AlienTek DM40C New Multimeter with some benefits [DM40A - DM40B - DM40C]

[VASILISK]

The time it takes to activate is well under 1 sec.
There is a possibility to activate in any option you want and it keeps it in memory.
Next time it will start, for example, in the multimeter.
It is for me a very practical portable device.
With the oscillograph graphs I am not very enthusiastic.

[nukie]

Hello Vasilisk,
Your replies made me even more curious so I spent sometime watching your youtube review. First few minutes of the video actually answered my questions. It boots really fast there's no need to worry at all. I am stuck in year 2008 where all the android powered devices takes forever to boot. I also like the lightning response of the continuity test function. I use it a lot on my Fluke. The resistance test is also looking speedy no waiting for stepping between ranges. The unit seems like a snappy device, looks very good for daily use. However, I am not unsure why they show OL for large capacitance test when charging, it should be displaying Wait... or something rather than OL. Also, is the 8pin Maxim IC the voltage reference? Thank you for your detailed and through review, it was very helpful and informative. I hit the subscribe button clap:

I decided first thing I'm going to do is remove the yellow jacket and 3D print a mount for it on my desktop arm.

[ledtester]

I don't have time to shift through YouTube vids but I have a few questions. How long does this unit take to boot up? Is there a setting where you can have DMM on default or do you have to select the DMM function every time it's booted up?

From VASILISK's video at 5:42:

✨Alientek DM40C 3 in1 Multimeter Oscilloscope & Signal Generator - full Review & Tear Down✨ -- Vasilis Kotoulas
https://youtu.be/-CCQZ08o6qM?t=5m42s

the start-up time to the start menu is just a couple of seconds.

You can also configure the device to go directly to a specific instrument (multimeter, scope, sig gen) on start-up.

It stands to reason that the start-up time to, say, the multimeter would also just be a couple of seconds.

According to the user manual, the splash screen (which they call the boot logo) can also be replaced with your own image.

User manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3720530/Alientek-Dm40.html#manual

[VASILISK]

Thank you very much for your kind words and for finding my information useful. I also thank you very much for subscribing to my YouTube channel, I am grateful.
As for the integrated circuit, yes, it is what is mentioned, see the photo.
I had not noticed that with the capacitor. You are right. I will suggest it to the manufacturer of the multimeter, but I do not know if they will do anything about it.

[soldermarc]

I saw the diode testing with the continous, short and triple bleep feature in a review.

Is there any other meter out there that can do this? I would like such a feature in a bench multimeter, too.
Also different beep frequency according to the reading, let's say from 0 to 2 volts or better user configurable, would be great for fault finding. You wouldn't have to look at the screen at all. Any manufacturer has built a device with a feature like this?

[SteveLTN]

According to this video in Chinese, the B and C version uses low drift resistor network while A version doesn't.


https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1L2k7Y9Edm/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=863588fe442c2f38c6bc52b802e01a7c  (around 16:27)

[SteveLTN]

I guess that something was lost in translation from Chinese to English.

Taking the literal "recommended" expression, the signal source should be within the recommended 20Vrms to a maximum of 250Vrms.
For me it is clear that the meter requires several Volts to be able to read frequencies from 10Hz to 60MHz.

I wonder why... The simpler explanation is that the frequency bandwidth is narrower than 10Hz to 60MHz, therefore an higher signal amplitude is required to compensate for the attenuation on extremes.
 
Anyhow, I tested successfully from a few kHz to 4 MHz with a basic 1Vrms signal generator.
My guess is that these frequencies are well inside the frequency bandwidth of the DM40C and 1Vrms is sufficient to be registered succefully.

Realistically, the practical application of such low sensitivity frequency meter is very small.

Maybe one of our members have a proper signal generator able to supply above 1Vrms and check the sensitivity and frequency response of our DM40x meter?

Yep, it's a translation error. I happen to speak Chinese and have just read the Chinese user manual.
It says: It is recommended to use a input signal whose amplitude is LESS THAN 20V rms, and the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM is 250V rms.

[sw_guy]

Reviewed in the EEVblog 1723 video today. Just wondering if connecting the back cover shielding makes any difference to the unexpected behavior seen on video. Worth of a follow up video, Dave?

[McCarthy]

Reviewed in the EEVblog 1723 video today. Just wondering if connecting the back cover shielding makes any difference to the unexpected behavior seen on video. Worth of a follow up video, Dave?

Once I saw that nonsense I stopped watching.

In ohms mode I need reliability all the way down when measuring cores / some rails on GPUs, repeatability of the readings, being in spec for many years. All these China meters are garbage, eventually.

[nukie]

You want to measure ohms down to 0.5ohm ? You will need a ohm meter that has a 4 wire Kelvin connection. This isn't the right tool for you nor many other well shielded digital multimeter. Please be kind, one don't have to call all Chinese tools rubbish, they have their target market and usefulness.

I bought this unit specifically due to the bigger screen, fast startup, very quick ranging and satisfying continuity beep. It really helps with my eyes. I can toubleshoot PCB without wearing my glasses and still see the digits if I placed DM40 far away. That alone is worth a lot of considering the time it requires to develop a big screen that taps a multimeter output.

[mariusmotea]

Looks like the prices have changed a lot, the DM40C with no extra bundle is about $200

[Beauvais7165]

You want to measure ohms down to 0.5ohm ? You will need a ohm meter that has a 4 wire Kelvin connection. This isn't the right tool for you nor many other well shielded digital multimeter. Please be kind, one don't have to call all Chinese tools rubbish, they have their target market and usefulness.

I bought this unit specifically due to the bigger screen, fast startup, very quick ranging and satisfying continuity beep. It really helps with my eyes. I can toubleshoot PCB without wearing my glasses and still see the digits if I placed DM40 far away. That alone is worth a lot of considering the time it requires to develop a big screen that taps a multimeter output.

Do you know what is the continuity Ohms audible threshold, and if it can be configured?

All I see in the manual is this, but it is not clear to me, if this means it can be configured from 0-1K Ohms?:



I do have an EEVblog BM786 and I am quite annoyed of the high resistance level for measuring a short.

[Aldo22]

In ohms mode I need reliability all the way down when measuring cores / some rails on GPUs, repeatability of the readings, being in spec for many years. All these China meters are garbage, eventually.

Strange argument.
Your Hioki costs $600+ and is not the best tool for your example.
$25 LCR Tweezers ("China garbage") are more suitable for small resistors.
9.9mΩ in the attached image.

[McCarthy]

In ohms mode I need reliability all the way down when measuring cores / some rails on GPUs, repeatability of the readings, being in spec for many years. All these China meters are garbage, eventually.

Strange argument.
Your Hioki costs $600+ and is not the best tool for your example.
$25 LCR Tweezers ("China garbage") are more suitable for small resistors.
9.9mΩ in the attached image.

Small resistors? What part of measuring cores don't you understand?

I own a PROPER LCR meter but when you own a PROPER multimeter such as that HIOKI, you don't need it because it goes low enough, with PROPER accuracy, with PROPER repeatability and for many years to come without drifting out of spec like all this China garbage. Being able to use the same and better tool results in faster workflow too.

I don't fiddle around with cheap nonsense like 95% around here do, I work with my tools within my company in order to make a profit. 2 jobs pay for that HIOKI, work worth half a day.

[McCarthy]

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[Aldo22]

@McCarthy: Why are you hanging around in a thread for a toy when that's way below your level?
Don't you have to earn money? 

[McCarthy]

@McCarthy: Why are you hanging around in a thread for a toy when that's way below your level?
Don't you have to earn money? 

Just finished a 3060 12 GB. BGA on artifacting vram. Took 20 min, $100 charged. Now stress testing and getting back to this thread.

And you?

[Aldo22]

And you?

I mopped the terrace and prepared dinner. 

[KungFuJosh]

Now stress testing and getting back to this thread.

Why? Why post in this thread at all? This thread is about a low budget DMM, and you're comparing it to a significantly more expensive meter that you already have that meets your needs.

Insulting an entire country's manufacturing is fantastically ignorant on your part. China produces meters that are superior to your Hioki if you want to pay the cash for them. Every country that manufactures devices has low and high end devices to match the budgets and needs of their users. 

[McCarthy]

And you?

I mopped the terrace and prepared dinner. 

There is a time and place where you can cut corners with no-name China tools, but you have to make up for it with extensive experiences.

Such as using a pre heater and hot air station hack-job worth 500 bucks over a proper BGA machine ranging from 1k to over 50k from PACE.

But if you ever want to do proper and ongoing repair / testing / design, in a job or for your own business, a proper meter is mandatory.

[McCarthy]

Insulting an entire country's manufacturing is fantastically ignorant on your part.

I said: "All these China meters are garbage, eventually."

I own a dozen or so meters, including those made in China. I have 40 years of experiences in this field. I speak from experience. If you don't like my opinion that is based on MY experience, that is a 'you' problem. You can buy them all and use them all day long - I don't care. Get back to me after 10 years and tell me how this DM40C held up. Then compare it to a Fluke or Japan made HIOKI.

In my line, it only takes one screw up on a 5090 with a garbage reading in ohms mode, powering it, and frying the core, and then I may owe over 3k to my customer.

[KungFuJosh]

Insulting an entire country's manufacturing is fantastically ignorant on your part.

I said: "All these China meters are garbage, eventually."

I own a dozen or so meters, including those made in China. I have 40 years of experiences in this field. I speak from experience. If you don't like my opinion that is based on MY experience, that is a 'you' problem. You can buy them all and use them all day long - I don't care. Get back to me after 10 years and tell me how this DM40C held up. Then compare it to a Fluke or Japan made HIOKI.

In my line, it only takes one screw up on a 5090 with a garbage reading in ohms mode, powering it, and frying the core, and then I may owe over 3k to my customer.

Your ignorance and prejudice are still showing. Nobody cares about your experience. Especially not in a thread that isn't about you or for you.

Every electronic device is trash eventually. It doesn't matter where anything is manufactured. Higher quality costs more money, end of discussion. Pay more to get get better specs and hopefully better longevity. So why come into a thread about a cheapo low budget meter, and start whining about $50,000 devices? You don't make any sense.

[andy3055]

This is reviewed by Mr. Carlson and seems a better deal:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=oscilloscope

[McCarthy]

Insulting an entire country's manufacturing is fantastically ignorant on your part.

I said: "All these China meters are garbage, eventually."

I own a dozen or so meters, including those made in China. I have 40 years of experiences in this field. I speak from experience. If you don't like my opinion that is based on MY experience, that is a 'you' problem. You can buy them all and use them all day long - I don't care. Get back to me after 10 years and tell me how this DM40C held up. Then compare it to a Fluke or Japan made HIOKI.

In my line, it only takes one screw up on a 5090 with a garbage reading in ohms mode, powering it, and frying the core, and then I may owe over 3k to my customer.

Your ignorance and prejudice are still showing. Nobody cares about your experience. Especially not in a thread that isn't about you or for you.

Every electronic device is trash eventually. It doesn't matter where anything is manufactured. Higher quality costs more money, end of discussion. Pay more to get get better specs and hopefully better longevity. So why come into a thread about a cheapo low budget meter, and start whining about $50,000 devices? You don't make any sense.

I don't care if your feelings get hurt by reality buddy. This China meter is perfect for you since you only play around anyways...

[IC_Toaster]

And you?

I mopped the terrace and prepared dinner. 

 
I didn't expect an answer like this.