Brymen meters "beep" on diode check? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 04:32:10 pm
content: I recently bought a BM257'S to replace an old Fluke 12 that I broke the display on. There's a lot of things I like about the meter but one that I'm not loving is the lack of beep function when using diode check mode. I've read the manual but there doesn't seem to be an option to enable it.Does anyone else know if other models of Brymen meters are the same? I'm thinking of getting a BM 878 as I like the low resistance earth continuity measuring capability as well the insulation test functions, but would prefer an audible diode test function.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 05:16:11 pm
content: which meters beep on diode check?

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 08:53:59 pm
content: My BM867s does not beep while diode checking.

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 10:54:03 pm
content: Quote from: JPortici on March 27, 2017, 05:16:11 pmMaybe I should have clarified it better, beep on short circuit ie less than 0.1vEvery Fluke I have ever used does it and so does the Keysight U1252b I bought recently. When you are working on something in the field and your meter can't always be in the best position to focus on the screen and also where you are placing your probes it's very handy.

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 10:56:27 pm
content: Quote from: DaJMasta on March 27, 2017, 08:53:59 pmTa I found a copy of the BM878 manual last night and read it cover to cover and came to that conclusion, maybe it's a Brymen thing not to.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 11:09:18 pm
content: Are you saying that if you touch the probes together in diode check mode you get a beep to warn you that you are not making proper contact with the diode terminals or that the diode has failed short circuit? If so, that does seem like a useful feature.

author: mstck
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 11:49:15 pm
content: The Fluke 87V and the U1252b emit a beep when the diode is connected in the forward bias direction. They also beep if the probe tips are shorted. Some people use this mode for continuity checks.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 12:41:02 am
content: This is something I miss in my Fluke 87. I had an older Fluke, I think it was a 29? Anyway it had a fantastic diode test function where a good junction would give a short beep and a shorted junction would give a continuous beep. It was great because I could test a bunch of diodes and transistors without looking up at the meter. I don't know why Fluke changed this, if it's possible to enable on my 87 I'd love to know how.

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 01:36:49 am
content: As I am a Fluke 77 and 79 man I had no idea that Fluke had changed this extremely useful feature. I have recently been looking to update to a newer Fluke DMM but may have to look around elsewhere- a narrow escape as it would not have occurred to me to check this feature in the specs (if indeed it is stated or not)Does any new meter have this 'short beep on PN junction' feature?I use this feature daily.BT

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 01:44:02 am
content: Quote from: mstck on March 27, 2017, 11:49:15 pmThis,I work on inverter driven air conditioners and quite often the meter is hanging off the unit or off to one side to where the main circuit boards are. You are poking round the board testing the diode bridges, power transistor module and various other diodes and transistors, so getting the audible short circuit confirmation beep is really useful when you are concentrating on where you are probing.I also do a lot of over the phone technical support to other technicians, I always ask what meter they are using. I get them to set their meter to diode test function and tell me what readings they get with open and closed probes as most of them have never used or understand what it's used for. In Australia Fluke's are pretty common and most times I can tell by the beep I hear over the phone the state of a component before they have even told me what the reading is.

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 01:47:08 am
content: I was training some techs last week, one had a 77 and the other a 179 they both "beeped"I know that the 116 / 117's also do it, as most techs I talk to have them.My 196c doesn't do it but the multimeter is really just a token function.

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 05:20:37 am
content: I can't stand when meters don't beep on diode check, it's why I almost instantly regretted getting a 87III and bought a second 87V.

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 08:32:14 am
content: Just to clarify:Can anyone list which meters have the short beep for a good PN junction.Also which meters have ONLY the continuous beep for a probe short (less than a nominal mV) and no beep at ~500mV.BT

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 11:33:45 am
content: Few meters have an acoustic warning signal on diode test.A continuous tone for a short and a lone beep for a good PN junction:Fluke 289 287 87V 233 179 177 175 117 116 115 867BKeysight U1233A U1232A U1273AX U1273A U1272A U1271 U1281 U1282 U1241B U1242BA continuous tone for a short only:UNI-T UT61EUNI-T UT71 UT181A (adjustable mV threshold)Gossen MetraHit 29S 28S 26S/M (adjustable mV threshold)Hioki DT4282 DT4281 DT4252 DT4253 DT4256 (adjustable mV threshold and LCD red light)Voltcraft VC890 VC880 (adjustable mV threshold)Appa 305 (adjustable mV threshold)Protek 608 (adjustable mV threshold)

author: ah_l
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 07, 2017, 12:45:15 pm
content: Hi,I'm also interested in diode check beeping function. So just to make it clear - does BM235 has a beep on good PN junction?If not, can anyone suggest a meter in similar price range which does?Keysight and Fluke options are a bit out of my range.

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 05:33:11 am
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on March 28, 2017, 11:33:45 amadded to Fluke.

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 05:57:40 am
content: Yes I'll second the Fluke 12 doing the "beep" so 10 and 11 will as they have the same board in themI found a Fleabay seller in China selling what is supposed to the correct part number of the Fluke 12 LCD display so I've decided to gamble US $35 to see if it's legit and I can resurrect my broken one (sorry can't find a fingers crossed smiley)

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 06:50:02 am
content: I am confused, what are the benefits of beeping on ~<0.1V vs. beeping on ~<15 ohm?

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 07:09:43 am
content: Quote from: TheAmmoniacal on April 12, 2017, 06:50:02 amWhat do you normally use to check semiconductors, diode or continuity?Do you ever work in the field where you need to focus on where your probes are placed and not the screen and you might find it useful, same for the short beep on a good junction.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 07:24:53 am
content: Quote from: noidea on April 12, 2017, 07:09:43 amI see, I got the impression you used it for continuity testing. If you need to repeatedly verify the forward voltage range of a semiconductor without being able to see the DMM screen, an audible buzzer would be useful.

author: ah_l
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 31, 2017, 09:58:35 am
content: To continue with the "mysterious" PN junction beep function in diode test mode. - Does anyone know any low to mid price meter with this functionality?I love to use it to verify solder connections of hand soldered smd chip pads, but am hesitant to buy high end (200 usd and above) meter just for this.Maybe someone has a suggestion for other instrument/technique to check whether the chip pads have successfully soldered? - especially for packages such as LGA, where visual inspection is not possible.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2017, 10:51:53 am
content: The thing i liked the most on my old Beckman Industrial HD160 4000 count dmm, was a tone following the read value, in every function ... 1v gave around a 1khz of audible signal, that way no needs to have eyes on the meterIt was very efficient for intermittent contacts or pulses ... nothing in recent meters came close to that, I had too an old FieldPiece hb7x model who came close ...On my Gossen 28s, you have to call the "bip function ( threshold)" otherwise it wont make a sound by default.

author: kasone
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2017, 12:53:55 pm
content: Fluke 113, 115, & 117 have the diode test beep function that you are looking for.There are many older used Flukes(76, 77, 73, 27fm, etc) that have this same diode test beep function.I do not know what country you are from, but you can check local pricing to determine if it is reasonable.

author: ah_l
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 03, 2017, 11:38:12 am
content: Well, in the end I decided that its about time to get at least one decent multimeter anyway, so I went for Keysight U1242b. It made sense price/performance wise compared to low end Flukes (like 115 or 117) that are similarly priced, but lack low range amp measurements which are from time to time required in my work.I have previously worked quite a lot with high end of this series (U1252b) and liked it a lot. U1242b at least on the surface seems identical quality and usability wise (lower counts and accuracy for U1242b of course).My beloved diode beep function works like a charm.

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 10:07:09 am
content: My new BM857s arrived this morning.It hadn't occurred to me that there would be no beeps on the diode test range.Because of this inexcusable oversight and the ridiculously difficult to rotate range selector, this meter will not be permanently taking the place of my 87V on the bench.

author: CDaniel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:06:47 am
content: Diode mode beep for shorted semiconductors is a "must have" if you work with a meter , you can't watch and wait the screen to settle all the time .Many many cheap meters ( and expensive ) begining from a long time ago have the function .That extra short beep from some Fluke models when the diode is good I don't consider particulary usefull , I allways think that something isn't right and could be a shorted component. Maybe I'm too used not to have this feature

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:13:08 am
content: I find the short beeps useful for quickly identifying the polarity of PN junctions.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 06:30:52 pm
content: The short beep on a good junction is extremely useful, it's the sole reason I recently bought a 87V to replace my 87III. It's a huge time saver when troubleshooting or reverse engineering anything that has diodes and transistors. Use it for any period of time and you'll wonder how you ever got by without it.

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 09:57:57 pm
content: I sent Brymen an email to let them know that a model without diode test beeps will not be my primary multimeter.In case they did not already know this.

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 12:45:58 pm
content: I received a reply from Brymen. There will be a new multimeter series that will have diode test beeps and back light flashing, if I have understood properly.I hope that access to diode test will not be buried too deeply, I prefer it to be a primary selection.I did some tests on my BM857S's diode test. It appears to be a resistor dropper from a 3V source.The voltage source should have been made higher. The short circuit current is about 400µA and drops to 70µA at the 2.4V across a white power LED.The display shows "OL" over 2V. Why?

author: fmnardini
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 12:05:12 pm
content: Adding to the list, below.---A continuous tone for a short and a lone beep for a good PN junction:Fluke 289 287 87V 233 179 177 175 117 116 115 77IV 73III 83 110(Old USA model, presumably 111 and 112 also) 12(Old, presumably the 11 as well) 27/FM,UNI-T 61E+Keysight U1233A U1232A U1273AX U1273A U1272A U1271 U1281 U1282 U1241B U1242BA continuous tone for a short only:UNI-T UT61EUNI-T UT71 UT181A (adjustable mV threshold)Gossen MetraHit 29S 28S 26S/M (adjustable mV threshold)Hioki DT4282 DT4281 DT4252 DT4253 DT4256 (adjustable mV threshold and LCD red light)Voltcraft VC890 VC880 (adjustable mV threshold)Appa 305 (adjustable mV threshold)Protek 608 (adjustable mV threshold)

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 03:38:05 pm
content: All my meters emit a short beep with good forward junction and continuous beep when shorted. However, I wouldn't miss it if they don't. I always use the meter display. I work in very noisy environment so I wouldn't hear the beep any way.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 06:07:30 pm
content: A continuous tone for a short only:Beckman RMS225Tektronix DMM916

author: Neutrion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 06:39:54 pm
content: The Brymen BM786, and BM789 does a continous beep for shorted diode, and a short beep for a working one.It also lights up the display.

author: mansaxel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 09:36:40 pm
content: Fluke 27 CE, the slightly more modern military meter, mine is last calibrated 2009, also has short beep on diode forward. I tested the function on my Fluke 10 too, as well as verifying that it does not exist on the 8060A.Slightly related: The 10 is nearly as fast as the 8060a (which has been described by its designer in another thread here as carefully designed to be really fast) on continuity reaction; whereas the 27 CE is sluggish compared to them. Youcantell via the bargraph that the resistance decrease is registered, but the meter is silent until much later.

author: Bakaman
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2021, 11:51:28 pm
content: My 89IV has a long beep on s/c, a short beep on junction voltage of 0.61V, but no beep at all across the junctions of a Philips bipolar transistor with a forward voltage of 0.7V.

author: Caliaxy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 03:05:47 am
content: Quote from: ah_l on April 07, 2017, 12:45:15 pmNo.

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 08:34:31 pm
content: Good Morning Beep Enthusiasts, I checked my collection of DMMs and found the following beep on forward diode test:Fluke 12B, Fluke 189, and my $25 Uni-T UT890C.

author: smile
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2022, 04:20:15 am
content: A continuous tone for a short and a lone beep for a good PN junction:Add a cheap meter 39USD KAIWEETS KM601 Smart Multimeter.However it can't measure 1Ohm only from 2Ohms as far as reviews list it.I also wonder what 50Eur meters have this, KAIWEETS KM601 can't be the only one.