Metrix MTX3293 quick teardown - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: msquared
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2017, 07:01:18 am
content: After looking at this meter for months, I finally decided to pull the trigger. At $799 it's a bit expensive but I just couldn't resist the color screen, trend plot (however only the last 88 seconds), lots of dual display options and 100000 count display. I'm hoping in a future update they provide more options to the trend plot like zoom and update rate.Out of the box the meter feels heavy and very solid, definitely no twist or flex in the case. It comes with nice silicone leads, USB cable, software, soft case and DC power supply for charging and wall power. It's powered by 4 AA NiHM batteries that were included. Battery life is supposed to be ~80 hours.I did violate the "Don't turn it on, take it apart" rule a bit this morning to give it a full charge and at least verify that it would power on before taking a screwdriver to it. Since I just got it a few hours ago I haven't had much time to use the meter just a quick few tests on a DMM check but it passed all my quick tests. One thing I did like is that the meter powers up instantly and the UI feels very responsive and logically laid out making features and functionality easy to find and configure.Maybe Dave will do a proper teardown in the future.

author: msquared
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2017, 07:03:15 am
content: Internals.I didn't remove the last PCB since it appeared to be just front panel switches and display.

author: bozidarms
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2017, 04:23:39 pm
content: Hi,what coincidence, i just got mine yesterday (MTX3293-BT).It is, by far, my best DMM til now.Everything on it is as it should be.MJLorton was right - perhaps the best in the world DMM.Regards

author: Ig_sherwood
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2017, 08:59:35 pm
content: Quote from: bozidarms on January 11, 2017, 04:23:39 pmExactly !!!My next DMM will be the MTX 3292(this basic version will fits all my needs)

author: kado
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 06:23:58 pm
content: Hi, please excuse comming into this thread with a question:i got a used MTX3293-BT which looks like new but unfortunatly it's in every range out of precision.Because it is also out of waranty i want to calibrate it myself or send it to someone Who has the software from Metrix.Any hints or help is very apreciated.ThanksKarsten

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 06:30:56 pm
content: Quote from: kado on March 25, 2017, 06:23:58 pmCan you give some examples of your measurements that are out of specification?Also, can you list the reference you are using and if other meters are within spec compared to your reference?

author: Markus2801A
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 02:05:13 pm
content: I`m also considering buying the hopefully soon available successor fo the MTX 3293-BT named C.A. 5293-BT which is already listed in French Chauvin Arnoux Catalogue!Now that some of you already own the MTX for quite a while, I would like to ask what's your opinions and your experience with it?Thanks in advance!Kind regards!Markus from Austria

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2024, 03:45:55 pm
content: same here Feedback anyoneMostly the display refresh speeds 3 meas / secs the 5293 is stated 5x ??if you select Volts, in what mode it switch AC 1st DC 1stauto detection ??thks

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 10, 2024, 12:38:06 pm
content: Hi, long time lurker here and owner of MTX3282!Although this post is about MTX3282, some things should apply to the newer MTX329x.Recently I found ASYC3/ASYC4 calibration manual.Instrument has Boot mode and there are autocal and calprint options, among others.Boot mode is entered by pressing and holding a hold button while powering instrument on.Please don't perform autocal, before writing down/dumping calibration values form calprint!To dump calibration values I used TestController application fromhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/.I've found that calibration values for MTX3282 start from offset 0xf000.To read VOLT_AC_20M_RANGE_0_SLOPE send command:holdingF? 0xF000To read VOLT_AC_20M_RANGE_0_RANGE send command:holdingL? 0xF002... etc ...And these values can be modified tooThanks to RoGeorge for the Modbus documentation.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2024, 07:09:09 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on March 10, 2024, 12:38:06 pmWould you care to share the manual ?

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 10, 2024, 08:47:55 pm
content: Manuals athttps://drive.proton.me/urls/PYDN5FJ7GW#CaqnceNY7b3c

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2024, 08:52:49 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on March 10, 2024, 08:47:55 pmHvala!!!Lijep pozdrav!!

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 11, 2024, 06:39:24 am
content: QuoteNema na čemu!Lijep pozdrav i tebi!

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2024, 08:20:58 am
content: Quote from: bozidarms on January 11, 2017, 04:23:39 pmI have a Metrix mtx3283 (the precursor of mtx3293, IIRC same specs but with optical data cable instead of BlueTooth).Mine is slow to power-on, very slow while measuring (1 sec or so), very-vey slow while auto-ranging (2-3 seconds), very-very-very slow on capacitances (tens of seconds), and the AUTO-HOLD function is broken by design. Plus it doesn't remember all the settings at the next power-on (e.g. it doesn't remember the manual range), which is very annoying, and the display is hard to read, and has a really ugly blue backlight, and an audible SMPS squeak while the backlight is on.Did they fix those pitfalls in mtx3293?

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2024, 01:15:44 pm
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on March 11, 2024, 08:20:58 am3293 is also optical cable.There is version with Bluetooth.Screen is color LCD and is OK.Boot is less than a second. Fast.Auto ranging is very fast.ADC measures 5x per second. FastCapacitance measurement I never used on it.Going back to Auto ranging after restart is good choice if you ask me,There is no sound coming out of it.

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 07:18:29 am
content: QuoteThere are hardware revisions of mtx3282 and different firmware,e.g. rev C has mtx marking below keypad and rev D has mtxII marking .Boot time is on par, but mtxII is noticeably faster on auto ranging.Also mtxII doesn't have blue backlight.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 08:15:20 am
content: Glad to hear most of the bad things are gone for the 3293.Now I see mine is mtx3283, ASYC III, while mtx3293 is ASYC IV.Thank you for the calibration manual "Metrix ASYC3 ASYC4 Calibration Manual.pdf"https://drive.proton.me/urls/PYDN5FJ7GW#CaqnceNY7b3c, didn't have that one. The calibration software shown in the calibration procedure is called "SX-MTX32xx" and the executable file is "SX_MTX32xx.exe". The software I have is called SX_DMM (SXDMM.exe) and it doesn't have the calibration menu.Where from to download the SX-MTX32xx, please?

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 10:21:37 am
content: i did receive some calibration software for an mx556 bench top meter, i simply asked Chauvin Arnoux, but for more recent Asyc xx versions, ask them if they want to give it ??Fot the bigger 5293, it is now called CA5293 ... not metrix or MX xxx ??

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 05:15:05 pm
content: QuoteI don't have calibration software, sorry.According to the current price list fromhttps://www.chauvin-arnoux.at/sites/default/files/documents/preisliste_2024_01_lr.pdf,HX0059B Kalibriersoftware (MTX 3292/3293) is 676,00€ + VAT.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 05:43:54 pm
content: HX0059B documentationhttps://docs.rs-online.com/8dd8/A700000008113098.pdf

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2025, 06:23:08 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on March 10, 2024, 12:38:06 pmHello.Please tell me if I understand correctly, it is possible to adjust calibration coefficients without using an expensive calibration software? I have Metrix MTX3293 which has an error margin of about 0.05%. I would like to improve accuracy.Thank you.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2025, 07:18:10 pm
content: Quote from: bozidarms on January 11, 2017, 04:23:39 pmlol congrats but nothing beats a GOSSEN Metrawatt old series loll

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2025, 07:20:48 pm
content: Quote from: Taimer81 on May 14, 2025, 06:23:08 pmonce again @TAIMER do search for their software BEFORE purchase, some are freely given by Chauvin Arnoux on many modelsor try requesting them .... their AsycII, Asyc III, or Asyc IV software for theses models, and now you have the yellow models, the blue is going out

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 05:18:20 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on March 10, 2024, 12:38:06 pmI managed to read thedata. Can you tell me where I can find a complete list of all these coefficients? There are only two values specified.

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 05:20:13 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on May 14, 2025, 07:20:48 pmHi. I wrote to technical support, and they replied.

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 07:43:03 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on March 10, 2024, 12:38:06 pmWhat is "calprint"?

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2025, 08:51:26 am
content: My guess is "calprint" stands for "calibration print", probably some feature of function used to list/save the calibration when using that programmed that communicates with DMMs from a PChttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/Never used that program, but it has a very active community, including developer(s). I would ask in the linked thread if there is such a function/feature called 'calprint', or if they know how to deal with the calibration constants of an mtx3293 DMM.

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 16, 2025, 03:08:16 pm
content: calprint is a menu option that you get when you start MTX in Boot mode.To start instrument in Boot mode, simultaneously press "hold" and Power buttons.To exit Boot mode, press Power button until instrument shuts down.In calprint menu, you will get complete list of coefficients and their values.Write all values down !And then you can start to tweak values that you want do adjust.Good luck!

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 16, 2025, 03:23:28 pm
content: In my MTX manuals directory athttps://drive.proton.me/urls/PYDN5FJ7GW#CaqnceNY7b3cyou can find new unfinished TestConoreller driver for MTX (Metrix MTX328x.txt).There is a list of calibration params, starting with#scpiCmd cal:volt:ac:20M:range0:slope?You can read params by name, instead of guessing MODBUS registers.

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2025, 06:07:57 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on May 16, 2025, 03:23:28 pmNote that you can do scripts in TC, i.e. you can easily make a script that list the calibration parameters and as long as the interface is based on modbus it will work

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2025, 10:28:08 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on May 16, 2025, 03:08:16 pmHi!I seem to have a different menu coming out. I don't see any calibration coefficients here.Take a look, please.https://photos.app.goo.gl/CMVCVvh6ajkKtbYe9

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2025, 10:39:00 pm
content: Please tell me how it works.slopeP & slopeN?

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2025, 12:17:52 pm
content: Hello everyone.I read the data but it's not clear whether I chose the right format or not.

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2025, 01:34:36 pm
content: I did it! Only slightly different was thetable.

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 21, 2025, 04:08:51 pm
content: From your video, Boot menu for MTX329x is different than MTX328x."Default cal" in MTX329x might be "calprint" in MTX328x, you would need to open that menu to check.If it displays calibration values and MODBUS register offsets, great.If it tries to do any sort of calibration, power instrument off.You have figured out that MTX328x calibration registers are a bit different than on MTX329x.Please note that some coefficients are 32-bit floating values (holdingF), some are 32-bit integers (holdingSL),and some are 16-bit values (holding).It seems that calibration parameters are used as:displayed value = offset coefficient + slope coefficient * measured valueTo calibrate offset coefficient, set measured value to zero or near zero (e.g. short probes in voltage mode), and modify it until instrument displays 0.To calibrate slope coefficient, set measured value near max range (e.g. 95%) and modify it until instument is spot on.You might need to perform this procedure several times, if you are not satisfied with first pass.slopeP and slopeN are slopes for DC, positive and negative ranges.

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2025, 08:28:16 pm
content: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zv17r8bg2aUfj8ok9

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2025, 03:21:14 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on May 21, 2025, 04:08:51 pmТhe problem is I can't remove the negative value (-0.123 mV .)Positive values increase the deviation. Any negative value causes an overload .Chief, what should I do, please tell me.

author: 470uF
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 23, 2025, 10:34:12 am
content: Offsets are 32-bit integers, not floats.For offsets, change Format to LONG AB CD.Number -1, if represented as LONG is 0xFFFFFFFF, and if represented as FLOAT is 0xBF800000.0xFFFFFFFF FLOAT value is NaN.

author: Taimer81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2025, 05:36:25 pm
content: Quote from: 470uF on May 23, 2025, 10:34:12 amEverything worked out, thanks!It is a pity that we cannot see the actual values of calibration coefficients without having them, and it is impossible to locate their addresses. They are offset slightly from MTX3281.