Author Topic: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted  (Read 735 times)

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Offline Ian.MTopic starter

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Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« on: October 17, 2024, 02:50:55 pm »
This is a bit of a long shot.  A makerspace I am associated with tries to provide (links to) manuals for all equipment, so makers can be told to RTFM when necessary.

I cant find a manual for a Precision Gold M285 digital multimeter anywhere online.  An image at picclick.co.uk linking to a long gone Ebay auction shows the same manual for models M205, M225 and M285.  Note that 'Precision Gold' was a Maplin Electronics Ltd. house brand, slapped on a lot of OEM stuff.

Does anyone either have the above manual (and are willing to scan it), or are able to cross-reference it to the OEM and model number?
 

Offline tunk

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2024, 03:48:21 pm »
Photos may help.
Don't help much, but looks similar to a Voltcraft 91.
Seem to remember that some Voltcraft DMMs from
this time were made by Metex.

Edit: Looks identical to a Voltcraft 92.
Also a video here: https://youtu.be/RUZ6ckHhW6A

« Last Edit: October 17, 2024, 04:10:00 pm by tunk »
 

Offline The Soulman

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2024, 05:44:50 pm »
I think OP has this one:



That Voltcraft 92 is certainly related but doesn't have the (weird) capacitor measurement contacts that the other one has.
 

Offline The Soulman

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2024, 05:49:06 pm »
Indeed Voltcraft 92:

 

Offline The Soulman

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2024, 05:55:22 pm »
Photos may help.
Don't help much, but looks similar to a Voltcraft 91.
Seem to remember that some Voltcraft DMMs from
this time were made by Metex.

Edit: Looks identical to a Voltcraft 92.
Also a video here: https://youtu.be/RUZ6ckHhW6A

In the video is a Dick Smith Q-1446A, slightly different. But very close.
Completely unrelated to Dick Smith Q-1446 (without A)
« Last Edit: October 17, 2024, 06:01:10 pm by The Soulman »
 

Offline Ian.MTopic starter

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2024, 10:19:15 pm »
As requested, images of the actual meter at the makerspace.  The extra contacts between the 10A and mA jacks are for a thermocouple for temperature measurement - I assume type K.

Unfortunately I can't find a Voltcraft 92 manual either . . .
« Last Edit: October 17, 2024, 10:28:13 pm by Ian.M »
 

Offline tunk

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2024, 01:30:26 pm »
Wouldn't it be better to find a good Youtube multimeter introduction?
(With an admonition not to use the amp ranges.)
 

Offline Ian.MTopic starter

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2024, 02:03:19 pm »
*THAT* is a whole other issue . . .

The M285 and other budget DMMs we have are fine for low voltage work, but we do admonish our makers *NOT* to use them for mains (We have various Flukes for that), and to be careful *NOT* to blow the *EXPENSIVE* Fluke current range fuses.  If they need to measure a totally unknown, but suspected to be high current in a low voltage circuit, we'd much rather they used a cheap DMM and worst case get a cheap pair of test leads a little toasty, rather than blow Fluke 11A fuses!

Its more a case of wanting to have the manuals so the specs and official operating procedures for our test equipment are available.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2024, 02:05:42 pm by Ian.M »
 

Offline tunk

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Re: Maplin Precision Gold M285 DMM - manual wanted
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2024, 11:22:31 pm »
Looks similar to the GW Instek GDM-351A and GDM-352A.
No manuals for these either.
https://bbs.pigoo.com/thread-75455-1-1.html

Photo from the link:
 


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