Multimeter Review / buyers guide: Part 1 - UNI-T UT61E

[mjlorton]

Here's my first review of the UT61E



I hope it provides some value to folks.

Cheers,
Martin.

[Wytnucls]

Uni-T makes some really good full-featured multimeters, at an affordable price.
Input protection is not their forte, but hopefully that will change soon, if the company respects the latest safety directives.
The top of the range 61E model, while good value for money, strangely, has some basic features missing which are standard on some of the lower models, like LCD backlight and temperature measurement.

Things you may want to expand on:
1. Lack of Min/Max, opting instead for Peak hold
2. Permanent RS232 mode, with no sleep mode
3. Hz/% on the range switch is only rated at 30V, but will produce a related audio signal on the piezo transducer, if the frequency being measured is in the audio range, with a minimum of 15V amplitude.
4. Frequency can be measured for mains on the other models, by pressing HZ/% button. The E model has got a Peak button instead, so the yellow button is used for the same function (1KHz max).
5. Pointless testing meter in cooler/oven as it is only certified between 18c and 28c with less than 75% humidity.
6. Only 46 segment bar graph, instead of 61 or 41 on the other lower models.
7. 750V AC limit is to avoid peaks reaching 1000V, triggering the protections.
8. Ceramic fuses, but only rated at 250V and classed as Fast/Medium blow by the manufacturer.
9. Lack of gas discharge tubes on the PCB, even though the footprints are present.
10. RS232 USB cable is available from the manufacturer, for computers without serial connection.

[Monkeh]

4. Frequency can be measured for mains on the other models, by pressing HZ/% button. The E model has got a Peak button instead.

The 61E is fully capable of frequency measurement in ACV. You press the yellow button. It's even clearly printed on the front of the meter.

[Wytnucls]

Yes, that's correct. The manual only mentions the procedure for the lower range of meters.
The amplitude must be at least 30% of the selected range and frequency lower than 1KHz.
Can you also get the duty cycle for voltages over 30V with the yellow button, like on the others with the dedicated Hz/% button?

[Monkeh]

Yes, that's correct. The manual only mentions the procedure for the lower range of meters.
Can you also get the duty cycle for voltages over 30V with the yellow button, like on the others with the dedicated Hz/% button?

Yes.

[T4P]

I disagree with the Peak Hold thing. Do you EVEN know what it does? It captures peaks way faster than in Min/Max mode.
Well, i don't agree either on the 46-segment thing either. How many 50$ meters have actual fast WORKING bar graphs?
I don't really know what was wrong with his UT61E but it sure looks a hell lot faster here on the bargraph but anyway the ES51922 is clearly rated for 2s conversion rate in High-res mode
And there are two ADCs, one of them the faster one for the bargraph and the slower one for the display