Say Hello to the Twins! (TG452DL) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: lyndonasia
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 04:24:54 am
content: Hello Everyone,A few months ago I was wandering around Aplui Street in Sham Shui Po (Hong Kong) when I spotted an interesting meter. It was theTG452DLbyTechgear. The price was about HK $640.00, or about AU $89.00. I ended up buying the meter and after using it for a while I was very impressed. It has a very solid and professional feel to it. I did a web search to see if this meter was mentioned on the EEVblog but I couldn't find much information on it. The meter looks the same as the Brymen BM257 which has been mentioned on the blog.Anyway, I liked the meter so much I sold my Fluke 115 and bought another TG452DL!I won't go into too much detail about the specifications. For those who are interested in more detail I have attached the specifications below. Here are the basics:6000 counts, true RMSLarge LCD display with back light1000 ACV/DCV, 10AInsertion error warrningEF detection (non-contact voltage detection)The product page can be seen here:http://www.techgear.com.tw/techgear/products_tg452dl.htmlI have tested the meter against my Fluke 87-V and it is very accurate.One cool feature is the meter will remember previously used settings. You know how Dave is always ranting about the AC default on the current range of the Fluke 87-V? (And just for the record, I totally agree. It's retarded!) Well, I think this meter has the best possible option. It remembers the settings that you used during your previous session be it AC or DC. In fact, all settings are remembered, not just current. I found this to be very nice and intuitive. The meter also has the ability to do data logging via an optional infra-red USB connector. I bought the optional data logging kit and everything seems to work quite well. The all important continuity tester is excellent. Every bit as good as the one on the Fluke 87-V. In fact, it is so fast and clear, you could use this meter as a Morse Code practice oscillator.On the downside, the probes which are nicely plated, do not have a small ridge near the tip. This makes it much harder to test individual loose components on the bench. In addition, the tilting bale is only about 3 cm wide so the meter is not quite as stable as it could be.I am very happy with theTG452DL. It is the best meter I have seen for under US $100.00. If anyone knows the original manufacturer of the meter please let me know. My meters were made in Taiwan. I can't imagine that Brymen is the original maker of these meters. There web site does not look very professional. The TECHGEAR website looks much nicer.I would definitely recommend this meter for those on a budget or for someone who is looking for a nice second meter. In my opinion the price/performance ratio and overall quality of this meter is very good indeed.Best Regards,Lyndon

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 04:41:53 am
content: What is the resolution in 60mV range? Does it show xx.01mV?

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 05:26:08 am
content: It's made by Brymen, they make very good meters.

author: lyndonasia
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 06:00:30 am
content: Hello Rick,When you select mV, there are basically two ranges:0-60 mV will display with two decimal places (00.00)60-600 mV will display with one decimal place (0.000)You can use auto-ranging or you can select either of the two above ranges manually. All digits remained displayed and leading zeros are not dropped.I just checked the accuracy using 0.5 V into a 100:1 voltage divider with 10 K and 100 Ohm resistors.RIGOL DM3068(6.5 digit, calibrated) showed004.852mVTechgear TG452DLshowed04.84mVFluke 87-V(in hi-res mode) showed4.84 mVGood enough for my purposes!

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 06:40:03 am
content: Quote from: ttp on March 28, 2014, 05:26:08 amBM250 series if I am not mistaken.http://www.brymen.com.tw/product-html/cata250/Bm250s.htm

author: Strada916
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 10:40:10 am
content: Nice review, and thank you for taking the time to let everyone know about this fabulous meter.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 10:47:19 am
content: Well I'm sorry for any offense caused and I left the topic because i was in some doubt but it's often hard to tell and before you know it the forum is flooded, spammers are quite clever these days and I only have a sixth sense i probably don't really have to go by. Usually your posting pattern triggers a spam suspicion, hence my post and the response verify your probably not spam or you'd have just ignored me and posted more so your ok.Again no offense intended. We don't have any hard guide lines because we like to let people do as they please within the limits of reason, it's just not usual for a first post to be a complete and detailed review.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 10:59:06 am
content: Just the fact, that you sold your Fluke and got another one of these TG452DL, gives me a reason to look closer.I always need more multimeter for some clients and until now, it has been Fluke exclusively for me.I will have a look.Thanks for sharing this interesting meter.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 01:28:58 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on March 28, 2014, 06:40:03 amYes, I think TG452DL is BM257 (True RMS), TG451DL is BM252 (BM251 has no C measurements). Good price if it is a BM257.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 04:54:46 pm
content: Quote from: ttp on March 28, 2014, 01:28:58 pm+1Could make this meter available to those that otherwise wouldn't be able to acquire one (either due to cost or availability).

author: Mr Simpleton
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2014, 06:04:08 pm
content: As an owner of the Brymen 257, I get frustrated of how the off-position is one step above end stop!Arrgh! This is truly user unfriendly, I'll never ever learn this. Always end up having to correct this

author: lyndonasia
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2014, 12:14:00 am
content: Apology accepted, thank you.Cheers, Lyndon

author: lyndonasia
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2014, 12:36:18 am
content: @ HighVoltageYeah, the Fluke 115 is a very good meter but more suited to electrical work. (My dad was an electrician.) It was one of my first meters. After I started getting back into electronics I got myself the Fluke 87-V. One of my friends wanted a DMM so I ended up selling him the 115. I bought the 115 for around HK $1400 (US $180) and sold it for HK $1000 (US $130). I was able to buy another Techgear TG452DL and pocket HK $360! But of course I ended up buying another meter! It was the great little Techgear pocket DMM@ttpI was impressed with the TG452DL the second I picked it up. It just has a very good high quality feel to it. When I got it home and started checking the accuracy I was really impressed. So I agree with you. This is a good choice for those on a budget.@Mr SimpletonYes, it is strange how many manufactures choose a left select for Auto/LoZ modes. They could just make it the first right selection instead. Maybe that's for the convenience of 'sparkies' or beginners. This meter however, is well suited to electronic work so maybe the selection should have been the other way around.Off to work now... I will be teaching in the flight simulator today. Man, the simulator would be the mother of all teardowns!!Cheers, Lyndon

author: han
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2014, 12:47:05 am
content: Quote from: Mr Simpleton on March 28, 2014, 06:04:08 pmmaybe to make fewer step to Volt measurement? typically LoZ Volt and AC/DC Volt is the most used measurement in my opinion