Amprobe AM-59 partial teardown - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: jtstowell
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2016, 09:04:58 pm
content: I promised a teardown of this meter, purchased for $25 off of ebay, but I am chickening out a little bit: The board is snapped on to the case pretty strongly, and given that there is already some evidence of physical damage, I'm hesitant to apply the force that seems necessary pry it out and up, so I won't be able to post the front side of the board.The included probes are Fluke branded, and quite niceThe holster is incredibly dirtyThe LCD plexiglass cover is scratched up a bit, but everything is still readableThere was something rattling insideThe rotary switch is able to rotate counter-clockwise beyond the OFF setting (the chipset doesn't seem to enjoy this)In terms of accuracy, it seems okay within my capability to test (agrees with other meters in terms of resistance, current, voltage, and capacitance).Opening it up:It uses what look like ceramic fuses.It looks as though one of the screws was over-tightened at some point, causing the screw well to break off from the rear casing.A loose plastic piece was found (source of the rattling); I suspect it may have something to do with the rotary dial not stopping where it ought to-Tom

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2016, 11:20:48 pm
content: http://www.brymen.com/product-html/cata620/Bm620s.htmThis is a rebrandedBrymen BM629.It is not produced any more.

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2016, 01:15:57 am
content: Quote from: Hydrawerk on June 24, 2016, 11:20:48 pmI knew it was a Brymen IMMEDIATELY from that selector switch. HAs that old model Brymen feel to it.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2016, 05:02:52 am
content: Quote from: jtstowell on June 24, 2016, 09:04:58 pmThanks for the pictures and teardown.For those wondering, it came from this threadhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/has-anyone-ever-heard-of-the-greenlee-93-105-rmsa/QuoteToo bad it is damaged like that. Now you will have to be careful using this meter.QuoteGood to hear it matches a recently calibrated meter.For $25, I think you got a good sibling to go with the BM235 especially give this meter costs the same as shipping for Dave's meter from Australia to USA. This can be your rugged/outside meter while the BM235 stays indoor and clean?

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2016, 05:09:35 am
content: Another one in the same family, AM-56, ended today in the same $25 (including shipping/handling) range.http://www.ebay.com/itm/122020524276For $25, I think these are good deals.

author: jtstowell
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2016, 11:43:05 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on June 25, 2016, 05:02:52 amIt's definitely a good meter and was a good deal. My thinking at the moment is that I'll try to clean it up and keep it in my lab area, primarily for safety reasons: I'm not sure what might happen with that rotary switch in an invalid position (the input impedance might be low on some of the invalid settings), and I wouldn't want someone to pick it up and use it, potentially injuring themselves.It would be nice to have a meter at work, for the odd situation when one comes in handy. That is what I had been thinking for this AM-59. The min-max-average capability is what sold me on it--what a fantastic feature!I should get rid of one of my other meters (I counted through them all and 10 seems like a reasonable ceiling) and locate another meter with min-max-average. I'm not leaving my BM235 at work...

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2016, 01:32:27 pm
content: Quote from: jtstowell on June 25, 2016, 11:43:05 am10? You should participate in this thread ...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/show-your-multimeter!/

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2016, 04:56:45 pm
content: I have the same Radio Shack meter that uses 2 AA cells. At less than 1mA current draw and assuming 2500mAh AA cells, it gets 2500 hours of runtime.

author: jtstowell
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2016, 05:22:15 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on June 25, 2016, 04:56:45 pmA very trusty meter. Has survived significant abuse with no more damage than a blown fuse here and there.