The DM-200A is a very rugged and compact multimeter and an excellent companion for both the field and the lab work. Its main highlights are:
- A high contrast LCD screen with large digits and excellent orange backlight
- A very stiff rotary switch with a tall knob that allows to accurately select the desired range, even with gloves
- Great separation between buttons to select auxiliary functions that work even with gloves
- Great arrangement of the input jacks, with separate A/mA/uA that helps prevent any mistakes. The meter also beeps in case the cables are inserted in the wrong jack.
- Fast autorange with great settling time that helps accurately and quickly perform a series of measurements. Being an averaging meter (not True RMS), it carries both a faster speed of measurements and lower noise noise.
- A great and fast bargraph that helps detect the presence of AC components in DC measurements
- The meter remembers the last function selected during power off/on (ohms, continuity or diode, or mV AC or DC), which helps reduce the frustration to repeatedly having to select functions.
- The OEM for these meters is extremely reputable and usually puts out great products.
- The probes supplied with the meter are superb in quality: silicon cables with gold plated tips.
The lowlights:
- It is an averaging meter and not True RMS, thus care must be taken in case the waveform is very distorted (VFDs, etc.). Other meters on the same line are True RMS if that is your preference.
- The input jacks can have a very tight fit with probes other than the ones supplied with the meter.
- The LCD becomes completely washed out if looking it from the top
- The tilting bale is small and the stiffness of the rotary switch does not allow it to be turned with one hand.
- The tilting bale is attached to the green rubber boot, thus if you prefer to use the meter without it, you can only use it lying flat on the table.
I did not test the PC interface (an extra accessory)
Overall, an excellent choice
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