New Keysight Multimeters  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: WaveJunkie
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 12:47:42 am
content: Hello EEVBlog Forum Members!I finally had something I felt I should post to be my first post on the forum. Today I was lookingto purchase a new handheld multimeter. Going crazy I spent several hours going back and fourthwith the Multimeter spreadsheet.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/multimeter-spreadsheet/I was torn between going low cost (Amprobe) to a Fluke 87V(Proven track record) and the Keysight U1272A (Bells and Whistles).My gut told me to get the Agilent meter today, however the model I wanted (Keysight U1272A)was oos. I had heard in the forums that Keysight had the Buy 2 get one free promoto clear out existing inventory for the 2016 edition meters. So I wanted to see what I was missingby purchasing a meter now vs. waiting.Bingo, Keysight not only put up the webpages but videos as well on youtube. I have postedthe basic info from the Keysight website for other forum members and visitors to enjoy.-WaveJunkieKeysight U1240 Series, 4 digit, up to 400 hours battery life, with IP 67U1241Chttp://www.keysight.com/en/pd-2613334-pn-U1241C/10,000 counts display0.09% basic DC voltage accuracyLonger battery life up to 400 hoursCertified to IP 67 for dust and water protectionTested to withstand a 3-meter (10-ft) dropCAT III 1000 V / CAT IV 600 V overvoltage protectionBuilt-in flashlightU1242Chttp://www.keysight.com/en/pd-2613349-pn-U1242C/10,000 counts display0.09% basic DC voltage accuracyLonger battery life up to 400 hoursCertified to IP 67 for dust and water protectionTested to withstand a 3-meter (10-ft) dropCAT III 1000 V / CAT IV 600 V overvoltage protectionBuilt-in flashlight+ Harmonic ratio measurement to quickly identify the presence of harmonics in AC signals+ ZLOW, low impedance mode to eliminate false readings caused by stray voltages+ Vsense for non-contact voltage detection+ T1-T2 differential temperature measurementKeysight U1280 Series, 4.5 digit, up to 800 hours battery lifeU1281Ahttp://www.keysight.com/en/pd-2612905-pn-U1281A60,000 counts resolution on dual display0.025% basic DC voltage accuracyLonger battery life up to 800 hoursCertified to IP 67 for dust and water protectionTested to withstand a 3-meter (10-ft) dropCAT III 1000 V/ CAT IV 600 V overvoltage protectionU1282Ahttp://www.keysight.com/en/pd-2613328-pn-U1282A60,000 counts resolution on dual display0.025% basic DC voltage accuracyLonger battery life up to 800 hoursCertified to IP 67 for dust and water protectionTested to withstand a 3-meter (10-ft) dropCAT III 1000 V/ CAT IV 600 V overvoltage protection+ Vsense for non-contact voltage detection+ Square wave output for generating pulse width modulation (PWM) signal+ Frequency counter+ Low pass filter

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 12:51:31 am
content: Istr Dave recenty tweeted something about some newAgilentKeysight meters getting stuck/lost in shipping

author: ECEdesign
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 12:58:16 am
content: Take a look here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/new-keysight-handheld-dmms-u1240c-and-u1280a/

author: WaveJunkie
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 01:00:51 am
content: Quote from: ECEdesign on November 17, 2015, 12:58:16 amDoh!I don't know how I missed that post, I even did a search before posting the thread.Oh well. ... Thanks for busting my bubble. 8-)

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 01:34:19 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 17, 2015, 12:51:31 amYup.Apparently it;s been sitting at my storage locker for several weeks, now missing...

author: ECEdesign
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 02:09:08 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 17, 2015, 01:34:19 amWhat a bummer, hope you find them/they re-send. I would like to see a review before getting one of the U1282A meters. I hope Keysight has their firmware squared away this time. Looks like the competitor to the fluke 289 series, the battery life is a real bonus and the 4-wire resistance measurement would be useful for me.

author: hayatepilot
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 08:08:24 am
content: Quote from: ECEdesign on November 17, 2015, 02:09:08 amWhere do they claim the 4-wire resistance capability? I can't find it.Greetings

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 08:23:31 am
content: Quote from: ECEdesign on November 17, 2015, 02:09:08 amLooks like they were stolen!Said they'd resend.

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 08:52:07 am
content: Wow that's bad, Kennards should really do an investigation.Looking forward to the review!

author: ECEdesign
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 05:06:31 pm
content: Quote from: hayatepilot on November 17, 2015, 08:08:24 amI saw it in the product comparison menuhttp://www.keysight.com/en/pc-1000004008%3Aepsg%3Apgr/digital-multimeter-dmm?pm=SC&nid=-34618.0&cc=US&lc=engOne of the first few features listed for the U1282A is 2 and 4 wire resistance measurement. I sure hope its true, otherwise maybe ill try to spot a deal on a used HP bench meter.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 05:51:44 pm
content: Not true. Agilent often make mistakes in their list of features. The more comprehensive datasheet makes no mention of 4-wire capability and the jacks are not marked for it either.The only modern portable 4-wire meter I'm aware of is the Gossen 30M.

author: ECEdesign
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2015, 07:23:42 pm
content: Quote from: Wytnucls on November 17, 2015, 05:51:44 pmWell that's disappointing.

author: zaoka
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 08:23:32 pm
content: Any news on these? No teardown yet... Dave..??

author: K3RT
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 07, 2016, 07:58:06 pm
content: I am planning to buy a new DMM, and I was looking at U1242C.Anyone has one? Any comments, what do think about it?I didn't find any reviews on internet (ok, there is two reviews from Keysight on youtube, but that's useless).PS. Found a funny typo in datasheet:Battery type: 4x 1.5 VAABattery (included): 4 x 1.5 VAAA

author: stephencox
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 29, 2017, 08:53:48 pm
content: I'm not a regular contributor, but I've used the EEVblog videos and the forum quite a bit in making decisions. I figured you guys might like to know--I got a U1242C through the Big5 Bench promotion that Keysight is running right now. I have always used Fluke meters, but I'm not going to turn down free hardware . . .. . . Except now I am, because out of the box the COM port is screwy and I have to push on the lead plug in order to make contact. Even then, the contact is iffy--resistance readings all over the place. This is true on multiple leads that work in other ports, so it's definitely a problem with the meter. I know this is a single data point and that every company produces some duds, but the thing comes with a certificate saying it was calibrated in late July. I'm willing to duct tape and spot weld a lot of things that I probably shouldn't keep using in the lab, but an unreliable multimeter is not something I'll tolerate. Kind of a bummer, since I was excited to play with a non-Fluke meter, and I really like Agilent's bench hardware.

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2017, 10:57:58 pm
content: As the DMM is something that one handles often and the prime products do not have much on each other: I would say that they are too darn ugly with that yellowish display.

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 07:10:25 am
content: Perhaps you could send them an email and ask. I'm sure even the free stuff comes with some warranty?(If the connector is that problematic, I mean)

author: lem_ix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 10:30:12 am
content: You're in the USA and this is Keysight we're talking about. I'm sure they'll fix the meter.

author: stephencox
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 12:46:10 pm
content: I imagine so, and I did contact them. And I did acknowledge that this is a small sample size, but I am still going to reach for the Fluke instead anytime my safety is on the line, even if that's not being logical.

author: stephencox
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 01:33:20 pm
content: Update: I can't let broken equipment sit around on my desk without at least taking a look. I opened it up and found that the input jacks have kind of a strange (I think . . . I haven't taken apart many multimeters) mounting setup. They seem to be somehow held in place in the body of the meter (normally) and then tightened against a kind of chintzy-looking soldered-on metal bar. I'm a bit surprised by how small these are--in Dave's teardown video of the U1282A, which I googled after taking this one apart, they look a lot beefier.Anyway, whatever is supposed to keep the input port in place while the nut is tightened against it is broken on the COM port, so the whole thing turns freely when I try to tighten the nut. Whatever machine tried to tighten it before me must have had the same issue, because the nut is not tightened against the soldered bar, which moves loosely when I push on it.I just held the threaded part of the input connector with pliers and tightened the nut and now it seems to be mostly, at least, working. The response of the meter is a bit weird when I measure zero resistance, but I think it's just that the autoranging is super slow. If I measure a 10k resistor it seems fine.Anyway, something to check if anyone else has a similar problem with one of these. Given that there's no way this problem wasn't there since the thing was put together, I still can't imagine how it passed calibration.

author: Deridex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 03:10:33 pm
content: We got a few of the 1242C at work.So far they work fine.What we noted so far:- it's highly recommended to read the manual ... specally the points about the settings.- The Buzzer seems to be very loud.- At first sight they seem to be able to take some hits- The measures so far were correct- The loggingfeature is a blessing- The display is not permanently orange. Only if you enable the backlight- If set right, it measures damn fast.But remember: i don't think you can compare it with the "big"-ones that are sold by Fluke, Keysight or Gossen.Edit: No i wont make a teardown with equippment that i have to use at work

author: A Hellene
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2017, 03:54:17 pm
content: Quote from: Deridex on August 30, 2017, 03:10:33 pmEmphasis, in square parenthesis is mine.Just a happy customer, not affiliated with the company, by any means...Yet, this is not my first choice of the DMM I will fire up when I will need one...-George