Problems with Gossen Metrahit Energy Meters

[Richard W.]

@ Dave, how about your Metrahit Energy? Is it still a paperweight? ;-)
I havn't seen it in your videos for a long time.

[thilo]

@ Dave, how about your Metrahit Energy? Is it still a paperweight? ;-)
I havn't seen it in your videos for a long time.

Funny, I was asking me the very same thing just a few minutes ago.

[elektrokrampftherapie]

@ Dave,

now I am in doubt - to buy or not to buy the Metrahit Energy.
Haven't seen your Gossen device for a long time! Any update/news?

[jahonen]

Now that this topic I had already forgotten has been resurrected, I should report that firmware updates on this thing will ruin the calibration at least on DC voltage ranges, or so I was told by a Gossen tech support (a guy actually called me when I asked them) so whenever a firmware upgrade is done, the meter should be recalibrated. Couldn't notice that any other range would be miscalibrated after the upgrade.

In fact the error due to this was quite subtle but still existing (but technically still in spec!). So contrary what I said before, mine was screwed similarly than Dave's Energy (DC ranges off by small but noticeable amount).

That is probably why they don't have any freely downloadable firmware on their web pages. I calibrated it back best I could using a calibrated 34401A as a reference and several power supplies but maybe I'll just someday send it to Gossen for a comprehensive calibration anyway.

I think if you leave the firmware upgrades (if you ever happen to need one) to Gossen to do them together with a calibration, then you'll be just fine.

Regards,
Janne

[EEVblog]

I have not used the Energy meter for a long time, and got nothing much back from Gossen about the whole affair.
I managed to recalibrate some of the DC ranges using the MV106, but that's as far as I got.
I don't trust it until I put a lot more effort into checking it's calibration on all ranges and functions.

Dave.

[quarks]

because this Topic popped up again, I like to add what I have experienced. I bought that meter about two years ago because AFAIK there is (or at least was) no other (function and spec wise) comparable meter on the market. If there are now please let me know.

Besides the price (for the meter itself and especially for the addons) I am very happy with it.

Altough I had an issue with AC and DC offset (with open and even shorted leads). Therefore I returned the meter to Gossen-Metrawatt and asked for a loan while they are looking for the problem. And without any problems I received a loan. After they returned  my meter (which took very long) the problem was fixed, a new firmware was installed and it was new calibrated (March 2012).

My meter since than is working perfect and seems to be still by far more accurate than the specs tell (as frequently checked against my AC and DC Standards).

If others here also have this meter I would be interested what firmware versions are out there (mine is Ver. 1.11) and if there are any more known problems, fixes or improvements related. I.E. till now I never used the db function, but it is interesting to know if and where are some potential problems to watch out.

greetings form Germany
Marcus 

[davidhaluska]

Hi Guys,

Thank you for sharing those interesting findings regarding Metrahit Energy. I own one older piece and would like to upgrade FW in it. Could you please advise where I could get FW for this multimeter? Or is somebody who already has this file send it over to me?

Thanks,

David

[jahonen]

I don't think there is a freely available update available, due to that firmware update erases calibration coefficients (at least for DC voltage ranges) so I think that only way to do firmware update properly is to do the calibration (or adjustment if you prefer) at the same time than the firmware update. Or this is what I was told by Gossen support back then.

Your best bet is to ask Gossen support, but I think you'll have to send the meter for Gossen to service, unless they know somebody else who can do it also.

Regards,
Janne