rudimentary meter calibration INI-T210e - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 03, 2023, 04:01:35 pm
content: Hi everyoneafter a lot of internet searching, this forum and many posts on it, came up. Seems a few of you have the UNI-T 210e clamp meter and know a lot more than I can hope to understand. I bought one and among my many cheap (mostly donated meters) this seems on average .03v higher in my typical area of measuring, around the 12v DC.However what is accurate? I'd appreciate your thoughts on my route to some accuracy in view of my needs. I am mainly interested in sub 20v DC circuits and mostly DC car circuitry. The clamp having a 2am low end is specific to finding any draw on the battery, and any individual circuits I have introduced, whilst the car is asleep.my idea as an electronics newbie:I have ordered an AD584 voltage reference board, to give me a ball park...most of my meters have at least one pot on the board to adjust if necessarymy UNI-T has three pots and no idea which one affects any measurement.. V, Amp, resistance, whatever.I can't find this information or indeed if it is wise to alter any of them. Hence trying to draw on member's experienceslack of knowledge is a frustrating thing .. LOLAny replies/advice appreciated.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2023, 06:19:59 pm
content: Welcome to the forum.Pleasedon't touchany of them. They are all related to the DC balance of the current measurement jaws and you will have a hell of a job getting them correct again if you mess with them.The general calibrations are stored in the eeprom chip, not set by pots.

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 03, 2023, 09:28:59 pm
content: So grateful for your reply!!!!explains why there are many YT videos regarding the UNI-T with eeprom programming..What do you think of these AD584 reference devices..?I must admit from reading some of the posts in this 'beginners' forum.. I thought what will anyone think of my question..basicisn't the word

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2023, 09:38:32 pm
content: Do the maths:0.03 V while measuring on 12 V is around 0.25%. That's impressively good!Be happy.

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 03, 2023, 09:47:16 pm
content: Thank you..other perspectives are very useful... I have a lot to learn.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2023, 11:33:06 pm
content: Quote from: Grazuncle on June 03, 2023, 09:28:59 pmThese AD584 devices using fake AD584 chips made on Chinese counterfeit factories. They looks similar to original chip, but they are fake. You can't believe it.And original AD584 is old and obsolete chips which is not precise according to modern standards. If you want voltage reference you're needs to look for modern and orignal chips for that, for example LT1027 or something like that.

author: donlisms
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2023, 12:28:41 am
content: Be warned: the road to being able to do your own calibration is dark and dangerous, and heavy with "just one more step". You will be in the thick of it before you know enough to decide whether you want to go down that road. You'll know you're in trouble if you start reading anything in Metrology.Meantime, you might consider letting someone else doing the hard work, and decide whether you want to invest in something like DMMcheck / voltagestandard.com, or one of the many inferior alternatives that cannot be recommended.

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2023, 07:45:10 am
content: Quote from: radiolistener on June 03, 2023, 11:33:06 pmmy statement'I have a lot to learn'is starting to sound optimisticyour reference is very useful to me. I'll look into that.. I can check with one of those against the AD584 when it comes.. if it arrives

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2023, 07:49:43 am
content: I was optimistic till I got some real information.I'll definitely look at the information you referred to.Thanks

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 08, 2023, 12:34:34 pm
content: Thanks to everyone who replied to my 'below' beginner' question.I don't feel worthy posting hereafter looking at thetypicalbeginner forum question!!!!However you all put me off messing with my UNI-T 210e and I'm grateful for that. I got a decent reference device, as advised too, only to find that the UNI-T is only .01 off at one of the reference voltages and perfect on the others.95% of my voltage measuring are under 12v so am happy to accept any similar deviation for my usage.I have altered my other amateur meters to similar/close accuracy in that range (not a complex devices compared to the UNI-T meter)Thanks again to everyone who replied.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2023, 01:00:36 pm
content: Don't feel downhearted (or unworthy). There is plenty of stuff that we, as individuals, can't claim to know, you just have a few more in this area.It sounds as if your UT210e is nicely within spec. The way of absolute digit reading accuracy, precision, uncertainty, and Metrology in general is a difficult (and expensive) path. Go and check out the Metrology section for interest (I wouldn't suggest posting a questiontherefor a while though!).

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 08, 2023, 04:12:55 pm
content: That's kind of you to say...after seeing most of the posts I don't anticipate asking anythingbutrudimentary questions in future.I'm just grateful I have not messed up a perfectly good meter within minutes of receiving it!Thanks to the forum.I was in different field previously.. electro mechanical stuff (Lifts/Elevators to our American cousins). I know all about Hookes Law but no one ever asks LOLThanks again.

author: dmmguy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2023, 12:29:55 pm
content: Quote from: Grazuncle on June 04, 2023, 07:49:43 amI am selling the Chinese boards, but after settle them and measured with a fresh calibrated dmm, just in case you want to have one and really know what it gives.https://www.ebay.ca/itm/155763974742BTW, they are not bad at all (if fake), just don't come with the actual values.

author: Grazuncle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 15, 2023, 12:43:51 pm
content: Thanks for the offer.. I did get something similar and am happy with my low voltage reading accuracy now.I wanted to test the amperage reading (just so that they were not 'too way out'.)I got a good quality resistor and followed some YT instruction, using ohms law, to test output based on voltage/resistance. good enough for my application.