Why nowday handheld dmms miss power button? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:03:47 am
content: Why nowday handheld dmms miss power button?I need in only voltage readings in a 50V range for weeks.I want to turn selector in ONE position and on/off meter with button quickly

author: The Soulman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:13:49 am
content: https://www.gossenmetrawatt.com/english/produkte/metrahit2.htm#

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:26:58 am
content: Quote from: The Soulman on August 11, 2019, 10:13:49 amIt looks too overqualified for voltage readings in one mode

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:35:52 am
content: Having a selector switch turn ON to AC Voltage first, keeps newbs and absent minded techs and EEs out of hospitals, funeral ceremonies, flower shops, and court roomsIf you don't mind all that, fit a battery switch on the meter

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:41:14 am
content: Simple, grab yourself one of these bad boys on Ebay, its a Metrix MX52. They don't appear very often in the UK, but they might well be more common in what ever part of the world you are. I say that because it your user details do not list or show a valid location for you other than Antarctica which I don't believe is correct

author: CDaniel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:58:24 am
content: Many cheap and expensive multimeters have power button , so I don't see the missing problem . However it is cheaper to have it on the switch , than a soft power button or a mechanical on/off buttonFor cheap look at Mastech models for example .

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 11:11:25 am
content: Yes, most cheap meter Power switches may supply a free awesome BANG!with the leads plugged into the 10A non-fused current sockets,and the selector sticky taped down to read Voltage,to save a second or two on turn on

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 11:37:00 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on August 11, 2019, 11:11:25 amWHY? My 20 years old mastrech M890 still works fineand it prowides with big pink power buttonBut newest models are lack this option

author: CDaniel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 12:36:32 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on August 11, 2019, 11:11:25 amIf you forgot the probe in Amp plug , when trying to measure volts there will be a bang with or without a power button, even with the meter turned off , so you are missing something very obvious ... ( hint - the high current is not passing through the switch , the shunt + fuse is directly between Amp and COM)As I said some cheap meters have power button , but also many expensive meters , so this is not a lack of safety in any way .

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 01:47:43 pm
content: Many of the Tenma brand multi-meters have a separate power button. They're not great meters, but not terrible either.

author: CDaniel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 02:40:27 pm
content: Fluke 289 has a soft power button ... the predecessor Fluke 189 has the OFF on the switch . Some people prefer to just press the power button and to be in the last used mode - volt , resistance , current ...

author: ArthurDent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 02:56:27 pm
content: Here's a really cheap multimeter I ended up with that has a separate on/off switch. Note that the markings are actually printed on a piece of colored paper and stuck on the front of the case and could just as easily be peeled off. Inside it has almost no protection and I only use it for low voltage D.C. where I want a large display and would never, never use it on A.C. line voltage.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 04:58:26 pm
content: I prefer ones without it. When you get to auto ranging, it's not that many positions to select through, and if you toss it in your bag or otherwise store it in the way a handheld meter would be stored, a dial has a very, very small chance of turning on and using your battery, whereas a button has a much bigger one. Sure, it's not going to be much battery because it's going to turn off without activity in a few minutes, but why complicate it when the dial does fine on its own?

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 05:27:02 pm
content: Quote from: ArthurDent on August 11, 2019, 02:56:27 pmHoly design! The best multimeters I ever use based on 7106 chipBut still no adequate replacement to M890

author: CDaniel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 07:39:39 pm
content: I told you to look at Mastech multimeters ... I don't want to advertise them , but if you want cheap crap you have some choices like thishttp://www.mastech-group.com/products.php?PNo=155and many more . The manual range ones in general have the power button .

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2019, 10:03:15 pm
content: If you only want to measure voltage, why don't you just get a panel mount volt meter? They are cheap and will do exactly what you want.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2019, 10:32:08 am
content: Quote from: ArthurDent on August 11, 2019, 02:56:27 pmI have two of those exact meters, re-badged for Jaycar in Australia, and have used them for everythingsacrificialincluding 240 volt AC voltage checks,and they still go strong 15+ years later, and easy on the 9v batteries.The leads are cheap crap, but usable after a bit of TLCThey are also theft proof, unlike the Flukesthat attract beer impregnated tradies and suss ice/crack heads, like models on a catwalkStill, I look where the leads are plugged in and where the rotating selector is parked, before I hit the BANG! potential switch

author: CDaniel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2019, 07:04:56 pm
content: Years ago the quality wasn't bad for cheap multimeters ... but I strongly believe that new ones won't last that long

author: sambonator
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2019, 09:10:41 pm
content: Just turn it on and measure, AC, DC, or Ohms.