DER EE Electrical instruments co.. Model DE-208A (TRMS)

[Kiriakos-GR]

The TAITRONIC 2011 exhibition belongs to the past, but now its the best time to find in their pages,
pictures from the events, and about new products that was present there.

One of those that attracted my attention, was the:  DER EE DE-208A (TRMS)
Looks to have common points with the Fluke 28II design, but with out any IP rating,
like ... Dust proof / waterproof / bulletproof .. etc etc   

It looks to be an medium priced product with above to average built quality.
And that triggered my interest again.

I had invited DER EE to join the show (EEV) , I am crossing my fingers and hope for the best. 

http://www.deree.com.tw/de-208a.htm









   

 

[Achilles]

....what me always interested. Did they contact you or have you established a contact before?
I hope you have an extra room for all those Multimeters .....
Sad that it isn't sealed. That what be nice, but honestly, that one looks more like an average Mid Range DMM. Maybe you can drive over it with your car and check about the case (just a Joke).

They also offer a wireless Clamp meter, but not as sleek as the Fluke one's. (Not detachable, but another unit to receive the data)..... It really wonders me when the Fluke wireless clones will be on the market and what they put inside.

[Storeinfinity]

$357.2-$380 from three ebay accounts of one seller at Hongkong.
¥1500 to ¥1800 RMB without shipping in China mainland.
while $499 for the yellow Fluke from a seller at Wenzhou, China
one biding from Canada at C$100+; something similar from US a bid offer.
Money wise I reckon those "proofs" are adding the value.
Also look forward to a review from someone with the meter.
Good luck my Greek friend and everyone here at eev.

[Kiriakos-GR]

Hi Achilles.
As a genuine Greek, I am the one who challenges the Taiwanese castles. 
And every one who feels strong enough to accept the challenge, shows his face with pride and reply,
and gets in to the game .


Hi Storeinfinity,
I did found also all those three ebay sellers too,
they trying to sale in a very high price, and I did not find so far even one retailer other than DealExtreme, to have DER-EE products for sale.

If DER-EE haves some true fast in speed ACE's in their sleeves, and feel confident about their high manufacturing quality,
that justifies the extreme pricing ??  Then I am their man .     
Lets hope that they are open minded as I am.

[Kiriakos-GR]

Gentlemen s the game is on .. 

I like to thank the Sales Dept of DER EE \ Wendy Tsao for the positive spirit !!

More news .. later on. 



 

[Achilles]

Congratulations! Let's have a look And please don't tear all the walls of the castle down so we can't recognize a castle any more (just kidding....).

[Storeinfinity]

Bravo!
Take your time and let's expect something interesting from the castle TW
Thanks to Ms Wendy Tsao and thank you for all the effort.

[zaoka]

They could be makers of DE-5000 LCR meter... http://www.deree.com.tw/LCR-meter.htm

[Kiriakos-GR]

Thanks people for all the positive vibes !! 

I had extracted the picture of the DE-208A from the PDF of it.
The one in the web site it does not show that easy, the details about the build quality that had strike my interest.

1) The display is amazing clear and easy to read.
2) The DMM has an plethora of notifications by the use of the buzzer and the back-light as alarms.
Over-voltage alarm / Temperature  alarm = High-low limits.

3) It haves data logging, and the data cable can be removed from the IR-Cable with out removing the IR device from the DMM.
Bump !! I forgot to ask the optional IR data cable, but I bet that they send it too. 

The designer of it, he was had great ideas or major inspiration .

This is what I am searching for, fresh ideas on fresh products.
DEREE has a wide range of products, and they do even industrial panel meters, if they wish to send an LCR too for a presentation, its up to them.   

Picture.. ( at 1920x1080 res the picture should look almost to 1:1 ratio with the real thing, it is large !! )


 

[Kiriakos-GR]

3) It haves data logging, and the data cable can be removed from the IR-Cable with out removing the IR device from the DMM.
Bump !! I forgot to ask the optional IR data cable, but I bet that they send it too. 

It is great the power of the public media.. 
DER EE it does monitor this thread, and so I got an email, about  the IR-USB data data cable.   
And I got also the tracking code about the package that they will send soon.

They could be makers of DE-5000 LCR meter... http://www.deree.com.tw/LCR-meter.htm

About the DER EE LCR unit, it does looks interesting too about a product review.
All that I will say are that I am willing to do it.


 

[robrenz]

They could be makers of DE-5000 LCR meter... http://www.deree.com.tw/LCR-meter.htm

The DE-5000 is sold in the US by IET Labs. US $335.00 I have one and the build quality is very good and it performs very well.  My take on it was if IET Labs is willing to risk their substantial reputation on it it must be pretty good.  I talked to IET before I bought it and they said they did extensive testing and were wowed by the performance and decided to market them.  Just the fact that you can buy it with three different levels of calibration with test data means that they know this meter meets or exceeds the quoted specs.  If you look at the other equipment on the IET site you will see that It is very high end stuff. The DE-5000 uses true 4 wire + guard connections on both the built in component test slots and on the banana jacks (bifurcated jacks with separate source and sense connections).

[Kiriakos-GR]

The DE-208A (TRMS) its on the way to Greece. 

More news soon..

[oliver602]

Looking forward to seeing this. Can't find any good pictures of this meter online, besides the standard product photo.

[Kiriakos-GR]

Pictures !! No problem.       I have almost a mini photo studio next to me, plus five Olympus cameras.


But I have to admit that Wendy Tsao is great, at taking care of all the details and inform about every single step.
That's a very professional attitude.
DER EE should be proud of having her in the team.   

[Kiriakos-GR]

The sample have not arrive yet, but even so I am with almost daily communication with DER EE.
And I managed to get the full Users manual with the complete specs , speaking about sampling rate and LCD refresh.

Here is two drawings from it.
Front - back & battery + Fuses.

It is well designed at the Fuses compartment , easy access and all.
Its nice to see manufacturers to start following the correct philosophy, about such subjects on their new designs. 

 

[Kiriakos-GR]

The DER EE  sample  DE-208A after having a quick cappuccino in Rome (Italy) due a typo mistake on the shipping label, arrived in my hands today 10/11/2011.

Out of the box impressions:  very positive, and far by any prediction or imagination.

And let me explain, I selected this unit and bother DER EE about it,
Because it was looking to be something in the middle between the large monsters and the very compact and tiny units.

And it is !!


With out even to power it up: First impressions.
1)   The range switch has identical feeling with the Fluke 28II, yes identical.
2)   The size of it, ideal for the tool box
3)   The test leads, very soft rubber and the same soft rubber at the shrouded bananas, the cable high quality silicon.
4)   Body – molded rubber and follows the philosophy that Agilent had use on the U1272A.
5)   9V Battery Duracell : Made in USA.

It screams from 10Km away that this model likes to become the best friend of the young electrician.
Well time will tell, If it will also become the friend of the industrial electrician, who needs the something more than basics.

One small set of pictures for size comparison will follow soon,
In-depth details, in my complete review. 

[Kiriakos-GR]

I could not hold my self, and I crack it open.

It is made to be splash proof & dust proof even with out IP rating.

[Kiriakos-GR]

And here is the last set of the pictures, and I would add the title :   Taiwan VS Taiwan  ( 20 years back VS the Taiwan of 2011) ..
Speaking about the two units in the center, the ProsKit was my first digital unit in my life. (photo 1)

(Photo 2) Close up.


 
 

[alm]

I don't like how the input protection MOVs are located on a different PCB far from the input jacks. Not impressed by the lack of high voltage isolation. Interesting place for the temperature sensor. I wonder how those big film caps on the bottom behave in vibration testing. Did they have a big supply of old crystals that they use such a huge case?  What is the metal can near the IC1 silkscreen label?

[david77]

That metal can thingy alm mentions looks like something in a TO-99 case. What part could possibly be supplied in TO-99 in 2011 and why?

Kiriakos, what can you say about the 4mm banana jacks? I don't like them being soldered directly onto the board, I've had mixed experience with that.

[alm]

A heated voltage reference comes to mind for the TO-99 part, but that would be strange in a battery powered 3.5 digit meter.

[Kiriakos-GR]

My impression about the PCB is positive, the part of the PCB with the IC's are totally clean, and well made.
The large parts looks to had be added afterward , by hand soldered or not , I can not tell.

I was pleased with the general view of the dual PCB on it, and all that I was had in mind, was to close it as soon as possible, so to start it up.

The bananas are perfectly stable in the huge shrouded female bases that haves o-ring on both ends.
This DMM looks able to accept water with the bucket and still to maintain the waterproofing.

Even the soft buttons on the top of it, ends up inside in a dual side gasket, that makes impossible the water to pass from there on the PCB,
even if the water fill-up up to the top holes.
This DMM gets an IP ratting equivalent with the Agilent U1272A at easy, by what I have see so far.

I am not getting in to the vibrations test conversation, this is an well made meter, and not the superman dressed as dmm 
But I do respect any different opinions, the all idea is to learn and become wiser day by day.

 
 
Edit: another picture from the PCB.

[Kiriakos-GR]

$357.2-$380 from three ebay accounts of one seller at Hongkong.
¥1500 to ¥1800 RMB without shipping in China mainland.

At the time that I was had spot this unit at the pages of Taitronic 2011,
I was totally unable to understand the price range that this product belongs.

My findings about the quality level in it, and in the accessories, it did surprise me and confused me.
And so I did contact the marketing department of DER EE before few hours, about asking the suggested retail price for it.
And I got the confirmation that it is at US$380 ~ 450

I am unable to do comments about the pricing, I do not have any idea about the production cost.

But I do promise to write a very in-depth and detailed review about it.


PS:
Before even taking the pictures for the first comparison, I did add one screen protector on the LCD of the DE-208A,
the shape of the display is a bit round in the right and left edges, and so the screen protector does not seat properly.
It needs a finer trimming, and I will replace this screen protector with a better one soon.
 
The Brymen BM869 it accepted the screen protector, with out arguing, and its not even visible.