Re-brand of Mastech MS8229 from Harbor Freight (item #98674)

[ttt]

Hi, I never posted here before (just lurking) but maybe someone is interested in some photos of a re-brand of a Mastech 8228(?) multimeter I just acquired. The particular re-brand I picked up was from Harbor Freight (ugh, I know), item # 98674 under the brand "Cen-Tech". With a 25% rebate I got this one for about $45 to the door ((44.99 * 0.75) * 1.085 (tax) + 6.99 (shipping)).

I haven't seen any particular reviews of this model, but what makes it somewhat unique are the Lux (luminosity) and dB (sound level) measuring capabilities. For me the important parts are the uA/mA ranges which I miss on my own handheld Flukes. While testing this meter it had no problem staying within spec. Not great specs but good enough for my purposes. From the manual:

DC

Range   Res.      Acc.
 400uA  0.1uA
4000uA  1uA
  40mA  10uA     +- 1.2%
 400mA  100uA
   4A   1mA
-----------------------
  10A   10mA     +- 2.0%
 
The other specs are similar, all +-1.2% and +-2% in the higher ranges. +-3% for capacitance. As you can see in the pictures there are tons of pots. I suppose I could spend some time calibrating this against my Fluke 8840A if have the patience

Edit: Changed title to mention 8229 instead of 8228 which this indeed is.

[retiredcaps]

Hi, I never posted here before (just lurking) but maybe someone is interested in some photos of a re-brand of a Mastech 8228(?) multimeter I just acquired.

Thanks for the teardown photos.  I believe it is a Mastech 8229.

http://www.p-mastech.com/images/SPEC/ms8229.pdf

[AndersAnd]

Hi, I never posted here before (just lurking) but maybe someone is interested in some photos of a re-brand of a Mastech 8228(?) multimeter I just acquired.

Thanks for the teardown photos.  I believe it is a Mastech MS8229.

http://www.p-mastech.com/images/SPEC/ms8229.pdf

Yes and it even says MS8229-1 right on the PCBs silkscreen. And thanks for the teardown.

Here's some other teardown pictures I found of a Mastech 8229: http://ctc-labs.soup.io

[Wytnucls]

The design of this meter is a bit strange and gimmicky. Lux and dB? Cheap trimpots and electrolytic caps galore. Strange loose wiring all over the place. At least they seem to have used decent connectors.
I like the 3 AAA batteries. That should be good for endurance, although, with the lit connection jacks, that might not help much.
No fuse on the mA range; just a polyswitch (Careful with high voltages). The main A range fuse looks a bit skinny, but it is easily accessed.
Minimal protection overall, with one PTC and no MOVs in sight on the pictures.

[saturation]

.. yes and no safety approvals I can see stamped from any 3rd party testing agency, UL, TUV, NRTL etc.,

..
Minimal protection overall, with one PTC and no MOVs in sight on the pictures.

[Lightages]

Every time I see a Mastech it confirms my feelings about their construction. This one is really built strangely.

[marshallh]

I had one of those from HF. Just like yours, but the earlier revision (bought in '08)

They used a PIC12 just for the blinking led banana jacks. It works fine, but is a little try-hard.

[Dongulus]

Does someone know the reasoning for the hash pattern on the wide traces?

[AndersAnd]

Does someone know the reasoning for the hash pattern on the wide traces?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_pour

[Dongulus]

Does someone know the reasoning for the hash pattern on the wide traces?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_pour

Ah, hatch not hash. No wonder a Google search returned no results.

[deth502]

The design of this meter is a bit strange and gimmicky. Lux and dB? Cheap trimpots and electrolytic caps galore. Strange loose wiring all over the place. At least they seem to have used decent connectors.
I like the 3 AAA batteries. That should be good for endurance, although, with the lit connection jacks, that might not help much.
No fuse on the mA range; just a polyswitch (Careful with high voltages). The main A range fuse looks a bit skinny, but it is easily accessed.
Minimal protection overall, with one PTC and no MOVs in sight on the pictures.

most of this ^^

the cheap trim pots everywhere do not instill confidence in me for this meter, nor do the wires running everywhere. the lit jack connectors seem gimmicky, although i can see the appeal for a niche market of beginners.

i do like the idea of the db meter, i could use that.

next time im at my local hf, i might pick one of those up for shits and giggles. whats another meter in the pile, anyway?

[deth502]

The design of this meter is a bit strange and gimmicky. Lux and dB? Cheap trimpots and electrolytic caps galore. Strange loose wiring all over the place. At least they seem to have used decent connectors.
I like the 3 AAA batteries. That should be good for endurance, although, with the lit connection jacks, that might not help much.
No fuse on the mA range; just a polyswitch (Careful with high voltages). The main A range fuse looks a bit skinny, but it is easily accessed.
Minimal protection overall, with one PTC and no MOVs in sight on the pictures.

most of this ^^

the cheap trim pots everywhere do not instill confidence in me for this meter, nor do the wires running everywhere. the lit jack connectors seem gimmicky, although i can see the appeal for a niche market of beginners.

i do like the idea of the db meter, i could use that.

next time im at my local hf, i might pick one of those up for shits and giggles. whats another meter in the pile, anyway?

so i picked one of these up yesterday. some odd things i noticed before even opening the box. first, for some reason, it states that it will only work in altitudes up to 7k ft. secondly, i see the box says that it will measure dc current up to 200A.  wonder if i did so and brought back a chunk of melted plastic if they'd cover it under warranty?