MJLorton Solar Power and Electronic Measurement Equipment Forum
Youtube Video Episodes => YouTube Video Episodes => Topic started by: retiredcaps on September 12, 2012, 06:29:17 PM
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Hi Martin,
Just a friendly reminder not to test the frequency measurement on mains until after you are done the review. ;)
I brought this multimeter to your attention because some viewers may only care about the logging functionality at a low cost and not the build quality, continuity speed, glass fuses, erognomics, etc. All the latter qualities really don't matter if they just want a data logger.
If I needed a data logger, then I would certainly consider getting one and then using my other multimeters for general use.
Looking forward to this review and some of the other lower cost models.
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LOL...yes, I will try keep it in one piece for the review and do appreciate the functionality it can probably provide at the price point.
Cheers,
Martin.
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I forgot to mention you may want to test the power consumption of the multimeter to see how much current it draws so people know what to expect during data logging with 2 AA batteries.
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Good point...will do in part 2.
Cheers.
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I just quickly watched your video and while I'll watch again sometime this weekend, I'll only point out some quick things. It is 2:11 am here.
1) I always measure a battery before using it even if it is supposedly new. That way, I avoid surprises.
2) The RS232 icon appearance/setting seems inconsistent. When you changed to the Duracell batteries, it was clearly on. Then when you did the off "side to side" off and back on, the RS232 icon was off. After the disassembly to see the insides, the RS232 came back on.
3) Okay, I found the manual, software, datasheet, etc
http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/TP4000ZCf.htm
The website says it takes a 9V which is clearly wrong.
4) For the software part, I suspect you may find bugs and getting the proper driver to work a bit of a challenge as some of the reviews on Amazon. I recommend you install it on a PC that doesn't have all your important data so if the install screws up, you are not sol. Hopefully, you will read this post before doing the install.
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Thanks for the feedback good man, appreciated.
I have installed the software on my little portable PC and it works like a charm....so no issues on my side.
Just about to film part 2.
Cheers,
Martin.
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Hi!
I don't know if this is the right topic to discuss it and it's just a shot in the dark, but is there anybody who could help me get a hold of this multimeter? I'm from Romania and purchases from abroad of over 10 EUR or USD are taxed here (import duty). Also, shipping costs are high (which normally I would accept), but I'm afraid that if I receive a faulty piece then sending it back to USA would be costly and complicated.
Also, is it possible that this multimeter has a different name in Europe than in USA? I checked on the European Amazon websites (UK, France, Germany, Italy, etc.), but they don't carry TP4000ZC. Does anybody have information about this?
Thanks!
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Hi!
I don't know if this is the right topic to discuss it and it's just a shot in the dark, but is there anybody who could help me get a hold of this multimeter? I'm from Romania and purchases from abroad of over 10 EUR or USD are taxed here (import duty). Also, shipping costs are high (which normally I would accept), but I'm afraid that if I receive a faulty piece then sending it back to USA would be costly and complicated.
PM Martin about a certain upcoming review and ebay affiliate program.
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Local suppliers for this Martin?
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Hi!
I don't know if this is the right topic to discuss it and it's just a shot in the dark, but is there anybody who could help me get a hold of this multimeter? I'm from Romania and purchases from abroad of over 10 EUR or USD are taxed here (import duty). Also, shipping costs are high (which normally I would accept), but I'm afraid that if I receive a faulty piece then sending it back to USA would be costly and complicated.
Also, is it possible that this multimeter has a different name in Europe than in USA? I checked on the European Amazon websites (UK, France, Germany, Italy, etc.), but they don't carry TP4000ZC. Does anybody have information about this?
Thanks!
Birrbert, try to google "4000zc multimeter" you may found identical multimeter with other brands and from other sellers, someone in Europe. For example:
http://www.elv.de/rs-232-digitalmultimeter-dt-4000-zc.html
http://www.digitek.com.hk/en/cpxx.php?id=697
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I like the optoisolator that they use, a led and a phototransistor on another board. I think you can modify that serial cable to run off a generic usb serial device nicely, as it most likely only runs at 9600 baud one way.
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as it most likely only runs at 9600 baud one way.
2400 baud as per links that I listed above. They also list the protocol if you want to write your own software or get my fellow Canadian at ultradmm.com to possibly incorporate it into his software.
http://www.ultradmm.com/SupportedMeters.aspx
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retiredcaps, I'll contact Martin. Thanks!
Eagle88, thank you for the tip. Right now I'm looking at German websites, since they seem to be having the DT4000ZC, though I couldn't find out how does shipping work and how much it costs.
By the way, I did a quick search on eBay and found the multimeter in two stores. The price is about the same as on Amazon, 29.99 USD and 36.99 USD respectively, but shipping would cost 44.10 USD to Romania. Item location: California. Bummeeeer!
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Local suppliers for this Martin?
I ordered mine from Takealot.com for R438...but I search there now and they don't have it....odd!
WantItAll have it.....R1076!!!!!!
Bloody hell....
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Will wait then...................
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/rant on/
Note: This isn't directed at anyone on Martin's forum so please don't take this personally, but I had to share this.
I don't participate in any of the social networking sites, but I saw one USA person who decided not to order through Martin's Amazon store because he wanted to avoid local taxes on a $30 item. He went and bought his multimeter on ebay.
So he avoided paying USA local state 6.25%% tax or $1.88 and Martin gets shafted. That post made so mad.
Martin probably spent at least 3 to 5 hours doing the review, editing, researching, uploading, answering questions, etc for our collective benefit. If the multimeter was a complete turd, he would have lost $30 USD and we would have avoided it.
Martin's too much of a gentleman to comment and even though he would have only probably made $1.50 commision (say 5% from Amazon) on the sale, it is more the thought of his hard work not being acknowledged in any form (monetary or not).
Now, I totally realize for non USA customers, there are export restrictions and high shipping charges (example $40 USD) that it makes sense to find it locally. However, for someone in the USA to save $1.88 and not acknowledge Martin's work is bad karma.
For those trying to support Martin by buying through his Amazon channel, I thank you. However, if it is not economically feasible due to high shipping costs, then I'm fairly sure that Martin would want you to buy it locally.
/rant off/
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I very much agree, retiredcaps. I saw and commented on that, and it really did annoy me.
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It does look a lot like the 87v ... speaking of lookalikes
http://tes.com.tw/2620.htm (http://tes.com.tw/2620.htm)
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It does look a lot like the 87v ... speaking of lookalikes
http://tes.com.tw/2620.htm (http://tes.com.tw/2620.htm)
Sampling Rate 2 times/sec of digital display .... That's a great frog but not for races. :-)
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After reading this thread I made a search and found the Digitek DT-4000ZC from an eBay seller in UK (for £27.50 or £29.50 with usb adapter for RS232).
I would like to ask Martin, is it ok to put a link here? I am not in any way affiliated with the seller, I just got interested in this multimeter after Martin's YouTube review :)
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After reading this thread I made a search and found the Digitek DT-4000ZC from an eBay seller in UK (for £27.50 or £29.50 with usb adapter for RS232).
I would like to ask Martin, is it ok to put a link here? I am not in any way affiliated with the seller, I just got interested in this multimeter after Martin's YouTube review :)
Yes, please do. If folks want the option of using eBay that's great.
If Franky reads this it'll be interesting to see if he can get them at a good price on his eBay store.
And if folks want to use Amazon...here is my link: http://astore.amazon.com/m0711-20/detail/B000OPDFLM
Cheers,
Martin.
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Roger that
The seller is http://www.pw-electronics.co.uk/ and the ebay links are:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multimeter-DMM-4000-Count-Display-PC-Data-Logging-And-K-Type-Thermocouple-/120945198384?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item1c28e54530
(http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multimeter-DMM-4000-Count-Display-PC-Data-Logging-And-K-Type-Thermocouple-/120945198384?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item1c28e54530)
and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multimeter-DMM-PC-Data-Logging-and-K-Type-Thermocouple-Via-RS-232-and-USB-/170875269318?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item27c8f5b0c6
(http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multimeter-DMM-PC-Data-Logging-and-K-Type-Thermocouple-Via-RS-232-and-USB-/170875269318?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item27c8f5b0c6)
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Yes, please do. If folks want the option of using eBay that's great.
If Franky reads this it'll be interesting to see if he can get them at a good price on his eBay store.
And if folks want to use Amazon...here is my link: http://astore.amazon.com/m0711-20/detail/B000OPDFLM
Cheers,
Martin.
I had thought about sourcing some of these for my eBay store but then I thought it might not be very nice to Martin as it might take away some of his potential business through his Amazon affiliate site. Oh well, if there's enough interest from outside of the States (it's hard to beat the Amazon price anyway) I might be able to offer some of these for sale at a price somewhere between Amazon and that UK seller mentioned in the previous post. The meter certainly does look good for its price.
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Amazon.com will not ship the TekPower TP4000ZC abroad (not in many european countries for the time being) so buying from them is not possible :)
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Since this thread kinda turned towards supporting Martin, Martin's Amazon, The shipping being cost prohibitive to some, etc etc.
And, I am about to purchase one through Martin's store, here is my issue. I have supported folks before by shopping through their Amazon store, but they all had an Amazon search button so ya could go ahead and get other things you need on same order.
I am having problems finding just how to do that at Martin's store. Since I am in US shipping won't be a problem for me, and since I am about to make an order I would like to support this endeavour.
Can anyone enlighten me how this searching, finding, and adding things to shopping cart works so the store operator will get credit ??
Thanks in advance!!!
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Not sure, but if you click through to his store then you will get the cookie set for the store, then just click the "Powered by Amazon.com" and it opens in a new window with the referring shop set in the redirect. Hopefully this then gives Martin's shop the affiliate fee back.
Don't have an Amazon account, but this I have gotten from other people that use the same method ( Betty in the Sky with a suitcase) to do the affiliate links. The purchases they make are also then available to the storeholder ( Martin) as data as to what people buy from the store ( goods only, no other account info) so that he can incorporate them into the store. Apparently a lot of people buy toilet paper on Amazon this way.
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On a somewhat related note, I'm thinking about sending a Digitek DT-2843R to Martin for review. This is the cheapest meter I can find which measures AC+DC True RMS. I don't have the equipment to actually test it, other than trying to measure a DC under the AC range, and it does measure the voltage correctly (other AC-only True RMS meters I have fail this test). As Martin is getting a function generator he should be able to test it properly.
http://www.amazon.com/Tekpower-TP2844R-True-RMS-Auto-ranging-Multimeter/dp/B004YF0VEM is basically a rebadged version of the Digitek DT-2844R, which lacks the temperature measurement capability of my DT-2843R, but otherwise they are the same meter. Note however that the Amazon page seems to have mistakenly stated that it's a 6000-count meter when it is in fact only 4000, you can easily tell from the max ranges, they are all multiples of 4 instead of 6.
I will most likely send this off to Martin after the new year if there's some interest from his viewers.
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Not sure, but if you click through to his store then you will get the cookie set for the store, then just click the "Powered by Amazon.com" and it opens in a new window with the referring shop set in the redirect.
Clicking on "powered by amazon.com" shows tag=m0711-20 embedded in the URL. I know nothing about how it works, but I'm assuming that will identify Martin.
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I will most likely send this off to Martin after the new year if there's some interest from his viewers.
Franky, can you do your 10 point review on this multimeter? Also, what chipset does it use?
Looking at the picture of this Tekpower TP2844R multimeter, I must say the ergonomics with respect to color coding/font selection/spacing/layout is terrible. While not perfect, the TekPower TP4000ZC, has a better user interface than the TP2844R.
I can already see where Martin is going to potentially screw up when measuring frequency. ;D
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Franky, can you do your 10 point review on this multimeter? Also, what chipset does it use?
Looking at the picture of this Tekpower TP2844R multimeter, I must say the ergonomics with respect to color coding/font selection/spacing/layout is terrible. While not perfect, the TekPower TP4000ZC, has a better user interface than the TP2844R.
I can already see where Martin is going to potentially screw up when measuring frequency. ;D
I agree with you on the user interface. I'll try to do my version of mini review before I send it off to Martin.
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I can already see where Martin is going to potentially screw up when measuring frequency. ;D
Tut, tut he says shaking his head.... :P