Author Topic: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter  (Read 20326 times)

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Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« on: June 13, 2018, 10:24:03 pm »
A review and teardown of the new low cost $38 ANENG Q1 Multimeter
How dos it compare with the $25 AN8008?



 

Offline joeqsmith

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2018, 10:53:03 pm »
I wonder if the relay behaves like the Gossen.  If it changes stated from an external source does the meter let you know?  The Gossen does not have feedback to detect it so in the voltage mode, if it changes you have no idea.  The meter could have several hundred volts across it and you would have no idea.   A really poor design IMO.   Maybe this cheap meter does something right.

Offline joeqsmith

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2018, 11:06:24 pm »

Offline joeqsmith

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2018, 11:09:57 pm »
Of course that POS couldn't even hang with the cheap meters in the chamber.   Damn these marketing people.....

https://youtu.be/wYuzFtoHMqg?list=PLZSS2ajxhiQBTCU8Mq_i9jidT024A0dV6&t=837

Offline NiHaoMike

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2018, 01:04:03 am »
The 4K teardown looks great. Definitely much better than upscaling 1080p. (To be fair, the upscaling shader code is tuned for upscaling images of models, not PCBs!)

As for the meter, I have had plenty of problems with the rotary switch on meters used in the field. A bit of dust gets inside and the switch becomes intermittent until the meter is disassembled and cleaned. A pushbutton control or even a slide/rocker switch can be more robust with less to go wrong. Or even a dedicated low voltage socket like what the Mooshimeter has.

The display is a nice idea with a big flaw. I have seen a LCD that was black on white with ambient light but white on black with backlight. Any reason they couldn't have used that?

Aside from the display, if they add power measurement and Bluetooth, it can very well become a contender for top pick of the budget meters.
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Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2018, 03:50:02 am »
I wonder if the relay behaves like the Gossen.  If it changes stated from an external source does the meter let you know?  The Gossen does not have feedback to detect it so in the voltage mode, if it changes you have no idea.  The meter could have several hundred volts across it and you would have no idea.   A really poor design IMO.   Maybe this cheap meter does something right.

No, the relay is not mu metal shielded.
 

Offline Muttley Snickers

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2018, 04:10:42 am »
I wonder if this meter will still work properly when powered at 3.6 volt to simulate using lithium batteries, I remember the Brymen BM235 didn't like the higher voltage lithium batteries and perhaps these are similar, certainly another thing to test.
 

Offline Barny

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2018, 07:11:40 am »
Is this Meter the first legit use for Batteriser?   :-DD
 

Offline woox2k

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2018, 09:06:26 am »
Is this Meter the first legit use for Batteriser?   :-DD
Came here to say this too. Batteroo sponsored this meter perhaps? :D Like this is the perfect example where batterizer would be actually useful.
 

Offline McBryce

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2018, 09:23:10 am »
@Dave: You zoomed right in on the voltage reference and still didn't notice/comment on how ridiculously bad the soldering was on that part?

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Offline Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2018, 09:34:39 am »
I wonder if the relay behaves like the Gossen.  If it changes stated from an external source does the meter let you know?  The Gossen does not have feedback to detect it so in the voltage mode, if it changes you have no idea.

Is it as dangerous as the Gossen?

a) The ANENG seems to reset the relay state more often, and
b) The ANENG relay doesn't have any effect on the main voltage ranges, ie. It's not going to read 23V instead of 230V (or whatever it was the Gossen read when the relay was out of sync).
« Last Edit: June 14, 2018, 09:43:53 am by Fungus »
 

Offline Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2018, 09:35:47 am »
For those who missed it, there's already been some discussion of these videos here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-aneng-q1-9999-counts/msg1605820/#msg1605820

« Last Edit: June 14, 2018, 09:42:10 am by Fungus »
 

Offline GeorgeOfTheJungle

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #12 on: June 14, 2018, 10:33:20 am »
Dave you can fix that thingy: flip the polarizer and disconnect the backlight led.

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Offline joeqsmith

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #13 on: June 14, 2018, 10:34:46 am »
No, the relay is not mu metal shielded.
I ended up using Netic on the Ultra.   Of course, the Gossen was certified to be safe.  In this case, I think the standards are lacking. 

I wonder if the relay behaves like the Gossen.  If it changes stated from an external source does the meter let you know?  The Gossen does not have feedback to detect it so in the voltage mode, if it changes you have no idea.

I don't think it's as dangerous as the Gossen. The ANENG seems to set the relay state more often and the ANENG relay doesn't have any effect on the main voltage ranges, ie. It's not going to read 23V instead of 230V (or whatever it was the Gossen read when the relay was out of sync).

There you are, reading your 600V 100Amp power supply... all is well.. The meter comes too close to the magnetic hanger.  What's this 600V CAT III marked meter do?  It's not like you rotated a switch.   This meter may give you some sort of visual that the relay changed state, making it safer. 

The free Harbor Freight meters are now derated to 250V.   At least they were smart enough not to share the current input with the voltage input this time.  Still, it does need to handle 1000V plus margins across the open contacts.  Easy enough to try.   

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2018, 11:09:03 am »
Dave you can fix that thingy: flip the polarizer and disconnect the backlight led.

Nope, it's all embedded.
 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #15 on: June 14, 2018, 11:11:21 am »
a) The ANENG seems to reset the relay state more often, and

There is basically no effect on electrical safety of the meter itself under normal use.
The lack of correct display would be another issue.
 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #16 on: June 14, 2018, 11:13:56 am »
@Dave: You zoomed right in on the voltage reference and still didn't notice/comment on how ridiculously bad the soldering was on that part?

For probably the 10th time now I've had to comment on this:

This is common for hand soldered through hole parts, the solder didn't flow through from the bottom. It's not generally a problem, just inconsistency in the hand soldering. The bottom was soldered fine.
 

Offline GeorgeOfTheJungle

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #17 on: June 14, 2018, 11:17:08 am »
I can send you some good quality adhesive polarizing film if you have none. Can't you peel off the one on the display?
« Last Edit: June 14, 2018, 06:07:47 pm by GeorgeOfTheJungle »
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Offline LapTop006

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #18 on: June 14, 2018, 11:21:23 am »
I wonder if this meter will still work properly when powered at 3.6 volt to simulate using lithium batteries, I remember the Brymen BM235 didn't like the higher voltage lithium batteries and perhaps these are similar, certainly another thing to test.

Put a lipo pack in, and perhaps a Qi charge coil (likely easier than any other safe option) and you might actually have a really nice combo. Although that said, the only meter I've had with rechargeables was one of the Agilent ones where they tried to use a rechargeable 9v NIMH, it was always dead when I wanted it, even after only a week or two sitting unused after charging so I swapped in a primary cell.
 

Offline NiHaoMike

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #19 on: June 14, 2018, 05:20:41 pm »
I wonder if this meter will still work properly when powered at 3.6 volt to simulate using lithium batteries, I remember the Brymen BM235 didn't like the higher voltage lithium batteries and perhaps these are similar, certainly another thing to test.
A one cell lithium is actually 4.2V at full charge, might be too much if it runs a 3.3V microcontroller directly from the batteries. LiFePO4 would be near perfect with a voltage range that pretty much exactly coincides with that of 3.3V logic.
Dave you can fix that thingy: flip the polarizer and disconnect the backlight led.


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Offline tszaboo

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #20 on: June 14, 2018, 05:39:49 pm »
Seriously, if your meter uses 16mA, just place a boost converter on the input. I like using Eneloops, and hate 9V batteries. But this one is just stupid, it wouldn't even turn on with those.
The VA display could mean Vertical Aligment.
But I still think the UT210e is a better second meter.
 

Offline Fungus

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #21 on: June 14, 2018, 06:02:13 pm »
Do you have any Batteroos with contacts still attached to them? How about a real-life test?

Maybe two wrongs can make a right?  :popcorn:



« Last Edit: June 14, 2018, 06:24:24 pm by Fungus »
 

Offline Towger

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #22 on: June 14, 2018, 07:05:07 pm »
@Dave: You zoomed right in on the voltage reference and still didn't notice/comment on how ridiculously bad the soldering was on that part?

Sush...  He is still in denial that he needs glasses.   
 

Offline bitwelder

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #23 on: June 14, 2018, 07:17:41 pm »
Mod the meter by adding a Joule thief?
 

Offline Dave

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Re: EEVblog #1095 #1096 - ANENG Q1 Multimeter
« Reply #24 on: June 14, 2018, 10:22:26 pm »
You called the fuses inside the meter HRC. They look like regular ceramic body fuses to me, not likely to survive a couple of kA fault currents through them. Do they advertise them as HRC? :-//
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