Agilent Industrial Handheld Meters - Share your thoughts - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PetrosA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 04:03:26 am
content: It looks like I will have the opportunity to meet with a few of the people from Agilent's Industrial Handheld division from Malaysia in a few days. This would include all their handheld multimeters, clamp meters, portable oscilloscopes, etc. They seem genuinely interested in getting feedback from users in the field for improvements, additions etc. I have some ideas of my own to share, but I thought it would be good if I could get some extra feedback here to share with them as well. So, if you use this kind of test equipment or are thinking of getting some and have any ideas or comments, please list them here and I'll see what I can pass along.Thanks!

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 08:35:15 am
content: their commitment to giving me free stuff is seriously lacking.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 09:36:50 am
content: If these are the guys who came up with multimeter skins, stay away from them, or at least thoroughly wash your hands after meeting them.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 11:31:31 am
content: Realistically for field use:Lifetime calibrated, no need for periodic calibration.Built in LCR meter with ESR, Q and DF built in.Ruggedness: true full MILSPEC capable, able to take a good fall, indefinitely, to concrete like it would be on a bench to a non-rugged covered floor, water proof or resistantScratch proof or resistant.Ergonomics: can operate with one hand,also as a general safety measure too.Big readouts.Sharp color readout.Loud beeps, an optional beep-tone that's unique for each setting so I can hear what I'm on without looking at the face.AA powered, 1 year continuous battery life on standby: 9000 hours.Safety rated CAT IV-1000V.USB connectivity.Datalogging capability.Good grip.Small & lightweight, shirt pocket size.Cheap!Quote from: PetrosA on December 05, 2010, 04:03:26 am

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 02:56:48 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on December 05, 2010, 11:31:31 amWell documented communication protocol. Usable, reasonable quality data logging and remote operating software included in the box, not sold separately.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 04:41:13 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on December 05, 2010, 11:31:31 amand I want a Pony...

author: TopherTheME
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 05:09:21 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on December 05, 2010, 04:41:13 pmnamed sprinkles....I own a u1242b and the only real gripe I have about it is the continuity response. Compared to the Flukes, the continuity response is slow as hell and really should be faster given the caliber of the meter. It would also be nice if they built in a panel to make it easier to replace the fuses. Their meter need to be almost completely disassembled to replace the 10A fuse.Other than that, the only other thing I would suggest is lowing the price on all their test probes and accessories. The cost for new probes from agilent is outrageous, although they are very nice probes.

author: MrPlacid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2010, 06:23:46 am
content: I want a single AAA powered meter!

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2010, 11:32:04 am
content: If you don't ask, Santa won't know what to deliver. Its worth a shot to fantasize. Through Dengbao Mings review I've seen some interesting DMM designs not common in North America, this MTX is Star Trek like scope-DMM but for $1000 I'm not sure I'd buy it over its competitor, the Fluke 289, near half its price. The folding screen suggests its a way to protect the LCD from damage but I don't know how rugged it really is:http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.eefocus.com/html/09-04/70849s.shtml&prev=/search%3Fq%3D3458a%2Breview%2Beefocus%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3D3rZ%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26prmd%3Div&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhj23Jj8ZyYT6xVhJZDVWiGX5e9NtgQuote from: mikeselectricstuff on December 05, 2010, 04:41:13 pm

author: the_raptor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2010, 12:03:16 pm
content: That MTX is really cool and seems a better form factor for a toolbox meter than the norm.The MM market is rather boring these days in form factor, they nearly all just try and look like Flukes. I particularly "love" the designs that copy the rubber holster look but make it non-functional by having no impact buffers.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2010, 06:25:27 pm
content: "That MTX" is a Chauvin Arnoux. They offer that form factor for some time now, since some time under their brand "Metrix", too. Maybe they figured no one can spell "Chauvin Arnoux" :-)

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2010, 08:08:01 pm
content: Yes, I think MTX is the model number within the Chauvin Arnoux line. In the USA, CA is sold bywww.aemc.com

author: Joy at MCS
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2010, 04:33:38 pm
content: We distribute Chauvin Arnoux products and yes Metrix is part of their line.Metrix used to be a separate company many years ago in France. They made top quality products and were direct competitors with Chauvin Arnoux in France. Chauvin Arnoux ended up buying Metrix and the brands were combined.We carry Fluke too, but I personally prefer Chauvin Arnoux/ Metrix to Fluke products.

author: Balaur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 07, 2010, 05:01:41 pm
content: Quote from: Joy at MCS on December 07, 2010, 04:33:38 pmI wish I could said that. In a (transient) pulse of national pride, I've recently bought a Chauvin-Arnoux CA 703 (pocket multimeter) because I needed a small unit for field work.It's the most stupidly designed multimeter ever. Inconvenient default choices on the selector button, boring slow auto-range, idiotically sluggish continuity beep, always-on HV sensing, poor case design, very strange AC behavior. I could go all day.The bloody thing looks like it's designed by a very inexperienced junior engineer right out of school.On the upside, it has a uA setting, standard AA batteries, 600V CAT IV/1000V CAT III and compares favorably in terms of accuracy to good multimeters. I'm keeping it around for the uA range and the pocket-ability.Maybe I'll review it one of these days...

author: Joy at MCS
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2010, 05:25:51 pm
content: I've not had experience using that model but the experience I've had with the other models I've used in the range is good.I suppose it's like any company. Some things they make are good and others maybe need improvement.It's a bit off topic, but for example I love electrical panasonic products but I recently got one of their vacuum cleaners and it's the worst vacuum cleaner I've ever used in my life.Sorry to hear you are not happy. Thank you for your comments. I'll pass on your comments about this model to the factory. It's good that people speak up about things they don't like because that's how companies can improve the things they make.Have a good evening :-)

author: PetrosA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2010, 06:25:42 am
content: The meeting's today and I'll pass on your ideas. Thanks!

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2010, 11:58:03 pm
content: No worries @ Joy at MCS ..I got the top hand-held 87V and due an Issue I got as replacement the 28II ,and the true problem of those two ( equally build devices) called as autoranging hysteresis , its something know and accepted by the technical division of Fluke ..Well this is not accepted by me ... who actually payed to buy the top class DMM .And the bottom line are , that there is no anyperfectDMM , anywhere .

author: PetrosA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2010, 03:06:40 am
content: It was a great meeting today! I passed on everyone's comments and we discussed many of them as well. Maybe the next generations of Agilent DMMs will reflect some of our input!Edit to add: I don't think we're going to get the pony, though.Possibly one of the more interesting topics that we discussed were the DMM Skins. Evidently customer reactions are both "love it" and "hate it." I offered the suggestion that they offer customizable skins like some other products do (TomTom has this option when you buy a GPS unit online from them) so that you could get your company logo or a photo of your cat or dog or spouse or kids etc on your multimeter. Evidently this is not an option right now because every skin has to go through safety testing first to ensure it doesn't interfere with legibility of the controls and safe operation before it can be accepted for use. The suggestion was noted thoughI suspect we'll be seeing a larger assortment of handheld test gear from Agilent soon as well.Thanks again for your input!

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2010, 12:48:57 pm
content: You're welcome. On the skins issue, take a look at Agilents crop of skins, tell me the one's it released doesn't interfere with readability of its dial markings. IMHO, any skin will interfere, it makes you look at the skin not the position of the dial; that distraction is not acceptable for safety reasons. You can put the skin on the back of the meter, or on its travel case, but not on the face.While not at issue elsewhere, all they need is one US style personal injury lawsuit pointing at this skin and all the profits they made on it for years will go down the drain, if they get 2, then there goes the profits for the future too. Until a single case is filed, we'll still see these skins available as options, rather than being withdrawn.If they are aware of the current skins distraction and still make the statement I quoted below to you, I wonder how sincere they were about future features.Quote from: PetrosA on December 10, 2010, 03:06:40 am

author: TopherTheME
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2010, 04:23:50 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on December 10, 2010, 12:48:57 pmI think this is a bit of an overreaction. I had one the skins (the "think green" one) on my meter for about a month after buying it and the clarity and ability to read was not an issue at all. Its kind of hard to tell from the picture but in reality the labels for the dials and the buttons are very clear and easy read and IMO cause absolutely no issues. If someone does file a law suit, its going to be some dickhead thats just out to make a buck off of Agilent and not someone who has a legitimate case.After about a month or so I took it off, not because it interfered with the function of the meter, but because I thought it was rather a bit cheesy.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2010, 07:31:25 pm
content: Maybe its more readable that the pictures present. None of the Agilent supplied photos really show you can clearly read the labels. Could you take a close up of the Agilent skin near the rotary switch to show how readable it is? I read the meters came with all 4 skins with the meter.I think I wrote on a prior thread on all Agilent DMM that the inputs are protected, so even if you place the leads incorrectly due to obscured labels, in most cases nothing will happen, except if the meter is in amps and you measure volts.Maybe a good idea for a poll?Quote from: TopherTheME on December 10, 2010, 04:23:50 pm

author: ziq8tsi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2010, 02:17:06 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on December 09, 2010, 11:58:03 pmI take this to mean the tendency of the autoranger to stay in a range while the input changes (or alternatively to change range too frequently). Is this a problem with the 87V/28II?Specifications never seem to give details of autoranging behaviour, but I have tested my meters and found them to be quite predictable:Fluke 179 (6000 count) ranges up when the reading reaches 6600, and down at 0540.Amprobe 38XR-A (9999 count ) ranges up at 10000 and down at 0950.In my opinion, the Fluke's ±10% overshoot is a better design than the Amprobe's +0/-5%. If you ever need to measure fluctuating inputs that are close to the boundary then it is more useful for the meter to stay in range than to provide the best sensitivity. For stable readings you can always range manually.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2010, 04:05:02 am
content: Quote from: ziq8tsi on December 12, 2010, 02:17:06 pmOnly at the "High resolution" mode.Above the 20V DC the "High resolution" mode returns to normal mode.But in order the "High resolution" mode to become active again , the voltage must fall below 16V !!Personally , I do not call this as hysteresis , but as disaster !!