HMC 8012 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2017, 02:44:37 pm
content: Hi, i am planning on buying a good multimeter very soon.I was looking to this one : HMC 8012, it cost 850 euros.Some one suggested that many multimeters has duty cycle display, handy for measuring cycles used in a microcontroller.I was reading the manual, only i cannot find something like duty cycle display.So i was thinking, what more is missing ?Once i bought it i will find out to late, if only i bought this or that other multimeter...Before its to late i better make this topic.Is it a good buy ?I know, i know : i can buy also second hand on ebay, no thanks i,m buying new.So what else do you advice ?, i dont want no Siglent.

author: nugglix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2017, 04:44:52 pm
content: It's a nice meter.Very compact form factor but everything one would expect from a multimeter is there.True there is no duty cycle measurement.Otoh, the simultaneous voltage and current feature is really handy - saves one meter.A good buy if you want a reliable multimeter.And if it matters: it boots in a few seconds, unlike my 34465A.

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 02:06:15 pm
content: Hi, thank you for the reply,indeed it looks like a very nice meter, i better not buy it for looks only.*my current oldschool multimeter boots instantly, i will miss that.I hate that clicking sound on startup, does all meters have that ?

author: nugglix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 05:22:11 pm
content: Checking the relays is quite important I'd say.Better get used to the sound.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 06:14:33 pm
content: Many of the better meters use latching relays. They usually need to switched on start up, to bring them (and maybe the driver) to a known state. It would be possible to avoid, but switching on boot time is standard procedure.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 08:14:54 pm
content: I also have an 8012, love it, did a mini teardown a couple years ago:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hameg-hmc8012-porn/No duty cycle like already mentioned.

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 11:19:51 am
content: Nice dr.Dielsel, wow that thing is 230 euro more expensive then in your topic, i have to contact the store about some discount for sure.What i like about this meter, please tell me if i,m wrong :1 : You dont need to buy software updates to unlock functions, else i refuse buying.2 : No WIFI shit inside.3 : No RFID chips inside, unlike some other brand someone noted me in this forum.4 : Not Chinese made.5 : Accuracy is good enough for me.If the new Siglent 6,5 digit cost around 300 euro, i would consider, else not a chance,i learned this :chinese brands make theyr prices around 100 cheaper then other brands,people buy it, other brand sells less and need to makes prices higher,end-customer is tester, other brands need to stay up with the sales, and sell untested stuff also to keep in competition, in the end you can only buy crap gear, its your own fault.

author: slurry
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 11:32:29 am
content: HMC8012 sure is a good meter, i would love to have one myself, i used a demo for a while and gives itI'm a bit curious about Aim-TTi 1908, mainly because you can run it on batteries, the price is within your budget.If you dont buy the R&S, the Fluke 8808 is a really good choice and would be my choice...Keysight U3402 is not bad, nice and responsive but can be somewhat limiting, the 34450A is slow and boring,the 34401 is very competent but is very slow to start but tht's not a problem for precision measurements as you would leave it on anyway

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 04:02:56 pm
content: Hi Slurry, thanks for some input,it seems the Fluke 8808A is out of production.Its around the same price as the HMC8012, same 5.5 digits, specs look more or less the same,if it had 6.5 digits would be nicer for the same price, then i would be intrested.Why is the Fluke 8808A your first choise ?The HMC8012 is a bit old also already, will it stay in production long ?Its not like scopes that are better and better with newer versions.Suppose they release a new 6.5 digit after i bought it, i dont think so, its good already and it dont need any changes, maybe add duty cycle display, that can be done in firmware also.

author: slurry
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 06:02:17 pm
content: Sorry, i think i was somewhat unclear in my postFirst i would buy the HMC8012, second i would by the Fluke 8808.5,5 digits is enough for most uses, it is very very few times i use the 6,5 digit resolution,but if your a volt-nut then 6,5 digits would not be enough anyway

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 07:06:42 pm
content: For 850€ you can buy TWO Aim-TTi 1908 and measure TWO things at the same time..And it is battery operated, that can be useful sometimes..Just the thought...

author: slurry
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 08:30:43 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on July 05, 2017, 07:06:42 pmActually FOUR things as it has dual displayAC+DC voltage and AC+DC current... i think i have to buy one..or two nowBatteries is a great thing for some users, i feel it could be a interesting replacement for my old fluke 45

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 08:43:18 pm
content: Battery is great for floating differential measurement...

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 09:34:56 pm
content: What are you talking about? Pretty much all bench DMMs have their inputs isolated from ground / mains. Good ones will even employ guarding to limit capacitance to ground. How would a battery improve on this?If you mean floating measurements as in measuring the voltage on a boat, then I can see why a battery could come in handy.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 11:04:30 pm
content: Quote from: alm on July 05, 2017, 09:34:56 pmExactly this. Even with guarding, it is not perfect.And a reason that many precision instruments (micro voltmeters, null meters and such) have battery...

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 11:22:00 pm
content: What current instrument uses batteries for isolation? I know some instruments from decades ago, but what about ones that are currently for sale? You can measure down to1 aAand1 nVon mains power. Those instruments are many orders of magnitude more sensitive than the 5.5 digit multimeters discussed here.I sincerely doubt that the small amount of capacitive coupling is going to affect these measurements in a meaningful way. There are pretty much no high-resolution battery-powered DMMs from the big manufacturers like Keysight, Tektronix and Fluke. So I imagine that means they are not exactly inundated in requests for a battery-powered 5.5+ digit meter. But I would love to be proven wrong.

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2017, 01:40:07 pm
content: The thing is many shops dont sell TTi 1908, that says something right ?, the shops i found was €525,- without tax.

author: colorado.rob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2017, 02:24:50 pm
content: I still don't understand why anyone would pay more than the price of a new Siglent SDM3055 ($440 delivered in US, €535 incl. VAT & delivered in EU) for such a meter. The SDM3055 will measure voltage and current at the same time, has LAN & USB connectivity, and works pretty damned well. I have its big brother on my bench and am very happy with it, and am sure I would have been perfectly happy with the 3055.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2017, 02:38:42 pm
content: Some might consider Hameg (and TTi) more reputable than Siglent? Siglent is quite new, especially to DMMs, and does not exactly have a spotless record. I would also imagine that they have more distributors in Europe (due to being European brands).

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2017, 03:15:20 pm
content: @Rob, the Siglent also looks good, it cost €539 here, read reply #6 why i dont buy it, if the Siglent cost around €300 i would consider.I also dont believe the quality is the same, maybe the specs in the manual say so, its not true, you have taken a big risk.

author: JanJansen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2017, 01:55:02 pm
content: I forgot to say :this one dont run on Linux, also important to me.