Voltcraft 4-in-1 Universal Test Station-DMM/FG/FC/PSU

[Darkzh]

Hi, on Thanks-Giving-My-Lab day, I got my awesome Universal Test Station from here:
https://www.conrad.de/de/tisch-multimeter-digital-voltcraft-universal-messstation-uts-1980-cat-ii-600-v-anzeige-counts-80000-1209163.html

A powerful station, but strangely it is listed among multimeters and the description on the webpage is very simple and most guys will easily overlook it. Thank myself for being careful to read the specifications and manuals and for my courage to invest on this!

At first looking, it is a robust bench type station.





Size is W33xH17xD34cm, weight is about 10kgs. As a bench top product in lab, it's OK, but not suitable for carrying outside.

It is from Voltcraft, worth its intention to meet the EU standard, fast-breaking fuses and heavy duty fuse holder are used.   


It is a 4-in-1 bench lab. The operations are in 4 independent zone, you can work on this 4 functions at the same time. 
1. Function Generator : DDS technology, 10MHz,  sine, square, triangle, pulse and TTL, with Sweep Functions


2. Frequency counter: 2 channels , CHA:100MHz/CHB:2.7GHz, the frequency accuracy is high: 10(-8) /s, Gate time selectable, and Low Pass Filter for low frequency.

3. DC Regulated Power Supply: 4 outputs, +5V/2A, -15V/1A, +15V/1A, (if you combine these two, you get a +30V/1A), 0~30V/0~3A. I tested it, all 4 outputs can work together, and with short-circuit protection.

4. Digital Multimeter: I could say it’s the most powerful part of this instrument. The display is 80,000 counts with bar graph, True RMS value, can test V,A,Ohm, CAP,Hz,diode, Continuity, Temperature…, Auto or manual mode, simultaneous measurements o AC+DC, AC+Hz, DC+dBm, dBm+Hz, Hz+Duty…., Auto Hold; dyamic recording:MAX, MIN, AVG, MAX-MIN, RELdelta, REL%, Upper limit and lower limit value…., Square waveforms outputs 


Datasheets, Manuals. To be see in attachments.

Open the metal case, I could see that the 4 functions belong to 4 different groups of PCBs, except that they share some power distribution circuit. So these 4 functions are almost independent, users do not need to worry if one part is broken and the other pars won’t work.

Two transformers:


Power distribution:
for DMM, FG, FC ,power is drew out from the PSU board.



DMM Boards:

I guess the film is for safety.   

Power Supply Control and Display boards:


Function Generator board:


Frequency Counter board:


Now with my oscilloscope already in hand, I built up my lab:

[timb]

FYI, none of your images are loading.


Sent from my Tablet

[Darkzh]

FYI, none of your images are loading.


Sent from my Tablet

Thanks. I compressed the image size, then it will be OK.

[German_EE]

From the pictures I suspect that the four sections were made by different manufacturers and then combined by Conrad into one instrument (look at the PCB colors). The inside could do with some cable management but apart from that it looks like a reasonable instrument.

What was the price?

[Darkzh]

829,00 €

[anotherlin]

Just took a look at conrad.fr, 839 euros.
I tried a 20% coupon and it does work : Only 689 euros and that's 19,60% french/europe taxes included !

What is the quality of all the included instruments ?
National Instrument makes a similar type instrument for 2000 euros not including taxes, but it does have an DSO integrated.

The photos don't load, can you please re-upload, thank you.

[Darkzh]

the pictures are attached.
The quality is OK...if you don't expect it as big brands...

[Fungus]

From the pictures I suspect that the four sections were made by different manufacturers and then combined by Conrad into one instrument (look at the PCB colors).

That, plus the mixture of LED/LCD displays on the front. It's quite a mashup!

But ... that doesn't really matter if all the components work.

+1 for toroidal transformer and the bang/buck looks good, so

I tried a 20% coupon and it does work

Ouch!    That's cruel. 

[anotherlin]

It may interest some people so the code for conrad.fr is "47335".
When you check out, at the bottom of the order summary, enter it at the code box ("votre code avantage") and click on validate. It should bump the 20% rebate.
The code doesn't seems to be personnal and it does apply for Voltcraft. However, some brands and products are excluded (Tek, Weller, etc).
Conrad.fr have those kind of promotional offers regularly. I expect conrad.de does the same, if not besser

[rdl]

This device would be very useful for someone with limited space. Thankfully they didn't waste one of the four instrument slots on a cheapo soldering station.

The DMM display and specs make me think it's a transplanted Vici 8145, except I don't see the bar graph part on the display.

The 829 € price is almost $900 US, which seems kind of high to me, but I know test equipment tends to be more expensive in Europe and the discount would make it more reasonable.

[Darkzh]

The 829 € price is almost $900 US, which seems kind of high to me, but I know test equipment tends to be more expensive in Europe and the discount would make it more reasonable.

The 829 € price includes 19% VAT in Europe, while there is no such tax in US.

[nctnico]

I think they have been making these for at least 10 years and it wouldn't surprise me if they have been in production for 20 years. This version looks like a much improved version from the one I have used. On one hand it is nice to have many instruments in one on the other hand you need to drag a big box if you only need a PSU and no matter how you turn it: it is a very big box. I think I have the same functionality in less than half the footprint using seperate instruments stacked and I also think I paid 3 times less. So all in all it is not a very good deal. Conrad is extremely expensive with this kind of equipment.
I also think the DMM is a VC8145 because the display looks identical to the ones I have here. If you buy a Feeltech FY3200 ($70), a VC8145 ($160), a simple psu ($100) then you have the same functionality for $330. BTW: the VC8145 can also count frequency, the FY3200 has 2 channels and none of these need a fan for cooling.

[Fungus]

This device would be very useful for someone with limited space. Thankfully they didn't waste one of the four instrument slots on a cheapo soldering station.

Nooo... that would be good!

I don't think I'd use the frequency counter much. Pull that out and put in a soldering iron and hot air please! 

[jancumps]

I have its predecessor, a METEX MS-9150. I've also seen one on @freeelectron's desk.

[Alfons]

The Voltcraft is a nice device for teaching, if many people use it.
I would not take it, because I over time exchanges my equipment more or less. The claims change. Similarly, if the Voltcraft should fail, is the whole "laboratory" still.

[timb]

Personally, I think a Tektronix TM 500 mainframe (or the more modern 5000 series) would be a better investment. You can get function generators, DMMs, frequency counters, power supplies and even oscilloscopes for them! The mainframes and the more common modules (DMM, PS, Counter) can be had for next to nothing on eBay. Some of the less common modules seem to be a bit more expensive, but deals can be had if you're patient.

Most of the plugins use off the shelf 74 series logic and schematics are available, so it's easy to repair.


Sent from my Tablet

[pascal_sweden]

I think that 830 EUR is rather expensive, for getting an all-in-one device like this.

Drawbacks:

1) None of the 4 devices will be of superior quality, all of them will be moderate quality. You can get better performance when selecting separate devices individually and still be way below 830 EUR.

2) What if one of the 4 devices is broken? You end up sending back "all your devices" at once, and your test lab is empty

3) The Power Supply Unit will develop heath internally which could potentially affect the performance of your other devices.

4) While it will save space on your bench, an actual test setup could become clumsy with all the wiring, and result in an unstructured layout. Having separate devices gives you more freedom to place them on your bench based on specific needs for a particular test application and setup.

[cdev]

It seems as if it would not be so difficult to manufacture a device with similar functionality and perhaps even better specs for significantly less, and it would really fill a substantial need for hobbyists (like me) who had fairly limited space for a workbench and wanted it to look neater than they usually do, when not in use.

[jancumps]

Most likely yes. Not a surprise for a piece of equipment that's reaching the age of 20 years.

[Neganur]

I paid the same amount 20 years ago in DEM (German Marks). I think 830 EUR is a bit much for what it is even though it is a great unit.

[Hydrawerk]

Who is the original manufacturer? Victor? Yihua? Zhongdi?
Well, Metex is already gone.
The PSU and frequency counter look same as in early 2000s units by Metex.
Only DDS and DMM changed. The DDS deserves its own display. Not just a counter...

[Dielectric]

Ha, the pic on jancomps' bench looks like you stole it from my lab, right down to the BLE dongle sitting there.  I've had that Metex behemoth for like 10 years, it's OK.  The frequency counter display can be switched over to the wavegen so you can see one or the other but not both at once. The power supply doesn't put out a ton of power, and the multimeter jacks are a little janky, one of the centers broke out so it's a little wobbly now.  The Cap meter is worthless, I haven't used a cap with leads in a long time and it isn't super easy to use with jumpers and test leads, let alone accurate.

What you don't see is the depth of that monster, it's at least a foot deep maybe more.  Makes a nice 'scope rest.

[jancumps]

Fully agree.

personal summary: It does meet all its specs, and it's decently built.
All the rest is up to the buyer.

[Hydrawerk]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/metex-universal-combined-test-instrument-systemsstations-a-look-inside/msg928480/#msg928480