to current standards, I would buy one. I was looking at what Fluke had to offer when I bought the Brymen and the 289 was really the only thing they offered that I considered. I borrowed one for a while but was not very impressed with it. The 189 was used in automotive so I spent some time cleaning it up. Bought some new NiMH batteries for it.
I think you are really asking what meter you should buy which I have no idea. Maybe just the free ones from HF would serve you. My favorite handhelds are still the Brymen BM869s and Fluke 189.
@@joesmith-je3tq, Mr. Joe, thank you for your reply. Yes, you are right. Even HF meters serve well sometimes. Hoping you will post the HF meter video soon.
@@ZakariahSH I have made a few videos showing it. ua-cam.com/video/ObKomuLLqU8/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/E5aj4guPbZQ/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/x_L6Z8BAXFQ/v-deo.html
Nice test joe, but your your test for the 5v PWM. did not use the 87's PEAK MIN MAX mode which as you probably know, gives the meter the ability to capture events as short as 250us.
It's a pity to not get people who are helpful when trying to make a decision. Take an alternative look at the Victor VC189 or the Victor VC187 which there is little information on also. Hopefully some may see our need and respond properly.
I assume anyone asking would have wrote the mfg themselves by now but:I had forgotten that I had written Brymen this question. This was their response: "BM869s is the upgraded model of BM869 to meet the requirements of the latest 61010-1 3rd Edition. All of their functions, ranges & features are maintained the same. Only their input protection circuits are with slight difference."
The only meters I have looked at on on the spreadsheet. I was looking at the 4282 for my own use but went with that Brymen BM869s instead. In general, my experience with Hioki products has been good.
Looks like a fine meter, but can it be calibrated by a cal lab? Does it come with instructions for calibration / performance verification? That second T/C would be dead useful, but does it make the inputs vulnerable to damage? I had a cheapo meter once where they used split sockets to sense a plug in the current input, well, that one half went right to the processor I/O pin with no protection and if you pulled the plug out with power on it you had a 50/50 chance of blowing it all to hell.
stefantrethan Assuming that you really mean calibration and not alignment, I would think most of the calibration houses could handle it without a problem. If you are asking about an alignment or repair, I would assume it would go back to the manufacture. I am not sure how this meter stacks up against the others I tested.
I can't answer than for you. It's up to you to determine what products best fit your needs. For me personally, I have yet to find a meter still available that I like more.
@@ardentdfender4116 I have to say that after writing the original comment in 2020, I actually bought the BM869s that same year and since then I've been very satisfied with it. The only disadvantage perhaps is the easily scratchable screen.
@@Valeriy7D0 Great to hear you have been satisfied with the BM869s since you bought it. After watching quite a few vids and reading a lot of comments yesterday, including coming across this one and a few in this comments section I was convinced it be a good buy and bought the BM869s from Brymen in Europe. As it’s not easy to find here in the U.S. or at the lower price. I should get it in a few days.
I doubt I will look at another Fluke product. I've looked at several and they have all done very well. Not being an electrician or technician, their products in general are not something I am really interested in. They sure to make some nice tools for those markets though.
@@joesmith-je3tq I only asked because the 87v max has an ip67 rating, 13 foot drop rating and is waterproof. Its supposed to be the toughest meter fluke has made. I was just curious if it would hold up better than the others. Thanks for replying
@@davidwells1914 The ratings you mention are not something I have tested or collect data on. I would have no way to know how it compares with other meters. I am more interested in a meter's ability to survive some basic transients. Dave from the EEVBLOG site, may take one for a swim and drop it from the bridge. That's more his thing. You should ask him as he may even have one by now.
What if you have to service that Bryman or get it calibrated? Is it as easy to take care if as the Fluke. I am looking for a multimter for automotive use. Hybrids are becoming more popular.
Assuming you know what it is you are asking and understand the difference between alignment and calibration, having the Brymen calibrated is no different than any other meter. I find it a little strange you would need a traceable calibration for automotive but that ISO stuff must get everyone. For me personally, when it comes to automotive, I go as cheap as I can because the meters get so much abuse and I consider them disposable. I do like the UT210E for measuring the low currents off the battery. For my own electronics hobby, this general purpose meter is still the best one I have come across.
Thanks for your replay. I like your videos, very high tech. It's just that every so often a multimeter should be calibrated due to some abuse. No sense using an inaccurate meter right? I am trying to make a transition more into the electrical side of the automotive service work from the mechanical side. So I am looking for a good multimeter. Thanks for the tip on the UT210E. I have been looking for a good amp clamp that measures in DC volts. How accurate do you think that is?
Thanks, glad you are enjoying them. I would download the manual for the UT210E and read it. This is an AC/DC current clamp and good for about 100A. I bought it to run against these tests and then realized it could resolve 1mA. That saved it. I have never used the DC volts mode on it, or any feature that uses the leads. I just use it for a clamp. I never made a review for it but others have. I have posted a fair amount of data about drift and such on EEVBLOG. For $30, it's hard to beat. Normally for my automotive work, I would say I could really get away with +/-5% on pretty much every function. It's easy enough for me to do a quick sanity check if I suspect it is having a problem. The cheap meters I buy for automotive are normally overkill. The one thing that did come up from time to time was the need for a portable scope. I found a couple of old Fluke 97s last year that a guy was using in a garage. The UT210E along with one of these easily handles all my needs.
Sold, I support Taiwan against the CCP. I'm going to own 4 different special purpose Brymen meters very soon. First one arrived tonight and wasn't quite what I thought I'd ordered (089, 1DP DC V, oops) and looking around, also going to get 869, 319, and 197 :-)
I've had it for almost two years now. You would need to check current pricing. There were no hidden charges when I bought mine. The total was calculated on-line.
joe smith thanks for the reply. I just visited their site and created an account. the current gross price is 211.6 usd and shipping cost is 26 usd (net). The reason I aksed if there were some hidden charges because the shipping cost says it is "net" I wonder what is the "gross" transport cost, their site does not specify that.
@@mavamQ Their market has always been electrical workers, not electronics. This is reflected in the products they offer. I doubt many electricians are trying to buzz out a QFP package.
@@joesmith-je3tq That's interesting, as an electronic tech I have had several Fluke DVMs over 30+ years and it seems you have at least 3 of them. From the videos I see many electronic engineers have Fluke meters. I'm sure many of your watchers are doing electronics using Fluke meters, or are they electrical workers? I'll just agree that you disagree. I liked the info presented in your video, if I didn't already have a BM235, I would have spent a little more and got the BM869s.
@@mavamQ My point was again, Dave had nothing to do with it. Fluke's hobbyist market is small. I have stated many times that while the first DMM I ever owned was a very expensive Fluke, it was also the last one I ever owned up until I started making these reviews. I do own a few vintage Fluke 189s that are a nice basic meter and use them from time to time. The others are only used for reviews. About the only product Fluke offers now that I would consider for professional use is the 289, which I really have no use for. Dave has long promoted the Fluke 87V as the gold standard. I just laugh. Dave also has made it clear that calling yourself an engineer makes you one.
YOu'd not be able to hear 1 Hz or 4 hz. You mean to say 1KHz or 4KHz. Kilo... kilo. Hertz. Not just Hz. But thanks for the great review and information.
It's You'd not YOu'd. It's not KHz, it's kHz. You didn't take the time to provide a time stamp. Outside of the continuity function, I don't believe any audio tests were shown. If that's what you are referring to, the 1-20Hz is the make break time. It has nothing to do with the meter's beeper frequency. Most humans that have hearing are going to be able to hear that 1Hz modulation.
@@joesmith-je3tq Joe, my apology. I completely misunderstood, and in review, I can't see how I missed it. Time stamp 4 to 5 minutes. Thanks for the clarification for kHz (and my typo) however. The tests/comparisons you did were quite informative.
@@riccardocarbo2479 Yes, that's all modulating the continuity function. Some of the meters I have looked at are very fast. This one can actually be modulated in the kHz. ua-cam.com/video/svJXiMMZzcQ/v-deo.html
Years pass... UniT 181a has replaced my Mastech 20k count bench meter. I really like 181a’s display but know the meter not as robust as the Brymen. In my case I loathe a rechargeable meter in the field! The Brymen is my full-time non-data-logging “bag” meter. For data logging I have a Fluke 289 which for my taste, is way too fiddly for everyday use but built like a tank. I have 3 ip67 waterproof meters but avoid water and electricity whenever possible.
Looks like I measured 80hrs with the Brymen BM869s and 127hrs with the Fluke 189 (see my spreadsheet). Brymen uses a single 6LR61, Fluke uses four LR6. The best is the free meter from harbor freight, using a single 6LR61 and 1280 hrs of operation.
There was some background information in the FAQ and of course history was captured: www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/ I agree that for you personally, this testing was a total waste. For those interested in this level of testing, we have made it available for free for people to learn from.
Your idea of what is expensive will be different than others. If I get 20 years of service from a $1000 product that meets my needs, I wouldn't consider it expensive. We are talking about 14 cents a day. Then again we get free meters from HF which may work out well for some people.
When a presentation ages well, it demonstrates the wisdom of the presenter.
This demonstration has aged excellently.
The actual test sequence used here is well grounded---pun alert--and thorough enough to help almost anyone make a correct decision.
Thank you!
I still refer people to this video as an explanation when they bark at me "Why didn't ya buy a Fluke?"
I've wanted a Fluke 87V for a long while but this Brymen has turned my head more than somewhat. It looks like a worthy adversary. I appreciate your interesting quantitive tests.
The King is dead, long live the King.... IMO
@@JohnFHendry Fluke still makes some of the best meters on the market. They are very well made and hold up for a long lifespan. A good friend of mine still has the one he bought in the late 80s, still working fine.
But, it looks like Brymen are on their game. They are responsive to the customer and seem genuinely interested in making their product the best it can be. I have two of them and I am impressed with their accuracy, speed and the build quality. The leads are very good quality too.
@@brianthompson1138 Agree... for the money hard to beat the BM869s and that's what I ended up getting. Great meter...
@@JohnFHendry I initially picked up a BM257s for basic diagnostics work (I work on arcade games). I liked it, so I made that one my work meter and got a BM829s for home, as I do more indepth stuff there. I don't need 50K count, so the BM829s was my choice. It's very similar to the BM869s and the price was impressive. Bought them both from TME.
@@brianthompson1138 I sure hope Brymen reads these posts. I really like having the 50K count.... lets you see a tiny flow moving other meters miss. But I want DNA/RNA count settings to keep up with technology. Did you know last June a discovery was made that "upended the current, accepted notion of matter" and "rocks our current understanding of matter" ? Check it out... a researcher by the name of Monica Olvera de la Cruz at Northwestern University discovered it working with nanoparticles engineered with DNA in colloidal crystals. They said: "It’s not an electron. But it sure does act like one." I say who cares as long as the meter can read it... just have to wait it out now, darn...;-)
Thinking about buying a Multimeter for my Process job. Was watching Fluke V87 vids and reading comments. Then a commenter mentioned Brymen 869s which lead to more research and vids. Then I ran into a bunch of video comments where people were mentioning someone called Joe Smith and his testing vids for Brymen DMM. That’s how I ended up here. After watching almost a dozen vids today, think this Multimeter fits my need and price compared to a Fluke V87 or a fluke period.
Really depends on your particular needs but the BM869s is still by far my favorite meter that can still be purchased new.
5 year ago I purchase the 869s because of you and Dave (EEVB) videos. I'm still happy wit this beast. Thank you a lot dude!
I still use mine as well. These have been really good meters for electronics work.
I have been using this brymen meter (albeit branded as Greenlee) for over 6 months now with no issues. Fine meter for the moderate price. Great review. Thanks.
I have a 869s and 87v and use the brymen all the time for years now for my lab work. We also have hiokis laying around the lab which are very good 60k count meters.
Flukes, Brymens, Hiokis are definitely the top meters for accuracy as of 2024.
I was looking into kps meters and this review somehow came up. Thought i would comment. Good job on the comparisons.
I've been following you for quite some time now and appreciate your efforts and expertise. About a year ago I purchase the 869s from TME in Poland (very professional transaction) and have been very pleased. In fact, I've now relegated my Fluke 287 to secondary status/use.
I'm grad you're finding the videos helpful. I had thought about buying a Fluke 289 but after loaning one out to try, I ended up with the Brymen BM869s (also purchased from TME).
@@joesmith-je3tq Are they coming from a US warehouse or Poland? Any additional import duties from their prices?
@@ericvando Mine came from Poland and there were no additional duties.
After watching all your Brymen videos I've got convinced that I should give a try for the 869s as my multimeter.
I'm currently using a UT181A but need some a little more robust for the high voltages.
For those who are looking for it, I've just got it from Eleshop in Netherlands (EU shipping) for about 144€ the unit... very cheap.
Just missing a probe master for it now...
Thanks again.
My BM869s came in this week , i really love it ! Its 100khz ac trms is ideal for my audio repairs. The fluke 87v only measures up to around 19khz , this Brymen is unbeatable in price and performance.
Excellent review. I really like your test methods. Not just opinionated, like other reviews.
As always, GREAT JOB on the review Joe. I would add the Bremen 867s/969s english manual is very good and seriously better than Chinese meter manuals I either have or have seen. My Bremen did NOT come with a case but had good quality probes.
IF I were going to have ONLY ONE NEW meter today, I'd likely buy the Brymen BM869s. Even with its optional computer interface and software, it's priced less than a new Fluke 87-V. It is larger, but has a dual display. I frequently use the computer logging feature. If you don't, you can save $100+ . Main gripe regarding computer interface is it SHOULD BE USB in this day and age...
Today, in my "active" world, I have 2 Fluke 87-Vs (both purchased used), a Fluke 287, and the Bremen 869s. The Bremen BM869s has replaced my previous 22,000 count Mastech MS8040 "Bench" meter due to the DC voltage resolution and computer interface. The Mastech MS8040 was my first true-RMS meter and I retain it due to it's excellent AC/DC current probe with 10 ma resolution.
My Fluke 289 is my clearly most capable meter, except for the BM869s's 500,000 DC Volt count mode. However, the 289 tops $550.00 with its USB interface and software. I use my 289 mainly for field and lab logging for Solar Systems / Inverters installation and characterization on RVs. It has much poorer battery life, so it's less desirable for an everyday bench meter. It's plenty capable, but a little complex and has fiddly controls for most general bench work.
My 2 ea. Fluke 87-V meters are my grab-and-go / bang-around meters. They are TOUGH but smaller than their water-proof cousin the Fluke 28 II . If you want a water/environment-proof meter, the Fluke 28-II is basically an 87-V in a environment-proof case for only about $40.00 more (Amazon) , but it's considerably larger and a little heavier than the 87-V.
Remember, the "extra" digit in the BM869s's 500.000 count mode only works in DC Volts measurements. As stated in the BM869s manual: "It (the 500,000 count mode) is available to single display DC Voltage function ranges. Measuring speed is reduced to 1.25 times per second."
Folks, I guarantee your mileage will vary...
So... Practically speaking, do you feel the Brymen DMM is better than the Fluke 87 V?
The strange thing about that 1.25 measuring frequency per second in the 500k mode: I use 3rd party logging software, and it logs fine at 5 times per second in 500k mode. And the logging results are all unique values.
It appears the Brymen BM869 is a DMM somebuddy can count on.
Very interesting comparison, love your tests specially the latching showing how fast the readings are and the display backlights is waaay better!!!
Well done =]
in capturing the same readings as the Bryman did with crest feature enabled of course.
There was a followup video about the peak detect. Have you watched that?
I clicked like only after you took off the screen protection :-)
Watched 10min now and still waiting :D
It's amazing how disturbing screen protection is. When you go into someones home and they still have it on years old tv etc. grrr.
So many weirdos are in here
I've had a Fluke 87V for over a year now, but I'm now seriously looking at getting a BM869s to replace it. I don't like the Fluke's darker display background and smaller digits, and would enjoy the bigger, brighter, dual display of the Brymen. Not to mention the faster bar graph and additional features and higher precision. Thanks for a good comparison.
I'm not a fan of the 87V. I like the older Fluke 189 but the BM869s is still my choice. Like the 189, it's a good all around meter for electronics.
I've ran similar tests on some of the more recent meters where the 87V and BM869s were included. Maybe have a look at the OWON video. There you can see the 87V 189 and BM869s all together.
Great video. On the Fluke 87v vs 'crest mode' of the Brymen, you need to turn on the Fluke 'crest mode' or the peak mode, you used only the standard mode.
Safety: the issue is protection from faults within conditions of the meters appropriate usage, impulse tests were to simulate worse case conditions. Users should expect those capabilities to work as designed, i.e., CAT rating.
Brymen history. The only way to find out is to give Brymen a history, how does its build quality hold over time? You can see a semblance of its history by comparing the equivalent Greelee models with months to years of ownership, there are a number of them reported on Amazon for different models.
***** After reading your comment about the crest mode, I downloaded the manual for the 87V and saw the continuity button selects this mode. I would have never guessed this when I looked at the meter. Thanks. Looks like it should detect an even shorted pulse. I may check that out.
+Ig Saturation I looked at an 87V again. I am curious if it will detect both peaks? Say I have a signal at zero volts with a positive and negative pulse on top of that. Can it detect both? Reason I ask is that they call it a peak detect.
Hi Joe. Yes. Peak negative is stored as minimum value and peak positive is maximum value. When on the 87v does not auto sleep so it will monitor until you manual set it off.
+Ig Saturation Thanks. I may make a short video of this to compare that feature again.
Always enjoy your videos, thanks again.
Great video. I cant imagine any other test that could be done. Excellent job!
Another Great Joe Smith Video. What TRMS converter is used in this meter or is that calculated? Thanks
FYI, the fluke 87v also has a crest feature called "smoothing" from the off position, hold the range button on while turning the meter on. You should see an "S" for smoothing. Who knows, it may be close to the Bryman?
Close in what way?
@@joesmith-je3tq si es verdad, el Fluke 87-V tiene una función de suavizado.
Es verdad.
(Peak Min Max)
My favorite channel for meter info/reviews. Thanks!
Certainly not shy about putting them through their paces.
@@joesmith-je3tq my favourite was the Fluke 189 “torture test”. A beast of a meter, my all time favourite, even after 22 years.
Hello. I would like to know, whats your opinion about the Fluke 115C, Compare to the Fluke 115
I suggest you download both manuals and compare them.
This is without doubt the best review of multimeters! :-)
Could you please tell me what instrument, you used to test the continuity?
it could be a simple circuit with a transistor driven by a signal generator!
@@stm3252 Thanks a lot for your answer, yes that's a possibility and a simple and smart solution. But I think he may be using an electronic load of some sort. I have thought it could be a great test device if, as you say, you could control a circuit with a signal generator. A sort of "signal mirror". 1V in = 1V or 1A load, by that way could you generate all sorts of dynamic load profiles.
Never heard TME before. Good to know that it's an option.
Hello! Thank you for the video! Had Multimeter Fluke 289 cost the same as Bryman BM869S, which one would you choose?
I think you are asking which one you should choose, which of course I can't answer. However, I have said that if Fluke offered a meter I liked, I would buy it. I use the Fluke 189 because it's a good fit. Same for the BM869s. You don't see the 289 because it's not a good fit. Not because of the cost but the poor display, long boot times, slow graphing.. If Fluke came out with a new 189, I would purchase it. If UNI-T made a higher quality version of the UT181A that used standard batteries, I may take that. The 181A improves many of the things I dislike about the 289 but it comes with it's own problems.
@@joesmith-je3tq Thanks a lot for your answer! I'm leaning more towards the BM869S, since the Fluke 289 is already quite outdated, but I came across an offer to purchase it for $ 300. I am mainly interested in accurate and fast measurements. That is, checking the accuracy of the readings of various testers, chargers and voltage converters. I also plan to use a multimeter to calibrate cheaper testers. For me, 300 dollars is a rather large amount, I would not like to make a mistake when choosing, so I was interested in your opinion as the owner of many multimeters.
@@SkompomRuBlog I purchased a brand new HP34401A when they first came out. These can be found fairly cheap now, along with other high end bench meters. From your description, you may want to consider a used higher end meter and have it professionally calibrated w/ a report.
@@joesmith-je3tq Of course, this is an amazing device, but I would like everything to be portable that does not take up so much space on the table.
@@SkompomRuBlog Of course, you may end up with a small paper weight and $300 less in your pocket. It's a large about of money for you and I suggest you take your time to determine what your real requirements are first. Separate your likes and wants from your actual requirements. Then try to find a product that meets those needs. Be smart about the choices you make and you will be fine.
never thought no were close to fluke but this brayman come into place
A friend had recently purchased a Fluke 87V. He discovered the Brymen 869S months later and recommended it to me. I have the 869S and sent it to my calibration lab. Calibration was all within tolerance. I am very pleased especially with the 500,000 count for measuring very low voltages.
At the moment I am leaning towards fluke87v for its reliability.Nothing wrong with new company trying to to good job, every good reputation companys had to start from scratch, time will tell how brymen will hold against big boys.
I like your test leads. Are they custom made? Do you have the ref of the banana jacks?
Pomona makes them
Yes, I saw it with Keysight 1282A too, it's got much faster continuity test than 87V. But let's be frank, no one would switch between various elements 4 times a second :) I don't know why, I'm using Fluke much more often than Keysight, despite the fact that KS got better spec.
I am not sure how many make break cycles I have when sweeping a QFP. A seconds a long time.
@@joesmith-je3tq You're right and you're right and you're right. There might be some use cases for this "feature". Although very specific.
@@elmachooooo I had an electrician ask me once why anyone would ever need to measure anything beyond 60Hz. Everyone will have different requirements.
@@joesmith-je3tq I am not sure how are you sweeping this QFP but if you sweep it fast and hear a beep you need to do it once more, slowly (and the difference between F and B gets neglected). From what I understand Fluke 'merges' 2 beeps into 1. The more important test would be to check which meter picks up shorter 'signal' I suppose.
Of course, Brymen feels better but in practice I am not sure if it is important. But you're right - depends on the use case, personal preferences etc.
@@elmachooooo I do end up going back over, multiple times. I've seen people use wire bristles to trace a board just to get faster coverage.
Hi, what do you think of the Brymen BM257s ? Is this the best multimeter on the market in this price range ?
If you bought it, then it must have been the best meter for you.
@@joesmith-je3tq Hi, no I didn't buy it, I ask you for advice before buying it, around € 100 is the Brymen BM257 the best multimeter ?
@@CanaleUA-camGeneralista Read the FAQ.
@@joesmith-je3tq The FAQ where ?
The 3 meters on the left are all saying, what the **** is he doing here? Good that you're willing to try something outside the fluke safety net. One of the best 'real' comparisons too.
Buenos días, mi pregunta es la siguiente, el Brymen tiene función Autohold?
Otra pregunta, la retroiluminacion de la pantalla cuanto tiempo dura?
Éstas dos cuestiónes son muy importantes en un Multímetro.
New BM869s have a 256 second back light timeout. Not all the Fluke products have the auto hold. The BM869s doesn't have an auto hold but it does have a Crest and Rec mode. Just depends what you need. The best thing to do is read the manual to see if a product fits your personal needs.
@@joesmith-je3tq
Muchas gracias Joe, Fluke 175 177 179 ,287 289, 27, 28 /serie 80 y 87-V disponen de esta importante función de retencion automática, que funcionan, con tensión resistencia y amperios. Es importante por que sólo tenemos 2 manos 🙌 😉.
Un saludo desde España ,y gracias por contestar.
@@elektrikahectorfernandezol5341 Have a look at their new 78x series. The auto hold testing starts about 16 minutes in. ua-cam.com/video/UY9Myo5ngPQ/v-deo.html
I'd like to see how the Bryman 869s compares to the Megger AVO835 meter.
this multimeter is obtained with the green lee brand the DM860A, but the DM830A is the same as the fluke 87 v with a little more functions these green lee multimeter are excellent nothing to compare to fluke
Hi, really Brymen is it worth for money? I have only fluke how 87V, 289 and clamp meters of fluke. But I interested about brymen for its resolution and 4-20mA function. The single feature I don't like is the 0.8 ms of peak detect.
Hello, I would like to ask. Fluke 117 and brymen bm869s. Which one to choose? Brymen is made in Taiwan. Is there much difference between Taiwan and China? And the main question would be this. Are the battery contacts good? What are the chances of them coming off when replacing a new battery?
I assume you are asking about 9V battery connectors. When I was young, and pocket transistor radios were popular, I repaired several of them. You see a lot of damage when you give china to a gorilla. I have had the BM869s for several years and have yet to damage the connector or cable attaching it.
@@joesmith-je3tqIt's just that, for example, I don't take out the battery with a cheap multimeter because the cable cannot be removed. I wonder if the connection will be the same here. Although everything was OK in most of the devices. Maybe it just fell that way. By the way, how long does the screen last? Is it possible to turn off the automatic screen backlight?
Which one is the best multimeter for everything. ( home, industrial, electricians and for electrical users)
It's a very common question covered in the FAQ. I do not make recommendations nor am I trying to sell meters.
Fluke 185 has AC+DC, but it is actually an Tektronix TX3.
Do you know how this Brymen compares to the Fluke 115?
You can download both manuals for free and compare specs.
FWIW the 869S is out of stock at the company website. Can't find it online either.
It may be popular. I certainly like mine. Just contact Brymen and see when their next build schedule is.
Try the Greenlee DM820A
@@zmanhd1 DM-860A?
Hello, I was hoping you may have some insight of the accuracy differences of different ac line splitters. I have read reviews where some people say the 10x and 1x are off on some models when in theory they should be the same reading but just need a decimal place shift for the 10x vs 1x. Any thoughts on which models may be more accurate ?
AC line splitter? You mean for RF work? They should have a datasheet with the S-parameters.
I was checking an LED circuit with the Brymen and found the shunt resistance notable on the more sensitive ranges - enough to visibly dim the LEDs. Is this normal? Is this a differentiator between meters?
I guess if you're normally wanting to measure low currents in battery drain scenarios for example then the meter resistance is tiny in comparison with the load? Where my LEDs were a very non-linear load.
I would have no idea what your circuit was or what your were trying to measure. It seems like you may have been using the meter to measure current. Yes, the meters will drop some amount of voltage. Yes, it will be dependent on the range. Yes, it will be meter dependent. Assuming this is what you are referring to, it is known at the burden voltage.
This is a playlist for videos I have made on measuring current. Good luck with your project.
ua-cam.com/play/PLZSS2ajxhiQDhlXQCyoNSDmUjb6lAqC8z.html
This was dabbling - effectively using the ammeter to show a child which link had to be repaired in their LED circuit by shorting the bad link, while also showing the current in the circuit at the time. As the LEDs are running straight off battery but below their rated forward voltage any additional resistance seems significant. I'd take that as being a factor of the high slope of the diode response. Amazingly the LEDs while dim were still clearly on at 2mA.
I've found this which is really interesting - www.ni.com/tutorial/5448/en/
I wonder if any DMMs use that circuit to reduce effective shunt resistance in their microamp range. The other factors such as noise pickup are significant though.
My interest in low currents, and a reason for factoring that into my DMM purchasing choice, would be monitoring microcontroller based circuits and their use of the microcontroller's power save features. For example the PIC has a sleep instruction which will allow it to mostly power down until it receives an interrupt. The burden voltage should be small in comparison with the supply voltage in this case.
Thanks
- Richard
I am not sure which circuit you are referring to. The article has a few. All of the handheld DMMs I have looked at will use various shunts. I have a meter that uses the feedback method for very low currents. Of the videos in the playlist, the ones that may most be of interest to you are the first and third. I am not surprised by your findings with the little LED experiment.
@@joesmith-je3tq😊
OMG! there is inteligent life beyond Fluke planet. Very interesting and usefull video, thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom.
Hi Joe,
Brymen 869s is not able to read LEDs; however it light up the LED. Can you comment?
Sure I can comment. You are not asking a question so I will just go on to add that I can't test any diodes with a drop higher than 2V. This means all of my HV diodes are out. That said, my first meters did not have a diode check mode. So I'm used to testing HV diodes using an external supply.
Did you know this video is linked from the Wikipedia article for multimeter?
I did not.
Does the Brymen869 beep for diode checks?
Not that I am aware of but mine are now fairly old. Download and read the latest manual for up to date info, or contact the manufacture.
I know you rarely do anything with "clamp" style meters but I'm wondering if you might consider doing a review on a fairly new offering from Brymen...the BM037. It is a fully featured clamp meter and very small in size. It might be a contender with the now famous Uni-T UT210E. Price range on the BM037 is pretty good and you seem to enjoy all the Brymen products that you test, so this could be an interesting little meter to look at.👍
Thank you for all the videos that you do.
The whole reason I like the UT210E is the 1mADC resolution. I am not aware of a Brymen product that would compete with it. I have not tried testing any clamps outside of the Fluke open fork non-contact unit. All of the Brymen products I have looked at have held up very well in my tests. Maybe if they make a clamp similar to the UT210E, I will have a look at it. Maybe do a shootout between them. I have never plugged the leads into my UT210Es.
Hello Mr Smith, some times we loose control to acually test the devices,as a result we loose also making difference between what is important and what is useless facts.the update rate doesn't matter ,when we talk about out of 2 updates/sec , I think the important thing is to have an accurate and precise readings.I can wait the multimeter 1 sec if it is accurate,humans are not fast enough to deal with 5 updates per sec .
That's why we have 20,000,000,000 sps scopes, because we humans can't deal with it. Understand that your opinion is just that, and it may not reflect the general population. Someone once posted why anyone would ever need to look at currents higher than 100Hz.
@@joesmith-je3tq Mr Smith , you want esolate my opinion ,simply you can ask every one," can you realy your brain and eyes deal with 20 updates / sec?" I think no at all when we see there is a couple of hundreds of miliseconds to from understand what we see, we cant se 20 updates in one second and understad all each one and understand them.the same thing with beeping speed of a multimeter, are we fast enough to figuere out what we connect . for example 5 latches per sec. no but we "feel"that we are blocked a litle bit by the response of the continuaty beeps and the insufficient control on it . best regards
@@TruthDigest I have no desire to run such a poll but you certainly can if you feel it will gain you something. Companies don't offer faster update rates for the fun of it. Customers want it. 30Hz and up bar graphs are common. Imagine what watching a video at 2 fps would be like. I've seen people that can consistently cut 0.00 lights (professional drag). If you see no reason for faster update rates, that's fine. Just don't assume you are in the majority.
I feel it will gain me something :)
just to complete the cycle companies offer faster update rates because customers want it, why customers want it and what is the real sufficient ,
comfortable and useful update rate for the customer.I think 4 updates/sec is great and 30 /sec also but there is no considerable change. our brains are not fast to deal with 30 updates/sec.as an example , if you have a camera and you want know who is the person next to your home.if this camera make a single capture and you see this picture and you recognized the person, the task is done if I make other pictures to the same person that will make no difference, I recognized him . but this aditional pictures are not a problem.and I'm sorry to bother you again Mr smith but I want to make make point of view mre clear, no more. I have a question if you can Mr smith ; what is the lowest capacitance value can the fluke 87 v read.even the brymen 869 doesn't mention that clearlypicofarads are important for me and us the industrial multimeter have a litle bit highest values on capacitance.thank you for the feedback.best regards.
@@TruthDigest The youtube filter placed your comment into the spam area due to your grammar. Use a space after each period and you should be fine. I am not aware of ANY meters that will update the digital readout at 30Hz. It seems there are some at 5Hz. The bargraph on the better meters will normally be much faster. But again, if you are happy with a 2Hz bargraph, digital display and continuity test update, that's fine. Just don't expect the majority of people to be happy with that level of performance.
I imagine the manual for the 87V is still available to download for free. It seems you don't understand what you are looking for is all. Check the meters accuracy and resolution. From this, you should be able to sort it out. Normally, I will use an RLC meter to measure capacitors. If I am looking at small values for RF and want more information than the RLC meter provides, I use the vector network analyzer.
Hello ! It's been 7 years, how are your thoughts on the BM869s today ? I am considering buying one.
I have not yet found anything a current production meter that suits me better. That by no means suggests it would be a good fit for you. Do your homework and buy the right tools for your jobs.
@@joesmith-je3tq I have. I need to be able to accurately measure currents in the 0 to 10 microamp range. I also need to be able to log the measurements on a computer, and this one has a USB interface. On paper, it's the one for me.
Hello, I have the Uni-t ut17B PRO model and when I measure a voltage around, let's say 5 volts, if I measure with the probes + with plus and - with minus, it gives me 5,003 volts, let's say, if I reverse the probes + with black and - with the red probe, it gives me another type value - 5.007 volts, so a difference of 4 millivolts inverse of the probe in DC (direct current).
Do you think it's normal? is it part of the tolerance of the device or is it defective?
Thanks
If my meter was displaying 5000 volts with 5 volts applied, it would be heading to the trash. I doubt you would find anyone who would think this is normal.
@@joesmith-je3tq not 5000 volt, displaying 5,(comma)003 , but whe i reverse the probes displaying -5,(comma)007 not the same voltage ,is a 4 milivolt diference ,is normal displayig this milivolt diference if i reverse the probes? or is part of tolerance?
Do you still love your Brymen ? I struggled with ordering this very meter a bit before you made this video apparently, but then came across a 189 at an estate sale which had the minimum features I needed over my old 85 III.
Love is a pretty strong word. It's the best meter I have come across. A friend of mind gave me a 189 which is pretty nice general purpose meter as well but obviously, they are only available used. I like the dual thermocouple inputs the Brymen offers but if Fluke was still selling the 189 and kept it updated to current standards, I would buy one. I was looking at what Fluke had to offer when I bought the Brymen and the 289 was really the only thing they offered that I considered. I borrowed one for a while but was not very impressed with it. The 189 was used in automotive so I spent some time cleaning it up. Bought some new NiMH batteries for it.
Mother of continuity tests
Would you prefer Brymen 869s or EEVLOG 786? I have 87v; however, I want add one more meter.
I think you are really asking what meter you should buy which I have no idea. Maybe just the free ones from HF would serve you. My favorite handhelds are still the Brymen BM869s and Fluke 189.
@@joesmith-je3tq, Mr. Joe, thank you for your reply. Yes, you are right. Even HF meters serve well sometimes. Hoping you will post the HF meter video soon.
@@ZakariahSH I have made a few videos showing it.
ua-cam.com/video/ObKomuLLqU8/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/E5aj4guPbZQ/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/x_L6Z8BAXFQ/v-deo.html
Nice test joe, but your your test for the 5v PWM. did not use the 87's PEAK MIN MAX mode which as you probably know, gives the meter the ability to capture events as short as 250us.
There was a follow up video that I take it you did not watch.
Apologies Sir, I will take a look. Excellent channel and thanks.
What are the differences between the Brymen BM869 and the Brymen BM869S ?
It's a pity to not get people who are helpful when trying to make a decision. Take an alternative look at the Victor VC189 or the Victor VC187 which there is little information on also. Hopefully some may see our need and respond properly.
I assume anyone asking would have wrote the mfg themselves by now but:I had forgotten that I had written Brymen this question. This was their response: "BM869s is the upgraded model of BM869 to meet the requirements of the latest 61010-1 3rd Edition. All of their functions, ranges & features are maintained the same. Only their input protection circuits are with slight difference."
Have you any experience with Hioki DT4281?
The only meters I have looked at on on the spreadsheet. I was looking at the 4282 for my own use but went with that Brymen BM869s instead. In general, my experience with Hioki products has been good.
Wwhy doesn't the background light on my fluke 87-5 timeout after 68 secs as per specs?
Provide a link the specs that you are looking at.
Looks like a fine meter, but can it be calibrated by a cal lab?
Does it come with instructions for calibration / performance verification?
That second T/C would be dead useful, but does it make the inputs vulnerable to damage? I had a cheapo meter once where they used split sockets to sense a plug in the current input, well, that one half went right to the processor I/O pin with no protection and if you pulled the plug out with power on it you had a 50/50 chance of blowing it all to hell.
stefantrethan Assuming that you really mean calibration and not alignment, I would think most of the calibration houses could handle it without a problem. If you are asking about an alignment or repair, I would assume it would go back to the manufacture.
I am not sure how this meter stacks up against the others I tested.
Thank you too much for the great review!!
Is BM869s still worth buying in 2020 or there are better devices for that price (250..300$) out there?
I can't answer than for you. It's up to you to determine what products best fit your needs. For me personally, I have yet to find a meter still available that I like more.
Reading this in 2023 almost 2024. It still seem like it is as recommended in 2020 as it is in 2023.
@@ardentdfender4116 I have to say that after writing the original comment in 2020, I actually bought the BM869s that same year and since then I've been very satisfied with it. The only disadvantage perhaps is the easily scratchable screen.
@@Valeriy7D0 Great to hear you have been satisfied with the BM869s since you bought it. After watching quite a few vids and reading a lot of comments yesterday, including coming across this one and a few in this comments section I was convinced it be a good buy and bought the BM869s from Brymen in Europe. As it’s not easy to find here in the U.S. or at the lower price. I should get it in a few days.
@@ardentdfender4116 Good to hear! I hope you'll enjoy it!
Amazon has a multimeter for $2. What do you think, should I go for it?
I think if you are old enough to have an Amazon account, you're old enough to make your own decisions.
@@joesmith-je3tq - Darn it, you're totally right! I'm gonna do it! Tx so much Joe, Merry Xmas to you, sir.
When will you test a Fluke 28 II ? THANKS
I have no plans to run one.
Hi like the bryman.which country made it.thanks
brymen.eu/
Brymen is Taiwanese
What is an ARP?
does anyone know the diference between BM869 and BM869s ? i can't find what that s mean if any ?
You could write Brymen but it was changed for the higher certification.
Can you test and compare the new fluke 87v max to the brymen mn869s?
I doubt I will look at another Fluke product. I've looked at several and they have all done very well. Not being an electrician or technician, their products in general are not something I am really interested in. They sure to make some nice tools for those markets though.
@@joesmith-je3tq I only asked because the 87v max has an ip67 rating, 13 foot drop rating and is waterproof. Its supposed to be the toughest meter fluke has made. I was just curious if it would hold up better than the others. Thanks for replying
@@davidwells1914 The ratings you mention are not something I have tested or collect data on. I would have no way to know how it compares with other meters. I am more interested in a meter's ability to survive some basic transients. Dave from the EEVBLOG site, may take one for a swim and drop it from the bridge. That's more his thing. You should ask him as he may even have one by now.
Hi, i have solution how to make bm869s backlight stay on forever. Do you want to try it? I have it straight from brymen.
Tell
stay buying batteries forever.
how long did it take to get delivered?
Less than a week.
they don't ship to USA?
I think Fluke has something to do with that
What is the Greenlee rebranded model for the Brymen? I don't want to order from overseas. Thanks
It's the Greenlee DM-820A
@@spacecadet8843 do you mean DM-860A? The DM-820A is a 10,000 count meter. The DM-860A is 500,000 count, which is what the Brymen BM-869S is.
What if you have to service that Bryman or get it calibrated?
Is it as easy to take care if as the Fluke.
I am looking for a multimter for automotive use. Hybrids are becoming more popular.
Assuming you know what it is you are asking and understand the difference between alignment and calibration, having the Brymen calibrated is no different than any other meter. I find it a little strange you would need a traceable calibration for automotive but that ISO stuff must get everyone.
For me personally, when it comes to automotive, I go as cheap as I can because the meters get so much abuse and I consider them disposable. I do like the UT210E for measuring the low currents off the battery. For my own electronics hobby, this general purpose meter is still the best one I have come across.
Thanks for your replay. I like your videos, very high tech.
It's just that every so often a multimeter should be calibrated due to some abuse. No sense using an inaccurate meter right? I am trying to make a transition more into the electrical side of the automotive service work from the mechanical side. So I am looking for a good multimeter.
Thanks for the tip on the UT210E. I have been looking for a good amp clamp that measures in DC volts. How accurate do you think that is?
Thanks, glad you are enjoying them.
I would download the manual for the UT210E and read it. This is an AC/DC current clamp and good for about 100A. I bought it to run against these tests and then realized it could resolve 1mA. That saved it. I have never used the DC volts mode on it, or any feature that uses the leads. I just use it for a clamp. I never made a review for it but others have. I have posted a fair amount of data about drift and such on EEVBLOG. For $30, it's hard to beat.
Normally for my automotive work, I would say I could really get away with +/-5% on pretty much every function. It's easy enough for me to do a quick sanity check if I suspect it is having a problem.
The cheap meters I buy for automotive are normally overkill. The one thing that did come up from time to time was the need for a portable scope. I found a couple of old Fluke 97s last year that a guy was using in a garage. The UT210E along with one of these easily handles all my needs.
Sold, I support Taiwan against the CCP. I'm going to own 4 different special purpose Brymen meters very soon. First one arrived tonight and wasn't quite what I thought I'd ordered (089, 1DP DC V, oops) and looking around, also going to get 869, 319, and 197 :-)
Also buying from TME = supporting Poland against Russia :-)
Awesome Vid, thanks Joe
Glad you enjoyed it. It's still by far my favorite meter.
hello joe! how much is the total cost? does tme delivered it to your door without hidden charges?
I've had it for almost two years now. You would need to check current pricing. There were no hidden charges when I bought mine. The total was calculated on-line.
joe smith thanks for the reply. I just visited their site and created an account. the current gross price is 211.6 usd and shipping cost is 26 usd (net). The reason I aksed if there were some hidden charges because the shipping cost says it is "net" I wonder what is the "gross" transport cost, their site does not specify that.
What they quoted is what I paid. Total was about $230 without the serial adaptor when I bought mine.
Glad I saw this before pulling the trigger on the Fluke, I'd be crying if I saw it afterwards. I was so close to buying the Fluke today! haha
doesn't this high resolution of Brymen come at the expense of poorer battery life?
Battery life is a metric I measure and store in the on-line spreadsheet.
The Fluke 189 has AC+DC RMS
Yes it did but sadly it is no longer sold.
Superb! Thank you.
Love your videos:)
Brymen is more machine, similar Amprobe AM-160
That Brymen is kick tail
Still my favorite handheld meter of the ones I have looked at.
I have to think the fast continuity tester was influenced by Dave ! 🙂
Seems more plausible that it stems from customer doing work that requires it. That's nothing new.
@@joesmith-je3tq Oh, wonder why the 74 year old company Fluke never noticed that, with there millions of customers!
@@mavamQ Their market has always been electrical workers, not electronics. This is reflected in the products they offer. I doubt many electricians are trying to buzz out a QFP package.
@@joesmith-je3tq That's interesting, as an electronic tech I have had several Fluke DVMs over 30+ years and it seems you have at least 3 of them. From the videos I see many electronic engineers have Fluke meters. I'm sure many of your watchers are doing electronics using Fluke meters, or are they electrical workers? I'll just agree that you disagree. I liked the info presented in your video, if I didn't already have a BM235, I would have spent a little more and got the BM869s.
@@mavamQ My point was again, Dave had nothing to do with it. Fluke's hobbyist market is small. I have stated many times that while the first DMM I ever owned was a very expensive Fluke, it was also the last one I ever owned up until I started making these reviews. I do own a few vintage Fluke 189s that are a nice basic meter and use them from time to time. The others are only used for reviews. About the only product Fluke offers now that I would consider for professional use is the 289, which I really have no use for. Dave has long promoted the Fluke 87V as the gold standard. I just laugh. Dave also has made it clear that calling yourself an engineer makes you one.
YOu'd not be able to hear 1 Hz or 4 hz. You mean to say 1KHz or 4KHz. Kilo... kilo. Hertz. Not just Hz. But thanks for the great review and information.
It's You'd not YOu'd. It's not KHz, it's kHz. You didn't take the time to provide a time stamp. Outside of the continuity function, I don't believe any audio tests were shown. If that's what you are referring to, the 1-20Hz is the make break time. It has nothing to do with the meter's beeper frequency. Most humans that have hearing are going to be able to hear that 1Hz modulation.
@@joesmith-je3tq Joe, my apology. I completely misunderstood, and in review, I can't see how I missed it. Time stamp 4 to 5 minutes. Thanks for the clarification for kHz (and my typo) however. The tests/comparisons you did were quite informative.
@@riccardocarbo2479 Yes, that's all modulating the continuity function. Some of the meters I have looked at are very fast. This one can actually be modulated in the kHz. ua-cam.com/video/svJXiMMZzcQ/v-deo.html
Years pass... UniT 181a has replaced my Mastech 20k count bench meter. I really like 181a’s display but know the meter not as robust as the Brymen. In my case I loathe a rechargeable meter in the field! The Brymen is my full-time non-data-logging “bag” meter. For data logging I have a Fluke 289 which for my taste, is way too fiddly for everyday use but built like a tank. I have 3 ip67 waterproof meters but avoid water and electricity whenever possible.
Shocked, pleasently
Bm consume battery fast, fluke is the best
Looks like I measured 80hrs with the Brymen BM869s and 127hrs with the Fluke 189 (see my spreadsheet). Brymen uses a single 6LR61, Fluke uses four LR6. The best is the free meter from harbor freight, using a single 6LR61 and 1280 hrs of operation.
why you are buying these all multimeters.... it will become waste,... in my place a good multimeter is too much cost.. can you send me a good meter..
There was some background information in the FAQ and of course history was captured:
www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/
I agree that for you personally, this testing was a total waste. For those interested in this level of testing, we have made it available for free for people to learn from.
👍👍
expensive.
do not buy
Your idea of what is expensive will be different than others. If I get 20 years of service from a $1000 product that meets my needs, I wouldn't consider it expensive. We are talking about 14 cents a day. Then again we get free meters from HF which may work out well for some people.