Darwin Award DVM

[jhoffman]

Darwin Award Included in Box

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Auto-ranging-Measurement-DCV-ACV-Resistance_1601275608658.html


It uses a LTZ1000 voltage reference.

[joeqsmith]

Note there are no CAT rating on it.  IMO, not all meters need to be designed for use in high risk environments.  Meters like this will be fine working on your low energy, low voltage, low current, breadboard projects.   

[tunk]

Review and teardown by Darren Walker: https://youtu.be/63ItKaSeHZI

[BradC]

I can see this as ideal for use around the car and boat. No more balancing a meter and having it wind up in the bilge. Stuffed up under a dash board, or crawling under the car.

I reckon I'll have one of those. Sure as shit wouldn't let it near mains, but for stuff up to about 24V it sounds perfect.

[Martin72]

That doesn't stop them from advertising with dangerous mains voltage.
 

[Martin72]

Note there are no CAT rating on it.

For good reason:

Review and teardown by Darren Walker: https://youtu.be/63ItKaSeHZI

>snip<

[joeqsmith]

Note there are no CAT rating on it.

For good reason:
...

I've seen countless meters with shit for inputs with CAT ratings.   

Sorry but can't can't watch the idiot Canadian reviewer as I loose too many brain cells.  Did they show CAT ratings on the backside or in the manual?   

[BradC]

Sorry but can't can't watch the idiot Canadian reviewer as I loose too many brain cells.

I've just finished watching the video because I'd never heard of him before and I didn't know any better. I started with a couple of glasses of red under my belt which probably helped dull my "sensitivities to morons". His main complaints are all pretty inane and superficial. I agree with the "nowhere to store the probes" complaint, but nothing to really write home about. I don't need my multimeter to tell the time or come in a colour other than red.

Like I said before, I'll be getting one because when you're shoved into a tight space and don't have that third hand available to hold the meter, this thing looks ideal. And hey, it's another tool.

[Aldo22]

I can imagine that it's quite handy if you're bored during a skydive and happen to have your broken audio power amplifier with you.

[joeqsmith]

I've just finished watching the video because I'd never heard of him before and I didn't know any better.

    I only watched their rebuttal video on that low end Keysight meter.  A half hour of them blabbing on about their expert opinion, zero data and some sound effects.  The number of brain cells lost was equivalent to drinking a bottle of cheap scotch. 

Did they show CAT ratings on the inside cover?

[Martin72]

It uses a LTZ1000 voltage reference.

Where's it hiding?

[BradC]

Did they show CAT ratings on the inside cover?

I didn't watch that closely, and won't be again. I have just ordered one though.

To be fair, twice the price of my 60,000 count Aneng from Aliexpress, but then there's the novelty value and being small enough to strap to my arm. Different use cases.

[joeqsmith]

.... then there's the novelty value and being small enough to strap to my arm ...

Some meters like this one will come with a wrist strap:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Innova-3300-Hands-Free-Digital-Multimeter/14644665

I can see the appeal to a wrist mount meter but to avoid the OPs Darwin award, I went with something more safe.  This is just a prototype but I can already see this being a winner in the lab. 

[BradC]

Your rope is worth more than the meter I just ordered.

[themadhippy]

problem is sods law states yer wrist will be at the wrong angle to both be able to read the display and hold the probes in  the right place,something like a harmonica  mount that  holds the meter around the neck so ya can just glance down at the meter would be better, and positions  the flying shrapnel perfectly  for full facial coverage when measuring   the DC current of yer 240V socket outlet

[BradC]

measuring the DC current of yer 240V socket outlet

Dad did that once with his old Hioki analogue meter. I still remember running up the stairs after hearing the almightly *bang* to see him sitting cross legged on the floor with the meter in front of him and smouldering probes in his hand. Clearly he'd put the probe in the 10A hole before checking the wiring of the GPO, and the fuses weren't as "fragile" as they are these days.

Still, no harm no foul.

[kmoonwalker]

well from one side for some low votages perhaps such thing can be practical but should be mounted on inside of hand not like he does.

From the other side - if someone knowing at least a lil bit how dangerous are higher voltages on AC is deciding to purchase and use this "wonder" all consequences are on him. I would recommend before using it to put to order general affairs and choose some nice location of eternal rest. Plus reviewer demands smaller testleads - I will ask that "seriously?"

and we can argue on many things but LTZ1000 alone is not making a DMM   

[xrunner]

Dang - if it had a built-in watch you'd have something there. 

[kmoonwalker]

Dang - if it had a built-in watch you'd have something there. 

excellent point xD

[floobydust]

I guess nobody here does troubleshooting or repairs out in the field? Or is this a troll thread.
A wrist-mount multimeter has good application.
Working lying on your back, confined spaces etc. this would be excellent. Especially outdoors, under vehicles etc. you don't have to deal with a handheld job falling over, no place to put it etc.

Unfortunately this DMM's protection scheme is terrible, I don't even see a PTC to protect against a mistake in Ohms mode.
I think easier to mount an AN8008 on your arm, or if Dave ever gives us that EEV pocket multimeter he was working on....

[kmoonwalker]

actually a lot - just would not go with this one as my tool for anything more than 24V

and I put silence on things like special probes/accessories/etc + safety rules -> just as it is speaking

[Gyro]

It would be so much more usable with a nice high input impedance and one lead going to the wrist strap. [Edit: Then it would be a worthy Darwin award facilitator!] 

[coppercone2]

if it had a 2mA ultra fast blow HV fuse rated for 10kV. I don't like the idea of fastening something that can have a plasma explosion in it to my body. Yikes

Though, where its most useful is battery shit IMO. But that's where you have the greatest SC hazard.


Can it handle the short circuit current of a lion battery bank?

lets say the case is messed up and it gets sweat in it from being worn on a body with some heavy clothing i.e. for dealing with mechanical hazards when you have to crawl under something in a hot place?

[BILLPOD]

Sorry but can't can't watch the idiot Canadian reviewer as I loose too many brain cells.  Did
[/quote]

Joe, I VERY HEARTILY agree

[Kleinstein]

From the specs it looks like a low cost packet meter. So only voltage and coninuity. This makes the protection quite a bit easier, with no need for a bulky HRC fuse. It may not be safe for mains, but probably OK for low voltage batteries. Ideally there would be uses in the probes - but I doubt this would happen at that cost.

I would still perter a pocket meter with an optional extra holder for the wrist, so one could use the meter in a more normal way too.