Customer Reviews

Extech MN26T Autoranging Multimeter with Capacitance, Frequency, and also Temperature Function including a Separate Temperature Probe

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a HVAC tech and I use the meter several times a day for trouble shooting electronics. The big selling point for me was the included k-type thermocouple. The meter has performed well for the month I've been using it. I have had not trouble with it, even though I've used it in temps ranging from 4 degrees to 70 degrees. My only complaint is it is slow to react in the resistance mode.
I would recommend this for anyone who could use an inexpensive, easy to use meter

The first thing I'm going to say is if you want a good run down of a handful of multimeters in this price range, check out [...]. Although some people think his final verdict may be influenced a little too much by his personal preferences, he does give without a doubt the most thorough and entertaining reviews I've ever seen.

That being said, his review does not include this multimeter, but he declares a close relative the winner, the Extech EX330 Autoranging Mini Multimeter with Built In Thermometer with Type K Remote Probe. This multimeter has almost identical specs and performs similarly (accurate results and fast continuity testing). The big difference is in the price and the size. For $15 less, you actually get a much smaller and more compact meter! It's a no-brainer! And even better, the few hardware issues Dave had with the EX330 (the spongy switch, unstable stand, and slippery case) aren't present in this one. It feels great! (Well, the case is still a bit slippery, but I didn't even notice until after I watched the video and tried it out myself) It's what you expect from a name-brand like extech.

As far as features go, this multimeter is about as complete as it gets under $100, and it even has features many >$100 meters don't have. Less common features I've found useful are the continuity test, capacitance test, temperature, and uA. If you're a hobbyist, chances are you're dealing with very small currents and voltages and the added resolution this meter has over a real cheapy can be very helpful. Also, as a small anecdote, I've actually found the frequency and duty cycle to be quite useful. Just last month, I was playing with a microcontroller and I couldn't get it to work properly for the life of me. But a quick test with the frequency feature revealed that because of some bug in the tools or libraries, the clock speed of the micro was only getting set to half of what it was supposed to be. The duty cycle was also useful for getting PWM (pulse width modulation, a very common method of digital-to-analog conversion) up and running.

This meter does have some minor disadvantages though. First, it will never be as accurate as a >$100 Fluke or what-have-you, so just make sure you know what you're getting. The autoranging is on the slower side. It's never bothered me, but if it really bothers you, it does have a range key so you can manually step through the ranges if you're super impatient.

Finally, a note just for the hobbyists. This is the meter you want! I have / have worked with everything from my $5 Chinese meter, to ~$50 meters like this, to >$100 Flukes and the like, to expensive bench-top multimeters. The good specs, ruggedness, and portability make it an excellent choice, but what really sets it apart is the added features (with good specs too!) at such a low price. As a hobbyist, price is usually the main concern, but the features of this meter like autoranging, uA, and capacitance put it head and shoulder above all the ~$20-30 meters out there and the construction and price sets it apart from the $50 meters. I've now owned mine a few months and it's my favorite meter I own.

Also, when I last checked, Jameco had it a bit cheaper.

This multimeter looks and feels very robust. It is very convenient and does most everything you would ever need.

The two problems that made it unusable for me are:
1. Despite being specified for measuring capacitance up to 200 uF, this meter was unable to measure a 100 uF capacitor. It worked fine with a 20uF capacitor.

2. Temperature measurements at room temperature w/ the included thermocouple were about 6 degrees high not +/-3% as specified online. To be fair, the specifications included with the meter say that the temperature spec is for the meter itself, without including the effects of the included thermocouple. (Perhaps, Amazon should mention that.)

The included thermocouple accuracy is not itself specified. BTW, this thermocouple has a lower measuring temperature range than the meter. (Amazon, should probably mention this as well. Although this did not bother me, as I do not anticipate a need, nor do I have a desire to measure anything that is over 400 degrees Fahrenheit.)

I have had this meter for about a week and it works fine. I am a DIYer and did not want to spend a lot to replace the previous mutimeter I had from Sears. It works great for checking my home generator. It measures the cycles(hz) nicely. A Fluke may be what a professional needs but this does a great job for under $45.00. Probes are nice and the meter feels solid too.

We bought this multimeter mainly for a toolbox application. Although it's not a Fluke, it works well for on the road troubleshooting of automotive electric as well as generators. The frequency meter really helps to properly set generator RPM, temp probes help with determining coolant temperature and the auto shut-off feature is something you find on units costing 5x more.

I am an electrical engineer that tinkers around with home projects, so I was looking for an basic digital multimeter to replace my last one that finally quit. Unfortunately, this one is even worse quality than the no-name unit I had before. I thought the brand-name unit would be a step up, but I am sad to say that it is poorly designed and assembled (in China).

The first major flaw are the function buttons along the top of the unit below the screen. They are made of rubber and fit too tightly against the plastic case, so that when you depress the buttons they don't spring back up to their correct position well. On my unit, two of the buttons when pressed take about 10 seconds to slowly raise back up to their upright position, and because of this the unit thinks that the button has been pushed multiple times.

Worse, the right-most button (for "relative" mode) got STUCK in its depressed position the 2nd time I used it. Now the unit keeps beeping and switching back and forth between normal mode and relative mode, which renders the unit worthless. I have tried everything to get the button un-stuck, but no luck. It's really annoying. I haven't seen buttons this cheap on electronics since the mid-1980s.

The second major flaw are the compartment covers on the rear of the unit, one for fuses and one for batteries. These covers are held to the unit by tiny philips screws. Inexplicably, the screw holding the fuse cover is fairly large and was relatively easy to remove. But the battery cover (which will see more use) is held by a screw so small that you need a special tiny screwdriver to torque it. The situation is made worse by the fact that the female hole for the screw is not threaded, so the screw threads bite into the hard plastic hole. The end result is that removing the cover to replace the batteries requires about 10 minutes of cursing. I would not be surprised if the screw head would be stripped after 4 or 5 uses.

The compartment cover issue is even more baffling considering that the unit comes with a rubberized holster which covers the back of the unit, protecting both covers. Why not just put a normal slide-in battery cover like most electronics, especially if it's covered by the holster? Seems silly.

This is a nice, small multimeter that I find handy for quick testing. I specifically bought this model because I want to be able to check capacitors and my 50-year-old Heathkit capacitance bridge doesn't work any more.