Aneng V02B 4,000 count $12 pocket mini-meter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 07:01:08 am
content: Unintentionally ended up with this meter and don't see it mentioned here. Its basically a toy but might be of interest to some.This meter is ridiculously small: 6x12x2.8 cm. Test equipment has no right to be this cute. Yet still very usable given the size, large digits take up most of the screen.They did cut corners wherever possible:- Jacks are crappy bent metal- Leads are cheap plastic (but sharp)- Limited protection (one PTC one diode), ceramic mini fusesBUT they still managed to make the best feeling range switch I've ever used. I have no idea how long it will last though or how its possible with cheap plastic. Also has a nice rubber cover available in a number of shades. Includes a thermocouple probe as well.Reasonably accurate:Code:Actual ReadingVoltage0.100V 0.099V3.000V 3.005V20.000V 20.03V30.000V 30.05VmA/A100mA 100.2mA3.000A 2.993AV/mV AC3.527mv 3.53mV7.076V 7.12VFrequency51kHz 50.7kHz1.7MHz 1.692MHzOther notes:- Beeps loudly when its about to enter sleep mode, then beeps again to shut off- Beeps a lot in general- Continuity mode is slow, I think this is only due to the fact that they felt the need to combine diode mode (2.3V) and continuity. You can see the thing respond quickly on the screen but the buzzer takes a while to respond, I didn't figure any way around this.- NCV (voltage detect) doesn't work at all, I assume its just this specific meter that is defective, but that is not promising to see- Its quite sensitive and seems to be accurate in mV modesMight make an OK secondary meter or glove box meter. Amazing what you can get for $12.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33004753260.htmlhttps://www.banggood.com/ANENG-V02B-4000-Counts-Auto-ranging-Digital-True-RMS-Multimeter-With-Temperature-Measure-BacklightFlashlight-p-1474246.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/Multimeter-Resistance-Frequency-Transistor-Continuity/dp/B07TJY2C58

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 08:33:40 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on November 08, 2019, 07:01:08 amI would never trust NCV on any of these cheap meters.Even if I was super digilient and tested NCV on a known live circuit before using it to test an unknown circuit, I still would be wondering about its results.Question. Did you test the True RMS?

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 08:53:08 am
content: I hear your screams as you wait months to get replacement fuses on the slow boat.It looks like a cost improvement with no SPI EEPROM for calibration, which is usual for the DTM0660L (Hycon HY12P66) IC's. Measures frequency but there is no quartz crystal, I guess an RC osc accuracy. It has a battery test 1.5/9/12V?I wish they'd add a ZERO function and stop the beeper attack over saving the battery.Here this pic has the NCV function explainedI would add an electrode at NCV1 and see if that fixes it.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 09:20:57 am
content: Quoteha ha ha, that'll fix it!

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 09:46:53 am
content: I like them smaller. The Aneng better than the Victor:

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 12:02:19 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on November 08, 2019, 07:01:08 amDoes your beep randomly when it's in continuity mode, even when it's not connected to anything?What's the diode test voltage?

author: geogeo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 09:15:01 pm
content: I see a whole series of models, v01b, v02b, v03b, v04b on aliexpress.I haven't had time to figure out how they differ, except with or without temperature.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2019, 11:25:46 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on November 08, 2019, 08:33:40 amGood point, better to not have NCV at all.True RMS was accurate with triangle wave, compared to a Keithley DMM, so I think its OK. But I did not test more waveforms, can try later.Quote from: Fungus on November 08, 2019, 12:02:19 pmDiode voltage is 2.3V.It does beep randomly. I'm thinking either its poor design, or they want to "remind" you that you are in continuity mode and not some other function.Quote from: geogeo on November 08, 2019, 09:15:01 pmV01B: AC and DC voltage and current measurement, resistance measurement, diode, continuity measurement, frequency measurement, NCV functionV02B: adds temperatureV03B: adds capacitanceV04B: adds temperature and capacitanceI don't know why they bothered with such a variety...

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2019, 05:31:12 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on November 08, 2019, 11:25:46 pmSo it's not just mine that's faulty...Diode voltage in the manual is 3.0V. Beeping randomly in continuity mode is a bit of a problem.These meters could be truly awesome but I think there's something wrong with the circuitry.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2019, 07:25:42 pm
content: The specs are all over the place on this DMM. How hard is it to copy something en masseZotekZT-C1, -C2, -C3, -C4 etc. diode-test spec is2.3V, 5mA. No 4.000A range listed 40.00mA/400.0mA/10.00AANENG - diode-test spec is3V, 5mA. Has 4.000A range.RICHMETERS - RM404A, RM404B diode-test spec is not mentioned. Has 4.000A range.The continuity beeper is likely a firmware bug? I would scope and beef up C1, it's surely too small.I'm still wondering how calibration works on these, with an OTP microcontroller and no flash memory.Don't see the point in charging extra dollars for each feature add, like capacitance, temperature.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2019, 10:35:29 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on November 09, 2019, 05:31:12 amWouldn't random beeps be due to an open or weakly pulled down latch input? If this is a CMOS gate, it could easily pick up the fart of a passing by mosquito.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2019, 03:05:37 am
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on November 09, 2019, 10:35:29 pmOn mine it does a quick beep every three or four seconds (approx...it's quite random).I liked the build quality so much (it's a tiny brick dunny) that I bought another one (different brand, different model) to see if it was a bad batch but no, it has exactly the same fault. Looks like this guy's does too.I bought mine about six months ago so it looks like it hasn't been fixed at the factory.

author: geogeo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2019, 03:41:16 am
content: I didn't intend to start collecting small, cheap meters, but somehow I am accumulating quite a few.I ordered a V03b on November 11th and it arrived today.The leads are cute/tiny but don't give a stable resistance reading, I call them unusable. But, I also picked up a couple of the Aneng silicone leads at the same time and they are nice. Even if it looks odd to have probes an inch and a half taller than the meter, they'll do.Many Ali reviews mention non-working NCV, but mine works.Unfortunately, it still has the every 5 second or so random beeps in continuity mode.Best feature for me is that it does small value capacitance as well as any other dmm I have, cap marked 64pf read 68pf (short leads) and 2nf reading 2.070nf.I think the rubber boot and squared off shape is a big improvement over the AN800x bar of soap form factor.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2019, 12:42:58 pm
content: Quote from: geogeo on December 21, 2019, 03:41:16 amI wonder if some versions may be tailored to 220/240VAC.Quote from: geogeo on December 21, 2019, 03:41:16 amAlthough I never had one of the popular Anengs, I had others in similar shape and size that were quite obnoxious to operate, requiring two hands to use the rotary switch, even when used flat on a surface (when used on a stand the problem is even worse)