| Electronics > Beginners |
| Opinion on a BSIDE ZT302 multimeter |
| << < (5/11) > >> |
| Fungus:
--- Quote from: ldevm on October 28, 2017, 07:24:27 pm ---Well I'm going to order a multimeter next week, and the best price I've found in the web for the BSIDE ZT301 is $17.60. For this price is worth the gamble --- End quote --- What "gamble"? --- Quote from: ldevm on October 28, 2017, 07:24:27 pm ---or is there better for the same money or a couple a dollars more? --- End quote --- For a first meter I'd say it's between that one and the AN860B+. Both of them tick the right boxes feature-wise and price-wise. Both are better featured than an AN8008 as a first meter. If you put them side by side I think it would just come down to the look/feel of the thing. Regarding look/feel: I like the AN860B+'s construction. Very solid feel compared to an AN8008, rubberized case doesn't slide around the bench when you move the wires. The AN860B+ screen is completely flat so it's easy to put a piece of screen protector on it, the ZT301 screen looks curved like an AN8008 so you can't use a piece that goes all the way to the edges. OTOH: a) I don't have ZT301 to compare side by side so I'm just guessing it looks/feels like a big AN8008. b) The ZT301 probably has a slightly better chipset (it's 8000 count and has True RMS). That didn't help at all, did it? |
| ldevm:
--- Quote from: Fungus on October 30, 2017, 09:14:01 am --- What "gamble"? --- End quote --- Well, with "gamble" I mean, there's no feedback, reviews, inside pictures, it may look similar to AN800X outside, but could be very different, for the worst or for the better. And if turns out to be a total flop (I'm probably/certainly over exagerating here...), I don't have any half decent backup meter at the moment... --- Quote from: Fungus on October 30, 2017, 09:14:01 am --- That didn't help at all, did it? --- End quote --- Oh boy! Your right! Didn't help at all, I mean, I like and appreciate all of your knowledge/input (more and more, please ;)), but now I'm torned between the ZT301 and the AN860B+. If for one hand I like the specs of ZT301 (seems a little bit more updated than the AN860B+), on the other hand you make a good point about the rubberized case, I'm not a particularly fan of the sliding issue thing. I think that it will come down to feature/adventure (ZT301) against sturdiness/battle tested (AN860B+). I'll see more prices/availability of both, and make up my mind. |
| Mark Hennessy:
For what it's worth, I've reviewed a few cheap multimeters, including the AN860B+ http://www.markhennessy.co.uk/budget_multimeters/ I've got a RAGU 17B to add to those reviews, and I have BSIDE ZT301 in the post (along with a UNI-T 139C, which appears to use the same chipset). There are also a couple of pocket multimeters to add to the reviews. Depending on how long the outstanding meters take to arrive, I anticipate getting these reviews done in a couple of weeks, perhaps a month worst-case. So, if you're not in a rush... For the money, the AN860B+ is a fine meter. Change the glass fuses for sand-filled ceramic types though. But having said that, there's no such thing as a perfect multimeter. Also, you'll need more than one meter. You don't have to go all that far back in time to discover a place where meters at this price point were very basic 2000-count units that didn't have true RMS, frequency, capacitance, etc - the DTM0660 chipset (and derivatives) have really shaken things up. In short, stop worrying about buying one meter that does everything - plan to buy a couple at least, and play to the strengths of each one. |
| Fungus:
--- Quote from: Mark Hennessy on October 31, 2017, 06:33:57 pm ---Also, you'll need more than one meter. --- End quote --- Yep. Get both! (seriously, for sanity-checking and because you never know when you'll need to look at two values simultaneously) Flip a coin to decide which to get today. Plan on getting the other one a few months from now. |
| ldevm:
--- Quote from: Mark Hennessy on October 31, 2017, 06:33:57 pm ---For what it's worth, I've reviewed a few cheap multimeters, including the AN860B+ http://www.markhennessy.co.uk/budget_multimeters/ I've got a RAGU 17B to add to those reviews, and I have BSIDE ZT301 in the post (along with a UNI-T 139C, which appears to use the same chipset). There are also a couple of pocket multimeters to add to the reviews. Depending on how long the outstanding meters take to arrive, I anticipate getting these reviews done in a couple of weeks, perhaps a month worst-case. So, if you're not in a rush... For the money, the AN860B+ is a fine meter. Change the glass fuses for sand-filled ceramic types though. But having said that, there's no such thing as a perfect multimeter. Also, you'll need more than one meter. You don't have to go all that far back in time to discover a place where meters at this price point were very basic 2000-count units that didn't have true RMS, frequency, capacitance, etc - the DTM0660 chipset (and derivatives) have really shaken things up. In short, stop worrying about buying one meter that does everything - plan to buy a couple at least, and play to the strengths of each one. --- End quote --- I have already looked at your reviews, especially for the AN860B+, very nice work! The idea is having 2 multimeters on the long run, has I've said before the data logger feature doesn't have to be in my next choice, that could be for a second multimeter. I'm choosing a more budget and basic multimeter as the first one to suit all the basic bench readings on simple circuits, arduino fun, etc. Entering the ZT301 has a contender is the fact that it has some nice DC uA ranges and resolution, 8000 counts, 4 input sockets and a nice price ;D. But actually the more I look at the AN860B+ reviews I realize that apart the 2000 counts less, I can't see any other significant diference (not counting the exterior look and feel). Am I missing any other difference (feature wise)? --- Quote from: Fungus on October 31, 2017, 07:24:19 pm --- --- Quote from: Mark Hennessy on October 31, 2017, 06:33:57 pm ---Also, you'll need more than one meter. --- End quote --- Yep. Get both! (seriously, for sanity-checking and because you never know when you'll need to look at two values simultaneously) Flip a coin to decide which to get today. Plan on getting the other one a few months from now. --- End quote --- If at least one of them have the data logging feature, I've already flipped that coin ;) I'm not in such a hurry for the multimeter, I'll go for Mark's advice and wait for his review on the ZT301, after all we are near christmas and its not the best time for buying and waiting for things to arrive from china. |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |
| Previous page |