Handheld meter robustness testing

[Fungus]

That meter reminds me of my "Big Clive" meter, which I enjoy using - it's simple, it takes up almost no space, and it stays on all day long without complaint.

The case is really boring though. You'd think they'd make it stand out from the crappy DT830a so you can easily tell them apart. eg. The Big Clive has a Fluke-like rubber boot.

I wasn't sure what you meant by this meter but I found your other thread.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/trashy-meters-redux/

Quite interesting indeed

https://www.newark.com/pt-BR/duratool/d03047/digital-multimeter-manual-2mohm/dp/78AH1731

Ref:

[Veteran68]

That meter reminds me of my "Big Clive" meter, which I enjoy using - it's simple, it takes up almost no space, and it stays on all day long without complaint.

The case is really boring though. You'd think they'd make it stand out from the crappy DT830a so you can easily tell them apart. eg. The Big Clive has a Fluke-like rubber boot.

I wasn't sure what you meant by this meter but I found your other thread.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/trashy-meters-redux/

Quite interesting indeed

https://www.newark.com/pt-BR/duratool/d03047/digital-multimeter-manual-2mohm/dp/78AH1731

Ref:

Damn you, Fungus. Now I'm in for three of Clive's meters (need to feed this meter monkey on my back).

I like having "disposable" meters located in convenient places and I think I'm down to my last HF freebie. Plus this one is built way better, so may not be as disposable. Can't beat 7 bucks a pop, especially with the HF's going for $6 now. Like you I decided to get three to have spares and make better use of the flat shipping rate.

[Veteran68]

Damn you, Fungus. Now I'm in for three of Clive's meters (need to feed this meter monkey on my back).

I like having "disposable" meters located in convenient places and I think I'm down to my last HF freebie. Plus this one is built way better, so may not be as disposable. Can't beat 7 bucks a pop, especially with the HF's going for $6 now. Like you I decided to get three to have spares and make better use of the flat shipping rate.

And they're here. Next day shipping for $9.99? Nice!

While the test leads are shrouded and appear at a glance to be better quality than the typical $5 meter's probes, as I was wiping the tips on the first meter with an IPA pad to see if it improved tip resistance, the entire tip insert pulled out of the probe. LOL. I'll still stash these around the shop, garage, cars, etc. They'll serve their intended purpose just fine, I'm sure.

One unit sported an updated box showing the meter with the black case, while the other two boxes showed yellow. All three meters are all black though. The rubber holster looks more orange than yellow. Wouldn't want anyone mistaking these for Flukes I guess.

EDIT: Ha, also just noted these are from the same "batch" 2106 as your meters. Fake batch numbers anyone? Really big batches? Really slow sales?

[Fungus]

EDIT: Ha, also just noted these are from the same "batch" 2106 as your meters. Fake batch numbers anyone? Really big batches? Really slow sales?

Could be a big batch.  Weird that you'd have two different box colors in the same batch though. 

It could also be a date code: 2106 = week 6 of 2021.

I just looked and Big Clive's has a sticker on it:

[Veteran68]

Ignore my box comment. I noticed later that every box has black on one side and yellow on the other side. 

[floobydust]

Even within the model number, there are widely varying builds and quality. The cheapest 830 family are COB with missing protection diodes on the boards. Some seem to be assembled by slave labour or children.

[joeqsmith]

Just a link of some discussion about this thread and my testing.   

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/why-do-hobbyists-purchase-the-most-expensive-handheld-dmms/

[joeqsmith]

Member Rsjsouza suggests meters have gone down hill (my words, not his).  It's been eight years since I ran that first batch of $50 meters.   Is there any interest in seeing a repeat?   

For a meter to qualify, it must meet  the following:

<$60 USD with shipping
Available on eBay or Amazon (They must be easily obtained in brand new form.  You should be able to buy one and repeat my tests.  No used meters.)
Auto range (manual range requires way too much time to test)
Must not be a previously tested model.  No repeats. 
>1999 count (I started looking at meters that I though may be useful for electronics which is why the failures went down and costs increased.  For low cost meters, anything goes.)

If you have a meter you would like to see tested, feel free to post the brand, model, supplier.   

Most likely, I will only transient test the meters, unless we actually find a gem in the mix.  I would most likely purchase another Amprobe AM510 to run with them (runner up).   Also would include the original Fluke 101 that dominated that test by a wide margin.  That meter was never damaged unlike the original AM510 that I had repaired. 

[bdunham7]

If you have a meter you would like to see tested, feel free to post the brand, model, supplier.   

You could expose Kaiweets for the rubbish that I presume it is.  The KM 401 is about $25 on Amazon and appears to imply that it is suitable for industrial use since it has NCV and phase sequence functions (although I'm mystified as to how it works without a third connection).  It has CAT III/1000V and CAT IV/600V ratings and a CE mark.  It even has a flashlight for when you are working on a 575V irrigation pump motor outside in the dark, trying to get it going before the approaching thunderstorm reaches you.  After, all, CAT IV/600 has you covered, right?

Yes, I know, your tests aren't about safety.  It will still be interesting to see how miserably these meters do in your tests.

https://www.amazon.com/KAIWEETS-Multimeter-Auto-Ranging-Capacitance-Temperature/dp/B0CCXRCHD3

[Grandchuck]

UNI-T 125C

https://www.amazon.com/UNI-T-Multimeter-Resistance-Capacitance-Continuity/dp/B08TT8H4GS/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1C7PNB7QZEIKG&keywords=UNI-T%2BUT125C%2BDigital%2BMultimeter&qid=1699544398&sprefix=uni-t%2But125c%2Bdigital%2Bmultimeter%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-5&th=1

[Fungus]

I'd like to see one of those big chunky Aneng/Zotech meters, the ones that supposedly have a 61010 certificate.

eg. This one: https://zotektools.com/products/zoyiztm1/

The certificate is in the "Product certification" tab.

The Aneng versions are these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33005381639.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33009371206.html

[multiJ]

Uni-T
UT33A+ (or UT131A in Europe)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/295459864825
or UT123

Any Kaiweets -these seem to be advertised everywhere these days.
For example, HT118A
https://www.amazon.com/KAIWEETS-Multimeter-Resistance-Capacitance-Temperature/dp/B07SHLS639?th=1

Klein Tools
If there is something at this price point in the US.

Amazon do not sell branded multimeters any more. Maybe something from CEM?

Etekcity
MSR-A2000
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Multimeter-Capacitance-Temperature-MSR-A2000/dp/B09HP6M8CW/ref=sr_1_30?crid=3IBQTU73ATXDE&keywords=cem%2Bmultimeter&qid=1699548997&sprefix=cem%2Bmultimete%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-30&th=1

PeakTech
P3350
https://www.amazon.com/PeakTech-3350-Multimeter-Resistance-Capacitance/dp/B09N15W9GX/ref=sr_1_37?crid=21P4WU5WF2S5M&keywords=Digital+Multimeter&qid=1699549438&sprefix=digital+multimeter+%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-37

[bdunham7]

Klein Tools
If there is something at this price point in the US.

The Klein MM400 is under $60.  From teardown videos it appears to have a single-PTC MOV-less design and a CAT III/600V rating, which seems suspect.  However, it also appears to have a more limited function set, so perhaps they are able to pull off a "withstand without clamping HV" design.  It does have a pretty decent looking set of input resistors, but not the single large ~1k surge resistor.

[joeqsmith]

I'd like to see one of those big chunky Aneng/Zotech meters, the ones that supposedly have a 61010 certificate.

eg. This one: https://zotektools.com/products/zoyiztm1/

The certificate is in the "Product certification" tab.

The Aneng versions are these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33005381639.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33009371206.html

Read the selection criteria and pick a meter with autorange.  These manual range meters suck up too much time.   

[Fungus]

I'd like to see one of those big chunky Aneng/Zotech meters, the ones that supposedly have a 61010 certificate.

Read the selection criteria and pick a meter with autorange.  These manual range meters suck up too much time.   

Both those meters have auto ranges (the blue stops on the dials).

One even has "full auto" where you don't even have to select volts/ohms/etc.

But whatever... your rules.

[rsjsouza]

Joe, I think one that has been making the rounds is the Kaiweets HT118A and also sold cheaper as AstroAI M6KOR - mind you, these are better built than the absolute bottom of the barrel I mentioned in the other thread.

The Aneng AN870/Richmeters RM219/Zoyi ZT219 are quite popular - can be had at Amazon or cheaper at Aliexpress. 

I personally find the Richmeters RM113D (also sold as NJTY T21D) appealing for its small size and ultra low cost. It has been mechanically and thermally abused by me in the past year or so and it has kept it together well, but I know it is a weak contender (electrically speaking). It can be had for lunch money.

Two that I know are the bottom of the barrel are the Aneng M118A (fully automatic) and the Richmeters RM102Pro (also known as Aneng AN113D).

If you are interested in looking at the fully automatic like the M118A, these cellphone-style case meters could be interesting. Both the Kaiweets KM601s or the AstroAI MUS10KRD are probably much better than the  Aneng.

[joeqsmith]

I will normally test these meters with the switch set to every setting, except for current.   Meters that share the V and I on one connector are typically not ran.  Problem being the fuse will blow.  Some place the fuse in-line with shared functions and then the meter is dead.   I've seen some that use a PTC rather than a fuse for the low current shared input.  These may be ok to run, if you knew this is how it was designed.  So no manual ranged meters and I shy away from meters without dedicated current connections.

Not sure on the full auto meters.  If they could be manually set to the various functions, they may be alright to test. 

Room for a few more.

[rsjsouza]

Let me check the RM113D and the RM102Pro. IIRC they physically switch the fuse out when not in mA.

[Fungus]

Room for a few more.

This one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33008555587.html

 

[joeqsmith]

Room for a few more.

This one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33008555587.html

 

I couldn't find it on Amazon or eBay.   If it is sold under a different brand/model, let me know.

[Fungus]

This one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33008555587.html

 

I couldn't find it on Amazon or eBay.   If it is sold under a different brand/model, let me know.
[/quote]

It's made by Zotech and has lots of brands. The S3 or S4 are the ones to get.

On ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/385405636448
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353583550051
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384324938870

Amazon is the worlds worst place to buy multimeters

[Veteran68]

Joe, I think one that has been making the rounds is the Kaiweets HT118A and also sold cheaper as AstroAI M6KOR - mind you, these are better built than the absolute bottom of the barrel I mentioned in the other thread.

The Kaiweets HT118E is the upgraded version. 20K counts vs 6K. These are actually pretty good meters for the money with rave reviews all over (don't know about protection though)

[joeqsmith]

Joe, I think one that has been making the rounds is the Kaiweets HT118A and also sold cheaper as AstroAI M6KOR - mind you, these are better built than the absolute bottom of the barrel I mentioned in the other thread.

The Kaiweets HT118E is the upgraded version. 20K counts vs 6K. These are actually pretty good meters for the money with rave reviews all over (don't know about protection though)

I wouldn't be surprised if 90% of what I consider fodder doesn't have rave reviews.  All depends what your criteria is.  I want products that hold up.  Others want sexy colors...

[rsjsouza]

This one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33008555587.html

 

I couldn't find it on Amazon or eBay.   If it is sold under a different brand/model, let me know.

It's made by Zotech and has lots of brands. The S3 or S4 are the ones to get.

On ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/385405636448
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353583550051
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384324938870

Amazon is the worlds worst place to buy multimeters

These are the Aneng M118A I referenced in my post above. They should provide a nice pyro show. 

[armandine2]

I want products that hold up.  Others want sexy colors...

just watched the poor performing Vici VC99 video and wonder if the VC97A will do better?

It has anti high voltage