Author Topic: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good  (Read 164777 times)

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Offline xavier60

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #425 on: September 04, 2017, 05:09:47 am »
For all of the good it is not likely to do, I have queried an ebay seller about the AN8008's  +/-5uV dead spot.
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Offline janengelbrecht

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #426 on: September 06, 2017, 07:32:54 pm »

Online Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #427 on: September 06, 2017, 07:44:22 pm »
For all of the good it is not likely to do, I have queried an ebay seller about the AN8008's  +/-5uV dead spot.

What do you expect to find out from a seller? They just pile 'em high and sell 'em.

 

Offline xavier60

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #428 on: September 06, 2017, 08:49:35 pm »
For all of the good it is not likely to do, I have queried an ebay seller about the AN8008's  +/-5uV dead spot.

What do you expect to find out from a seller? They just pile 'em high and sell 'em.
Can only hope that it gets back to the manufacturer. I realize that the seller is likely to have no idea of what I'm asking about.
HP 54645A dso, Fluke 87V dmm,  Agilent U8002A psu,  FY6600 function gen,  Brymen BM857S, HAKKO FM-204, New! HAKKO FX-971.
 

Offline metrologist

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #429 on: September 07, 2017, 02:00:42 am »
For all of the good it is not likely to do, I have queried an ebay seller about the AN8008's  +/-5uV dead spot.

What do you expect to find out from a seller? They just pile 'em high and sell 'em.
Can only hope that it gets back to the manufacturer. I realize that the seller is likely to have no idea of what I'm asking about.

This is actually a good play. The seller will likely see the query and immediately have a sinking in their heart. They may then send you an apologetic message begging forgiveness and give you the mean tortuous overlord spiel and offer you a measly two dollar refund in exchange for positive feedback, to avoid the beatings you know...
 

Offline xavier60

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #430 on: September 07, 2017, 03:16:10 am »
For all of the good it is not likely to do, I have queried an ebay seller about the AN8008's  +/-5uV dead spot.

What do you expect to find out from a seller? They just pile 'em high and sell 'em.
Can only hope that it gets back to the manufacturer. I realize that the seller is likely to have no idea of what I'm asking about.

This is actually a good play. The seller will likely see the query and immediately have a sinking in their heart. They may then send you an apologetic message begging forgiveness and give you the mean tortuous overlord spiel and offer you a measly two dollar refund in exchange for positive feedback, to avoid the beatings you know...
I should have explained more. I sent the query to another seller, not the one I bought the original meter from.
The +/-5uV dead spot doesn't bother me much. I'd rather that the dead spot was not present.
HP 54645A dso, Fluke 87V dmm,  Agilent U8002A psu,  FY6600 function gen,  Brymen BM857S, HAKKO FM-204, New! HAKKO FX-971.
 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #431 on: September 16, 2017, 06:00:25 am »
I have been contacted by  Zotek who claim to be the original designer and manufacturer of the AN8008, a.k.a ZT109
http://zotektools.com/products-2/zt109/
But they do not make this generally known.

« Last Edit: September 16, 2017, 06:42:58 am by EEVblog »
 
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Online Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #432 on: September 16, 2017, 11:30:38 am »
I have been contacted by  Zotek who claim to be the original designer and manufacturer of the AN8008

What did they say?  :popcorn:

 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #433 on: September 16, 2017, 12:12:43 pm »
I have been contacted by  Zotek who claim to be the original designer and manufacturer of the AN8008

What did they say?  :popcorn:

They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)
 

Online Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #434 on: September 16, 2017, 12:22:57 pm »
They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)

Is that the one where they make a meter with milliamp and temperature ranges so that everybody who just bought a couple of AN8008s will have to go out and buy some more meters?

 

Offline kalel

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #435 on: September 16, 2017, 01:31:56 pm »
They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)

Is that the one where they make a meter with milliamp and temperature ranges so that everybody who just bought a couple of AN8008s will have to go out and buy some more meters?

Or maybe it's time for 20 000 counts.
 

Offline retrolefty

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #436 on: September 16, 2017, 01:34:49 pm »
They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)

Is that the one where they make a meter with milliamp and temperature ranges so that everybody who just bought a couple of AN8008s will have to go out and buy some more meters?

 I hope so.  :-+
 

Offline Kalvin

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #437 on: September 16, 2017, 01:45:45 pm »
My AN8008 died and couldn't do ohms. Either the decimal point jumped around constantly or getting wandering 40-60ohms with input jack shorted. Test leads are ok. Checked all soldering re-did PTC but same problem.

Looks like oxide on the rotary switch contacts, spun it back and forth a few times and it's ok for now.

Gold on the PCB with copper alloy for the wiper, I guess the metal is crap, or the Krytox lube I used is causing troubles.
I have two AN8008s, and the second one had exactly the same symptoms showing fluctuating high resistance values in ohms range [even when input probes were short-circuited]. I haven't used any lubes of any other chemicals, so it looks that the rotary switch contacts may have some oxidation problems due to material selection. Anyway, spinning the dial back and forth a few times solved the problem for now.
 

Offline Brumby

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #438 on: September 16, 2017, 03:03:04 pm »
I have been contacted by  Zotek who claim to be the original designer and manufacturer of the AN8008

What did they say?  :popcorn:

They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)

They should be careful what they wish for.....   (paid or not).
 

Offline kalel

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #439 on: September 16, 2017, 07:19:06 pm »
I have been contacted by  Zotek who claim to be the original designer and manufacturer of the AN8008

What did they say?  :popcorn:

They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)

They should be careful what they wish for.....   (paid or not).

They probably saw the AN8008 review, and found some positive points mentioned.
 

Offline MacMeter

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #440 on: September 16, 2017, 07:26:00 pm »
I have been contacted by  Zotek who claim to be the original designer and manufacturer of the AN8008

What did they say?  :popcorn:

They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)

Google foo, took me to Zorek as the maker long ago. So can you say what the new "product" might be?
 

Offline kalel

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #441 on: September 16, 2017, 07:49:57 pm »
For 8008:
http://zotektools.com/products-2/zt109/
"Passed a two-meter drop test, anti-fracture bracket"

It shows on other models, too.
 

Offline floobydust

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #442 on: September 16, 2017, 10:28:12 pm »
I have been contacted by  Zotek who claim to be the original designer and manufacturer of the AN8008

What did they say?  :popcorn:

They want to pay me to review their new product  ::)

It seems like a way to get marketing and product exposure.
The fake 61010 claims and poor quality make me ask, how low to go.
Oh wow 10,000 counts and the the rotary switch oxidizes after a couple weeks  :-DD
It's like cheap candy. After the sugar buzz, you faint.

Get a box of them for joeqsmith ;)
 

Offline xavier60

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #443 on: September 18, 2017, 08:57:30 am »
I received a reply from Zotek about the dead spot issue on the millivolt range.
"Thank you for your support to our products. ZT109 can measure voltage larger than 20uV."
This indicates to me that the ZT109 has a +/-20uv dead spot. This would bother me.

« Last Edit: September 18, 2017, 09:00:03 am by xavier60 »
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Online Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #444 on: September 18, 2017, 12:12:17 pm »
This indicates to me that the ZT109 has a +/-20uv dead spot. This would bother me.

You buy a $20 meter then can't sleep at night because it has a +/-20uv dead spot? Schadenfreude.
 

Offline xavier60

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #445 on: September 18, 2017, 12:20:02 pm »
This indicates to me that the ZT109 has a +/-20uv dead spot. This would bother me.

You buy a $20 meter then can't sleep at night because it has a +/-20uv dead spot? Schadenfreude.
I didn't buy that meter. The meter I did buy, the AN8008, has a +/-5uv dead spot. This isn't a practical problem for what I use it for.
A +/-20uv dead spot could be a problem for what I use the meter for.
The dead spot has been intentionally programmed into the meter.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2017, 12:43:37 pm by xavier60 »
HP 54645A dso, Fluke 87V dmm,  Agilent U8002A psu,  FY6600 function gen,  Brymen BM857S, HAKKO FM-204, New! HAKKO FX-971.
 

Offline floobydust

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #446 on: September 18, 2017, 05:17:10 pm »
The uV deadband seems to be about the DMM IC's quality.

A/D converter and input amp noise, and offset limit the bottom end. Then there is the reference noise also affecting the measurement low end.
The HY12P65 datasheet best is 10uV offset and 2uV noise but some people say the chip-on-board package is lower quality compared to the QFP packaged part.
COB noise is worse, and noise-ranked parts are out there.

So the firmware clips off and filters the uV noise, that seems to be the real "technology" here.
 

Online Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #447 on: September 18, 2017, 06:02:42 pm »
We need to step back and look at the forest. At the end of the day it's a $20 meter.

Complaining about stuff like this seems like saying "I bought a Ford Fiesta and it can't even tow a 5000lb boat (can you believe it??)"

 

Offline IanMacdonald

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #448 on: September 18, 2017, 06:05:44 pm »
You buy a $20 meter then can't sleep at night because it has a +/-20uv dead spot? Schadenfreude.

For that price I'm expecting a Higgs detector.  :-DMM

Seriously it's a damn good meter for the money, though temperature would be handy and I'd pay a bit more to have that. Save carrying two meters. 
 

Online Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1007 - Is a $25 Multimeter Any Good
« Reply #449 on: September 18, 2017, 08:27:59 pm »
For that price I'm expecting a Higgs detector.  :-DMM

And powered by dilithium crystals.

Seriously it's a damn good meter for the money, though temperature would be handy and I'd pay a bit more to have that. Save carrying two meters.

It's OK, but nothing special apart from the price.

The missing mA range is a bummer I don't see how people can lose sleep over a dead spot in the uV range but not worry about lack of mA. The square wave output is a waste of a selector switch position IMHO.

I actually prefer using my AN860B+ to my AN8008 even though it's bigger. The AN8008 feels really cheap and plasticky in comparison.

I've got my fingers crossed that the AN8008 is just a clever marketing move to sell a load of meters and the 'AN8009' will be the real multimeter - the meter that everybody wanted in the first place, ie. with temperature, mA and the missing REL/MIN/MAX buttons built in. We know the chipset can do it...  :popcorn:

Size-wise, I'd like it to be a little bit bigger than the AN8008. The selector switch could stick out a bit more at the ends instead of having them rounded off into the dial, too.

Also: The AN8008 screen contrast needs a lot of work and the backlight is pathetic.

 


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