Seeking Inexpensive Bluetooth Multimeter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Toolworker
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2021, 05:31:56 pm
content: I haven't updated my multimeter in many years, see a lot of app-connected devices on Amazon, don't know how to choose, and would be grateful for some help.My immediate need is to record a voltage or resistance over a period of a few days, which I assume a Bluetooth-connected meter will do. Any recommendations?Battery testing under load would be helpful.Are the handheld multimeter-oscilloscopes any use? I have a good scope but wonder if it would be helpful to have one in my hand wherever I take the multimeter.

author: lscw
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2021, 05:44:55 pm
content: I have an Owon OW18B, which has Bluetooth BLE. It works [and that's all there is to say about that!] and the multimeters auto-shutoff is disabled while bluetooth is connected.The Owon app is as terrible as you'd expect but does display a graph if not much more.However, a clever German uni student/graduate who goes by the name of Sebastian (that must have something to do with it!) maintains an app (and a forum) called Phyphox (for Physics Phone eXperiements) which utilitises an android devices range of sensors in graph form, including audio scope, spectrum analyzer etc.Somebody has written an add-on for Owon BLE multimeters. This provides a much more reliable interface for data display and CSV capture, and can also be monitored across wifi via the apps webserver.

author: theHWcave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2021, 06:19:22 pm
content: You need to be aware that if you want to record for a couple of days, the meter probably needs to be mains powered (or maybe running of some big USB power bank). The same applies to whatever is taking the measurements over BlueTooth, e.g. laptop or tablet.To avoid all that trouble, my suggestion is the relative affordable OWON XDM1041 bench meter which has a wired USB SCPI interface (it does recording locally into internal memory but that feature is useless as OWON forgot to add the capability to download the recording). It's 55000 count meter and has good hardware, let down a bit by the slow processor and the not so great user interface (you get used to it). Despite all that for standard measurements and recordings it has become my go-to meter because it is so convenient and easy to read (eyes getting old). The OWON PC utility to interface with the meter is, lets be charitable "so-so", hence I wrote my own Python-based version (for Linux or Windows) you can download from my Github pagehttps://github.com/TheHWcave/OWON-XDM1041My review (in 4 parts) of the XDM1041:If need to be, the meter runs internally from a simple 5V power supply so adding a simple connector to run it of a USB power bank can make it mobile.A second option to consider is the much cheaper TC66C USB tester. Ok its DC only and limited to 30V and 5A but it does do power and energy measurements as well. It is very accurate to the extend that I am sometimes using it as a 5 1/2 digit multimeter. Review is part of this playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZqw8i7uFApZIAQc8Xjw8oriR88mC2cx

author: highpower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2021, 06:53:52 pm
content: I have a Redfish iDVM 510 that does data logging.https://redfishinstruments.com/idvm-510-2From the manual:QuoteWhat constitutes an "extended period of time" I have no idea. I do like hands free aspect of the app that 'speaks' the measurement readings to you through the speakers/headphones of your Bluetooth device. I use an old Apple iPad.

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2021, 02:19:28 am
content: Quote from: Toolworker on December 22, 2021, 05:31:56 pmWell first check run times as many meters will not run long on battery. Also the Bluetooth connection will take power. So this is the first requirement, that is the meter can actually run battery powered for the length of time you have in mind. Then you have the issue of Bluetooth operating distance, it might actually be better to do Wifi with a plugged in meter. Lastly you need a meter with a published protocol that you can actually get data from easily. I honestly don't know of any handheld meter that meets all of these requirements.Quote? Are you talking a battery test meter or simply testing an operating device?QuoteSure they can be but to be honest I don't use such, much at work. About the only use I would have for a handheld meter is to check for break down in AC power electronics. Generally if you have a real problem you want a real scope.QuoteIt really depends upon what you are doing. For the most part I haven't found the multimeter sized scopes to be all that useful in industrial maintenance. Generally a multimeter will do and when it doesn't a real scope is a better choice. Part of the problem is that these days electronics is so reliable and so cheap that if something did fail it is usually dead amd not easily repairable.. In the case of something intermittent you would swap it out anyways. This is in sharp contrast when I just got in the industry and old AC drives where the size of a bread box and highly modular, even for 1/2 HP drive. The old electronics really required field repair and sadly there wasn't a lot of handheld equipment back then. These days I can hold a 1/2 HP drive in my hand and have room for a can of Coke (probably a bag of donuts too).To put it another way if you didn't have to suffer the bulkiness of most scope meters it might be useful. How useful depends upon what you are doing. For field work, in industry anyways, compact is more valuable than anything else. The minute you need to climb to the top of some tool to get to a remote panel box, scope meters really loose their appeal. In a way this is really sad because thee is so much potential in modern electronics, imagine a meter with Linux or MacOS built in. Put that power in package as compact as EEVBlogs 786 and you have a really flexible device.I can dream of an ideal multi meter but so far I haven't seen hint of such coming from any company. Just having a note taking ability can be extremely handy and that meter you have with you may be your only solution. Last week in fact I ran into a problem on a tool and that tool did not match the factory supplied prints. The ability to take notes while 12 feet off the ground would have been very useful in a meter.

author: bateau020
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2021, 08:00:26 am
content: For autonomous datalogging, you might want to look at the Mooshimeter. It is a basic displayless multimeter with BT and SD card holder, made for logging and remote control. It can be hard to get, because production is irregular (the maker's blog will tell you why), but you might be able to score some on amazon or ebay or find some of the clones that came out 1 or 2 years ago (like the Curien N2 Neuron).

author: lscw
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2021, 04:54:22 pm
content: If you are interesting in hacking the remote connection I understand that BLE, Bluetooth low energy, is much easier than full on Bluetooth.I forget what BLE is comparable to, but it's a very much simpler communication protocol than Bluetooth.To give you some idea of wireless range, my place has dry-wall/plasterboard interior walls. My phone just about gets reliable signal 10 meters and 2 rooms from the meter.Comparable intact to WiFi.It'll last about 18 hours on a 9V NIMH battery.Happy Christmas

author: Toolworker
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 25, 2021, 05:03:21 pm
content: Quote from: bateau020 on December 25, 2021, 08:00:26 amInteresting. The Mooshimeter is unavailable, but as a substitute, Digi-key suggests thePokit Meter. It's a 2" disk, 3/4" thick, with retractable test leads built in, that turns a smartphone into not only a multimeter but some kind of oscilloscope. $98 is a bit much for what I had in mind, but being able to hang this functionality on a keychain is pretty cool. It can log data stand-alone. But I can't find enough information about specific functions and specifications.Back to my original quest. My aging digital multimeter is missing a few useful functions and has some UI annoyances. I thought this would be an opportunity to remedy those issues while adding Bluetooth connectivity. But I can't find a meter that does both. So I will find a different way to get the data for my immediate project, and maybe buy a new meter without Bluetooth.

author: PixieDust
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2021, 03:16:33 am
content: What's wrong with doing this through GPIB?

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2021, 08:37:02 pm
content: Quote from: Toolworker on December 25, 2021, 05:03:21 pmIf you are budgeting less than $100 I really don't think you are being realistic. As for functions and specification you mention nothing about your needs. For example if the measurements are low voltage, I'd suggest a DIY approach with an Arduino, a WiFi based processor and a A to D card. By the time you build it all up you will most likely be past $100 and that doesn't include your development efforts.By the way that Mooshi meter is a prime example of somebody going into business and not charging enough to sustain a company. At the same time you as a customer are expecting the world for free. Fluke does have bluetooth enabled multimeters like the:https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/electrical-testing/digital-multimeters/fluke-3000-fc#,3000 series but they don't meet any of your specifications except for possibly battery life. It does not look like they publish anything with respect to the protocols they are using over Bluetooth. it never hurts to ask. Never used one of these meters so can't offer much help. You can find all sorts of meters built in china with Bluetooth support in one manner or another, one company is Owon, however their documentation is extremely thin.QuoteIt kinda sucks but from what I have seen over the last few years is that most of the Bluetooth DMM have significant limitations that make them almost useless. Usually Bluetooth range is so short that that they are almost useless for long term monitoring. The same goes for internal logging which usually is of limited record size and file size, again in the context of long term monitoring.Systems that seem to be well implemented are usually proprietary which has its own issues with respect to usability. Fluke for example really does have an interesting product line in their Bluetooth enabled hardware. The 3000 series however is expensive (the meter is bundled in my opinion) and it does not appear as if they place nice with third party software.I'm not sure what useful functions you are missing, a lot of the features people lust after in meters are not all that useful in my mind. You can buy data logging meters of course but these often suffer from short battery life and short file length 15000 records may sound like a lot but it can be limiting at times. The other problem with hand held DMM's is that once you start recording data you quickly realize that you want more data than just the one channel of information.Best of luck in your search, let us know what you find.

author: lscw
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2021, 01:56:33 am
content: Here is the link to the XML? Owon multimeter add-on for Phyphox. If you're handy with programming languages then I'm sure it'll be easy to implement in another application.https://phyphox.org/phyphox-files/owon_digital_multimeter.phyphoxAnother option is to buy an old USB oscilloscope. I used to have a Pico 3423, 10Mhz 20Ms/s 4 channel USB2. Pretty old now (not as old as the ADC-x range) but it worked just fine with the latest version of the free Picoscope software and an older version of PicoLog.I couldn't tell you what the maximum timebase setting is but it'll allow a single waveform display of over 24 hours, with umpteen maximum waveform captures in refresh mode.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2021, 02:25:10 am
content: ZOYIZT-5B, ZT-5BQ, ZT-300AB, ZT5566SI have a ZT-5BQ and a ZT-300AB. Can't comment much as I do not have other BT meter to compare.The ZT-5BQ served the purpose of confirming a particular situation. ZT-300AB was used for the monitoring of training purpose.