Kyoritsu 1009 - another sub 50$ multimeter review, will it worth? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: mimmus78
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2014, 05:29:58 pm
content: This is the review of the Kyoritsu 1009 multimeter. Kyoritsu is a Japanese company founded in the 1940 and since than manufacture and sale test and measuring instruments like multimeters, clamp meters, insulation and continuity testers, etc.The Kyoritsu 1009 is the simplest digital multimeter they produce and with a price of less than 50$ can represent a good choice for starters or like second meter.I brought this multimeter some months ago because I was searching a good quality and safe multimeter for my shop with a price under 50$. Kyoritsu is a well respected company so I decided to get one unit and make some tests.This model is an autorange 4000 counts multimeter and it has all advanced function a hobbyist may need:- voltage, ohm, capacitance, frequency, current measurements- continuity test- diode test- relative mode- duty cycle- high impedance on mV range- display hold- auto power off- CATIII 300V and CATII 600VIt ships with batteries and a pair of test leads.At first sight the multimeter look like good solid construction. The display is not the biggest, but it's clear and maintains good contrast on any angle. Range switch is soft and precise and almost any function of the multimeter has it own position. The holster is made of soft plastic and seems quite reasonable for the meter price. Unfortunately the hostler is not pretuding the front of the meter so it does not protect the display or the range switch. Test leads are quite reasonable quality, they include removable insulating caps and state a rating of 10A 1kV CATIII.In the back of the meter we find the tilt bail that permits to keep it in vertical position (one hand test pass).The buttons under the LCD are soft and don’t miss a shot. On the lower part of the meter, we have the usual 4 banana jack: one common, two for the current measurements and the last for all the other functions.This multimeter uses averaging method so no TRUE RMS measurements in any AC functions.I tested the multimeter accuracy in DCV position and the results are quite good. Even if the meter is specced at 0,6% + 4dgt on DCV it was most of the time spot on, and some time with just few digits out. The unit I tested has a practical accuracy of 0,1%. The meter overshoot a little bit at 10V. I noticed also that in the mV range it has very hi impedance (something like 0,5 GOhm) .Accuracy measurements where made also in the Ohm range and current measurements where we got the most accurate readings. Autorange take just little more than 1s to go from OL to 0 Ohm. Continuity test is not fast as a Fluke, but is more and more faster than the typical Amprobe meter. Diode test has an open circuit voltage of 1,6V so it's just for testing diode and transistors.Capacitance test is specified up to 100uF and it really overload with a bit more than this, while on the other end, it can consistently read also value of 0,46nF.Current measurements have three ranges: 0~4000uA, 0~400ma, 0~10A. The meter uses reasonable shunts resistors like 100 Ohm, 1 Ohm, 0,01 Ohm so it will not have too much burden voltage when measuring low currents.Battery consumption is typically less than 1mA, and never bigger than 1,5mA. I cannot measure any power drain when the meter is in auto power off state. At this power consumption the two AA cells will last almost forever. The battery warning appears at 2,3V and up to this point all the three fundamental measurements (DCV, ACV, Ohm) present a stable reading. At 1,7V the display begin to dimm and the meter shut off.Opening the meter reveal a quite simple construction. Input protection is not the best I have seen, it uses only some resistors and one PTC (no mov or spark gap at all). There are some unpopulated footprints on PCB that I can guess where originally drawn for some more input protection components.The current measurement are protected by 600V rated fuses. The ADC is a COB and is covered by some epoxy or resin so no identification is possibile. On the pcb you can find also some transistors, some trimpot for adjusting the calibration of the meter and a bunch of passive components.Banana socket is well engineered, the contacts are not split type and they are completely secured to the case. This construction should avoid any mechanical stress to reach the PCB during leads insertion. Last but not lest PCB wiring, component placement and soldering job are good.My only concern with this meter is the input protection so I decided to connect it to the 240V mains and stress it a little bit. When it was connected to mains I stressed all functions of the meter including Ohm measurements and range switch. The PTC seems to works very well and the meter recovered in few seconds from the stress. After this "extreme" test I checked again the accuracy of the meter and it was OK.What is missing to this meter? It would be good to have the TRUE RMS AC and temperature measurements but meters with this functions usually are well over the 50$. The meter is missing also the backlight and the analog like bar-graph, but you cannot ask for everything in a 50$ meters.I think this is a good meeter for starters and maybe it can also be considered like a professional entry level. CAT specifications seems to be reasonable and the 600V HBC fuses give me the confidence that if you really need you can stick it to 230V.For the same price you can find some meter with more functions but I think build quality of this meter is a little bit above the average the other cheap Chinese meters.If you are on a low budget but you occasionally play with mains maybe this meter can be a good and safe buy.If you want to see some photo of the meter and the teardown jump to my websiteHERE

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2014, 05:41:46 pm
content: Thanks for the review and pictures.Keep them coming.BTW, where is this meter made? I can't see from your pictures?

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2014, 07:23:47 pm
content: This appears to be the same as the Elenco Dave reviewed. Slightly different case but I bet the guys are the same. Thanks for sharing.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2014, 04:27:11 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on March 14, 2014, 05:41:46 pmLooking at the workmanship and the Golden Power batteries, I would put my money on China.PS: It looks like it has a footprint for a MOV that was never fitted.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 15, 2014, 05:19:55 am
content: From what I see, t is not too bad. I think the Digitek DT2843R is a better buy.

author: mimmus78
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 15, 2014, 10:08:05 am
content: Yes it is "Designed and qualified by KYORITSU Japan" and "made in china".This meter has same serial number style and same red "quality pass" sticker like then the Elenco in Dave's review, so it most probably come from the same factory.Differences with Elenco are 600V HCR fuses vs 250V and the banana socket are much much better on the KYORITSU. Anyway the one Dave reviews seems the KYORITSU 1011 not this one.I really don't understand why cheap meters still use only 250V fuses, these 600V fuses costs almost the same.Digitek DT2843R is also afflicted by the China Syndrome with its 250V fuses ... don't know if it will pass CE tests with this pretending CATIII 600V label.@Wytnucls: Yes there are two unpopulated footprints with one pin going to common/gnd, so it's most probably be a place for movs.Digitek DT2843R

author: Robomeds
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2014, 01:32:11 pm
content: I think the 250V fuses are cheaper because many Euro power cords (all? Germany only?) include 250V fuses in the cord. The 250V fuses are also smaller. When every fractional cut in costs counts the fuses are an easy thing to skimp on. For most home and even non-electrician work, I suspect the 250V fuses are more than safe enough. I think it's a reasonable trade off so long as the meter is correctly labeled.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2014, 03:39:03 pm
content: Thanks for the review and tear down. Is it certified for safety by any 3rd party organization like UL, TUV or ETL? The chassis of this DMM does not appear to be double insulated.Brymen, despite its low cost, gets its meters externally safety tested since the mid 1990s and nearly all are double insulated. Electrical safety is always good to have.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/brymen-bm-867-teardown-pictures/http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/cgifind.new/LISEXT/1FRAME/srchres.htmlThe lowly Fluke 17B has such a chassis, and its rated CE CAT III 300V, yet no secondary safety testing.Compare the chassis wall lining against the Kyoritsu chassis:Alas, CE certification is generally of little value.

author: mimmus78
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 16, 2014, 09:27:20 am
content: Sorry no mention to any TUV, GS, UL LISTED 3rd party certificate but I think Kyoritsu made his homework.I know Brymen very well because I sell this brand on my store. Yes they are better, but the cheapest Brymen meter (BM805) costs +30% more than this.Also this Fluke 17B seems to costs more than double the Kyoritsu 1009 ... at this price I prefer the BM809 that is UL LISTED and TRUE RMS too.