Products > Test Equipment
OWON XDM1041 the unknown multimeter...
rsjsouza:
This is not uncommon. These DMMs usually have several OEMs and Amazon sellers sometimes test the waters with unknown brand names - I got a Sinerky UT136C (Uni-T UT136C), a no-name DM139C (Uni-T UT139C) and a single batch production Surpeer AV4 (HY-19 IIRC) - all at a significant price reduction at the time.
Kleinstein:
That meter may show up under different names in the future. The OWON brand is nothing to be really proud off like a Fluke, HP or similar name.
It looks like the meter does not show the brand name and so the seller did not add it, which is OK. If the seller would add the brand one could also get suspicious.
The internals looks reasonable, with plenty of creapage distance as it should be. One point I don't like that much is that they use a SMPS and not a classic mains transformer. This may lead to extra common mode injected signal. The max. power at 15 W looks quite high. Even with just 15 VA and a relatively poor power factor it look high to me.
It is nice that they have the RS232 part separate (looks like a max232 or similar on the small board). So there may be a easy way to change to the more logical direct USB.
Chances are the RS232 version is some 20 cents cheaper.
Doctorandus_P:
First:
Tnx for posting pictures of the internals.
I found this thread after first seeing it announced (from 2021-05-13) in a local shop:
https://www.eleshop.nl/owon-xdm1041-multimeter.html
and then I started looking for more info, and found this thread.
I have been looking for a decent Benchtop DMM (Big display, fits on shelf, PC connectivity Push buttons instead of rotary selector etc.) for quite some time.
I do not have room for a 30cm deep meter though, and that is the reason I did not buy a Siglent 3045. The Siglent is also too slow for me in autoranging and connectivity test.
Somewhat slow autoranging is accepable for a low power battery operated instrument, but it's inexcusable for a benchtop instrument.
After I found out this uses the HY3131 I've been looking into that chipset a bit and it's quite popular for handheld meters:
EEVblog 121GW. (EUR200 meter)
Keysight 1280. ( EUR 600 meter)
HoldPeak HP770D ( EUR 50 meter)
Digilent DMM shield (EUR90) (No display, but Isolated interface)
Eleshop announces it (localy in EU) for EUR 130 and this is definitely in my price range, and I like the form factor, push buttons and big TFT.
I'm curious how far this HY3131 chipset can be pushed. Ideally it would be programmed to do some auto-sensing, and switches to a quick mode for auto-ranging, and to an accurate mode for more digits.
There is a EEVblog thread about reverse-engineering and alternate firmware for a Fnirsi scope. I do not understand that effort. After looking into it the frontend of the fnirsi scope is simply not good enough to make something decent out of it (Quite a shame, it could be a very decent thing for a BOM of EUR10 more...)
This XDM1041 looks extremely hackable though. The HY3131 complete with all measuring stuff and isolated interface is on a separate PCB from the "brains" part.
The whole microcontroller board can be easily replaced by your favourite, and then you can write any software you want for it, and if you stay with STM32 then once firmware development has surpassed what Owon does you can flash it into the on-board GD32F303.
I do not understand why Dave is complaining about why a benchtop DMM does not run on batteries. It seems a bit silly to me.
But if you must...
I find the Glue on SMPS module hilarious. It is also very easy to replace it with any power module you would like, including a battery pack, and I guess there is plenty of room left in the compact housing to add some decent batteries.
Another hackable upgrade for this scope would be to add a uSD or dataflash chip for datalogging. Should not be too difficult.
I do not give much for CAT ratings, I thing they're much overrated (for home or benchtop use). I'd rather have 50ct fuses then EUR10 fuses!
This XDM1041 has some decent sized fuses, widely spaced components and even some well placed isolation slots.
Overall, I'm not sure which path to follow.
Almost all decent benchtop meters are simply too big for me. I do not like the rotary buttons of the (cheaper) benchtop UNI-T meters, nor the simplistic LCD of the more expensive UNI-T, and others with fluorescent displays are also not for this generation anymore. Simply can't compete with a TFT.
I am looking forward to an in depth review of this meter. Especially auto ranging speed and the speed (and quality) of the continuity tester.
Another point that is a real deal breaker for me is a peep function that warns if the probe is in a current banana bus, while voltage measurement is selected. That is just a too simple mistake to make, and it either destroys your meter, or it destroys both a EUR10 fuse and your probe tips. Just happened too many times for me.
SpecialK:
A couple days ago the Amazon link I posted went down to $148 CAD minus a $15 coupon. I was very tempted even though I don't need it.
Now it's $218 minus $15. To be fair, the Siglent 4.5 digit is like $500 and the 5.5 digit over $600. There's very little to choose from in bench DMMs at hobbyist prices. I think this should be a popular meter.
coromonadalix:
Seeing other meters based on the hy3131 surely getting faster auto ranging should / could be possible ?
For a battery pack, you have the battery bank for cell phones who could do a very good job, i have one based on 18650 cells that could be called a 25000 ma model loll
I think it could snug in there or behind it ??
Yeah the smps psu was fun to see in there
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