Products > Test Equipment
Big Clive's "Trashy" meter, unboxed ( Duratool D03047 multimeter )
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Fungus:

--- Quote from: Someone on April 26, 2023, 11:13:18 am ---FFS, the division between the categories has to be placed somewhere.

--- End quote ---

Either that or ... eliminated?

Just switch everything to "CAT III", job done.
xrunner:
I'm brushing up on these CAT ratings because I haven't thought about it for a while, and because I think I'll try to explain them to some of the local hams who don't know what it all means (I can practically guarantee that).

I get the divisions between them, but I can't find what they define as a "transient". Is there a definition for "transient" as pertains to the CAT ratings? Yes the transient is a voltage spike bit for how long?
joeqsmith:

--- Quote from: Someone on April 26, 2023, 07:43:45 am ---Every mains socket outlet is CAT III, ...

--- End quote ---

Provide a reference in any of the IEC standards from any country that states that. 


--- Quote from: David Aurora on April 26, 2023, 02:20:41 am ---Have you got any plans to torture test any bench meters? Unless I missed it I haven't seen any so far from you. I'd be really curious to see what you find

--- End quote ---

While I understand the responses about the bench meters and CAT ratings, I assume you are asking from the standpoint of how robust they are and not about safety.   It's certainly a valid thought.   My first Fluke was the perfect example of how not to design a robust meter.  I damaged it more than once with very low level transients.  When looking for something to replace it, I spoke with a friend who worked at  HP.   They use GDTs and other clamps on the front end to protect the sensitive circuits.  I bought two different ones new and never looked back.   In all the years I have owned the HP34401A, the only time it was damaged was during a lightning storm where we took a hit.   I made a video of my repairs.

I haven't looked at new bench meters in a long time.  The few I have would have cost far more than the Gossen Ultra I looked at.   I have an old Fluke 8506 that would have been over $10k new, back when it was made.   You could spend $100k in a shootout.   The high costs would mean turning to advertising and other funding.   This isn't something I have considered. 

When running these benchmarks, one of the common feedbacks received was from people who saw no value in the testing and see it as a waste of money.  I appreciate that they were concerned about my personal finances but you can imagine the whining when you start to burn down more than someone makes in a year in one video.   :-DD   
Black Phoenix:
Well the way I was teached some years ago regarding the CAT rankings were the following:

CAT l - Electronics (<= 48V);
CAT II - Single Phase outlets and connected equipments;
CAT III - Three-phase distribution and connected equipments;
CAT lV - Three-phase at utility connection (meter head), any outdoor conductors (buried or not).
IanB:

--- Quote from: David Aurora on April 26, 2023, 08:30:12 am ---
--- Quote from: IanB on April 26, 2023, 04:08:37 am ---Are bench meters supposed to be robust? In my mind I think of them as sensitive, delicate, precision instruments, things to be treated with care. Would you expect an expensive Mitutoyo micrometer to survive being chucked in a tool drawer?

--- End quote ---

Are you talking about drop tests etc? I'm talking about surges/spikes/overload conditions/etc

--- End quote ---

I'm making an analogy. A sensitive mechanical instrument should be treated with mechanical care. Similarly, a sensitive electrical instrument should be treated with electrical care.
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