I bought a 74$ smartphone with a 4.3" IPS 856x480 touch display, a GHz CPU, ram, flash, GSM, 3G, WIFI and a lithium battery that has been on since I got it 2 weeks ago and its only half way down. So a 1980 fluke87 should cost 400$? I think not.
I'd agree if it's a solid performer all round and as accurate or better than fluke87V then it's ok at 150$. but at over 200 I feel it's too far from the excellent value 22000 count UT61E at 65$. a basic slow multimeter must not approach the price of a gigasample oscilloscope. we are really talking about 1980s technology and the case should be the most expensive part. It's like casio watches and calculators, stagnant. A 200$ scope should have rather serious oscilloscope functionality today.
The Mastech has an accuracy tolerance of 0.03% (+ some digits) and the Fluke 287 is 0.025%. This is the specified accuracy range, but one meter may be at 0.02% and the other may be at 0.015%.
I found my MS8218 on eBay for $148.00 delivered to the USA. It took well over 2 weeks to arrive from China. I purchased my Brymen BM 869s for $214 + $45.00 for a total of $259.00 delivered from Italy in just 3 days. T The Brymen DOES NOT come with a carrying/storage case, so add another $20 for a $279.00 total. he Bremen is a more robust meter with the added digit of resolution in it's 500,000 count mode. I think the Brymen is the 50,000 count meeter to buy if you're not stepping up to the $500.00 eBay price range of the Fluke 287/289. However, if you're really strapped for cash, I would NOT be afraid of the Mastech MS8218. I several other Mastech and Fluke meters and NONE of them have ever had to be serviced or seem to have drifted out of Calibration. I too use the "Voltage Standard" DMM reference and PentaRef to periodically check my meters. Ironically, I too am a Solar Power installer, focusing on RV's (Caravans? ;-) and off-grid applications.
Purchased mine years ago for under $100 (I think the pricing was just to get them circulated) just to see if it was any good. And years later, this thing still matches my Flukes in every way and the PC Link works great for the classroom. Serious techs should get the Fluke. I can always get the Flukes serviced if needed. If the Mastech goes bad (???) then I guess you can buy two for the price of one Fluke.
Great video! I have this meter, got it open box for $110, it was my first meter, I like it. I had the exact same complaint about the battery door fasteners. Can't wai t to see you open yours up, so I don't have to:-) . Also would love to see the software in action, as I haven't tried that yet. Thanks for the videos!
Dave Jones does great tear down review videos including multimeters if you want to check it out. Dave and Martin are like a tag team, you come to Martin for a comprehensive review and then go to Dave's channel for the teardown (EEVBlog). ~ Jason
You said it has better accuracy then fluke 287? But didn't you said that fluke has 0.025% at beginning? Or you just referenced to your fluke (which could be off and uncalibrated). Sorry if I got it wrong.
I have mastech,but quality is not good,yu fong Made in Taiwan better than mastech,my yu fong quality almost the same with fluke quality,I buy yu fong in 2002 ,but now,I still use in 2020,18 years,and quality is good,but my fluke is no.1,I have fluke 287,fluke quality is no 1.👍👍👍👍👍
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Great video. Thanks for your time and your interest in MASTECH products. By the way, we have new products coming soon. Stay tuned.
I bought a 74$ smartphone with a 4.3" IPS 856x480 touch display, a GHz CPU, ram, flash, GSM, 3G, WIFI and a lithium battery that has been on since I got it 2 weeks ago and its only half way down. So a 1980 fluke87 should cost 400$? I think not.
I'd agree if it's a solid performer all round and as accurate or better than fluke87V then it's ok at 150$. but at over 200 I feel it's too far from the excellent value 22000 count UT61E at 65$.
a basic slow multimeter must not approach the price of a gigasample oscilloscope. we are really talking about 1980s technology and the case should be the most expensive part.
It's like casio watches and calculators, stagnant.
A 200$ scope should have rather serious oscilloscope functionality today.
Thanks...these have not come across my radar before now. I will take a closer look and see if I can get hold of one. Cheers, Martin.
The Mastech has an accuracy tolerance of 0.03% (+ some digits) and the Fluke 287 is 0.025%. This is the specified accuracy range, but one meter may be at 0.02% and the other may be at 0.015%.
I'm all for a part 2 tear down and review. Cheers !!
I recommend cleaning the probe ends with an alcohol wipe before using them. REALLY helped the conductivity.
As usual, great video, Martin!
Can't wait to see the second part with tearing this thing apart)
I found my MS8218 on eBay for $148.00 delivered to the USA. It took well over 2 weeks to arrive from China. I purchased my Brymen BM 869s for $214 + $45.00 for a total of $259.00 delivered from Italy in just 3 days. T The Brymen DOES NOT come with a carrying/storage case, so add another $20 for a $279.00 total. he Bremen is a more robust meter with the added digit of resolution in it's 500,000 count mode. I think the Brymen is the 50,000 count meeter to buy if you're not stepping up to the $500.00 eBay price range of the Fluke 287/289. However, if you're really strapped for cash, I would NOT be afraid of the Mastech MS8218. I several other Mastech and Fluke meters and NONE of them have ever had to be serviced or seem to have drifted out of Calibration. I too use the "Voltage Standard" DMM reference and PentaRef to periodically check my meters. Ironically, I too am a Solar Power installer, focusing on RV's (Caravans? ;-) and off-grid applications.
Purchased mine years ago for under $100 (I think the pricing was just to get them circulated) just to see if it was any good. And years later, this thing still matches my Flukes in every way and the PC Link works great for the classroom. Serious techs should get the Fluke. I can always get the Flukes serviced if needed. If the Mastech goes bad (???) then I guess you can buy two for the price of one Fluke.
Hey, those probe covers are to shroud it down to expose it a little bit to comply with CAT III
Thanks good man.
Martin,
maybe you could make a review of the MS8240D. It's a 22000 count true RMS DMM. It's a bit cheaper then MS8218.
+Ventsislav Simonov I'd be very interested in this too
What impedance resolution in these multimeters ?, "my english in progress, Sorry about it"
Great video. Can't wait to see what the logging software looks like compared to the TekPower TP4000ZC.
Tom
Great video! I have this meter, got it open box for $110, it was my first meter, I like it. I had the exact same complaint about the battery door fasteners. Can't wai t to see you open yours up, so I don't have to:-) . Also would love to see the software in action, as I haven't tried that yet. Thanks for the videos!
great review Martin! as always, love the videos!
Dave Jones does great tear down review videos including multimeters if you want to check it out. Dave and Martin are like a tag team, you come to Martin for a comprehensive review and then go to Dave's channel for the teardown (EEVBlog). ~ Jason
If you can try to get: AMPROBE AM-160, Sanwa PC710 and Hioki 3801-50. THese are all competitive to Fluke 87V and nobody tested them yet :(
You said it has better accuracy then fluke 287? But didn't you said that fluke has 0.025% at beginning? Or you just referenced to your fluke (which could be off and uncalibrated). Sorry if I got it wrong.
0.025% may not be always happening. Don't expect it
For the Europeans : 150 € in A$ : 192 , so we are cheap here. I found it on a german webshop But i save for a Fluke :-)
It's 150$ dude, you need alot more to do 0.03% accuracy average
I have mastech,but quality is not good,yu fong Made in Taiwan better than mastech,my yu fong quality almost the same with fluke quality,I buy yu fong in 2002 ,but now,I still use in 2020,18 years,and quality is good,but my fluke is no.1,I have fluke 287,fluke quality is no 1.👍👍👍👍👍
Old old old reviews...