Brymen BM235 Multimeter

I would give this a 4.5 star if possible but I still give it 5 since its more like a 4.55 star rounded to 5. I wanted to write this review to do some justice. I usually do not write a review when a product is good - I just use it. I usually do not write a review when the product is bad - I just return it. However I think there's undue negative views on the net that needed to be demystified. I saw a youtube video titled "Brymen BM235 EEVB Intermittent backlight issue." Basically if you pressed around the Hold button area while the backlight is on, it turns it off. I got mine today and my EEVblog 235 does not do that. If yours act up the same way, you have a defect - simply exchange it! Its a great multimeter. Search under google.com - "LCD viewing angle - EEVblog Brymen BM235 - LCD issues or normal?" It talks about viewing angles not being good for a multimeter that's not a "cheapy." However having the BM235 in front of me, I almost want to say the Op of the forum has a defect - the op's picture looks worse than mine. The only time it wasn't readable when it was at extreme angle - most people don't work like this at their bench. These two were my biggest concerns however, no problems. I took a leap of faith looking at the 5 star reviews and I'm glad I did. Now you might ask why 4.5 stars? Well Dave has high standards and although this meter meets most of his his standards: - The multimeter has a cheap stand that bends. Not too stable when turning the knob. I know Dave is not fond of this quality on Sub $100 DMM. - I got this DMM in a whitebox with no manual. I remember Dave dinging the manufacturers of most cheapy multimeters for having bad manual with Chinglish grammar if you will. Well when I got mine, there was no manual of any sort. But its a minor gripe since I can find it on the website. Now that I got that out of the way - well y'all already know the good stuff about the multimeter: - 6000 counts and True RMS multimeter (compare that to Fluke 17B+ 4000counts, non true RMS) - Super high quality fuses, super safe, UL listed. - Look Ma! This one has it all! Milivolts, Miliamps, and Microamps - great for electronics. (Long time ago I bought a Fluke 117; its for electricians for big appliances, not electronics. Hey this BM 235 can do both) - Rock solid enclosure build - Dave wouldn't have it any other way - Compact, super convenient size - Bright backlight - Super fast continuity sound test - Bonus goodies - high quality probes My last thought is that UNI-T UT61E is not bad in terms of features, but doesn't have the input protection like BM235. Also BM235 has backlight for people who need to work in dimly lit areas.

Actually, overall this is my second multimeter; my first one is an analog version: Sunwa YX-360TR N-L. Sorry to be technical between analog and digital. But I have to say that going digital really makes a big difference. It's a whole lot easier to read the numbers than to estimate a number based on where the needle is located. I can't believe that I have been missing out for such a long time sticking with my Sunwa. I bought the Sunwa a long time ago for light electronics testing and small usage around the home. But lately I've been frustrated with it because I always have to adjust the needle before using it and even then sometimes I'm not confident of the results. Additionally when I do continuity testing, sometimes the needle jumps wildly. The straw finally broke when I was testing my dryer's thermostats and I just couldn't understand what the meter was reporting. The needle would move wildly and I just wasn't confident the result was reliable let alone correct. I bought the EEVBlog Brymen BM235 mainly after being convinced of Dave Jones' EEVBlog Youtube videos about things to look for in a digital multimeter and his decision to work with Brymen to release a meter of his own. I am not an electronics expert nor am I willing to spend mega bucks on a fancy meter but I was persuaded by Dave's points in not only just going for a meter with a decent set of good and reliable features but also more importantly a safe meter that is built with internal electronics protection and with external ruggedness protection. Dave has an interesting and fun way of getting his points across and I was just convinced after soaking in his information. I did watch other Youtube videos about multimeters and researched other resources and was considering other meters from Mastech, Harbor Freight, UNI-T and any sub-50 to sub-100 meters. But when I found out that Dave was releasing his own meter, I reasoned that he is now really eating his own dog food of advice that he spewed out years ago. I also absolutely loved his honesty explaining his reasoning to basically co-brand with Brymen. I understood this as: "I'm not going to hide who built this meter. I'm working with this manufacturer because I think they are reliable. I'm going to show you the insides of this meter. I'm putting my stamp of approval because this meter meets my minimum level of standards for a decent meter with good features and safeness. (I think Dave's minimum level of standards is quite high.) I think this is a win-win-win. (Win for Dave on his advice over the years. Win for Brymen for the experience producing reliable products. Win for the end user in confidence of their work depending on a reliable product.)" I haven't used all of the meter's functions but so far I have used continuity, resistance, temperature and DC volts and the results are reliable and give me confidence. The meter feels rock solid. I like the blue suit and the test accessories. The test probes are really nice. I like that there is a cover for the metal stick and that the banana portion can be unscrewed to reveal that metal stick. I know I have said earlier about a triple win but unfortunately there a few things I noticed that I wish can be improved but overall these issues aren't deal breakers. First is the LCD viewing angle. I know Dave released a video explaining it but I'll just say this: My rice cooker has a LCD and no matter where I look at it, up top, below, left, or right, the display is legible. On the meter for some reason when I look at it up top the display disappears. I admit I don't like it but I figure most of the time the meter will either be flat or be on the stand while I look at it head on or from below so there's minimal chance of seeing it from up top. Second is Dave talks about not liking a meter that you can't turn the dial with one hand when it's flat. "It's as slippery as a used car salesman!" :) I like to add that I had a difficult time turning the dial with one hand when the meter is on the stand. The dial was so hard that I ended up moving the meter rather than twisting the dial. I was in the middle of testing something and wanted to switch to a different function with one hand while the other hand remained holding on to the probe and the testing object. I don't know if it's the stand or surface; the meter was on a linen placemat. Also I think it just might be physics. A rock solid meter resting on a thin stand isn't going to get much stability support while I try to twist the hard dial. Third is the test probe parts. I like the probe covers but they can only be used if the banana plugs are unscrewed. Unfortunately with the banana plugs unscrewed, there is another problem of where to store the banana plugs. I know it's my responsibility to safely store them away but it would be nice if either the blue suit or the lead itself has some storage area to store these small things away. At least the covers can be put in the back of the blue suit if the banana plugs are screwed on. Again these issues aren't terrible deal breakers. I just want to point them out for reference in the hopes that manufacturers and customers consider it for future product designs. Overall I like this meter. I was persuaded by Dave's points in getting a good digital meter that is also safe. Based on my usage I know I could have spent less and forgo some features. I also could have spent a decent or higher amount on another meter that meets or exceeds Dave's standards. But when I discovered Dave released his own meter and was also open about who he is working with in producing this meter, I thought I give my business to both of them. I had already viewed some of Dave's EEVBlog Youtube videos and considered his advice educational. I also researched Brymen and came to the conclusion that they produce reliable products. So yeah, I like this meter and I definitely won't be using my Sunwa again. I'm including a pic comparing the meter with my Sunwa. Notice the continuity isn't at zero.