UNI-T UT612  ..  I know.. Another LCR meter... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2012, 09:57:16 am
content: I feel all left out since I think I'm the only one that hasn't started an LCR meter thread recently. I didn't see any posts about this one yet, so, well, here I go!UNI-T UT612http://dx.com/p/uni-t-ut612-2-8-lcd-handheld-digital-lcr-meter-red-grey-1-x-9v-132226?item=4Anyone played with one of these? There are 2 on ebay direct from China and it looks like DealExtreme has them for only $160 USD. I haven't seen them rebadged as anything yet but the specs look decent, especially the multiple frequency ranges up to 100khz.- Inductance: 20uH/20mH/200mH/2000mH/20H/200H/2000H/20KH range; +/-(0.5%+5) accuracy- Capacitance: 200pF2nF/20nF/200nF/2000nF/20uF/200uF/2000uF/20mF range; +/-(0.5%+5) accuracy- Resistance: 20ohm/2Kohm/20Kohm/200Kohm/2Mohm/20Mohm/200Mohm; +/-(0.3%+5) accuracy- Measuring Frequency: 100Hz/120Hz/1KHz/10KHz/100KHz- Measuring Voltage: 0.6Vrms- Measuring Parameters: L/C/R/DCR/Q/D//ESR- Special funtions: Max. display (19999); D/Q Max. display (1999); D/Q Resolution (0.001); Automatic Range; Real time display for measuring frequency; Measurement Models; Power off automatically; Low voltage display; Data hold; Relative measurement; USB Data transmission; USB Port /PC Data recording; LCD backlight; Analog bar (26pcs); LCR Auto identification measurement

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2012, 11:25:15 am
content: Is that LCR meter discontinued? I don't see it listed on the Uni-T site. The 603 LCR model is top of the range, with basic measurements only.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2012, 04:51:48 pm
content: It's a china market only for now ... But it's accesories are a complete POS for something competing with the MS5308 and based on the same chipset and the same price rangeOnly 1 crappy SMD tweezer they don't make themselves! I have one of the SMD tweezers they sell from another manufacturer for cheap and it's really crappy.

author: LaurenceW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2012, 07:26:34 pm
content: Yes, it is absolutely the same chipset as the MS5308 and a growing number of other similarly-priced clones. Google forES51919andES51920for more info on the chipsetCyrustek.Same buttons and screen contents, but each manufacturer offers their own variation of button and LCD screen layouts. the main variants will be in the quality of the accessories and the case. At the quoted price, (plus shipping and local taxes), this variant looks cheap. Either prices are coming down, or this one short-changes you in other ways - you decide.I own a Mastec MS5308, by the way, and have posted about it here, previously. Unless you have "farmers' hands" (big!) it is not really a hand-held instrument, but a bench one. it performs to spec and I am happy with it.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2012, 07:34:12 pm
content: Its accuracy spec is not as good and it is not using the tolerance function available on some using the same chipset.

author: jarvis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2012, 01:28:44 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on October 10, 2012, 07:34:12 pmThe 0.3%~0.5% accuracy is not good ?

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2012, 02:54:44 pm
content: Quote from: jarvis on November 14, 2012, 01:28:44 pmI am not bashing this meter I am just trying to help in interpreting specsYou always have to include the least significant digit counts that are added to the % of reading. 0.3% is fairly good but In this case the UNI-T is + 5 counts where others are only +2 counts, very big difference. Also they only give a best case error for all ranges and frequencies. Other meters give a separate accuracy spec for each frequency and range because they vary a lot.A good practice in general when comparing units is to do a spreadsheet withtotal +/- % of reading errorcalculated for all ranges of each unit you are comparing. It is especially important to include the lowest value on a range before it would switch to the next range. That is the largest error on the range and it is where the added counts have their most effect. It is easy to make mistakes on the formulas on the cells because each ranges LSD changes value.Charting the results gives even more clarity, anexample hereI did for comparing low Ohms ranges of various meters. The crests on the graphs are that worst case spot before range change.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2012, 03:54:02 pm
content: Rob, i can't find a meter based on the same chipset with a tolerance, care to point out which?

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2012, 07:45:36 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on November 14, 2012, 03:54:02 pmAFIK the DE-5000 is the same chipset.Manual herewith accuracy specs starting on page 45. I have this meter and I am impressed. IET will give a cal cert for additional cost which means it realy is within the stated specs. I personaly know that the series resistance is extremely accurate at low range ohms by its very close agreement to my calibrated micro ohmeter (accurate to .02% + 2 counts + 2µOhm). It also does ESR to .001 Ohm resolution in series resistance mode.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2012, 10:27:04 pm
content: One of our users PbFoot said he was going to show us the internals of the UT612 when he gets back from business. I am a bit curious.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2012, 03:16:32 am
content: But the probe is a 4-wire system supposedly unless they gave the 2wire one ... But still it doesn't come close to the MS5308Oh yeah, one look and i knew the UT612's probes are crappy as well as the input jacks. Well that's always been UNI-T's weakness

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2012, 03:59:55 am
content: Those are some sad excuses for input jacks.