9 Best milliohm meters (Kelvin Bridge, 2024)
Looking for some recommendations on the best milliohm meter. Well, this article might actually help you.
Sometimes, measuring small resistance is very important especially for checking the quality of cables, condition of contact, or even the length of a wire. Though our digital multimeters can help us measure small resistances up to some extent. But usually, those results are not that good to completely rely on. The solution is to look for that small resistance meter that works on the Kelvin bridge principle.
I don’t know if you people are familiar with Kelvin concept of measuring resistance or not but I assure you at the end of this article you will have the knowledge of what is Kelvin concept, how the concept leads us to make milliohm meter, the best milliohm meters on the market, and how we can use any milliohm for our experiments and measurements.
The best milliohm meter
As the word is milli (which means 10exp(-3) 0r 0.001) suggesting we will be dealing with very low resistance values. When we deal with very low resistance, the resistance of leads or probes also becomes a problem to tackle. We don’t want the probe resistance to add up to our actual readings. So to eliminate the lead or probe resistances we use a 4 wire concept called the Kelvin bridge technique.
The best milliohm meter that field professionals suggest and recommend is either the Extech 380460 or the CEM DT-5302. These meters are the best because they came from top brands, are high quality, use 4 wires Kelvin bridge techniques, are reliable, and the best part is they come with a reasonable price range.
In the rest of the article, I talk more about the best milliohm meters.
1. The best milliohm meter from Extech (380460)
Extech Instruments was incorporated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1971. The name Extech signifies the company’s commitment to EXcellence in TECHnology. Extech is a brand in business for decades. It is producing quality products and you can rely on its quality. The best milliohm meter I selected from this brand is the Extech 380460.
Important features:
- The resolution is very good i.e. 100 uOhm.
- Very high accuracy.
- It is compact in size and very prise in measurements.
- Zero adjustments. This can be used in cases where there are some calibration errors.
- Accurate probes.
- Power up button.
- Has a yellow protected cover. This is useful when you are using a device in fieldwork.
- Has over-range indicator.
- Comes with complete 4 wires i.e. with Kelvin clip connectors.
In summary, the Extech 380460 (Amazon Link) is the best milliohm meter you can buy right now if it is what you are looking for. It is CE-approved and has CAT II safety measures. Measurements are displayed on the unit’s large 0.7-inch 1999 count LCD
2. Vici VC480C+
The only problem with milliohm meters is that they are pretty expensive. And it takes a lot of time to find the best milliohm meter with a decent price that almost anyone can afford. Luckily, I found this model a very interesting candidate to look for. It is from the AideTek store and they are selling it for under 120 USD. People who used this model are pretty happy with its quality and measurements.
Important Features:
- Large LCD display for easy reading
- High accuracy and performance for low resistance measurements
- 4-wire cables with Kelvin clip connectors, capable of testing extreme low resistance
- Accurate measurement of the conductor, electric heating elements, and solder point
- High measurement range of 0.01mΩ to 2kΩ at 6 ranges
- HOLD key for data hold
- Backlit LCD for easy reading under dark light
- Connection for external power supply
- Strong anti-magnetic and anti-jamming functions
- Full function protection
- Manual zero display adjust
- Built into compact, durable field service housing with protective cover
- Shoulder strap
- Operation manual
In summary, the Aidetek Vc480C (Amazon link) is a good choice if you are on a low budget or want to test out some milliohm meters. It can be your meter that you can use in labs or as well as in fields.
3. Extech 380560
As I have already shared Extech is a very well-known and respected brand. They are making electronics test instruments for decades now. Instead of above they also make a more professional level best milliohm meter i.e. 380560.
This meter has a resistance measuring range of 200m to 20K OHM. Not just this the amazing feature of this meter is that it offer a high resolution of 0.01m.
If this is the milliohm meter that has got your attention. Then follow this link to know about it, Extech 380560 (Amazon link)
The best alternative to this best milliohm meters are the following that you can also check:
6. CEM DT-5302
Another great milliohm meter is the CEM DT-5302. It is portable and easy to carry. It uses that same 4 wire kelvin bridge concept as the rest of the meters do.
Important features:
- High accuracy, high-resolution portable Milliohm Meter or field use
- Digital display 4000 counts
- Safety design
- Relative zero & Data Hold
- MAX/MIN recording mode
- Auto Power Off
- 400mΩ Low Resistance & Wide 40mF capacitance range
- Diode Check & Continuity Test
Here is the link, CEM DT-5302 (Amazon link), for your own further investigation and research.
7. Extech 380580 Battery Powered Milliohm Meter
IF you want a milliohm meter for field work then this model from Extech has a built-in battery. This model i.e. 380580 is not battery powered but also gives you 5 different resistances ranges with an amazing resolution of 0.1m.
Important features:
- High accuracy, high-resolution portable Milliohm meter for field use
- Four terminal Kelvin measurements
- Over-temperature and over-voltage protection
- 5 ranges with 100 µOhm max resolution
- Invalid test indicators prevent inaccurate measurements
If this best milliohm meter has got you attention. Then here is the link, Extech 380580 (Amazon link), to follow for your own further research.
The best alternative to this one is the following one. You can also check it out.
9. Siglent Technologies SDM3045X
If you have a lot of the other measurements to handle then I think instead of buying just a milliohm meter why not buy a complete digital multimeter. The digital multimeter for Siglent Technologies i.e. SDM3045X can measure milliohm with high accuracy.
The model i.e. the sds3045x is a 4 1/2 digit dual-display Digital Multimeter and features various math and statistical functions. It includes a variety of communication interfaces with easy setup, comes equipped with a 4.3-inch TFT-LCD screen, and is designed for users who needs include high performance, multiple functions, and automatic measurements. Siglent’s new Sdm3055 is a high-performance desktop Multimeter.
Here is the link to know more about this digital multimeter, SDM3045X (Amazon link).
10. GW Instek GOM-805
GW Instek is a world-famous brand for making professional quality electronics instruments. They are in business for decades and people are very much satisfied with their tools and devices. The GOM-805 is a professional level milliohm meter from GW Instek.
Important features:
- Comes loaded with great features ideal for your low resistance measurement needs.
- Depending on high accuracy and resolution even when using measurement speeds up to 60 samples per minute
- the color LCD will always display five digits. GOM-805 model also has a dry circuit, and DC+, DC-, pulsed, and PWM drive modes for contact measurement testing of different materials.
- Ideal for low-resistance measurements obtain measurements quickly with a 60 reading per second sampling rate
- 50,000 Counts display easily read results on the 3.5 inch (320 x 240) TFT LCD depending on high accuracy and resolution — with 0.05 percent precision and 1µΩ resolution connected to an external sorting machine, external on/off switch or trigger control using the communication ports operate in DC+, DC-, pulsed, and PWM drive modes.
If this milliohm meter has got your attention. Then here is the link to follow, GW Instek GOM-805 (Amazon link), to know more about this meter.
Is there any alternative?
Yes, there a lot of other models from other manufacturers you can search for. Just make sure that are you buying accurate devices and don’t buy devices because of the low price range. Because when you buy low-quality devices not only it is a waste of money but it sometimes damages your devices under test.
What is a milliohm meter?
Just like the multimeter that we use for measuring voltages, currents, and resistance. Milliohm meter is similar to multimeter except that we use it only to measure low resistances.
Why do we need the best milliohm meter?
It may seem like too small a resistance to be of any consequence but many safety standards (UL, CSA, VDE, etc.) require that such resistances be measured during the manufacture of consumer products, hand tools, and many appliances. A good example is the testing of kitchen appliances.
Conclusion
This article is about different best milliohm meter on market today. A milliohm meter as the name suggests is a meter that can measure resistance in the milli range. We need this small resistance to accurately measure the performance and design of certain devices.
The best milliohm meter helps us to check the low resistance of connecting wires. It can deduce the resistance of thick wires, condition of contacts, and the length or quality of wires. Although the continuity can be easily checked using a continuity tester, the exact condition of the circuit cannot be assessed without proper measurement. For example, a switch in good condition will have very low contact resistance, whereas, if the switch is in bad condition its resistance would be much higher even though it may pass the continuity test.
Other useful posts:
