ANENG goes crazy with new meters

[Fungus]

Hi Fungus

Hi.

Also, the manual says that diode test goes up to 3.0V which I know you were interested in.

It actually says: "Displays 0L above 3V" 

[Gandalf_Sr]

Also, the manual says that diode test goes up to 3.0V which I know you were interested in.

It actually says: "Displays 0L above 3V" 

You're right, so I assumed/inferred/extrapolated that it would read diode forward voltage up to 3.0V    BTW what country is '00'? Is it Pedantland?

The web page for the SZ18 also says... "Not good for beauty, functions are more intimate..." so I presume that, if you're in the beauty profession, you should choose the Q10.

[Fungus]

It actually says: "Displays 0L above 3V" 

You're right, so I assumed/inferred/extrapolated that it would read diode forward voltage up to 3.0V 

Yes but it implies the output voltage can go above 3.0V if needed. 

I just wanted to know if it'll light up big white LEDs. I think it will.

BTW what country is '00'? Is it Pedantland?

Null.

[Gandalf_Sr]

I just wanted to know if it'll light up big white LEDs. I think it will.

I think it will too; assuming you're not in the Nulland beauty business, I think you should order a Q10

[rsjsouza]

Hmmm, I didn't see the SZ18 before you guys mentioned it but I just ran a side-by-side comparison on the specs and they appear to be identical.  Both Banggood pages (for the Q10 and SZ18) say in the spec table that they take 3 x AA but then, further down in the graphics, they both say 3 x AAA - I guess we'll find out soon.

Obviously the SZ18 has the color variants in the legend around the rotary selector dial but I can't see any other differences?  I prefer the color scheme on the Q10, at least you can more easily see what the default function is with the de facto standard that the orange/yellow functions are auxillary.

Oh and I checked, yes they both have an LED flashlight.

[EDIT] The SZ18 is $1 more on Banggood but they charge $6.34 shipping for the SZ18 vs $4.02 for the Q10 so the Q10 works out $1.32 cheaper.  Also there are reviews for the SZ18 but none for the Q10 so it looks like the Q10 is a newer model (just guessing here).

Yes, both seem identical apart from the colorful range silk screen - I also prefer the Q10 silk. Also, the Q10 name follows some sort of Aneng convention (they have the Q1), while SZ18 came from who knows where. I wonder if the SZ18 was a trial run to test the model?

At any rate, I could not find any independent reviews on both meters - everything I see seems a marketing pitch.

The manual is reasonable well written (in contrast with the marketing blobs) and hopefully the meter is reasonable as well - just like the AN870/RM219, this class of equipment always comes with a compromise.

One interesting note: I got the SZ18 at 11.11 and it was 2~3 dollars cheaper than the Q10 at the Aneng official store at Aliexpress.

[Electro Fan]

Obviously the SZ18 has the color variants in the legend around the rotary selector dial but I can't see any other differences?  I prefer the color scheme on the Q10, at least you can more easily see what the default function is with the de facto standard that the orange/yellow functions are auxillary.

+1 for the Q10 color scheme for the reason you state (but it’s nice to have choices ).

One other difference is that prominently printed below the display and above the four buttons the Q10 says “AUTO POWER OFF” and the SZ18 says “Digital Multimeter” and “TRUE RMS”.  I guess it depends on which of those you would find to be most useful in case either you were not aware, or you forgot and needed a reminder.  Always interesting to see how the product and marketing teams choose to use the available labeling space.

[Electro Fan]

Gotta show some respect - this is a pretty good summary video.  Not super technical with precision measurement testing but pretty good as an intro.

https://youtu.be/6KNNhbND2nI

If people can figure out how to design, build, and sell a DMM with these capabilities in this price range it’s reasonably likely they can figure out the marketing too (or already have).

[HKJ]

There is a good reason for it, I've used it in the past. So you have a large prototype boards, lots of testpoints, and you are supposed to verify that all the resistors are good on it. There was an excel sheet, with the testpoints listed on it, and I've just used a Keysight 1242 with it's bluetooth connected to the laptop, and connected to excel. So I read the testpoints to be a measured, found them on the board, placed the probes, touch-hold, and it beep-booped the data into excel. Quite convenient, the test was done in minutes, instead of writing anything down by hand.
And this required an enormous amount of software work on their side, including makros for excel. And this is something that a chinese company will not understand why you would need it. They just place bluetooth, because other have it, and completely won't do the research on how you actually use it.

I got inspired and next version of TestController https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/ will support this functionality with any connected multimeter.

[Shiv]

Here is the calibration of my AN8009:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J-FscEkifSrEZ5QWuoZa_VyIelKbb4NYKY4PjNLpV5I/edit?usp=sharing

Done in a cal lab with traceable equipment (5500A,5700A,5790A,3458A,...)

I like it so much than 15.99 USD

[rsjsouza]

Gotta show some respect - this is a pretty good summary video.  Not super technical with precision measurement testing but pretty good as an intro.

It is a good introductory video and I have seen this done for some other meters as well.

If people can figure out how to design, build, and sell a DMM with these capabilities in this price range it’s reasonably likely they can figure out the marketing too (or already have).

They know how to design and build DMMs, they just need to keep fixing the various kinks (which are improving little by little over time) and wether stop lying about the CAT ratings or learn to design a better input protection. I just opened my RM219 (AN870) and they have no shame in claiming so much CAT IV energy on a puny single PTC.

[Gandalf_Sr]

My Q10 shipped out from Banggood on Nov 15th, it says the expected delivery date is Jan 5, 2021 but I suspect (hope) it will arrive sooner than that.

I don't believe the CAT ratings on Aneng meters but, for $31, I am happy to use on bench work and up to 115V AC stuff.  I have two AN8008s (one black one red) and they are little champs.

Maybe we'll be able to figure out how to do the calibration for the Q10?

[rsjsouza]

My Q10 shipped out from Banggood on Nov 15th, it says the expected delivery date is Jan 5, 2021 but I suspect (hope) it will arrive sooner than that.

I hope your meter arrives before Christmas!  Mine is said to arrive by Dec 15th.

I don't believe the CAT ratings on Aneng meters but, for $31, I am happy to use on bench work and up to 115V AC stuff.  I have two AN8008s (one black one red) and they are little champs.

I don't either and I use my RM113D and the RM219 on the bench as well. TBH 115V is also fine, but if the rotary switch is left in a wrong position, I strongly suspect it will not survive.

[tszaboo]

There is a good reason for it, I've used it in the past. So you have a large prototype boards, lots of testpoints, and you are supposed to verify that all the resistors are good on it. There was an excel sheet, with the testpoints listed on it, and I've just used a Keysight 1242 with it's bluetooth connected to the laptop, and connected to excel. So I read the testpoints to be a measured, found them on the board, placed the probes, touch-hold, and it beep-booped the data into excel. Quite convenient, the test was done in minutes, instead of writing anything down by hand.
And this required an enormous amount of software work on their side, including makros for excel. And this is something that a chinese company will not understand why you would need it. They just place bluetooth, because other have it, and completely won't do the research on how you actually use it.

I got inspired and next version of TestController https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/ will support this functionality with any connected multimeter.

Cool. I'll take a look at this software.

[Stinger]

I hope newer AN8008 with min/max, Rel and classics fuses size.

I think that's what the Q10 is.

Yes, but Q10 is bigger than AN8008 (147*76*38mm   vs   130*65*32mm).

And i see it's possible to add fonctions in case.

link

[lehoangtm]

I got this meter (Aneng Q10) for a few weeks but didn’t really use it much, mainly because I have way too many cheap multimeters already. Just open it up to take some photos with my shitty phone - hope it still helps. English isn’t my first language so please pardon my mistake if any, thank you.
Just a quick test compared to other Aneng meters that I currently have in hand and a Fluke 189 as ref.

Few points:

• Both Volt and Amp mode are very accurate on all ranges, except for micro amps with a bit off - same behavior with 800x series and AN870.
• Autorange is quite fast.
• The flashlight is bright and quite useful, sometimes.
• Continuity is pretty slow (compared to AN870). However, it now has a led indicator on top.
• Fake bargraph: the meter group 3 segment into one and the update rate is the same with the measurement (similar with Q1). 
• Burden voltage:  at 100mA -> 270mV, at 1A -> 24.6mV, at 5A -> 129mV.   
• Great display at this price point (my main reason to buy it). It has a higher contrast than Q1 (Pls see photo - not mine as I gave my Q1 to a friend already). Current consumption is ~23,5 mA, a bit higher than Q1 (~20mA according to https://lygte-info.dk/review/DMMAnengQ1%20UK.html). Note that this meter uses 3 AAA instead of 2 AA of Q1, so you can expect a short working time.
• The meter survives on 220v main (rotate to all modes). However, I didn’t test the accuracy after that.
• Build quality is similar to Q1 (quite OK for price range): feel quite good in your hand (but don’t press on the screen cover like me). The stand is really bad. And no, you can not use the switch or press the btn with 1 hand on your bench.
• The DMM chip is DTM0660L, now in a proper package instead of a black blob.
• Battery compartment is now separate and contacted with the PCB by 2 springs. 
• The rotary switch is tight but feels quite good. You can easily modify the springs to loose them a bit - much better for my taste.
• The Amp input jacks are now moved to the main PCB. And because it’s only a single input jack, there is no way to detect if the probe is plugged in or not (unlike Q1). Instead, the meter will continue beeping every ~5s if you switch to Amps mode (the beep will stop when the meter detects an amps measurement, pretty smart).   

I got Q10 for about 25USD, but for now, price has dropped to 20USD (11.11 sale off). Compared to the current price of Q1 (19USD) and AN870 (18USD), it’s still a good buy if you love Aneng. However, from where I live (Vietnam), I can get a Vichy VC97A for 18usd, Uni-T UT61D for 23usd, Fluke 101 for 27usd (without probe) and Uni-T 139E for just 28USD…  I can not recommend this meter, mainly because of the price point.
Aside from the price, if I have to choose 1 Aneng meter for daily work, I will go for AN870. If I have to pick one for field service, I will go for this Q10.

[lehoangtm]

Few more photos for volt/Amps and an Aneng 8009 for size comparison.
Edit: fixed the wrong attachment.

[rsjsouza]

This is an excellent overview and tests, thank you very much!

By the way, your English is quite good.

[xavier60]

And what other manufacturers have steel balls in the dent mechanism?

[exe]

Slow continuity, oh no . I think I'll cancel my order.

[Fungus]

Slow continuity, oh no . I think I'll cancel my order.

   How slow is "slower than an 870"? The 870 is damn fast.

[floobydust]

This venerable chipset, the only one in town... H08A seems to be an 8-bit 4MHz 256B RAM 8051 knockoff so don't expect a speed demon.
The N8 32-bit MCU's with touch are 20MHz used in blood pressure, kitchen scales and maybe the newer breed?

Here's the expired '89 Actron patent being copied for their rotary switch, complete with detent steel balls; not a problem (flying off the bench) if you magnetize them.
Fluke 77 patent on their one-piece, 4 pole moulded detent mechanism is gorgeous. Back from the days when people innovated instead of copying. Really nice.

[rsjsouza]

Here's the expired '89 Actron patent being copied for their rotary switch, complete with detent steel balls; not a problem (flying off the bench) if you magnetize them.

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing. The drawings are the exact blueprint that Mastech used in several of their meters, including the all-time champ of knockoffs M830B.

Fluke 77 patent on their one-piece, 4 pole moulded detent mechanism is gorgeous. Back from the days when people innovated instead of copying. Really nice.

Yes... Unfortunately innovation costs money. Although the newer design incorporated in the Fluke 87 and 170 series is an improvement.

[wizard69]

I'm struggling to think of a reason why you would want it to link to your phone via Bluetooth when it doesn't do data logging

Remote monitoring.    In an industrial environment, when the energies get really high, some times it is good to park yourself some distance from whatever you are trying to monitor.    While sometimes over blown by safety departments, Arc Flash is a very real and very dangerous possibility.

Even though most of the machinery I work on is not in the really high energy categories, I'm still required to take the same old arc flash training on a regular schedule.    Most of that training involves videos of people getting blown up and burnt over most of their body.   Not pretty at all so I can understand how guys that do such work a lot might find use for remote monitoring from time to time.

[floobydust]

Not that these would likely work in a high EMI environment... I thought this pic explains the usefulness, despite having no logging ability. pic from Mooshimeter product.
We could use an open-source standard for Bluetooth wireless multimeters, instead of waiting for every vendor to finish their app.

[Gandalf_Sr]

Hmmm, my Banggood order for my Aneng Q10 appears stuck (as orders from China so often do). Checking with various tracking services shows that the carrier has not yet received the package - nothing has changed for 11 days...

Shipping Method:   Air Parcel Register
Ship From:   CN
Message:   
Tracking Info: 927489098326703829xxxx via Air Parcel Register
Expected delivery date:  2021-01-05 21:35:11
Nov 15, 2020 21:35   Package has been sterilized and shipped out.
Nov 15, 2020 08:45   Our warehouse has started packing your items.
Nov 15, 2020 08:34   Order submit.