Author Topic: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?  (Read 165684 times)

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Offline Nusa

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #200 on: June 16, 2017, 08:58:01 pm »
I prefer rotary switch for function select, with one exception. I really like it when there's an independant ON-OFF button!
 
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Offline floobydust

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #201 on: June 16, 2017, 09:23:45 pm »
Is the proposed meter colour OK? I ran into this 2014 drama and can't believe it:

Sparkfun forced to incinerate 2,000 import yellow/gray multimeters due to US Customs finding the shipment violated Fluke's trademark with their yellow/gray look.
Fluke did respond and donated some equipment to Sparkfun. But ouch.

Now I'm freaked out, Agilent was blue then orange. I don't know if that was trademarked?
 

Offline brainwash

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #202 on: June 16, 2017, 09:42:19 pm »
The chances of that happening are lower than winning the lottery. Can't say it cannot happen, just saying it won't.

On the on/off button: probably too late for that choice, a lot of the manufacturers ditched the extra button. You could probably repurpose one button in the firmware or use the sleep/wake-up function of the multimeter for that. Anyway, without BT or logging activated I expect at least 1000-2000h battery life, so that means leaving your meter on for weeks. Obviously I don't have any data for this meter to back that up, just an assumption.
 

Offline Crumble

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #203 on: June 16, 2017, 09:45:20 pm »
@floobydust
You will always need physical switches, and autoranging seems to be doable without mechanical switches (think that's what you meant ;)). I do not think the issue is controlling these things electronically.  It might still be quite a challenge to build a multimeter that is easy and intuitive to use without rotary switch and therefore I would not argue in favour of ditching the rotary switch alltogether. I do dislike those that have no autoranging and require a position on the switch for each and every range, creating a meter with these massive dials with 20+ options, making them fiddly to use.

Personally I though about building a set of "monometers", meters that only have one function and little need for an interface. One voltmeter, one currentmeter, one frequency counter and a thermometer (and maybe an LCR-meter). All different colours and few switches on each of them. These were quite difficult to get, but in the end I settled for just buying a few cheapy multimeters and a thermometer because it was cheaply available as a seperate unit. I am happy I did, because I found myself to grab the Brymen "EEVBlog" BM235 first, making it unavailable for temp measurements.

I heard of the colour trademark issue, but considered it to be an incident. I think it is ridiculous to trademark a colour combination this simple, but especially with the growth of ebay and aliexpress-like sites it is getting quite obvious selling clones and lookalikes is damaging the market too. Now we're swamped with meters that all look like proper ones, but aren't always so.

@brainwash
That's a forum for you! ;) These things will always happen, I think usually without an evil intent. Especially because those that see something they consider bad will be more likely to respond than those that are completely satisfied with the stuff they see. In the end it will fill a topic with a sense of negativity, while in fact it isn't that bad, it's just the 'silent majority' being silent. I can imagine for example that a lot of hobbyists might not want to spend $200 because they simply live in a locale in which this is a prohibitive amount of money. I myself live in The Netherlands, but I must acknowledge people abroad might be substantially less affluent. This is often not immediately obvious, so a lot of critisism may very well be understandable if the background of those that post it is more clearly understood. Incidentally, I found myself to be quite critical of issues that I simply misunderstood too. I might still have overlooked situations in which this has happened and these comment still haunt some old topic somewhere. I think I know what you mean, and I agree that at times you see someone put in a lot of positive effort that is subsequently swamped by a lot of negative comments.

PS Never heard about the Mooshimeter, but it seems like a nice piece of kit.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2017, 11:08:47 am by Crumble »
 

Offline joeqsmith

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #204 on: June 16, 2017, 10:32:24 pm »
Didn't want to start a new topic and I couldn't find an existing one about the 121GW multimeter.
I saw the Joe Smith test with it and it left a good impression on me. However some comments left a sour taste, don't understand if it's the same person or different ones, badgering the same issue to death: "200-ish$, needs more buttons, cannot stand 2kV, FAIL". What the hell is wrong? I don't think there's
...
If I have one suggestion, is that it can be set up to default to continuity test on the ohms range and to DC on voltage range.

I would not be too surprised if the released version of the meter did not store the last settings.  Personally, I really like that feature on the BM869s.  I've seen people complain about it as well.  It's really a question for Dave.   

Offline Electro Detective

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #205 on: June 17, 2017, 02:14:13 am »
FWIW the Fluke 189 dial and button arrangement got it pretty right imho  :-+ 

It's the fastest no brainer feature packed meter I have ever used, and the continuity chirper and speed is unbeatable. 

my 20 year old Escort trms with bells and whistles has a separate button for AC or DC,
and amazingly remembers the last state used on switch on !  :clap:

Rotary switches FOREVER please!   :-DMM


Speaking of safety ... I have yet to accidentally change ranges with a rotary switch.

Push buttons are all too easy to be operated unintentionally.

Who here has NEVER had the face of their meter come into contact with another object?

 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #206 on: June 17, 2017, 02:29:55 am »
Im glad that u like it ,but it would be way easier to produce the entire multimeter with buttons instead the rotary switcher .
However ,just my opinions .

No it's not, which is why you don't see too many of them.
The range switch provides the ease of needed electrical isolation for various reasons I won't go into.
 

Offline ccolanto

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #207 on: June 17, 2017, 04:26:39 am »
We gonna see this kickstarter go live with the EEVBlog #1000 episode perhaps? hmmm
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #208 on: June 17, 2017, 04:37:45 am »
We gonna see this kickstarter go live with the EEVBlog #1000 episode perhaps? hmmm

Nope.
 

Offline Crumble

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #209 on: June 17, 2017, 11:49:19 am »
FWIW the Fluke 189 dial and button arrangement got it pretty right imho  :-+ 

It's the fastest no brainer feature packed meter I have ever used, and the continuity chirper and speed is unbeatable. 
[...]
Joeqsmith has compared the Fluke 289 and the Uni-t UT-181 in the review of the latter and I remember him mentioning the Uni-T kind of copied their user interface, but seems to have made quite some detail improvements on its interface, reducing the amount menu steps required for some funtions. It was also able to display the AC, the DC and the AC+DC value simultaneously while the 289 could not. It did not turn out to be particularly robust though. Incorrect device number...  :palm: :-X

[...]
I would not be too surprised if the released version of the meter did not store the last settings.  Personally, I really like that feature on the BM869s.  I've seen people complain about it as well.  It's really a question for Dave.   
I think this is one of these things you will start missing the second you have had it. On the other hand I have the BM235 and I do find myself actually being bothered by the resistance and continuity being the same position on the selector switch. Somehow it feels like the meter comes on randomly with resistance or continuity (while in fact it was just me having used these functions previously, but forgetting). This might be a personal quirk though, I have those...  :-X

PS Does someone know how to enter in a link to a youtube video without getting a frame embedded into the reply? I wanted to have a link inline with my sentence, but it just jammed an entire video frame in it rather than a link to it.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2017, 12:36:43 pm by Crumble »
 

Offline Electro Detective

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #210 on: June 18, 2017, 01:28:17 am »
FWIW the Fluke 189 dial and button arrangement got it pretty right imho  :-+ 

It's the fastest no brainer feature packed meter I have ever used, and the continuity chirper and speed is unbeatable. 
[...]
Joeqsmith has compared the Fluke 289 and the Uni-t UT-181 in the review of the latter and I remember him mentioning the Uni-T kind of copied their user interface, but seems to have made quite some detail improvements on its interface, reducing the amount menu steps required for some funtions. It was also able to display the AC, the DC and the AC+DC value simultaneously while the 289 could not. It did not turn out to be particularly robust though.



Friendly FYI: the 189 bears no resemblance to the 289

and yes I watch Joe's videos too   :-+   

but my 289 won't be replaced anytime soon,
now that I'm familiar with all it's functions and menu routines (scribbled on paper LOL)  ;D

 

 

Offline Crumble

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #211 on: June 18, 2017, 12:37:54 pm »
[...]
Friendly FYI: the 189 bears no resemblance to the 289

Whoops! My mistake... |O :-X Comment removed.
 

Offline Electro Detective

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #212 on: June 18, 2017, 10:49:24 pm »
[...]
Friendly FYI: the 189 bears no resemblance to the 289

Whoops! My mistake... |O :-X Comment removed.

no problem   :-+  lots of confusion with these two and their variations: 189, 187, 89IV, 289, 287...

It must be that common   '8'  that does it   ;D



 

Offline GameProgrammer79

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #213 on: July 02, 2017, 11:17:46 am »
I am all waiting for 121GW to be out :). It has some serious features not found on any multimeter. I am following up on Joe youtube channel .. all multimeters get some good beating and come out more reformed and tested. 121GW has not fared bad considering it is not in production as yet, some issues can potentially be fixed.

Another small but useful feature if Dave can include in the multi meter .. "Auto Back light on". Joe in one of his extremely modified Uni-t UT61E has implemented this very unique feature. Quite handy, if the light is dim or goes out, back light automatically switches on.

« Last Edit: July 02, 2017, 11:33:12 am by GameProgrammer79 »
Folks I am getting back in Electronics game after 18 odd years :)
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #214 on: July 02, 2017, 11:47:08 am »
I am all waiting for 121GW to be out :). It has some serious features not found on any multimeter. I am following up on Joe youtube channel .. all multimeters get some good beating and come out more reformed and tested. 121GW has not fared bad considering it is not in production as yet, some issues can potentially be fixed.

I think it's important to also understand Joe's tests in context.
The Fluke 87V, the most trusted meter on the market, fails every single one of Joe's tests. According to Joe's tests it's one of the worst meters on the market. Yet I doubt there is a single 87V owner ever who has seen their meter die due to any ESD or pulse overload etc.
 

Offline GameProgrammer79

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #215 on: July 02, 2017, 12:26:11 pm »
I am all waiting for 121GW to be out :). It has some serious features not found on any multimeter. I am following up on Joe youtube channel .. all multimeters get some good beating and come out more reformed and tested. 121GW has not fared bad considering it is not in production as yet, some issues can potentially be fixed.

I think it's important to also understand Joe's tests in context.
The Fluke 87V, the most trusted meter on the market, fails every single one of Joe's tests. According to Joe's tests it's one of the worst meters on the market. Yet I doubt there is a single 87V owner ever who has seen their meter die due to any ESD or pulse overload etc.

I agree.. most of the tests are a worst case scenarios (black swan events). 87v is a standard when it comes to rugged meters but has failed many of Joes tests. In fact Fluke 101  :) has passed more tests then any of the more expensive meters.
Folks I am getting back in Electronics game after 18 odd years :)
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #216 on: July 02, 2017, 02:34:36 pm »
I think it's important to also understand Joe's tests in context.
The Fluke 87V, the most trusted meter on the market, fails every single one of Joe's tests. According to Joe's tests it's one of the worst meters on the market. Yet I doubt there is a single 87V owner ever who has seen their meter die due to any ESD or pulse overload etc.

I agree.. most of the tests are a worst case scenarios (black swan events). 87v is a standard when it comes to rugged meters but has failed many of Joes tests. In fact Fluke 101  :) has passed more tests then any of the more expensive meters.

For me it's simply a matter of has a meter passed independent safety testing (UL, ETL etc). If so then it's good enough to recommend and use it on anything it's rated for.
Sure, if a meter is failing ESD testing or something that could potentially be common place, then that may be a cause for concern, but even the Fluke 87V has shown no sign of doing that in practice for the 13 years it's been released as the V series, apart from Joe's test.
 
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Offline joeqsmith

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #217 on: July 03, 2017, 05:02:27 pm »
I think it's important to also understand Joe's tests in context.
The Fluke 87V, the most trusted meter on the market, fails every single one of Joe's tests. According to Joe's tests it's one of the worst meters on the market. Yet I doubt there is a single 87V owner ever who has seen their meter die due to any ESD or pulse overload etc.

I agree.. most of the tests are a worst case scenarios (black swan events). 87v is a standard when it comes to rugged meters but has failed many of Joes tests. In fact Fluke 101  :) has passed more tests then any of the more expensive meters.

For me it's simply a matter of has a meter passed independent safety testing (UL, ETL etc). If so then it's good enough to recommend and use it on anything it's rated for.
Sure, if a meter is failing ESD testing or something that could potentially be common place, then that may be a cause for concern, but even the Fluke 87V has shown no sign of doing that in practice for the 13 years it's been released as the V series, apart from Joe's test.

I responded here if interested:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hear-kitty-kitty-kitty-nope-not-that-kind-of-cat/1734/

Offline EEVblog

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #218 on: July 29, 2017, 01:17:14 am »
FYI:

 

Offline wasyoungonce

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #219 on: July 29, 2017, 02:11:34 am »
Have to say....looking fwd to getting my grubby hands on one. :-+
I'd forget my Head if it wasn't screwed on!
 

Offline ez24

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #220 on: July 29, 2017, 02:21:22 am »
I would like to see the temps when it is reading 121 Giga Watts 
YouTube and Website Electronic Resources ------>  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/other-blog-specific/a/msg1341166/#msg1341166
 

Offline coromonadalix

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #221 on: July 29, 2017, 03:22:55 am »
Played with a 87V, i could not stand the "ac and push button to be in dc"   idea of the V series, my ideal meter would be no more mv selection, just dc or ac,  minimum 60k counts, i have a Gossen 28s and love it, would be nice to have a faster display speed,  the Metex meters seem very good,  but they are ugly as hell for me.

I'm checking time to time this thread and seeing where the 121gw meter will go and evolve and buy one when they will be on sale. I would have been nice to have some kind of inductive coupled power supply, isolated supply,  to have if wanted an always on meter   EX: an 8hrs of use, like i do sometime with my Gossen 28s

Maybe pushing the 121gw to 80000 counts ???? would be a dream come true   lolll  or a 60k counts ???  forgot that i made that comment in a previous post

keep the good job dave
« Last Edit: July 29, 2017, 04:02:13 am by coromonadalix »
 

Offline Jon.C

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #222 on: July 29, 2017, 04:25:16 am »

 :popcorn:

 

Offline coromonadalix

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #223 on: July 29, 2017, 12:39:46 pm »
oh hooooo  good news   gonna kick start again loll
 

Online 2N3055

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Re: New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?
« Reply #224 on: July 30, 2017, 12:58:51 pm »
Well,
looking at the numbers from Dave's short video I calculate like this:

                          temp                       121GW                      Gossen                     U1282A
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
room                  22,60 °C                  4,5001 V                   4,5006 V                   4,4999 V
test                    12,80 °C                  4,4996 V                   4,5011 V                   4,5005 V
Temp diff            -9,80 °C                  -0,0005 V                  0,0005 V                   0,0006 V

total err                                            -1111,09 ppm            1110,96 ppm             1333,36 ppm
                                                        -0,11%                     0,11%                       0,13%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tempco                                             113,38 ppm/°C         -113,36 ppm/°C         -136,06 ppm/°C
                                                        0,011%/°C               -0,011%/°C                -0,014%/°C
 

                        temp                         121GW                     Gossen                      U1282A
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
room                   22,60 °C                   4,5001 V                   4,5006 V                   4,4999 V
test                   44,70 °C                   4,5000 V                   4,5005 V                   4,4987 V
Temp diff           22,10 °C                  -0,0001 V                  -0,0001 V                  -0,0012 V
total err                                            -222,22 ppm              -222,19 ppm             -2666,73 ppm
                                                        -0,02%                      -0,02%                     -0,27%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tempco                                            -10,06 ppm/°C            -10,05 ppm/°C          -120,67 ppm/°C
                                                       -0,001%/°C                -0,001%/°C               -0,012%/°C


Please someone correct me if I calculated wrong...

Also @joeqsmith, tempco is described in detail in Metrawatt Ultra datasheet. It is specified for Volts DC at 0,05%rdg+5d/10°K .. That comes out roughly to 50ppm/°K + some digits.
EDIT: In specs, you can see that it is specified from 0°C to 40°C. Your test at -20°C and 60°C is way out of instrument specification..
Manufacturer was very upfront that this meter perform to it's full spec in the laboratory and controlled temperature environments and we shouldn't expect it to perform much better than specified.. 

I would also not compare Joe's measurements with Dave's. Measuring in millivolt range introduces increased visibility all kinds of thermal effects in cabling and setup. I would expect that good portion of measured values comes from that influence. Measuring at 4.5 or 10 V is much better to suppress these kinds of errors and to concentrate on actual tempco of an instrument.

Looking at data for those two measurement points separately (room to -10°C, and room to +20°C) you can also see nonlinearities in tempco, that box method (min to max temp delta) doesn't show.

In order for tempco measurement to be useful, there should be measurement point every 10°C (or 5°C,  even better ) from 0°C to 50°C with soak time of 45min at every point.
It should be performed at 5-10V range to minimise cabling and setup tempco...

Best regards,

Sinisa

But considering this a  quick check, it seems so far that 121GW does pretty well, compared to more expensive meter..
« Last Edit: July 30, 2017, 01:06:59 pm by 2N3055 »
 


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