Extech DMMs -- not a serious tool

[John E.]

Extech DMMs have a "power-saving" feature that powers off the meter after 15
minutes. That's 15 minutes after turning it on, not 15 minutes after last
measurement. It beeps a minute before shutting down, but if you're in the
middle of a circuit with probes in hand, it's not fun to watch the display go
blank.

On some of their meters this feature can be disabled, but then you're too
often staring at a dead battery.

And for aging eyes, these meters have what looks like an infinitesimal
decimal point (compared, for example, to a Fluke DMM display).

And Fluke's meters power off after X minutes of lack of use since *last
measurement*, and have a large, clear display.

My advice: stay away from Extech DMMs. I do have an Extech IR thermometer and
anemometer which work fine. But for a mainstay tool like the DMM, it's
strictly relegated to the back of the tool box now.
--
John English

 

[amdx]

"John E." <incognito@xbjcd.com> wrote in message
news:0001HW.C630495A04A4FF28B04709AF@news.sf.sbcglobal.net...

Extech DMMs have a "power-saving" feature that powers off the meter after
15
minutes. That's 15 minutes after turning it on, not 15 minutes after last
measurement. It beeps a minute before shutting down, but if you're in the
middle of a circuit with probes in hand, it's not fun to watch the display
go
blank.

On some of their meters this feature can be disabled, but then you're too
often staring at a dead battery.

And for aging eyes, these meters have what looks like an infinitesimal
decimal point (compared, for example, to a Fluke DMM display).

And Fluke's meters power off after X minutes of lack of use since *last
measurement*, and have a large, clear display.

My advice: stay away from Extech DMMs. I do have an Extech IR thermometer
and
anemometer which work fine. But for a mainstay tool like the DMM, it's
strictly relegated to the back of the tool box now.
--
John English

Why don't you forward that to Extech, they might improve their next model

line.
Mike

 

[David L. Jones]

John E. wrote:

Extech DMMs have a "power-saving" feature that powers off the meter
after 15 minutes. That's 15 minutes after turning it on, not 15
minutes after last measurement. It beeps a minute before shutting
down, but if you're in the middle of a circuit with probes in hand,
it's not fun to watch the display go blank.

On some of their meters this feature can be disabled, but then you're
too often staring at a dead battery.

And for aging eyes, these meters have what looks like an infinitesimal
decimal point (compared, for example, to a Fluke DMM display).

And Fluke's meters power off after X minutes of lack of use since
*last measurement*, and have a large, clear display.

Is that the same on *all* ranges? i.e. volts, current, ohms, and continuity
etc
I've found some meters reset the timer fine on say volts but don't do it on
some other ranges.

Dave.
--
---------------------------------------------
Check out my Electronics Engineering Video Blog & Podcast:
http://www.alternatezone.com/eevblog/

 

[James Sweet]

John E. wrote:

Extech DMMs have a "power-saving" feature that powers off the meter after 15
minutes. That's 15 minutes after turning it on, not 15 minutes after last
measurement. It beeps a minute before shutting down, but if you're in the
middle of a circuit with probes in hand, it's not fun to watch the display go
blank.

On some of their meters this feature can be disabled, but then you're too
often staring at a dead battery.

And for aging eyes, these meters have what looks like an infinitesimal
decimal point (compared, for example, to a Fluke DMM display).

And Fluke's meters power off after X minutes of lack of use since *last
measurement*, and have a large, clear display.

My advice: stay away from Extech DMMs. I do have an Extech IR thermometer and
anemometer which work fine. But for a mainstay tool like the DMM, it's
strictly relegated to the back of the tool box now.

You get what you pay for.

Most inexpensive DMMs have shortcomings, that's why so many people stick
to Fluke, Tek, HP, and other name brands. I use my DMM more than any
other test equipment I own, so it was worth it to buy a good one. I have
a few cheaper meters I use for various specific tasks, but the daily
driver is a Fluke.

 

[Phil Allison]

"James Sweet"

You get what you pay for.

Most inexpensive DMMs have shortcomings, that's why so many people stick
to Fluke, Tek, HP, and other name brands. I use my DMM more than any other
test equipment I own, so it was worth it to buy a good one. I have a few
cheaper meters I use for various specific tasks, but the daily driver is a
Fluke.

** Same goes for me.

Bought a nice looking auto-ranging 3.5 digit DMM once that was obviously a
copy of a Fluke - soon found out what its Achilles' heel was - measuring
high DC voltages !!!

Whenever the probe tips were touched onto a DC source of more than 350
volts, the display reading froze at zero !!!!

This is both very annoying and extremely DANGEROUS !!

Seems the tiny spark that jumps onto the tip about to make contact causes a
glitch inside the meter big enough to require a re-set operation.

Fluke once recalled a whole bunch of their 70 series meters for the same
issue, but my Fluke 70 mk II never had the problem at all.


..... Phil

 

[Archimedes' Lever]

On Thu, 14 May 2009 07:37:14 +1000, "David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com>
wrote:

John E. wrote:
Extech DMMs have a "power-saving" feature that powers off the meter
after 15 minutes. That's 15 minutes after turning it on, not 15
minutes after last measurement. It beeps a minute before shutting
down, but if you're in the middle of a circuit with probes in hand,
it's not fun to watch the display go blank.

On some of their meters this feature can be disabled, but then you're
too often staring at a dead battery.

And for aging eyes, these meters have what looks like an infinitesimal
decimal point (compared, for example, to a Fluke DMM display).

And Fluke's meters power off after X minutes of lack of use since
*last measurement*, and have a large, clear display.

Is that the same on *all* ranges? i.e. volts, current, ohms, and continuity
etc
I've found some meters reset the timer fine on say volts but don't do it on
some other ranges.

Dave.

Most also reset when a backlight button is pressed or other button
enacted then returned.

 

[Jake]

On May 13, 12:54 pm, John E. <incogn...@xbjcd.com> wrote:

Extech DMMs have a "power-saving" feature that powers off the meter after 15
minutes. That's 15 minutes after turning it on, not 15 minutes after last
measurement. It beeps a minute before shutting down, but if you're in the
middle of a circuit with probes in hand, it's not fun to watch the display go
blank.

On some of their meters this feature can be disabled, but then you're too
often staring at a dead battery.

And for aging eyes, these meters have what looks like an infinitesimal
decimal point (compared, for example, to a Fluke DMM display).

And Fluke's meters power off after X minutes of lack of use since *last
measurement*, and have a large, clear display.

My advice: stay away from Extech DMMs. I do have an Extech IR thermometer and
anemometer which work fine. But for a mainstay tool like the DMM, it's
strictly relegated to the back of the tool box now.
--
John English

I agree, John. I used to work as an engineering lab tech, and
discouraged the purchase of the extech DMM's for similar reasons - We
had one, and I simply felt that it was not appropriate for
"professional" use. I instead sought out an excellent deal on the
Fluke 87-V, and we were all thoroughly impressed by that meter.

Coincidentally, I am very happy with my extech 380193 LCR meter. It
cost only $155 from amazon.com, brand new, and does an excellent job
for the price. I am not sure that I could match its capabilities with
any other new piece of equipment for that price.

Jake

 

On May 13, 10:42 pm, Archimedes' Lever
<OneBigLe...@InfiniteSeries.Org> wrote:

On Thu, 14 May 2009 07:37:14 +1000, "David L. Jones" <altz...@gmail.com
wrote:





John E. wrote:
Extech DMMs have a "power-saving" feature that powers off the meter
after 15 minutes. That's 15 minutes after turning it on, not 15
minutes after last measurement. It beeps a minute before shutting
down, but if you're in the middle of a circuit with probes in hand,
it's not fun to watch the display go blank.

On some of their meters this feature can be disabled, but then you're
too often staring at a dead battery.

And for aging eyes, these meters have what looks like an infinitesimal
decimal point (compared, for example, to a Fluke DMM display).

And Fluke's meters power off after X minutes of lack of use since
*last measurement*, and have a large, clear display.

Is that the same on *all* ranges? i.e. volts, current, ohms, and continuity
etc
I've found some meters reset the timer fine on say volts but don't do it on
some other ranges.

Dave.

  Most also reset when a backlight button is pressed or other button
enacted then returned.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

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