The 197 is Keithley's Autoranging Microvolt DMM, a 5½-digit bench meter from Keithley in Cleveland with a 220,000-count LCD. That extra range is the point. It resolves 1 µV on the 200 mV range, 1 nA on the lowest current range and 1 milliohm on 200 ohms, and adds true-RMS AC to 100 kHz and a 100-reading data logger. At 1.8 kg it's easy to carry, and the Model 1978 battery pack let it run off the mains for about five hours. You'll sometimes see it called a 6½-digit meter; Keithley's manual says 5½. GPIB was an add-on, the Model 1973 interface or the 1972 with an analog output, so ask whether one is fitted if you want remote control. The later 197A kept the same 220,000-count design and added a backlit display.
Options and accessories
Check the listing photos and the rear panel against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing option or probe should come off the price.
The 197 checks its RAM and calibration memory at power-on, and a cErr message or a flashing C means the stored calibration is invalid and the meter needs recalibrating. The front 2 A fuse protects every current range up to 2000 mA, while the 10 A input has no fuse at all.
New to used bench gear? How to check used test equipment covers self-tests, fuses, the voltage selector and shipping, and what “calibrated” means in a listing.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 197 titled with GPIB at $188 delivered from Israel, because the IEEE-488 interface was an add-on and most 197s don't have one. There are at least 17 for sale, mostly from US sellers, and plain units ask about $200–226 delivered while test-equipment dealers ask $380 and up, so the $220–430 band mixes the two. Ask for a short video of power-on showing zeros and then a reading, since cErr or a flashing C means the stored calibration is invalid. Check the rear line switch matches your mains, especially on the units from Israel and South Korea, and skip the $663 197A, about three times the $226 median.
$116.99est. delivered
The lowest delivered 197 at $117, a 197A with the backlit display, and the photo shows it switched on. The New card is a listing banner and it isn't titled tested, so ask for a power-on video.
Keithley 197A Autoranging Microvolt Digital Multimeter
$188.00est. delivered
Titled with GPIB, the add-on most 197s lack, at $188 delivered and under the band. It ships from Israel and the display is off in the photo, so ask for a reading and set the rear switch to 105–125 V before you plug it in.
Keithley 197 Autoranging Microvolt DMM Digital Multimeter Bench GPIB
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$116.99est. delivered
$99.95 + $17.04 shipping
Buy It Now$99.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
197A. The New card is a listing banner, and the photo shows it on.
Seller: nationaltec_prg
100% positive
Used$188.00est. delivered
$139.00 + $49.00 shipping
Buy It Now$139.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled with GPIB. Ships from Israel, so check the rear line switch.
Seller: reequip-isr
100% positive
Used$200.24est. delivered
$172.24 + $28.00 shipping
Buy It Now$172.24
Our take
Ships from Canada. Photo shows it on, with leads.
Seller: west-island-electronics
99.8% positive
Used$224.29est. delivered
$199.99 + $24.30 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
197A. Photo shows it switched on.
Seller: prism_electronics12
99.8% positive
Used$225.64est. delivered
$199.99 + $25.65 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
Titled brown. The display is off in the photo, so ask for a reading.
Seller: diaz_electronics
99.7% positive
Used$318.00est. delivered
$219.00 + $99.00 shipping
Buy It Now$219.00
Our take
Ships from South Korea, $99 shipping. Photo shows a case and leads.
Seller: doubletek16
100% positive
Used$380.47est. delivered
$350.00 + $30.47 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
From a US test-equipment dealer. No GPIB titled.
Seller: asc_equip
99.9% positive
Used$663.23est. delivered
$625.00 + $38.23 shipping
Buy It Now$625.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
197A from a US dealer. About three times the $226 median.
Seller: alltest_instruments
99.5% positive
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