AstroAI 20000 Count DMM - Any Good?

[PathLoss]

Greetings everyone. This is the AstroAI DM20000 20000 count True RMS DMM on Amazon for $46.99 each + S&H (if applicable).

Does anyone have any experience with this meter? It says it can do 20000 counts and the display can do 18888 (so 19999 is maximum right?) There are two fuses, one 200 mA and one 10 A, both Fuses are 6x32 mm 250 V. I assume the fuses are simple cheap glass fast-blow. If so I won't work with work with main voltages using this DMM.

Assuming the accuracy is reasonable: Specified DC accuracy is +/-(0.08% + 5), AC accuracy is +/-(1.0% + 25), DC current accuracy at 200 mA or less is +/-(0.5% + 5), AC current accuracy at 200 mA or less is +/-(1.0% + 25), Resistance accuracy less than 20 MegOhms +/-(1.0% + 15), see the user manual for full specs.

Question: Are there any better DMMs out there for the same or less money?

AstroAI DM20000 DMM Amazon Page:

https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Multimeter-Auto-Ranging-Capacitance-Temperature/dp/B0BRPNWR19/

AstroAI DM20000 33 Page User Manual with Specs, in English:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/C1gCGBc6IzL.pdf

AstroAI DM20000 Photo with Full LCD Display Shown:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81dQksQgisL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

[Warhawk]

Likely standard rubbish from China. But hey, it has AI in the title so it must be good! 

From the manual:
Fuse rating F200mA/250V 6x32mm
F10A/250V 6x32mm

That is no go.

You can find very detailed information about DMMs here on the EEVBLOG including the excel spread sheet selection table.
I save you some time. If you are new to electronics, buy Brymen BM257s or similar (BM235). If you can't afford it, then aneng 8008 is proven to be relatively good for low-voltage electronics.

[PathLoss]

@Warhawk said: But hey, it has AI in the title so it must be good!

Yeah, Gotcha Warhawk. Based on some recommendations here on the EEVBlog Forum I bought an Aneng 8008. But unfortunately I put it in the bag it came with and dropped it in a drawer. Then when I came back to use the meter several weeks later, the clear display was all chemically dissolved by the bag it came with. Obviously the material used for the bag was not compatible with the DMM's plastic case. I tried to contact Aneng to get a replacement case - no answer. What a shame, for the price I really liked the Aneng 8008. I have some homebrew DC voltage and current "standards" around here. They seem to work OK at relatively stable room temperatures. Thanks for your reply Warhawk. Maybe I'll grab one of the AstroAI DM20000 DMM's off Amazon and give it a try. I mean sheesh - a DMM with a useable 20000 counts and enough digits to display it for less than a fifty Yankee Bucks delivered over-night is a hard one to pass up - just for experimental purposes of-course  Right?.

Best Regards, David in Florida

[Gyro]

The 1000V Cat III / 600V Cat iV is a bit of a giveaway, but it's not the first Chinese meter to lie about that. It might still make a reasonable bench meter if you avoid mains outlets (on other than NCV).

The residual counts on the accuracy specs of most functions is on the high side but the resolution is attractive, backlit LCD, bargraph, min/max, all current ranges on their own jack etc.

Unfortunately the only way you're going to find out useful things like continuity test response speed is to find a decent review. I'm probably not up to date of comparative pricing but you may want to compare with better known meters,eg. Uni-T (rather than Brymen or Fluke in that price range!), certainly not the last word in quality but extensively reviewed, teardowns etc. Find a likely looking meter and then do a forum search on model number is probably a good starting point.

Edit: The LED socket identification is quite nice (for those who need it).

[BILLPOD]

Good Morning PathLoss,  You seem enthused about this meter, so if you've got an extra $50 in your pocket, get it.   If you continue in this hobby it will become only one of many meters you accumulate.   We all have bought cheap meters at one time or another and I have several to go with my 'good' meters.   What I have found, is every meter I have has at least one feature that makes me reach for it on certain occasions.  And you will have at least a weeks worth of fun playing with a new meter and learning it's strengths and weaknesses,
and that entertainment alone is worth $50.   

[xrunner]

Yeah, Gotcha Warhawk. Based on some recommendations here on the EEVBlog Forum I bought an Aneng 8008. But unfortunately I put it in the bag it came with and dropped it in a drawer. Then when I came back to use the meter several weeks later, the clear display was all chemically dissolved by the bag it came with. Obviously the material used for the bag was not compatible with the DMM's plastic case. I tried to contact Aneng to get a replacement case - no answer. What a shame, for the price I really liked the Aneng 8008.

That's really weird. I have an Aneng 8002 that I bought years ago to try but I just put it away inside it's bag. But it's been inside it's bag in the box for years now. I just pulled it and the display is OK. Is the bag yours came in like the bag in my pic? It's a silvery sort of cloth that's black on the inside.

[tunk]

For a bit more you can have a Fluke 101:
https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-101-Multimeter-Resistance-Capacitance/dp/B00HE6MIJY/

(I have an AN8001, mostly stored in the bag, and it's fine.)

[Helio_Centra]

Just from the shape of the case I can see it is one of those common chinesium meters. And $46 is probably too much for it. I have one the same shape that was only $30 and has more features on the dial, but accuracy is gonna be a wash. I don't think I'd trust their specs.

AstroAI is one of those Amazon only brands they slap on loads of different cheap electronics.

For accurate stuff I use an old Fluke I got on eBay for $25 as broken but it was just a blown fuse.

[Old Printer]

Get one of the little Anneg’s, a lot of people here have them and for the price they well liked. I have 2 and also a top of the line Keysight that I lucked into for too cheap to pass on. The little Annegs get 95% of the use, the Keysight is just for showing off 😎

[daveho]

From the picture, it looks the same as the Kaiweets HT181, which is also sold as the Habotest HT181. I have the latter, and it's my favorite meter. The ergonomics are excellent. I did some testing over the summer, and its accuracy was comparable to my other meters (including 2 fluke meters.) If you're not using it for high energy measurements, it should be a solid choice.

That's my $0.02, YMMV.

Edit: The Kaiweets/Habotest model is the "HT118E", not the "HT118". Sorry for the confusion.

[Gyro]

If it is the Kaiweets HT118, Kerry Wong did a teardown (A and E variants) and review... http://www.kerrywong.com/2023/01/21/kaiweets-ht118e-teardown-pictures-compared-with-ht118a/

Of course, there's no way to know if the internal construction and the few protection components that are included, are the same between the two brand names and indeed, which variant the AstroAI corresponds to [Edit: That would be the HT118E, the 20000 counts one of course].