Uh oh... all of reasonably high precision meters broke - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2019, 09:00:32 pm
content: Well, I should have upped the ante on the GAS years agoU1273AX has a broken screen which thankfully can be used with the bluetooth thing and yeah it worksmy other UT61E i sold it to my friend and he promptly blew the current traces up because he's an idiotUT61E's NOT the kind of meter for crazy current possible scenarios the fuse AND trace goes bang (he placed it in current mode across a escooter's battery)and then my UT61E popped after i guess 7 years? I used it fine and then now it went from slow turn on to only turning on for a split second when I detach the batteryTried everything, contact switch, cleaning zebra strip, checking battery contact, changing batteries and I'm not too fussed on searching for dead components, I don't have the time.Yikes. Not too bad but i didn't really use it much until a year ago anywayAs I quote photoninduction " I POPPED IT!! "So, what do I buy now to replace it. Maybe i don't need 20k but I probably prefer it to be around 6000 resolution with passable input protection like the uni-t. don't need to be absolutely overkill for poking around with low energy situations. Oh preferably about the same price as wellSaw the anengs and its oems, not sure about its resilience. I had a mastech, sold it off because their displays are butt. Maybe another UT61E?

author: Saskia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2019, 09:05:34 pm
content: the UT 171 was about the best UniT I ever saw. I would recommend it.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2019, 09:23:02 pm
content: If you don't need a bargraph, the UT139C is a reasonably well built meter and with decent input protection. It also does not break the bank.If you can go higher on the price, the BM235 from Dave's store is very robust. For yet a bit more and with bargraph, the BM257S is the next step.The sky is the limit from that point and on.

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2019, 09:44:16 pm
content: Thanks.In all honesty it doesn't take much to be better than most uni-t metersBut i liked the UT61E a lot because it does have the precision and you can toss it aroundQuote from: rsjsouza on December 07, 2019, 09:23:02 pmi was looking at ut139c but i need a bargraph and i would pay 20$ extra for the 61eI looked at BM235 too but errrrrr for some reason i cannot explain its pretty much double the price once it gets here. That's a real shame.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2019, 03:35:22 am
content: Quote from: DiddlyJackSquat on December 07, 2019, 09:44:16 pmI also like the UT61E, but unfortunately it is electrically fragile.

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2019, 12:40:14 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on December 08, 2019, 03:35:22 ammine worked for 8 years not too bad i say

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2019, 12:42:28 pm
content: Mine drifted out of cal faster than a drunk walking up a hill. Sure it's precise but for about 10 minutes after the box is opened.

author: Saskia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2019, 12:53:45 pm
content: https://www.ebay.de/itm/Fluke-Multimeter-87V-True-RMS/174115248530

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 09:19:31 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on December 08, 2019, 12:42:28 pmThat's unfortunate. Mine stayed accurate for several years

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2019, 10:32:23 pm
content: If you want to 'stay with what you know'consider a couple of used ones from meter upgraders blowingbirthday and or divorce settlementcash on Flukes, Brymens, Keysites etcPost a request ad here, you may get lucky

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2019, 11:20:02 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on December 09, 2019, 10:32:23 pmi'll probably buy a ut61d or E off china and get it cheaper. buying used may just cost me the same amount in shipping

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 11:32:55 am
content: Update : got a UT61D in and the continuity is trashas a last ditch attempt i reflowed the UT61E and it started working again!

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 04:00:46 pm
content: I am sorry to hear that; that is one of my biggest peeves with UniT: a given model number can have radically different features depending on its letter suffix. Case in point: the "E" variant has very good continuity.(P.S. Specifically for the UT61, there are even models with better protection but no difference in their name).

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 04:33:30 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on December 23, 2019, 04:00:46 pmI reflowed my ut61e and got it working everytime momentarily then i found a leaky ecap. Replaced that and reflowed it again. Works perfectly!Yeah shame about the UT61D. guess i'll use it for certain specific uses now just not for tracking down shorts and continuity issuesEDIT : it's crapping out againhttps://streamable.com/taqv7Update : anyone who has the same issues can try touching up the joints on the ecaps near the black monolithic thing. Fixed it!

author: Wolfgang
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 05:13:06 pm
content: Agreed. I bought a bunch of those (Fluke 87V) after chasing a circuit problem for two days that indeed was in my cheap multimeter. Never happened again.

author: DiddlyJackSquat
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 05:15:36 pm
content: Quote from: Wolfgang on December 23, 2019, 05:13:06 pmVery essential. I'm now ok with my 61E