Disclaimer
This is my opinion on the multimeter options for entry and intermediate level. In the entry and intermediate level, usually the multimeter is used in few functionalities: Continuity check, DC Voltage, AC Current and Resistance.
Tip
As a rule of thumb, I would always recommend multiple cheap multimeters instead of a professional multimeter.
Recommended multimeters
In the entry level the precission is not important. If you are a beginner, do you really need to know if there are 3.351V or 3.285V, or, on the other hand you just want to know if there is something close to 3.3V to check the power supply? The same with the current, and resistor. For me, one important characteristic is the auto-range.
This is why the multimeters recommended here are not focused on accuracy but more in cost-effective equipment.
Entry level
ZT-100 - Around 13€
The ZT-100 Buy in Aliexpress is a basic multimeter with simple specs: 4000 counts, can measure
DC voltage and current, AC voltage and current, resistance, capacitance, frequency, …
The main disadvantage of this multimeter is that the AC metering is not RMS, probably is not a bit issue if you want a simple multimeter.
I own one of this multimeter (from when it cost 7€) and it is probably my most used multimeter, is small, cheap and you dont lose much if you lose it or break it.
Intermediate
HP-770D-C - Around 37€
The HP-770D-C is a bit more advance multimeter, it main improvement against the entry level ones are:
- More counts 40.000 vs 4.000, meaning more resolution.
- Better screen
- Extra functionalities
- mili-volt range: Important for low voltage measurements.
- temperature sensor: Actually not really important from my point of view.
- micro-ampere range: The reason I bought one of this, for its low current range, being able to measure µA with nA resolution.
