Products > Test Equipment
Multimeters with (Color) Graphic Display - Summary & Comparison
joeqsmith:
I am not understanding why the old Fluke 289 is included when it's not color. Maybe change the name of from Multimeters with Color Graphic Display - Summary & Comparison to just Multimeters - Summary & Comparison. Seems like there is a list for this.
A person asked me about looking at the AM MTX 3283BT. The conversation is attached. I never did hear any more about it and wonder if they damaged their meter. It really wouldn't surprise me and if that was all it took to damage one, I see no reason to dig into it further. Still, I would like to see some high resolution pictures of the internals.
I picked up one of UNI-T's Bluetooth adapters for the UT181A. While they don't offer a Windows based program, with a sniffer and the help of a few members here I was able to get it working with LabView. A couple of changes to this meter and it could be really nice for for what I would use it for and if they offer an improved version, I will pick one up. Here you can see the BLE interface in operation.
https://youtu.be/e_YzwO62feQ?t=1205
Markus2801A:
I included the Fluke because it is said its one of the best DMM out there. It is almost capable of replacing many Bench-Top Devices as far as I have read reviews etc. about it.
In my opinion, you don't need a bench top device if you own one of the high accuracy DMM like Metrix (Chauvin Arnoux) or Fluke. In least I would rely on those devices but im not sure if the other like Uni-T 181A or CEM are also as exact as the higher priced Fluke 287/289 Series are. The price is a bargain for approx 260€ you get CEM 9987 or Uni-T 181A with color Display and their Specs are impressive for this Price range, but are they true?
2N3055:
I don't own UT-181.
I do have UT-70C, and truth is, when did some checks against calibrated 6.5 digit meter, it read dead on. To last digit. Also, it had VERY fast peak detect mode, very flat bandwidth on AC mode, exceeding 200kHz for -3dB point.
But it is bad quality of materials and workmanship. Not very much used meter had input banana sockets falling proper contact after maybe 6 months. I managed to find thin 4mm internal dia tubes and replaced soft metal inserts. It working OK now.
Also there is a trimpot inside for basic trim of voltage reference.
Pot started to be noisy at one time, I discovered it had too much of the trimming range. Replaced with combination of two fixed resistors and better quality 10-turn pot. After adjusting, again very accurate in all other ranges. It still is after few years.
I don't use it anymore, it is delegated to my son for measuring simple stuff on the desk and in the car..
I didn't try it myself, but I believe it would be damaged easy by Joe Q Smith, and it is not used for anything that would have enough energy to make it dangerous.
And that seems to be the story of UNI-T. Basically, instruments that could have been great, but not executed quite right.
Good for the money, but not great.
joeqsmith:
--- Quote from: Markus2801A on April 19, 2019, 03:51:05 pm ---I included the Fluke because it is said its one of the best DMM out there. It is almost capable of replacing many Bench-Top Devices as far as I have read reviews etc. about it.
In my opinion, you don't need a bench top device if you own one of the high accuracy DMM like Metrix (Chauvin Arnoux) or Fluke. In least I would rely on those devices but im not sure if the other like Uni-T 181A or CEM are also as exact as the higher priced Fluke 287/289 Series are. The price is a bargain for approx 260€ you get CEM 9987 or Uni-T 181A with color Display and their Specs are impressive for this Price range, but are they true?
--- End quote ---
I understand now that color isn't a metric for your thread. I have seen many posts about the Fluke 87V being the gold standard of handheld meters but rare I see anything on the 289.
Hard to compare any handheld meter's performance against an unknown bench meter. Obviously there is a need for very high end equipment. Even at home, once in a while my old HP 34401A falls short. I doub't we will see a handheld match the performance of the HP3458A any time soon. I will say that I do find I use my Brymen BM869s for most of my home electronics projects now but that's not much of a test case.
Of the meters I have looked at, the one that comes closest to matching my bench meter is the Gossen Ultra, however, as it is sold is not very impressive.
joeqsmith:
--- Quote from: 2N3055 on April 19, 2019, 04:45:15 pm ---I don't own UT-181.
I do have UT-70C, and truth is, when did some checks against calibrated 6.5 digit meter, it read dead on. To last digit. Also, it had VERY fast peak detect mode, very flat bandwidth on AC mode, exceeding 200kHz for -3dB point.
But it is bad quality of materials and workmanship. Not very much used meter had input banana sockets falling proper contact after maybe 6 months. I managed to find thin 4mm internal dia tubes and replaced soft metal inserts. It working OK now.
Also there is a trimpot inside for basic trim of voltage reference.
Pot started to be noisy at one time, I discovered it had too much of the trimming range. Replaced with combination of two fixed resistors and better quality 10-turn pot. After adjusting, again very accurate in all other ranges. It still is after few years.
I don't use it anymore, it is delegated to my son for measuring simple stuff on the desk and in the car..
I didn't try it myself, but I believe it would be damaged easy by Joe Q Smith, and it is not used for anything that would have enough energy to make it dangerous.
And that seems to be the story of UNI-T. Basically, instruments that could have been great, but not executed quite right.
Good for the money, but not great.
--- End quote ---
I have similar thoughts about the UT181A. I have no problem with the electronics components they used. My concerns about the materials are mostly mechanical. I don't remember the 181A having any mechanical trimmers. Mine is coming up on three years old and doesn't appear to have drifted much at all. It was also the most thermally stable handheld meter I have looked at out of the box. Like the Brymen BM869s, I like that it supports two K-type sensors.
From the robustness side of things, there are few brands I would consider and UNI-T has not been in the mix. The UT181A IMO is a very big step in the right direction. IMO the design could be right there with the best of them with a little better layout.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version