Extech GX900 vs Fluke 287 Graphical Multimeter Review - Pt1

[retiredcaps]

Hi Martin,

I'm looking forward towards the teardown and what it looks inside in part 2.

I'm wondering if you can calibrate the ohms mode yourself or if it requires a trip back to Flir?  Has Flir PR contacted you about the ohms malfunction?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLMGDNcHEUU

[orion242]

When you tested ohms on the extech you where in manual megaohms range.  prob the issue there.

good video.  I would have kicked on the backlight on the fluke so the display closer matched the extech.

[SeanB]

Part 2 is here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFbdJDEyXWQ

[retiredcaps]

When you tested ohms on the extech you where in manual megaohms range.  prob the issue there.

No, Martin tried both manual and auto.  You can clearly see it in 18:44.  He even tried different probes with GX900 set to autorange and got 0L when shorting the probes.

[retiredcaps]

Part 2 is here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFbdJDEyXWQ

Just got to the 21 minute mark and I can think of the crappy CEM/Extech build/solder quality all over again (links below).  How can this meter pass QA when the calibration failed and the problem at the 21 minute mark?

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/teardown-extech-ex570-my-first-but-also-last-extech/

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/gallery/craftsman-82003/

I am reminded of

Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice, shame you me

It will be interesting to see what Extech says.

[retiredcaps]

I downloaded Martin's video (part 2) in 720p and watched it carefully.

The bad soldering Martin found on the 1k ohm resistor which caused the defective resistance readings is NOT a "one of".

For example (timestamps in brackets)...

1) left plastic post holding the fuse board is already cracked after being removed once (11:33)
2) lots of leftover flux (11:54)
3) small solder bits all over input jacks/board
4) solder splash above C21 (13:14)
5) U7 obviously hand soldered, too much solder, crooked (13:29)
6) Z1 has massive solder bridge to R44 and it has massive solder bridge to D6 (14:00)
7) R91 hand soldered - too much solder on top part (14:29)
8] CR2032 battery holder - too much solder on top part, bottom part looks like it was soldered with used solder (dull gray color)
9) R43 obviously hand soldered (17:25)
10) R80 (21:11) has nice solder curl on top (obviously hand soldered)

I'm sure I could have found more if there were high resolution photos or if I could have downloaded this video in 1080p.

For $600 USD MSRP, the soldering quality is very disappointing.