BTMETER BT-39C CHEAP-O Multimeter Review & Teardown!

[@sgt.hollowpoint6968]

I just ordered one of these so I can read capacitance. I was hesitant at 1st, since it cost me $18. But after watching your review, I'm glad I decided to purchase it.

[@KeepOnTesting]

Glad to hear..!! These really are terrific multimeters!

[@richardiancarpenter534]

Thanks for reviewing this one, Darren!

[@KeepOnTesting]

Thanks for the recommendation Richard, I was quite surprised by how good this meter was, lots of bang for buck!

[@electronone5219]

A great meter for a great hobbyist. I like the fact that it could light all of the LEDS with the forward voltage drop shown and the continuity --wow. It would have been cool if you had a visual along with the audio; the sad thing is that it had the LEDs at the top. NCV is good for an electrician or industrial technician who is just looking to see if electrical voltage is present, but this meter is not suitable for an electrician or industrial technician because of the input protection. I think this is an outstanding little meter for the bench to troubleshoot electronic components. 3 metal inserts and fuse access--wonderful. I do think the longer fuses would be safer than short fuses. The ones on the Aneng8008 are so short, that a spark could jump that short distance. It's almost like this meter is crying to be "updated" with better fuses. It does indeed have a good current shunt. One thing that I missed in the review was anything about shielding.

[@michaelenzweiler2319]

I just bought this unit and I cannot for the life of me figure out how you attached the wrist strap. What am I missing? Thanks.

[@derektodd4126]

Happy New year Darren, got to rhe 12th of the month and still haven't surcommed to buying another unit. Am in the process of putting up another shelf for OLIGHT torches, or flashlights as you guys say.

[@KeepOnTesting]

Happy New Years Derek!! Come on...resistance is futile :) I admire your resiliance though..

[@DannyHuanDao]

just one question, how do you put on the strap? I can't figure it out!

[@KeepOnTesting]

Hmm.. that was over 5 years ago. If I recall it simply slides under a channel through the tilt stand 👍

[@jamesdavies686]

The Aneng AN8008 is currently the $20 champion... Would you say this de-thrones it?

[@KeepOnTesting]

That's a darn good question.. I'll probably do a tête à tête AND We will see..!!

[@ivyzhou6333]

Thanks for reviewing it

[@KeepOnTesting]

Thanks for watching!

[@yambo59]

I also shows ambient room temperature without the temp probe, most meters do not.

[@Pyridox]

Good review. I like cheap multi-meters too, I have a Fluke but most times I don't require that accuracy. Also If I lose or blow up the cheap meter I won't feel as bad. LoL I was pretty impressed with the BT-39C, the continuity function performed great for a low end meter.

[@KeepOnTesting]

Yes indeed, I was VERY surprised at how well it did in continuity mode, especially with those "cheap" probes...The price of a Fluke fuse is almost equivalent to buying 2 of these cheapo meters so why not ;) Thanks for watching!

[@thebeststooge]

I see something it is missing and that is a min/max feature for the temp.

[@thebeststooge]

I just bought it and the probe masters. I really needed the min max for my laser work but oh well.

[@alitatli3719]

How do i use min/max ? It is on screen. I cannot find it.

[@KeepOnTesting]

You can't find it because min/max is not supported on this multimeter.

[@nevadacountyproductions6350]

My instructions got wet and ruined any place i can download the manual?

[@KeepOnTesting]

Sorry, just seeing this now..do you still need the manual ?

[@roland349]

Thanks for reviewing

[@KeepOnTesting]

Thanks for watching!

[@yambo59]

Good as the supplied leads are in continuity, for the heck of it try the Probmasters to experience the most orgasmic continuity response on the friggin' planet-!! lol Better than my $$$ Fluke by far. Id love to see Dave Jones reaction to the continuity response on this little beast.

[@KeepOnTesting]

Ahhh nothing better than a continuity orgasm!....Very glad the little beast is everything you expected! I think perhaps I will pull out the Probemasters and give it a whirl too!

[@yambo59]

Well I stand corrected, the 39C has one flaw. Ive noticed since the first time I started inserting probes into the jacks the force required was quite high. Finally once when I turned the plug in the probe it snapped the barrel sleeve off the strap that goes to the board connection. Im going to have to fix it, and if I cant use whats here I saw Joe Smith do a mod once using solid barrel sleeves out of another broken meter, he ended up with a much better quality non-split sleeve than the one this one comes with. Ill have to investigate my options further. Ill try and send a pic of the damage -

[@KeepOnTesting]

@@yambo59That's very odd, can you email me a pic of the damage? Send to: [e-mail]

[@OKBAOK]

yambo59 good to know I'm leaning to buy this 39c meter I might consider to hold it for now kind a major issue.

[@OKBAOK]

Darren Walker Hi Darren, in case yambo59 will send you pic about the damage on insert plug on 39C can you forward it to me at [e-mail] thanks.

[@dmitriy1944]

Looks like professional tool for not rich organizations. Fast access to fuses, handle tool, auto back light - those things don't need for home use :)

[@KeepOnTesting]

Yes It's a good multimeter..has many features too..😀👍

[@dmitriy1944]

@@KeepOnTesting Hi! What you think for budget pocket multimeter? I'm watching for Aneng AN101, Aneng AN303 (302 and 301 has terrible switch between modes), Mastech MS8216 and Unit UT-120C (i saw video, very long time to measure resistance).

[@KeepOnTesting]

@@dmitriy1944 I would choose the ANENG AN303 , 4k count but Aneng has dual Temp, NCV , bigger display and it's SMART! Note, the ANENG does not do Capacitance, that's the only caveat. Btw, I'll be reviewing the ANENG next month. 😀

[@dmitriy1944]

@@KeepOnTesting Thanks, i think the same :) But temperature only ambient. It's ok for can't measurement capacitors, because capacity doesn't matter. ESR matter. I repair aging PSU and some caps has excellent condition (no bulging or something else), capacity was also good. BUT! ESR was over 5-10 Ohms! That means they do not work! I will order AN303 next week at aliexpress.

[@Jose-Ribeiro]

I would love to have the magnet on the back of the WinApex (that, and the holders for the probes in the back of the case). Do you know a way to add that? Or, do you know a cheap case, boot from Ali express with magnet on the back that fit on the WinApex? Keep up the good work.

[@OKBAOK]

José Ribeiro José Ribeiro Hi maybe the case of Richmeter 113d will fit . I don’t know where to get the case. But I received my winapex et8101 meter I like it.. Also i order the 113d one reason is the case i like it due to the magnets and back probe holder also has a good review by Darren check it out.. I will try to fit it when I receive it, looks like is going to work.

[@OKBAOK]

José Ribeiro Check this link.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jF7Zc5Z5gNBlhKs

[@Jose-Ribeiro]

It works. Darren just tried that in the video review of the Mestek DM91A. I have a WinApex ET8102, but the lack of a way to suspend the multimeter is a big con.

[@walterhaase]

Does this meter auto switch/detect AC and DC voltage?

[@KeepOnTesting]

No it doesn't! You need to manually select AC or DC.

[@MadMax0318]

While looking for a cheapo meter for my workbench I found this review from 2 years ago, just have a question, how precise is the DC voltage reading? need something inexpensive for my hobby workbench since I don't want to continue to use my old HP and Fluke meters for this and while I loved all the features of this meter, specially the continuity and led performance, just not too sure about precision in regards to DC readings. I work a lot with Lithium and NMH batteries and I do need some reliable readings. Any suggestions on a cheapo meter with rather precise and reliable DC voltage readings,?

[@KeepOnTesting]

UNI-T UT39E+ great 20,000 count CHEAP-O, good accuracy and resolution. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6qbc2ePbchjlZY

[@MadMax0318]

@@KeepOnTesting thank you for your suggestion my friend, will check it out , hope I can find it in Amazon. Take good care and keep those reviews coming, love em.

[@superciliousdude]

Why didn't they peel away the ground plane from the volt input? There's like 1mm distance to ground on the trace through the PTC and like 3mm directly. This thing is asking to blow up... no way it survives 600V from a 2ohm source.

[@KeepOnTesting]

Yes...I wouldn't put it on 600v either that being said...I still think its a very nice piece of kit.

[@superciliousdude]

@@KeepOnTesting Yeah. I don't know why meters claim ridiculous CAT ratings. Most meters will never see anything above mains voltage anyway and I have zero doubt that this thing would pass CATII 250V without issue. It would be just fine, and they could even get independently certified if they made more modest claims. Anyway, nice meter for the price regardless.

[@derektodd4126]

@@KeepOnTesting Tell that to Joe Smith. He will beg to differ.

[@BendyLemmy]

Measuring the diodes - meters giving readings maybe 2.58v or 2.596v - gives me the impression that there are just too many digits, it looks like more of a gimmick than a feature... Actually just '2.6v' will give a pretty consistently accurate display for these devices, and 2 decimals is more than enough - 2.58v and 2.60V would look better IMO. Shame you don't do the 'FLUKE' test with all meters (skipped on the RM113D - but despite the good NCV I'll skip that because I'm lazy to buy new leads off the bat).

[@KeepOnTesting]

I guess it's all about preferences although I don't mind the extra resolution.. I agree it's probably overkill as far as diode testing is concerned... I try to vary the meters I compare with although the fluke is definitely one of the more popular Meters....! Thanks for the feedback it's always appreciated!

[@BendyLemmy]

@@KeepOnTesting Flukes are good for generating huge amounts of cashflow, but I feel their market could easily be undermined with even a few slight improvements to these boxes... Problem often is that many people buy the box without seeing the internals... this is why we like your video's.

[@KeepOnTesting]

@@BendyLemmy Thanks Ben, and I enjoy doing the teardowns as well.. Always great to see meters from the inside out.

[@OKBAOK]

4.5 it is thanks. At this night of 02/10/19 I'm in the process of buying a multi meter cheap ones. So far same night I watched your videos on Etepon wh5000a after that the Rich meter Rm219 the Rich meter states only 10k mf in the book but it reads 100mf I'm impressed too.. Lastly the Btmeter bt-39c so far I choose Btmeter even it shows the OL in 100 mf still reads it. On the book it can read 100 mf don't know why OL came out.. I'm still watching your other multi meters. Thanks for all the reviews. 👍😄

[@KeepOnTesting]

The BT-39C is a great meter! Fast and loud continuity even with the default probes. Great range and autoranging speed. It's a well designed compact meter too. BTW, I would also suggest you check out the UNI-T UT89XD review. This meter is non-autoranging and larger than the BT-39C but it's an amazingly well designed multimeter with great features and design too. They are both great meters!

[@OKBAOK]

Darren Walker Thanks for the suggestion to check the uni T but, I'm not of a not a Auto raging meter. By the way Yambo 59 mentioned the BT 770N and I saw the video of one guy reviewed it. Big like a fluke but, he didn't go along the way you review your meters I like the way you review your meters 👍 The guy bought the 770n around $25 more or less. Let me try to send the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqiqY4CQpa99has

[@KeepOnTesting]

@@OKBAOK CHECK out the HP890CN, its the identical meter, just 5/10$ cheaper. I'm scheduled to do a review on it later this month..

[@OKBAOK]

Darren Walker Darren Walker ok, can't wait to see it.. I Checked out that HP890cn some are not English video and looks like there's some issue on continuity that it doesn't turn off the beeping sound, other video doesn't read the correct reading on capacitance and I think resistance too. Right now I'm leaning towards Btmeter bt-39c my second is Richmeter Rm219 third Etepon Wh5000A. You did a good job you put a rubber case on your Winapex Et8101 👍. Also talking about Bt39c the Bt770n has an issue on the fuse they put the wire under the fuse, the fuse gets hotter it blows the fuse just a day of use comments and pictures on Amazon Btmeter bt770n. Maybe the same issue on HP890Cn since there identical. It will be to good to see/discover when you review it. Thanks 🙂

[@KeepOnTesting]

@@OKBAOK Roger that! Will be interesting..thanks for the positive feedback as well!

[@derektodd4126]

Yea, resìstance is futile, but you haven't seen the lack of space in my shed/garage/workshop. But " ONWARDS & UPWARDS".

[@KeepOnTesting]

Sorry Derek, missed this one....so true, workspace is always a consideration... Now. If only I had more drawers under my workbench!!

[@rinqucosta2422]

Battery volt option is unnecessary

[@generalawareness101]

You did everything BUT current.

[@Aphrotat]

3:49 HAAHAHAHAHA :DD