Product Design FAIL – IDEAL Multimeter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2010, 11:49:59 pm
content: First surprise ... many to follow ..Even the Fluke 87-5 dances left and right .. or inclines like a boat ..Thats why I had to use my imagination to solve the puzzlehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=455.0But even so there is an fix for this too ..Its just needs two silicone bumbles as stopper , or one rubber anti skate pad..But the light weight DMM's , always suffer from balance issues ..The Fluke 87-5 its an 600 grams brick .. so its not an average comparison point .. simple as that .

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2010, 08:58:52 am
content: Lets turn this thread in to one full of tips .. Dave has right about the poor design , but even so ,here is some pictures as improvements ..This DMM had anti skate pads from the start , at the low front side .Even so I added more to it ..Also the stand should offer 90 Degrees ankle , so any DMM to be stable ..If not , you have to cut it a bit , so become as 90 degrees ..This " ProS Kit " was well balanced , so I added only extra pads .

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 03:36:06 pm
content: Product Design FAIL – IDEAL Multimeter–Redux

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 06:21:27 pm
content: Something I didn't like is that the test was not made equal, as you can see on the images, the last meter is all the way to the edge of the window and therefore it will not behave the same as the Ideal.I'm not saying the Ideal is OK, only the test conditions are not the same.

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 06:28:15 pm
content: Images:

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 11:03:21 pm
content: Quote from: DavidDLC on June 05, 2010, 06:21:27 pmOh no ....we are getting for an third test !!All that I can say , are that the Metrawatt had cheatedthe rest ones does not extend that far back.Even so , the problem of the Ideal its double , not anti skating pads , plus weak stand .

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 11:10:04 pm
content: Quote from: DavidDLC on June 05, 2010, 06:21:27 pmYes they were the same, I checked the last Gossen meter and it was not touching the wall, even though it may look like it on the video.There is actually a gap between the bench and the window, it doesn't chow up in the video.Dave.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 11:21:03 pm
content: The comment was about the stand it self .And yes it touches the window .. HD quality crop .. ( even so the Gossen are heavy, does not needs to cheat)

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 11:26:52 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on June 05, 2010, 11:21:03 pmNo, it doesn't touch, I can assure you. I noticed it was close after the shoot and actually checked.And you are right, the Gossen doesn't have to cheat it's one of the more stable stands.Actually, if you put the stand much more upright than it's maximum the meter actually sidesforwardwhen you press the buttons, not back.Dave.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 11:32:07 pm
content: Dave I believe you , but the picture says a deferent story ..For example the Fluke 87-5 looks to have an true clearance , the Gossen does not.Or ... its just less than 1 centimeter .. if so the eyes can be fooled.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 05, 2010, 11:58:49 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on June 05, 2010, 11:32:07 pmThe camera is easy to fool.There is white filler material between the bench and the window frame, so it looks like it's part of the window frame when it's not, so the stand can actually sit on the back edge of the wooden bench and not touch the window frame.Dave.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2010, 09:50:05 am
content: Quote from: shafri on June 06, 2010, 08:25:39 amIf we keep it that way, soon enough Dave will start smoking from the ears ..If the people behind IDEAL was smart enough , they will had predict the problem ,and fight it with a better designed stand or soft buttons .If they do not care ... why should we care ?? ( Simple as that )The truth are that very few brands pays attention at those details .Most of the times , the stand pins breaks apart from the pressure, the permanent damaged are an fact.I had repair my own Pros-Kit , by implanting small screws as pins ..