EEVblog #973 - Hioki Multimeter Review & Clamp Meter Teardown

[MacMeter]

Though I'm retired, I'm still allowed to work a few hours a month in the film/video business. The Hioki clamp on is a very popular meter, since as Dave deduced, its super THIN and LIGHT. Most of the electricians/lamp operators have Fluke meters, but as we are mostly testing 120/240 volt 1600-1800 amp. mobile tractor generators the Hioki clamp-on gets the job done, and they hold up well. These generators have a single digital gauge, but only for each of the 3 hot phases, plus neutral. Since there are multiple taps for separate cable runs to the set, the clamp on allows for separate amp readings on each hot leg, to keep the diesel geny in balance. We don't require much in the way of accuracy in our meters, except for checking for solid 60 hertz output. The largest gauge cable we need to monitor for amps would be 4/0, so we don't usually read more then 300 amps on a hot leg. Back when I started, analog Amprobe clamp on meters were the standard, I still have mine, bullet proof, and good enough for the task at hand.

A few weeks a go, I was able to bring my new EEVBLOG BM235 to a job, and it performed flawlessly! I compared it to some of the guys Fluke meters, 3 of them, all about 3-4 times as expensive. I compared the basic AC voltages and hertz, all spot on. I had hertz/cycle issues with that generator all day, and the record feature was as good as the fluke 87. Turns out according to the rental house, that generator was switched from regular diesel fuel, to BIO diesel, and it didn't like it.

[bitwelder]

What is so bad that the Hioki case is not too rigid?
In order to sustain hits/drops wouldn't actually help if the case body is a little... bouncy?

[EEVblog]

What is so bad that the Hioki case is not too rigid?
In order to sustain hits/drops wouldn't actually help if the case body is a little... bouncy?

Personal preference. It doesn't feel or sound good.
As for benefit in drop testing, that can only be answered with controlled drop testing.

[MacMeter]

What is so bad that the Hioki case is not too rigid?
In order to sustain hits/drops wouldn't actually help if the case body is a little... bouncy?

I somewhat agree, twisting the case most likely is just an indicator of the thickness of the plastic used and may or may not mean much on how the meter actually functions, and of course could effect a drop test, though I'm not volunteering my meters for such a test. But you have to remember, Dave is in the process of building his own meter, and to his credit, he gets into the small details, like plastic case construction. I believe there is a recent video on this subject since he is going through that process. I bypassed that video, but now I'm going to watch it. The case twist test would not sway me much, but it's additional data points, so what the hell.

[thm_w]

Nice review, Dave.  Stupid question, you did re-enable the buzzer when you tested putting the leads in the incorrect sockets, right?  It was not clear in the video that you did, unless you mentioned it later (watched the entire video for the multimeter, did not watch the clampmeter part, so if you mentioned it after the clampmeter, I missed it).

How would it know to beep at you unless it has split jacks? I only saw one connection there.
The other possibility is if it beeps each time (which is useless) or if it beeps and shows a message on the screen each time (like fluke 115, which is semi useful).

[joeqsmith]

Just like old times again.  Enjoyed the video.  Good to see another HIOKI review. 

What you call a cap appears to a PTC in series with the resistor and the GDT to the return. 

The one I tested started to melt some of the plastic at the very high levels and it could have been prevented easy enough.  This one is a little different. 

I use some of their line quality equipment.  These are not only meant to survive events but also capture them.  HIOKI knows how to make equipment that will survive.   

Like others, I would have liked to see the higher end unit.  I thought about buying one but the Brymen's twin TC inputs drew me in...   Looking forward to your next meter review.

[Cnoob]

I've received my Hioki DT4282 about an hour ago, only 25 hours after ordering it.
It's a bit smaller than my Brymen BM867s but weighs 3 grams more at 714g
with batteries and test leads.
It does not flex like the Hioki Dave reviewed, partly due to the battery compartment walls
being 2mm thick.
The only thing I'm not sure about is the test leads I prefer the Brymen's as they are more supple
apart from that the meter exudes quality and has nice touches, like showing you what range you
are in when you range change and in continuity you can change your resistance threshold with the
arrow keys.
Also I have not notice any flicking symbols as one review pointed a few years ago so hope that's fixed.
The batteries are Toshiba alkaline  shelf life until 2019.
I did think there maybe something wrong with it as I  only a bit more than paid half price
and if  look at the prices on ebay from China, I paid less than half price.

Finally a thanks to Dave and Joe for their meter reviews I have 3 decent meters, Brymen BM257s,BM867S and Hioki DT8242 
 
 

[WackyGerman]

I like this multimeter . It is compact , accurate and damn quick . Really a good multimeter for electricians on service in the fields like me  . But the beeper is annoying and here in Europe it is not so easy to get Hioki from a dealer to get quick support 

[SeanB]

What is so bad that the Hioki case is not too rigid?
In order to sustain hits/drops wouldn't actually help if the case body is a little... bouncy?

Personal preference. It doesn't feel or sound good.
As for benefit in drop testing, that can only be answered with controlled drop testing.

Off to the dam again then, this time with the Chronos camera as well.

[bluey]

Dave questioned whether Hioki rolled their own IC.

Hioki white paper describes they did in fact make their own HAZ01.
https://www.hioki.com/file/cmw/hdTechnicalDataEn/30/attached_file/?action=browser&log=1&lang=en

The same chip goes into pocket sized DT422x models too with true RMS and bar graph, which run on a single 1.5v battery and NiMH is ok per manual.