UNI-T UT61D+ Continuity test issue

[gabriele]

Hi,
I brought this UNI-T UT61D+, the continuity function works and it's fast to response, but what is annoying is its beep that is not continuos, instead  it beeps, than stops, and than it continues to beep normally.
I uploaded a small video here that show the issue
Is this normal behavior? Then should i return this? Thanks

[indman]

gabriele This can be a characteristic feature of this model and is associated with the resistance determination threshold below 50 Ohm, in which the green LED lights. Check the operation of this mode with another set of probe.
A more expensive model UT61E + there is no such effect with a delay.

[AlexTee]

Wow, exactly same issue on my 161D (the certified version of 61D+).
I didn't know this topic existed. I have some fundings regarding the issue, which I posted today in another thread.
Check them out.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-uni-t-ut61-series-(ut61e)/msg3797900/#msg3797900
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/multimeter-with-continuity-test-buzzer-that-responds-immediately/msg3799262/#msg3799262

Now, to answer to your question as to return it or keep, I would say it depends on your requirements. On one hand, it is very annoying to have this short break in audible indicator, but on the other hand this is a minor issue, otherwise the meter is quite nice, has LoZ and Temp features, and is sufficiently precise, so you can keep it as a secondary meter. What bothers me more, is that it beeps with significant delay, when the circuit has resistance larger than 0, say 15-20 ohms. The more expensive 61E+ might suffer from this, too, but for example Brymen meters always beep immediately no matter the resistance as long as it is lower than the declared threshold.

[AlexTee]

indman, no it is not related to the probes, unfortunately. This has to do with how the function is implemented at the software level in this unit. Check my second link in the previous post for a detailed explanation and a visual demonstration.

[indman]

AlexTee,I've read and watched your material. Now I'm sure this is a feature of the UT61+ (161D+).
The same dual signal is present in the model A-BF CS615A+(HT118A), which I bought recently. This effect is unquestionably due to the speed of the chip at 6000 counts. It's a really nasty continuity effect.

[AlexTee]

AlexTee,I've read and watched your material. Now I'm sure this is a feature of the UT61+ (161D+).
The same dual signal is present in the model A-BF CS615A+(HT118A), which I bought recently. This effect is unquestionably due to the speed of the chip at 6000 counts. It's a really nasty continuity effect.

What bothers me more is that it beeps with significant delay when the circuit has resistance larger than 0, say 15-20 ohms. I wonder if 61E+ suffers from that, too?!

The Brymen BM789 always beeps immediately no matter the resistance, as long as it stays below the upper threshold.

[indman]

UT61E+ as well as Brymen867 undoubtedly have an excellent performance and quality of continuity mode.

[AlexTee]

Did you try a continuity test over a 10-20 ohm resistor with 61E+? Just curious to know if it responds with a beep immediately.

[indman]

I'll check it tomorrow, but I haven't noticed any signal delay with this model. Only when the contacts are opened, if they have been closed for a long time.

[Caliaxy]

What bothers me more is that it beeps with significant delay when the circuit has resistance other than 0, say 15-20 ohms. I wonder if 61E+ suffers from that, too?!

UT61E beeps with no delay at 3.3 Ohms but with a noticeable delay at 8.2 Ohms. With 5.6 Ohms it beeps right away for a very short time, it stops briefly than it beeps again continuously (like in gabriele's video, but much faster). It makes me wonder if that's done on purpose, to let you know there is some small resistance bigger than 0 (and 5.6 ohms happens to be the threshold for that). Anyways, not pleasant to the ears...

[AlexTee]

What bothers me more is that it beeps with significant delay when the circuit has resistance other than 0, say 15-20 ohms. I wonder if 61E+ suffers from that, too?!

UT61E beeps with no delay at 3.3 Ohms but with a noticeable delay at 8.2 Ohms. With 5.6 Ohms it beeps right away for a very short time, it stops briefly than it beeps again continuously (like in gabriele's video, but much faster). It makes me wonder if that's done on purpose, to let you know there is some small resistance bigger than 0 (and 5.6 ohms happens to be the threshold for that). Anyways, not pleasant to the ears...

Nice findings! So, it can serve us as a feature 

Let's wait for indman to test his 61E+ version.

[indman]

I made video compare verification mode of continuity, see 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-zvxwPSgV4nCbdQ1RSWYexRddyTIBbf4/view?usp=sharing

[AlexTee]

UT61E+ excellent result! The other meter resembles UT61D+ more or less.

[AlexTee]

Few minutes ago I was testing a faulty PC power supply with 161D (61D+), and I can certainly tell you, this type of continuity test is total garbage. It confuses a lot with all these delayed and double, sometimes even triple beeps, depending on the nature and value of the resistance. On the other hand, there is a Brymen BM789, for example, which responds instantaneously to loads up to 100-420 Ohms, which is kinda annoying, too, because a 100-420 Ohm resistance is not even close to being deemed as a short path, unless there's heavy oxidation at the contact points. So, you have to check up the screen readings each time to eliminate false positives.
To my taste, the UT161E/UT61E+ outperforms Brymen and similar meters in this aspect.

[indman]

Everything is a comparison! You get used to a good thing. You can use continuity mode in UT61D+ as well as in CS615A+, but I agree that it is much more convenient and faster with UT61E+.

[AlexTee]

True. Anyway, I will keep the meter, as it is sufficiently precise, have good set of features, and have Intertek certification, which is rare for Chinese meters of this price range.

[paulbt]

hi !
@gabriele
Sadly I see that the problem is still present in the newer uni-t models. 139C and 139S have the same non-continuous beep and a delay to turn off the beep when the short is removed. I made a video about this a while ago. I got rid of both meters because of this. Now I have a ut203+ clampmeter which has a nice fast&latched continuity and a cheap ut33a+ which I keep in my car, but I never used it's continuity. I will check it just for curiosity.