Products > Test Equipment
AN8008 US $19, 9999count, 1uV, 0.01uA, 0.01Ohm, 1pF resolution meter
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ocw:
I received a Ragu 17B+ multimeter today.  I see that Amazon raised its price to $11.99 while it is going for around $15 from several American eBay sources.

While its specifications reminded me of the AN8008, the 17B+ is about the regular multimeter size rather than the small size of the AN8008.  Naturally, its circuit board looks entirely different (see the attachment).  They would have a hard time putting that 10 amp fuse inside of the AN8008.  The added relative/zeroing and MAX/MIN buttons are nice.  But its disappointing to have the 1 microvolt digit missing compared to the AN8008.

The DC voltage accuracy (about 0.1% high) came close to the matching my AN8008.  The Ragu's AC voltage readings were about 0.12% high and it maintained 1% accuracy or better from 8 to 1600 Hz.  It was 1 dB down at 2240 Hz (-3 dB at 3050 Hz).  The 17+ properly measured the RMS voltage of a square wave signal.  It measured frequency up to 54 MHz with a 1 volt RF input.  200 mV and less was adequate at lower frequencies.  It displayed 54.00 MHz with a much more precise frequency input.

The resistance measurement was very precise (close to 0.00%) near 1.XXX, 10.XX and 100.X readings. Between those points the readings were typically 0.10 - 0.15% high.  The only thing not fitting that description was my 10M 0.01% resistor being read as 10.04M (+0.04%).  The resistor test voltage was 1.00 volts while the diode check voltage was 3.28 volts.  The continuity alarm sounded with resistances below 50 ohms.

The uA DC current readings were about 0.1% low, the mA readings were around 0.3% high, and the A DC readings were about 0.15% low.  The three shunt resistances were 100.385, 1.4962 and 0.03253 ohms respectively.  Due to those resistances, the real world accuracy reading current of a regulated voltage without paying attention to those resistances was up to 1.1% low for uA readings and 9.2% low for mA readings.  I have yet to test the AC current accuracy, but I would expect it to be similar.

I'm not sure what happened to the capacitance measurement calibration.  It was as if the meter was zeroed with a negative 73 pF capacitor connected.  If you add that amount to all of the readings, it has pretty good accuracy.  Without that correction its accuracy is pretty bad until that amount of capacitance is insignificant.  The zeroing button didn't function in the capacitance mode.

The non-contact voltage detector set off its alarm when its display end was 2.5"/6.3cm away from a 120 VAC wire.

It's a nice meter and doesn't have the missing current ranges like the AN8008 does.  But, it doesn't have the ANENG's nice small size.  It will be useful for some tasks.


mnementh:
My AN8008 arrived today; it spent the last week being bounced around several Post Offices due to the confusion and delay caused by Harvey. I'm with the other posters here; that extra lead kit is almost worth the cost of the meter. While quality of the fittings isn't the greatest, I'm pretty certain I can make them all quite reliable with a little careful resoldering. The assortment of end fittings does just SCREAM useful.

ocw, thanks for the quick Tech Teardown of the Spaghetti Meter... I was beginning to have second thoughts; after spending my $10 in my mind it was beginning to feel more and more like actually spending money for another of the Horror Fraught "Little Red Boxes"...


Cheers,


mnem
This space for rent.
kalel:
Nice big fuse on that Ragu. I guess it compares with AN860B+? But the fuse seems better. At least looks the part.
Fungus:

--- Quote from: kalel on September 07, 2017, 07:03:35 am ---Nice big fuse on that Ragu. I guess it compares with AN860B+? But the fuse seems better. At least looks the part.

--- End quote ---

Looks impressive, yes, but notice that the fuse is only rated for 380V yet the meter claims "MAX 1000V DC" and "CAT IV 600V" on the front.  :popcorn:

I'm also not sure about the track spacing around it. Would it have killed them to bring this track down at a slightly different angle to gain a couple of mm more gap? There's plenty of space on the PCB! To me it looks as if that fuse might as well not be there if the voltage goes up high enough, it could simply arc across from the base of the fuse to that track.

Just looking at the picture I'd I'd say it's more like CAT II 300V than CAT IV 600V, CATIII 300V at best.


kalel:

--- Quote from: Fungus on September 07, 2017, 09:17:17 am ---
--- Quote from: kalel on September 07, 2017, 07:03:35 am ---Nice big fuse on that Ragu. I guess it compares with AN860B+? But the fuse seems better. At least looks the part.

--- End quote ---

Looks impressive, yes, but notice that the fuse is only rated for 380V yet the meter claims "MAX 1000V DC" and "CATIV 600V" on the front.  :popcorn:

I'm also not sure about the track spacing around it. Would if have killed them to bring this track down at a slightly different angle to gain a couple of mm extra?

--- End quote ---

Still, if everything else was the same as an860b+, and it cost 10-12 USD, a great deal (a shame it's not int with free shipping). It would be interesting to see a comparison.
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