New EEVBlog-Branded Multimeter Coming?

[P90]

here is a look inside my UEI 235 clamp meter, and UEI 397 meter, both made by FINEST in Korea. notice the numbers on the pcb's, F135s_ pcb is the same as Finest 235 clamp meter, and F705_7 is the same as Finest 705 and 707 multimeters. I rest my case...

[P90]

clampmeter

[mtdoc]

Per Dave's recent post in the Supporter's lounge: UEI/KaneTest own Finest. IOW, Finest is one of the manufacturing arms of UEI - which is consistent with what their website says.

This is the way things go now. TE manufacturer's have their manufacturing facilitie in lower wage (usually Asian) countries.  Or they use contract manufacturer's in those countries.

[EEVblog]

UEI doesn't make meters, their OEM is FINEST TEST INSTRUMENTS in Korea, as is the case with many of the Klein multimeters, i.e. Klein MM6000 etc...

UEI helped design and manufacture the Klein meters, many of which incidentally are made in the USA. So Fluke are not the only ones to have Uncle Sam made meters.
UEI and Klein tools are also related companies.
There is quite a lot of complicated relationships with these companies in terms of manufacturing and design services.
e.g. You could ask UEI to design you a product, and they might subcontract that out to someone else, and have someone else again manufacture it.

[Wytnucls]

Klein Tools owns 50% of UEi.

[EEVblog]

He gives it away in the latest video. It's UEI.

That video was for supporters only.

[mtdoc]

He gives it away in the latest video. It's UEI.

That video was for supporters only.

Oops, ok. It's not always obvious when something shows up under new posts, which subforum it originated in and in any case, I didn't realize that the info in it was meant to be a secret. I thought the videos would show up on the EEVBlog2 youtube channel. Sorry.

[P90]

UEI doesn't make meters, their OEM is FINEST TEST INSTRUMENTS in Korea, as is the case with many of the Klein multimeters, i.e. Klein MM6000 etc...

UEI helped design and manufacture the Klein meters, many of which incidentally are made in the USA. So Fluke are not the only ones to have Uncle Sam made meters.
UEI and Klein tools are also related companies.
There is quite a lot of complicated relationships with these companies in terms of manufacturing and design services.
e.g. You could ask UEI to design you a product, and they might subcontract that out to someone else, and have someone else again manufacture it.

thanks for clearing that up. I guess lots of business relations have changed, it's near impossible to keep up with who owns what, but then it really doesn't seem to matter these days...

[Testing123]

Any update on availability date?

Thanks...

[noidea]

He gives it away in the latest video. It's UEI.

That video was for supporters only.

Sorry if this is a dumb question but how do you become a supporter these days,  is it via Patreon?

[Brumby]

There are a couple of ways - but Patreon is the path Dave suggests.

[Zom-B]

I hate patreon because they make too many youtubers make commercials for them. Anything that appears frequently in ads and commercials will automatically be hated by me.

[Brumby]

Hate Patreon by all means - but support Dave if you can.

[EEVblog]

I hate patreon because they make too many youtubers make commercials for them. Anything that appears frequently in ads and commercials will automatically be hated by me.

AFAIK Patreon do not approach Youtubers to make commercial for them.
Youtubers voluntarily mention Patreon because it's a way for them to get an income stream, not because Patreon are actually paying them to do so.
It's like saying PayPal are paying people to promote PayPal Donations, it doesn't work like that.

[EEVblog]

He gives it away in the latest video. It's UEI.

That video was for supporters only.

Sorry if this is a dumb question but how do you become a supporter these days,  is it via Patreon?

Yes, I  want Patreon to be the only way, and am trying to phase out direct PayPal donations.
Or you can get to 1000 posts and you get access to the Supporters forum section.

[Free_WiFi]

Im disappointed and concerned about the rotary switcher,this is bullshit and lame for our modern era .
Pls change it with buttons like in the MTX 3292 or for something similar.

[EEVblog]

Im disappointed and concerned about the rotary switcher,this is bullshit and lame for our modern era .
Pls change it with buttons like in the MTX 3292 or for something similar.

No. I like range switches.

[Free_WiFi]

No. I like range switches.

Im glad that u like it ,but it would be way easier to produce the entire multimeter with buttons instead the rotary switcher .
In my opinion the rotary switcher makes the abs case more complex to make,it's also way bulkier and also requires more space inside the multimeter.

However ,just my opinions .

[mikeselectricstuff]

No. I like range switches.

Im glad that u like it ,but it would be way easier to produce the entire multimeter with buttons instead the rotary switcher .

No it wouldn't, as you'd need a lot more electronics to handle the switching that a multi-pole rotary switch does.
 

[X]

No. I like range switches.

Im glad that u like it ,but it would be way easier to produce the entire multimeter with buttons instead the rotary switcher .
In my opinion the rotary switcher makes the abs case more complex to make,it's also way bulkier and also requires more space inside the multimeter.

However ,just my opinions .

A good product with poor usability is a bad product. I've found multimeters with too many buttons to be extremely annoying, especially when you can just stick it on the range switch. With a range switch, it's very easy to see what mode the meter is in because it is printed on the range switch.

For example, Fluke should move the AC/DC selection back to the rotary switch like the old square Fluke 27 (?) had, at least to avoid the ridiculous default-AC current mode. Some functions (eg. on/off) are better off as a button.

The case itself won't be that much more complicated either, just one big hole instead of many small odd-shaped or rectangular holes for the buttons. You will also need more space on the LCD or some way of telling which mode the meter is in.

It is easier to make a button-only multimeter meet IP or Ex standards, though the Fluke 28-II proves both is possible even with a range switch. IP67 is reasonable, as is the Ex rating.
I wouldn't mind an IP68 Ex-rated action multimeter for extreme scuba diving pyrotechnics engineers though. 

[nickdepinet]

He gives it away in the latest video. It's UEI.

That video was for supporters only.

This leak got you at least one more supporter 

[Brumby]

No. I like range switches.

Im glad that u like it ,but it would be way easier to produce the entire multimeter with buttons instead the rotary switcher .

No it wouldn't, as you'd need a lot more electronics to handle the switching that a multi-pole rotary switch does.

I would tend to agree - but one thing that I find curious...  If push buttons are so good, why are there so many meters out there with rotary switches?


BTW - I'd go for a rotary switch every time for a hand-held meter I'd be using daily.

Push buttons are OK for a bench meter.

[Free_WiFi]

I would tend to agree - but one thing that I find curious...  If push buttons are so good, why are there so many meters out there with rotary switches?

Maybe because is begin to be an common mainstream
I dont know ,but i still prefer the buttons ,because they can ensure more time-life instead of etched traces on the pcb for the mechanical switcher ......
Im fascinating by the MTX 3292 design ,i think that when i get enough money that would be my 1st pro handled multimeter.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I would tend to agree - but one thing that I find curious...  If push buttons are so good, why are there so many meters out there with rotary switches?

Maybe because is begin to be an common mainstream
I dont know ,but i still prefer the buttons ,because they can ensure more time-life instead of etched traces on the pcb for the mechanical switcher ......
Im fascinating by the MTX 3292 design ,i think that when i get enough money that would be my 1st pro handled multimeter.

The DMM market is very conservative - look how similar todays DMMs are to those of 20 years ago.
Aside from the convenience of switching multiple circuits with minmal loss, leakage and damage sensitivity, there are some practical reasons.
It's easier to operate a rotary switch with gloves on. It provides visual and tactile feedback of function - this could be a safety issue - e.g. accidentally testing whether a mains circuit was live with the meter unintentionally set to DCV, resulting in a false low reading.

As regards lifetime, the switch on my Fluke 87III is just starting to get flaky after something like 25 years of daily use. Clearly not an issue. 

[Brumby]

Speaking of safety ... I have yet to accidentally change ranges with a rotary switch.

Push buttons are all too easy to be operated unintentionally.


Who here has NEVER had the face of their meter come into contact with another object?