AN8008 US $19, 9999count, 1uV, 0.01uA, 0.01Ohm, 1pF resolution meter

[stj]

the aneng meters can be modded for 20mm fuses.
and you can get ceramic 20mm FF rated fuses - so that's the way to go.

[Zimphire]

I've read a good 20 or so pages of this. While it's not the best DMM on the planet, for the price it's perfect for what I need it for. Better than anything in that price range a few years back.

And after doing this mod to it, and getting better probes, it works even better.

https://www.jackenhack.com/aneng-an8008-modify-for-better-accuracy-faster-readings/

[bitseeker]

Welcome to the forum, Zimphire.

Interesting how much noise was in the meter and how much better performance was after Jack made those cap mods.

Looks like he recently fixed up the AN8009 as well. https://www.jackenhack.com/aneng-an8009-improve-accuracy-response/

[tooki]

Welcome to the forum, Zimphire.

Interesting how much noise was in the meter and how much better performance was after Jack made those cap mods.

Looks like he recently fixed up the AN8009 as well. https://www.jackenhack.com/aneng-an8009-improve-accuracy-response/

Zimph, from MacNN forums, is that you?! Blast from the past!!!

[Zimphire]

Zimph, from MacNN forums, is that you?! Blast from the past!!!

Ack! PLZ don't ban me!

[tooki]

Zimph, from MacNN forums, is that you?! Blast from the past!!!

Ack! PLZ don't ban me!

Hahaha I’m not an admin here. And you deserved it! Anyway, nice to see a familiar face (well, username!).

[lordvader88]

Wasn't there something very common missing on these like mA ability, just Amps ?

[floobydust]

Wasn't there something very common missing on these like mA ability, just Amps ?

Full featured DMM's using this chipset have a fouth input jack: COM, V, mA/uA, A

AN8008 has three and is missing the low mA range, it has uA, high mA + A. So it reads:

0-99.99uA at the V jack with 100R shunt.
0-999.9uA at the V jack with 100R shunt.
0-999.9mA at the A jack with 0.01R shunt
0-9.999A  at the A jack with 0.01R shunt

Missing is the 9.999mA/99.99mA range with 0.99R shunt.

So you can only get 0.1mA resolution on mA measurements.

Also, it cannot measure past 9.999MEG ohms 

[Fungus]

Wasn't there something very common missing on these like mA ability, just Amps ?

Yes. They don't have a range in the 10mA area. They jump straight from uA to A.

[exe]

I like having only three jacks -- that's convenient for me. But I'd love to have an audible warning if plug not in the right socket.

[stj]

I like having only three jacks -- that's convenient for me. But I'd love to have an audible warning if plug not in the right socket.

you do, it makes a bang or large crack sound! 

[exe]

you do, it makes a bang or large crack sound! 

Considering the DMM itself costs just a bit more than a good HRC fuse, that's fine with me . A single-use DMM...

PS could you remind me why it should bang? I thought it has fuses on all ranges...

[JanJansen]

How long does it take before a 99.999 counts meter is to be released for this price ?

[exe]

How long does it take before a 99.999 counts meter is to be released for this price ?

You mean a 5-digit DMM for $15? Well, if you only care about number of digits it's not a problem at all . A 16-bit sound DAC with some oversampling will do it... But precision will suffer.

[wolferl1210]

I want to make the mods to my AN8008 according to the info at:
https://hackaday.com/2017/11/24/a-few-caps-for-a-faster-multimeter/

It's the first time that I re-solder SMD, but a do have a lot of experince in soldering.
I use a solder ATTEN ST-80 station with temp setting, so what temp should I use for the 0805 caps?
Is the tip (attached pic) OK for that job?

Thanks for your advise in advance!

[ebastler]

It's the first time that I re-solder SMD, but a do have a lot of experince in soldering.
I use a solder ATTEN ST-80 station with temp setting, so what temp should I use for the 0805 caps?
Is the tip (attached pic) OK for that job?

That tip looks like something my dentist would use... 

If you have a pencil or fine chisel tip for your normal through-hole soldering, there is no need to buy a special one for soldering 0805 SMDs. The same considerations apply as for through-hole soldering: The tip needs to be fine enough to touch the desired solder joint only, but shold not be thinner than necessary (for good heat transfer). Just hold your pencil or chisel tip into the angle beween PCB and the side wall of the 0805, and you will be fine.

Also, your temperature setting should be the same as for small through-hole components.

[stj]

you do, it makes a bang or large crack sound! 

Considering the DMM itself costs just a bit more than a good HRC fuse, that's fine with me . A single-use DMM...

PS could you remind me why it should bang? I thought it has fuses on all ranges...

that's a common miss-understanding.
meters only have fuses on the current inputs.

[In Vacuo Veritas]

that's a common miss-understanding.

Oh I think I met her once.

("miss-understanding"? Really? You guys invented the language, not sure what you're doing with it these days, though.)

[Zimphire]

Buying better test leads also makes this DMM alot better..

[stj]

that's a common miss-understanding.

Oh I think I met her once.

("miss-understanding"? Really? You guys invented the language, not sure what you're doing with it these days, though.)

shouldnt you be speaking french? 

[GreyWoolfe]

Buying better test leads also makes this DMM alot better..

+1 for this.  I replaced the leads on my Aneng 8009 in my toolbag with Brymen gold plated leads.  Much more accurate for the low resistance measurements I will be using it for.  I threw the OEM leads out.

[jackenhack]

Welcome to the forum, Zimphire.

Interesting how much noise was in the meter and how much better performance was after Jack made those cap mods.

Looks like he recently fixed up the AN8009 as well. https://www.jackenhack.com/aneng-an8009-improve-accuracy-response/

I've got a lot of responses from people doing the upgrade on the AN8009 and not getting any significantly better results. I did on my unit, but maybe they've improved later batches.

[Mr. Scram]

Buying better test leads also makes this DMM alot better..

One thing that lets the Anengs down compared to "real" multimeters is the wobbly lead sockets.

[stj]

strange, i have 2 and they arent wobbly or loose in any way.

[Mr. Scram]

strange, i have 2 and they arent wobbly or loose in any way.

The sockets are only attached on the bottom and soldered to the PCB through a long springy connector. It's inevitable that leads that don't neatly fill the gap produce a lot of force on that bottom bit due to them essentially being levers. The supplied leads and maybe the often used Brymen leads seem to fill the gap between the socket and the case and stabilise the whole affair that way, though you can still wiggle the leads from side to side a bit. With the original leads the range of motion is much closer to higher end meters, though.

It should be said that higher end leads also don't seem to be firmly held inside the socket.