MJLorton Solar Power and Electronic Measurement Equipment Forum
Youtube Video Episodes => YouTube Video Episodes => Topic started by: Mr Eastwood on August 12, 2012, 02:31:51 PM
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Hi Martin, many thanks for such a great review of the IDM 207, i recently bought a IDM 305 and I'm very pleased with it, the 305 is very simliar to the 207 and shares pretty much all the same features. One interesting feature of the 300 series I think is "auto calibration"; i'm not sure entirely how that works; I just wondered if you had heard of that before in DMM?
Btw.
I really like your blogs. I like the Arduino stuff too, although I started in PICs the Tutorials are still relevant.
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Hi Martin, many thanks for such a great review of the IDM 207, i recently bought a IDM 305 and I'm very pleased with it, the 305 is very simliar to the 207 and shares pretty much all the same features. One interesting feature of the 300 series I think is "auto calibration"; i'm not sure entirely how that works; I just wondered if you had heard of that before in DMM?
Btw.
I really like your blogs. I like the Arduino stuff too, although I started in PICs the Tutorials are still relevant.
Thanks very much for the post. You're the first person I know that has ISO-Tech kit as it does not seem to be that well know.
I actually considered getting the IDM 305 as well so I think you have made a very good choice.
Now...you have me intrigued about the "auto calibration". I know that some of the top end lab kit can do this but I'll investigate this a little further as soon as I have a moment.
I'm about to post a few more Arduino videos this week....so thanks for the feedback.
Cheers,
Martin.
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Iso Tech is the RS house brand instrument, nice enough and low cost units. Last one i bought was an ICM-A9 on clearance from RS. A nice clamp meter mostly aimed at electricians, as it has a range of 400A AC and an AC/DC range of 600V, with autoswitching between AC, Dc or resistance on the range, so no way to oops and blow it up, no voltage it goes to continuity, over around 2V it does AC or DC depending on what it sees and it has a low impedance input ( 30 seconds max for voltage mode) and if it detects over 0.6A in the jaw it changes to A. One button on the front panel, power and hold depending on how long you hold it down. All in all not bad for the price and quite me proof.
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Hi, I came across the 305 by chance, an Ebay seller was selling off quite a few of these brand new units as buy-it-now for £90 (UK), I did some research and I saw it on the RS online for £259; so I had to get one.
RS Online
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-multimeters/6974020/ (http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/digital-multimeters/6974020/)
The 305 comes from these guys at APPA
http://www.appatech.com/appa_product_home.php?pdid=20051219052439826951&&kindid=2005081003113623241 (http://www.appatech.com/appa_product_home.php?pdid=20051219052439826951&&kindid=2005081003113623241)
APPA's flagship DMM, appears to be the 500
http://www.appatech.com/appa_product_home.php?pdid=2009091810044515198&&kindid=2005081003113623241 (http://www.appatech.com/appa_product_home.php?pdid=2009091810044515198&&kindid=2005081003113623241)
I've been building a digital kiln controller in my spare time for a couple of years now, but the 305 has been perfect for thermocouple work.
j.
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About those APPA personally I have a major dislike.
They all have this overcrowded display, plus low cost exterior plastic body.
Those units looks to have become popular in Russia due their tremendously cheap pricing.
But as long they sacrifice quality so to gain a cheap price, I just do not wish even to touch them.
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About those APPA personally I have a major dislike.
They all have this overcrowded display, plus low cost exterior plastic body.
Those units looks to have become popular in Russia due their tremendously cheap pricing.
But as long they sacrifice quality so to gain a cheap price, I just do not wish even to touch them.
Hi, you have a perfectly valid argument against them, but for my application and very conservative indoor usage it was a perfect choice, especially at the reduced price; My only regret was I should have bought two!
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No worries mate, when I buy from eBay a complete panel meter as digital thermometer with half meter K type cable sensor for 3$, I always get two too.
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No worries mate, when I buy from eBay a complete panel meter as digital thermometer with half meter K type cable sensor for 3$, I always get two too.
ah right a joke about Appa?
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ah right a joke about Appa?
Something like that. :)
I have see true diamonds in quality, as multimeters coming from Taiwan, for example Brymen & DER EE.
APPA uses another route, simple as that.
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I have see true diamonds in quality, as multimeters coming from Taiwan, for example Brymen & DER EE.
Cool!, I will keep my eye out for one of those.
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ah right a joke about Appa?
Something like that. :)
I have see true diamonds in quality, as multimeters coming from Taiwan, for example Brymen & DER EE.
APPA uses another route, simple as that.
Kiriakos, I keep on getting requests from folks viewing my Brymen 867 video on where they can buy them....there is an agent here but I don't think they ship internationally. Do you know of a site folks can buy from based in the USA / Europe?
Cheers,
Martin.
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maybe from these guys?
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm867/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/
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Kiriakos, I keep on getting requests from folks viewing my Brymen 867 video on where they can buy them....there is an agent here but I don't think they ship internationally. Do you know of a site folks can buy from based in the USA / Europe?
See Greenlee DM-860A.
http://www.greenlee.com/products/DMM-500K-COUNTS-(DM%2540d860A).html?product_id=19551
Click on documents and download the user manual for a better picture of the meter.
Notice the resemblance?
Amazon has the DM-860 and DM-860C and the DM-860A is "currently unavailable". The first two sell for $451 and $481 respectively.
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Greenlee acts the opposite of the Robin hood.
They are stealing from the poor.
About those in tme.eu , they do not love to reply in emails, this opinion is made by personal experience.
Its best to contact BRYMEM directly by email, and ask for a list of European distributors.
They are very friendly people, and they will do their best.
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People from Scandinavia interested in Brymen meters should contact Elma Instruments in respective countries.
http://www.elma-instruments.no
http://www.elma-instruments.se
http://www.elma.dk
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From my side the ELMA friends looks to be very hungry for cash.
The BM869 looks to cost in their Danish web site as 287EUR with out VAT that is 25%.
That makes a total of 358 EUR , they can't be serious !! ???
ELMA looks loaded with a significant amount of tools about anything.
But their pricing could possibly sound as sweet if you are a Danish homeboy.
http://www.elma.dk/_da-DK/v:1385;130070?visma5.prodno=5706445410378 (http://www.elma.dk/_da-DK/v:1385;130070?visma5.prodno=5706445410378)
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Kiriakos, I keep on getting requests from folks viewing my Brymen 867 video on where they can buy them....there is an agent here but I don't think they ship internationally. Do you know of a site folks can buy from based in the USA / Europe?
See Greenlee DM-860A.
http://www.greenlee.com/products/DMM-500K-COUNTS-(DM%2540d860A).html?product_id=19551
Click on documents and download the user manual for a better picture of the meter.
Notice the resemblance?
Amazon has the DM-860 and DM-860C and the DM-860A is "currently unavailable". The first two sell for $451 and $481 respectively.
Thanks for that....odd to see them in Green! 8)
I'll add the DM-860C to my amazon store as it is the best fit for the Brymen they have.
Edit... Buy one now! ;D
http://astore.amazon.com/m0711-20/detail/B0010B8IDY
Thanks again,
Martin.
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Thanks to everyone for the feedback, I'm sure there are many folks who will find it of value.
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Edit... Buy one now! ;D
http://astore.amazon.com/m0711-20/detail/B0010B8IDY
Thanks again,
Martin.
Price: $451 Thanks God that in Europe Amazon is not an option. :P
;D ;D ;D
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The BM869 looks to cost in their Danish web site as 287EUR with out VAT that is 25%.
That makes a total of 358 EUR , they can't be serious !! ???
Unfortunately it is dead serious, and this what us ''slaves'' have to pay for things up here in the north. I would have to pay even more for the same meter in Norway, my own country. The prices are so high here that people actually think I'm telling lies, or simply can't grasp it, when I mention that a gallon of gas costs 9.5 USD.
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Hey slave of the North, you get paid with 1500 EUR per month minimum.
And the slaves in the south are getting less than 1000 EUR.
But either way, this seller up there is a plain thief and funny enough he have found as partner even a German distributor.
Those tactics damages the market, but I have the hope than soon enough and with my help in a way, there will be a new and smart distributor about the BRYMEN products,
who will make good sales by offering the products at their real pricing.
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I'll add the DM-860C to my amazon store as it is the best fit for the Brymen they have.
Edit... Buy one now! ;D
http://astore.amazon.com/m0711-20/detail/B0010B8IDY
Well, if you are going to recommend the DM-860C model, then you should link Extech MM560A for $259.99 USD at Amazon.com so people save $200 compared to the Greenlee. :o
Notice the similarities?
http://www.extech.com/instruments/resources/manuals/MM560A-MM570A_UM.pdf
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Hey slave of the North, you get paid with 1500 EUR per month minimum.
And the slaves in the south are getting less than 1000 EUR.
I'm not trying to start a whiny ''poor me'' war here, but if you think twice about the wage difference, you will see that it's doing damage beyond repair to our industry - the one we once had, to be correct. And at the end of the day we're not as ''rich'' as some will believe, and most of us have to spend nearly a half working day wage to put food on the table. IE. not much different from Europeans down on the continent.
But either way, this seller up there is a plain thief and funny enough he have found as partner even a German distributor.
But then it would be fair to call everyone a thief up here. A Fluke 87-V will cost you about 800 USD here.
Those tactics damages the market, but I have the hope than soon enough and with my help in a way, there will be a new and smart distributor about the BRYMEN products,
who will make good sales by offering the products at their real pricing.
I agree for the most part, but it's not the markets fault, it's the politicians who's thwarting things with their taxes and blind following of UN's Agenda 21, ''Sustainable Development''.
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I do not blame the politicians when there is some elite clans of businessman who operate like organized crime.
I have spot the same behavior in all those shops who are selling gear about photography / and now I am discovering some of those as T&M sellers too.
Their wish is to make one sale per month and to cover all their expenses.
Well it does not work that way, not any more at list.
If you are going for 200% profit excluding tax, it is stealing.
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I do not blame the politicians when there is some elite clans of businessman who operate like organized crime.
I can't deny there are some clansmen running around conspiring for a monopoly, but I'll guess one has to a lot bigger than Elma to do mafia business without having government goons in black ski masks ramming through the front door. :)
If you are going for 200% profit excluding tax, it is stealing.
Well, the nice thing has been, so far, is that we're not forced to buy things from them. ;)
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About those APPA personally I have a major dislike.
They all have this overcrowded display, plus low cost exterior plastic body.
Those units looks to have become popular in Russia due their tremendously cheap pricing.
But as long they sacrifice quality so to gain a cheap price, I just do not wish even to touch them.
Hi, you have a perfectly valid argument against them, but for my application and very conservative indoor usage it was a perfect choice, especially at the reduced price; My only regret was I should have bought two!
Now I do have two! ;-)
(http://tinypixels.co.uk/test_equip/dmm/dmm_small.png)
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I can not feel jealous about it, I do have the same range switch next to me,
and it waits for getting reviewed. :)
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I can not feel jealous about it, I do have the same range switch next to me,
and it waits for getting reviewed. :)
Appa 70 Series ?
http://www.appatech.com/appa_product_home.php?pdid=2005102401295373290&&kindid=2005081003113623241 (http://www.appatech.com/appa_product_home.php?pdid=2005102401295373290&&kindid=2005081003113623241)
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APPA 73 ODM, with better selection of colors, and made for a very respectable brand. ;)
Edit: Comes with fantastic test leads, alike to the Agilent U1270 series.
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I have used the equivalent of the APPA 60 series (as Amprobe DM60) and APPA 107N.
The two ranges don't feel equivalent to me. The 60 has lighter touch. The APPA 107N range switch feels more like a Fluke 80 series.
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The Fluke 80 range switch mimics the old analog Goertz Metrawatt design,
from the fresh models an good example of great range switch design is the one of the DER EE/ DE208A, later on I discovered that the same design is used by some Japanese brand names too.
Great feeling gives also the HIOKI meters, but they burn your wallet.
Looks like that the modern industry does allot of "Sharing". :)
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Martin, if you see this and have a moment, please could you check out the decibel ranges on your IDM207. I'd like to know the lowest amplitude signal that the meter gives a display for, particularly on the dBm range. The manual says it's -15dBm but qualifies it with "typical". What annoys me is that the dBv ranges goes down to -80dBv, which is a quite a difference and far more useful. Also, it doesn't appear to be able to do this, but can it display volts and dB at the same time?
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I was hoping to look into this for you before I left for the SPI convention but time has run out. I will try do this once I get back.
Cheers, Martin.