Hello Paul.
I donīt know, if it still interests. And Iīm sorry: I donīt know anything about electronic- stores in England.
Thatīs why my suggestion is more general.
IMO itīs most useful for you to get the following items together.
My suggestion:Item
DMM Uni-T UT61E DMM DT-830B Component-Tester
Total | Price
41.00 GBP 2.72 GBP 9.69 GBP
53.41 GBP |
Reasons: Uni-T UT61E - Best bang per buck with 22000 counts resolution, TRMS, Data- logging capability and 0.1% basic accuracy.
Source:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E-Digital-Multimeters-UT61E-/221043306594?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones_Communication_Radio_Meters&hash=item3377353062DT-830B - Really an "El Cheapo" DMM. But it is quite handy if two measurements at the same time are needed, e.g. Volt and Ampere for determining of power-consumption.
Be aware: Using with high power circuits is dangerous!!!Source:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Portable-Ammeter-Voltmeter-Handheld-Tester-Ohmmeter-LCD-Digital-Multimeter-/400732719989?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item5d4d880b75Component- Tester - Quite useful tool for testing and identifying stuff.
Source:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESR-Meter-Transistor-Tester-NPN-PNP-Mosfet-Thyristor-Diode-Resistor-Capactior-/171368601308?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item27e65d56dcYes, all this stuff comes from Hongkong. Actually you could order it in Barbados...
Further Informations:There are four videos from the owner of this forum about the UT61E. Link to the first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz6CYDRl1M8And one about the DT-830B:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL3NqkzvZ8oAnd a video about the component tester, made by Steve Wagner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztpVMtsVF68Additional comment to the videos: The marking with the "CE"- sign is meaningless. It seems independed tested. Itīs not! The manufacturer claims only, to meet the specs and marks it self. Safety is only independently checked with the "UL- listed"- marking (USA) or the "GS"- sign (Germany). Perhaps there are some others, I donīt know. BTW: The UT-61E is available as a german version with the "GS"-sign. It has a better input protection (bigger HRC-Fuses, spark- gap and so on) as the international version. Also it will delivered with the USB- cable instead the RS232- Connection. But itīs more expensive...
For example, a link to the german version:
http://www.pollin.de/shop/dt/MzU2OTYxOTk-/Messtechnik_Uhren/Messtechnik/Multimeter/RMS_Digital_Multimeter_UNI_T_UT61E.html (74,95 ~ 60 GBP + shipping and hard to get outside of Germany.)
Variation:If you have no need for a component- tester or if you can spend a little more then 60 pounds,
then go for the Digitec DT-2843R as second DMM (instead of the DT-830B).
Reason:It will adding functions, which the UT61E is lacking.
- Backlight
- Temperature
- MaxMin Function (UT61E has Peak- Max Min)
- AC+DC TRMS (The UT61E canīt do that)
Link to video, made by LightAges:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eDWb7qkx4ASource:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digitek-DT-2843R-AC-DC-True-RMS-Multimeter-with-Backlight-and-Temperature-/171080136251All in all it is difficult to find a DMM that can do everything. Especially in this price range.
But I think, my suggestions have a wide range of functionality and fulfill your requirements.
Greetings,
Hartmut