Looking for a compact, sub-$30 multimeter that on the face of it could almost compete with a 10-times-the-price Fluke? Well, the Morpilot has the attributes and looks good, if lacking on proper input protection. It can do volts, amps and temperature, has a continuity beeper, MIN/MAX mode, a big backlit display and is True RMS even.
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Main Features
- Backlit display
- True RMS
- Min/Max, Relative modes
- Temperature
- Includes alligator clips
- Auto and manual ranging
- Auto off
- Continuity beeper
- Weight: 11.3oz (320g)
- Dimensions: 7.2” (184mm) x 3.5” (90mm) x 1.8” (46mm)
What’s Included?
- Test lead set with alligator clips
- 9V battery
- Thermocouple (for temp)
- User manual
Being possibly a re-badged Ragu 17B, there is no direct manual for the Morpilot 17B Multimeter – see the Ragu PDF here
Full Review of the Morpilot Multimeter
You can measure as many things with the Morpilot as most other meters – DC/AC voltage and current, resistance, and continuity, etc. It is True RMS for those occasions you would need to measure non-sine wave voltages accurately. There is also a Min/Max mode and it can measure temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.
The Morpilot display has big digits and a backlight. Accuracy is decent, it is really cheap, and can be used anywhere from the home, lab and garage to factory HVAC. The category IV rating is high and would pit it with the likes of Fluke’s 179 or 87V – the latter noted for solid input protection, as well as legendary quality and reliability.
So, best to take this rating with a pinch of salt and be wary around three phase, high amperage scenarios. You also won’t get super-fast auto-ranging, continuity, or swift readings on larger capacitors. Resistance readings are quick and accurate, however.
The Morpilot 17B will automatically power down after a time of inactivity. Not all cheaper multimeters will do this, but it can be a big plus point, especially for those with 9V batteries. Auto-off kicks in after around 15 minutes of not being used. You can cancel this, and might need to if using the Min/Max mode over an extended period.
This is an auto-range finding multimeter, although it can also be used as a manual one where the user adjusts each scale for a given test range. Another plus with the Morpilot meter is the inclusion of a number of crocodile test lead sets. These are color-coded: black, white, green, red, yellow.
Basic SPECS
| Range | Best accuracy | |
|---|---|---|
| AC volts | 600mV-750V | (0.8%+5) |
| DC volts | 600mV-1000V | (0.5%+3) |
| AC amps | 6000μA-10A | (0.8%+10) |
| DC amps | 6000μA-10A | (0.8%+10) |
| Resistance | 600Ω-60MΩ | (0.8%+3) |
| Capacitance | 60nf-6000µf | (3.5%+20) |
| Frequency | 10Hz-20MHz | (0.1%+3) |
| Temperature | 0℉-1832℉ / -20℃-1000℃ | |
Build Quality
You get quite a sleek device for the money, with a tight-fitting blue boot over a double-insulated case that has been drop tested. A kick-stand tucks into the rear. The extra test leads that come with the Morpilot 17B are not the best quality, being quite short and liable to wobbling in the jacks.
Display: The screen of the Morpilot meter is pretty impressive, being more than 3/4″ high. Resolution is 3 5/6 digits, or a possible 5999 counts. There’s also a backlight. It only stays on for around 15 seconds, but it is good bearing in mind the cost. Sample/refresh rate is three times a second.
Other display indicators include a low battery icon and ‘OL’ over-range.
Safety Protection
The Morpilot is rated as a CAT-IV multimeter. However, a meter that would boast this level of protection would need to have very good quality components, which ultimately costs money. CAT-IV signifies you can test switch gear output at sub-station level.
Note: be wary of claims of high category ratings from sub-$100 multimeters. A thermistor and ceramic fuses does not a CAT-IV make.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Great display, backlit
- Auto/manual ranging
- Measures most things
- Fahrenheit and Celsius scales
- True RMS
- Compact
- Nice price
CONS
- Reports of wobbly jacks
- Continuity beeper sketchy
- Manual could be better
- No case
Conclusion
This is a decent quality, accurate meter for the money. All important measurements are on the Morpilot 17B multimeter and it is easy to use and read via a large backlit display. It can be applied to many scenarios, though the build and lack of proper input protection is best kept away from high amp scenarios.
Alternatives: There are quite a few, at least in the under $50 range. The good looking Surpeer Multimeter AV4 has a great screen, while the pricier Extech MN16A and Klein MM400 have brand appeal.