T4D31 - UT61E

[retiredcaps]

Hi Martin,

1) Regarding the "interesting battery compartment" on the UT61E, have you ever changed the battery on your Fluke 115? 

2) Most interested parties will also want a high resolution picture of the pcb to see if there are any more changes made in the last few months.

3) Are you going to do an ohms/mains test?   

[iloveelectronics]

I think Martin mentioned his unit has a date of April in the warranty card. That's actually quite old. My own unit was manufactured in July and the new batch I'm selling even has an August date now.

[MJLorton]

Hi Martin,

1) Regarding the "interesting battery compartment" on the UT61E, have you ever changed the battery on your Fluke 115? 

2) Most interested parties will also want a high resolution picture of the pcb to see if there are any more changes made in the last few months.

3) Are you going to do an ohms/mains test?   

1)...yes...I just had a look and forgot the 115 had a similar arrangement...
2) I will post once I've done part 2 of the review...part 1 uploading as I type this...
3) LOL.....not the ohms...but I will try mains frequency...I'm a little puzzled by what the manual says in this regard but I'll give it a bash.

[Monkeh]

3) LOL.....not the ohms...but I will try mains frequency...I'm a little puzzled by what the manual says in this regard but I'll give it a bash.

It will do mains frequency while in the VAC range (hit the yellow button), I haven't tried it on the dedicated frequency range (according to the specs, it shouldn't work but it should survive).

I've had mine on 240V in ohms before. It's still alive (and so am I, and I wasn't even using CAT rated leads. ).

[Kiriakos GR]

I did a search about the battery postal regulations of the Hong Kong Post.
The specific limitation has to do exclusively with the Lithium ones, and is active since 19 September 2012.
     

[Monkeh]

I did a search about the battery postal regulations of the Hong Kong Post.
The specific limitation has to do exclusively with the Lithium ones, and is active since 19 September 2012.
   

Seeing as the supplied Chinese batteries only usually last about a week, who cares anyway?

[iloveelectronics]

I did a search about the battery postal regulations of the Hong Kong Post.
The specific limitation has to do exclusively with the Lithium ones, and is active since 19 September 2012.
   

The post office clerk specifically asked me if my item had any batteries in it when I posted a multimeter a couple of weeks ago. She said batteries fall under the "corrosives" category, so it's not just lithium batteries.

[Kiriakos GR]

I did a search about the battery postal regulations of the Hong Kong Post.
The specific limitation has to do exclusively with the Lithium ones, and is active since 19 September 2012.
   

Seeing as the supplied Chinese batteries only usually last about a week, who cares anyway?

Do not search for a small battery that is made in U.K., you will not find any.   

[Kiriakos GR]

I did a search about the battery postal regulations of the Hong Kong Post.
The specific limitation has to do exclusively with the Lithium ones, and is active since 19 September 2012.
   

The post office clerk specifically asked me if my item had any batteries in it when I posted a multimeter a couple of weeks ago. She said batteries fall under the "corrosives" category, so it's not just lithium batteries.

Tell him that he needs extra seminars.
http://www.hongkongpost.hk/eng/publications/notices/2012/20120723a/index.htm

[iloveelectronics]

http://www.hongkongpost.hk/eng/postage/info/index.htm#prohibited

Under Corrosives: Instruments containing mercury and battery fluid
Under Other dangerous goods: Material which has anesthetic, noxious, toxic or other characteristics which can cause extreme annoyance or discomfort in the event of leakage, dry ice, loose asbestos fibres, irritants such as concentrated garlic essence, strongly magnetized materials, toys containing batteries


Regardless of whether it's really prohibited, it's not worth taking the risk of causing massive delays in the delivery just to send a crappy Chinese battery!

[Monkeh]

I did a search about the battery postal regulations of the Hong Kong Post.
The specific limitation has to do exclusively with the Lithium ones, and is active since 19 September 2012.
   

Seeing as the supplied Chinese batteries only usually last about a week, who cares anyway?

Do not search for a small battery that is made in U.K., you will not find any.

Err, actually, I can be fairly confident that I will, thank you. We do still have some specialist industry here.

Regardless, that has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of batteries supplied with Chinese goods.

[Kiriakos GR]

My only disagreement in such conversations is the use of descriptions about quality when they are generic and point out locations - countries.

What looks important to me those days, is who are standing behind of a new product, the factory could be today in China and tomorrow in Alaska.   

[Monkeh]

My only disagreement in such conversations is the use of descriptions about quality when they are generic and point out locations - countries.

What looks important to me those days, is who are standing behind of a new product, the factory could be today in China and tomorrow in Alaska.   

I'm talking about the brand being Chinese. I'm well aware the vast majority of batteries are manufactured in China. But there's a BIG difference between 'golden power' or the ever optimistic self-branding Uni-T use, and Energizer or Duracell (well, PROPER Duracell, the consumer ones suck).

[Kiriakos GR]

I will say just this about batteries as my last comment, so to avoid getting off topic.
Taiwanese manufactures who care about their good name, they use batteries made in Malaysia or made in USA.
Good examples are DER EE and Brymen, but it is a strategic decision of the company.
And so for the use of low quality batteries the only responsible is the brand name which have select to use this items in their products.
 

[Monkeh]

And again, nothing you've said has any relevance to my comment. Well done.