Why do you believe it is AC only?
My 121GW have no problems showing DC voltage in LowZ mode.
That's odd. Mine showed nothing on a 6V battery.
You need about 12VDC before the meter will show anything (In my opinion this is a silly detail).
LoZ is for finding faults in circuits not for leakage or some fancy "engineer" stuff ...
Of course in 121GW LoZ is both AC and DC . But only above 12V . You should read the manual . Mine is working from 10V
Why do you believe it is AC only?
My 121GW have no problems showing DC voltage in LowZ mode.
That's odd. Mine showed nothing on a 6V battery.
You need about 12VDC before the meter will show anything (In my opinion this is a silly detail).
It's totally bizarre.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
It doesn't seem particularly bizarre to me.
The 121GW is a tool that has features designed to perform certain functions. That tool has specifications and instructions, which define what it can do and how to achieve that. It, like every other multimeter, is not capable of every type of measurement that can be imagined - but does what it was intended to do.
The Lo-Z range and the characteristics of its operation seem to me to be quite reasonable and suitable for the purpose for which it was designed - including the low voltage threshold.
But that's just me.
For the record: my "travel" DMM is a Fluke 117 which has an "Auto-V LoZ" mode. This actually works for single NiMh cells but there's not much of a difference compared to the high ohmic mode - which (as stated before) is not really to be expected with a ~500µA load current. Actually, the value displayed is e.g. 1.4V in LoZ mode vs. 1.412V in DC Volt mode but the "difference" is most probably mainly due to the lower resolution (0.1V) in "Auto-V" mode.
This actually works for single NiMh cells but there's not much of a difference compared to the high ohmic mode - which (as stated before) is not really to be expected with a ~500µA load current.
Fine with me, this means impedance of ~3KOhm (comprate 10MOhm). Afaik it uses PTC, so, connected to mains, impedance will be higher.
I use the lowZ mode of multimeters mostly for discharging capacitors, for this purpose the lowZ DC range of the 121GW should be lower than 12V to see if the capacitor is really completely discharged. But I assume this cannot be easily done by firmware.
Hi Dave
when will you publish firmware 2.0?
Thank you
Even cheaper if you pay with crypto!
How is the price with cryptocoins?
Conversion from price in AUD using the rate at time of purchase?
Just got this below from Welectron here in Europe so maybe Dave should make a note of the serial range on the firmware page if he publishes the newer firmware.
Dear Sir or Madam,
We have been informed by Kane Test that some of the shipped EVBlog 121GW multimeters have an issue. This can result in a loss of calibration data after a firmware update. Unfortunately, this issue cannot be resolved by the customer.
Please check if your 121GW has a serial number in the range of 190106323 .. 190106450.
If this is the case:
- Do NOT attempt to update the firmware on your 121GW.
- Do NOT yet send the device back to us. We will arrange an exchange once we receive new stock from Kane Test in about 3-4 weeks.
- Please let us know the serial number of your device, and if you agree in exchanging your affected 121GW with a new device.
If your 121GW is not in the noted serial number range, you do not need to worry and can ignore this e-mail.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Best regards,
Your Welectron Team
Please check if your 121GW has a serial number in the range of 190106323 .. 190106450.
Interesting, I wonder why. Or was it because these multimeters use a different format/location of calibration data? May be that's an issue with unpublished firmware.
When I changed the firmware on the prototype Dave sent, it had to be realigned. I assume it was because they changed the format (locations, size, types....). What's a bit odd is I have since installed many of the versions that were available and never had a problem. Maybe these were some of the very first meters and they shipped with pre 1.0.
Maybe if the owners wanted to keep their SNs, they could have then realigned by an outside house.
Even cheaper if you pay with crypto!
How is the price with cryptocoins?
Conversion from price in AUD using the rate at time of purchase?
Try the checkout and find out
Yes, conversion is at the time of purchase based on CoinPayments/net rate whereever they get that from.
Just got this below from Welectron here in Europe so maybe Dave should make a note of the serial range on the firmware page if he publishes the newer firmware.
Dear Sir or Madam,
We have been informed by Kane Test that some of the shipped EVBlog 121GW multimeters have an issue. This can result in a loss of calibration data after a firmware update. Unfortunately, this issue cannot be resolved by the customer.
Please check if your 121GW has a serial number in the range of 190106323 .. 190106450.
If this is the case:
- Do NOT attempt to update the firmware on your 121GW.
- Do NOT yet send the device back to us. We will arrange an exchange once we receive new stock from Kane Test in about 3-4 weeks.
- Please let us know the serial number of your device, and if you agree in exchanging your affected 121GW with a new device.
If your 121GW is not in the noted serial number range, you do not need to worry and can ignore this e-mail.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Best regards,
Your Welectron Team
This only affected 21 units, and only units shipped by Welectron.
UEi did a new version of firmware and shipped that with units to Welectron (who direct order from UEi, they don't buy from me), unfortunately there was a calibration goof of some sort and those units had to be recalled and units replaced (or re-calibrated, but quicker to replace in this instance for those customers).
Everything is fixed now and all new units from Welectron will ship with the latest 2.00 firmware and problem solved.
So there should not be any meters left in the wild that cannot be upgraded in future, so no need for any advice on the firmware page.
My stock is not affected.
When I changed the firmware on the prototype Dave sent, it had to be realigned. I assume it was because they changed the format (locations, size, types....).
Yes, your unit was pre-production and a lot changed from your version to release.
Why do you believe it is AC only?
My 121GW have no problems showing DC voltage in LowZ mode.
That's odd. Mine showed nothing on a 6V battery.
You need about 12VDC before the meter will show anything (In my opinion this is a silly detail).
It's totally bizarre.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
I tried two 9V batteries in series. Over 19V.
It takes a long time to register considering that no auto ranging is happening.
2 or 3 seconds.
Super nice multimeter..
compared with Fluke 87V , Fluke 87, Fluke 287, Fluke 289, Fluke 867b, 187, 189, Metrix, Keysight, Brymen... (i compared only with high level handheld multimeters)
This multimeter is absolutely accurate. Nice features like low burden measurement, bluetooth, sd card (i like it for fw upgrade), crisply lcd display and build quality is just awesome.
I'm sure Dave will improve the SW side.
I compared specially Fluke 189/289 vs 121GW, they have similar specs. (I used ir3000FC bluetooth adapter on fluke's)
121GW software (android) is better
121GW has more features
integrated bluetooth
same accuracy
open source
and you can buy 4 121GW instead one fluke..
Thank you Dave ! specially for the color
Fixes are still coming. I'm using 2.00 firmware at present and UEI have said we can release it, so expect it soon. Improvements are better and faster resistance and capacitance autoranging.
Any news about the new 2.0 firmware?
Fixes are still coming. I'm using 2.00 firmware at present and UEI have said we can release it, so expect it soon. Improvements are better and faster resistance and capacitance autoranging.
Any news about the new 2.0 firmware?
My guess is that there is a problem with V2.0 otherwise it would be released!
Why withhold an improvement that would benefit users? Can only be a problem was found and its pointless releasing a buggy version.
My guess is that there is a problem with V2.0 otherwise it would be released!
Why withhold an improvement that would benefit users? Can only be a problem was found and its pointless releasing a buggy version.
That is a very doubtful explanation, new meters has for some time been delivered with newer software than is available on the website.
It's just a meter, there was some excitement because it was a kickstarter, but now it's a year and half later and it's now just another product in my store. That was inevitable.
There is no more hurry to publish improvements ?
UEI does not send the new firmware and Dave does not ask ?
Something else ?
The new firmware will come one day or another
The new firmware will come one day or another
It will probably arrive along with revised hardware in the form of a new version of the meter.
Dave will probably regain his interest in a new meter, as its required to promote sales.
My guess is that there is a problem with V2.0 otherwise it would be released!
Why withhold an improvement that would benefit users? Can only be a problem was found and its pointless releasing a buggy version.
That is a very doubtful explanation, new meters has for some time been delivered with newer software than is available on the website.
That being so, then wouldn't the other meters 'out there' also benefit from having access to the same firmware revision ?.