OWON Multimeters:  Opinions, Likes/Dislikes, Problems, Hacks/Mods - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: MrCreosote
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2017, 08:06:37 pm
content: Did a lot of research looking for an onboard data logging DMM w/thermocouple K and graphing capability (through BlueTooth or PC, in this case.)The the winners were the B35T+ and B41T+ at $55 and $95 shipped.There is virtually no reviews of these models, hence the thread.I suspect there will be poor input protection but for the money, these meters are Crazy Eddie cheap.I can't wait until they put a graphical display in this class for trend plotting too. That would be the Whole Nine Yards.COMMENT: The tech is there to make a single device that does everything. It's going to be fun to watch this revolution - the final feature will be do you want a hand held or desktop UberScope.

author: claytonedgeuk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 09:44:16 am
content: I've been keeping an eye out for the b35t as well..but I'm not quite brave enough to buy one. Though for that sort of money you're in mooshimeter territory...and the benefit there of reading V and I together. Not keen on those?The analog discovery does a pretty good job of doing an all in one...admittedly not over bt though.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2017, 11:40:13 pm
content: Couldn't help but notice that those two models spell BEST BAIT.I haven't heard anything about them, either.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 12:24:50 am
content: I have B35 coming in a few days, so I'll be playing with that very soon.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 12:55:53 am
content: What timing. I shall watch for your review.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 01:17:37 am
content: There is an iOS app for it and it's on my phone just now. Now just waiting for USPS ...

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 06:02:04 am
content: Quote from: MrCreosote on March 15, 2017, 08:06:37 pm"Crazy Eddie"! How many people on this forum could possibly get this reference, I gave him some of my hard earned money for some mightily inexpensive consumer electronics in the 1980's. [For the uninitiated, Crazy Eddie was a chain appliance/electronic stores in the NY City area that sold at a very good discount and was promoted by "his prices are INSANE" ads on television. Every time you'd go into one of these stores you would get the distinct impression that this operation could not be on the up-and-up. It was not, but somehow lasted for a good many years:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Eddie]Back on topic.... The BT35+ is a cheaply made meter, that really wouldn't be worth a second look if it didn't have bluetooth. The display is okay as is the backlight. Continuity test is latching and loud, but really, really slow to respond. Here are some pics:

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 04:41:07 pm
content: It has arrived.More coming ...

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 11:19:07 pm
content: Since we already have a few pics above, I'll just go over a few things for now. I measured a 10V reference I have, which my HP 3468B read as 10.004V. The B35 read it as 10.03VThe accuracy spec for DC voltage is +/- (0.5% + 2 counts). So for this reading it would be +/- .05V + 2 counts, so on that scale it would then be +/- .07 V so it's within the spec.On the faceplate it also states that -20A MaxEach 15 min Max 10 sec.Meaning, I think, that it can measure 20A Max for 10 sec but only once every 15 min.Capacitance and resistance measurements looked good.Is it cheaply made? Well, I've seen worse I guess but it's OK for the price so far. It came with a nice carrying bag and leads/attachments such as a K thermocouple and an attachment to assist in measuring caps/resistors and transistors.I only played with the Bluetooth for a few minutes today but it was very easy to connect to my iPhone. I just watched the DC measurements draw a straight line, but will test more tomorrow. It does have a voice annunciation that states the reading each time if you wish it to, but my cat hated to listen to it. I need to get into the interface more tomorrow.

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2017, 11:30:38 pm
content: Quote from: xrunner on March 18, 2017, 11:19:07 pmIt might be interesting to see a pic of the board inside to compare it to the B35T+ posted above. It might be possible to add True RMS (that's the 'T') and in-device memory (that's the "+") by just adding a jumper or two.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2017, 12:52:20 am
content: Quote from: kwass on March 18, 2017, 11:30:38 pmHmmm, yea might be worth a look. Have you tried the Bluetooth functionality?

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2017, 01:05:32 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on March 18, 2017, 11:19:07 pmCorrect. It needs time for the shunt to cool down and recover. Even at half that current level, most DMMs I've used will drift as you're taking the measurement due to the shunt heating up.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2017, 01:22:43 pm
content: Quote from: kwass on March 18, 2017, 11:30:38 pmHere's mine. It says it's B35T v1.5 2016.10.2Changes have been made ...I want to know how to cal it, specifically what each pot controls on the board.

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2017, 04:12:47 pm
content: Quote from: xrunner on March 19, 2017, 01:22:43 pmSee the reference schematic for clues on the DMM4 data sheet here:http://www.ic-fortune.com/upload/Download/FS9922-DMM4-DS-13_EN.pdf

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2017, 10:11:11 pm
content: Quote from: kwass on March 19, 2017, 04:12:47 pmOK, I'm checking it out.By the way, looking at example DMM systems made with this DMM4 motherchip, it looks like the true RMS capability is provided by another chip such as an AD736 or the like. If you look at yours, you will see a "U10", but I can't tell what the writing is. On my B35, there is no U10 in place. I think U10 is the TRMS chip. Can you tell what chip they used for U10 on yours?Played with the BT graphing a bit more. I set up a 0.1 sec square wave, and also diddled with a DC voltage randomly from about 15.5V to 16.5V. The fastest sample rate for the app is 1 sec, so you have to keep that in mind regarding the system response you want to monitor.The app graph will only let you zoom in both axes at the same time. It will not allow just the Y axis to zoom in, and leave the X axis alone, at least I haven't found a way to do it.

author: MrCreosote
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2017, 04:28:06 am
content: I just got my B35T+ and have been focusing on the data logging aspects.THERMOCOUPLES: One nice bonus is an input adapter that will accept mini thermocouple plugs and also serves as the transistor lead adapter. Also, the TC included appears to have a white woven insulation with a blue stripe. It is possible this is the high temp 1000*C mineral fiber insulation, however I don't know how to confirm that. The TC probe has individual banana plugs instead of a mini connector.Big Disappointment was that it appears you have to use your BlueTooth device to initiate on-board data logging.What is interesting is that if you open 4 stored files, you get 4 plots in 4 colors with tabs you can click to see the associated data. This is very cool. When these open, it appears that the x-axis is autoscaled for the number of data points. I don't know what would happen if you had 1000 of them.The BT app is not too bad all things considering. For $58 shipped, yes, this is definitely "Crazy Eddie" (may "he" RIP) territory (loved the history lesson - I love those days of yore. Loved the not on the "up and up" comment - like half the stuff fell off a truck I had an aunt and uncle that lived in Roselle Park NJ, 10 min from Newark, and I remember his awesome, loud, and obnoxious radio ads!)

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2017, 04:55:09 am
content: Quote from: MrCreosote on March 20, 2017, 04:28:06 amI thought that was pretty dumb too, I guess that the idea is that you can start the logging using your smartphone, leave it running while you take your smartphone out of BT range, then return and grab the data from the meter. I only tried this once and it failed. Have you had any luck with on-device loging?QuoteI'm sure it did. He was selling for so much less than anyone else, it just had to be "hot", Japanese electronics. As Dave days "all the best stuff is made in Japan" and back then everything was.

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2017, 05:25:12 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on March 19, 2017, 10:11:11 pmIt is a TRMS chip and surprisingly it's an AD8436, the JCPZ temperature version (0 to 70 deg C). Quite an expensive chip for a low-end meter.

author: Savoyarde
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 20, 2017, 05:57:36 am
content: Quote from: kwass on March 20, 2017, 04:55:09 amThe obvious reason, that you have to start the logging from your BT Device is, that the OWON DMM has no own real time clock. Logging without a timestamp is worth nothing if you want compare the data with other events.I think the BT Device will send the starting time and the interval to the DMM and calculates the other timestamps when it receives the logging data from the DMM.I testet the logging function with my B35T+. It is only useful up to 1000 logging records (max.10.000), because the Android App is to slow to handle the Data.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2017, 12:11:05 am
content: After studying the DMM4 application datasheet (the DMM uses a Fortune FS9922-DMM4 IC) I found out how to cal the DCV functions, at least for the OWON board. As you can see it's quite a bit better than it was out of the box (before, it was reading 10.03 V for a 10 V reference. I'll put together some instructions and pics shortly.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2017, 12:23:30 am
content: Nicely done, xrunner.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2017, 11:36:59 am
content: Calibration of DCV for the OWON B35To calibrate DCV on the OWON B35, you are going to adjust the "REFI" input to pin 4 on the DMM4 IC. As you can see in the attached datasheet, they say it's typically 0.63V. Mine measured 0.6326V before adjustment.Measure the voltage between the two points I have labelled A and B. Hold your tongue like Dave and tweak away on VR6 unitl your readout is as close to your selected reference as possible. After adjusting, my REFI voltage was 0.6347.Hope this helps any B35 owners out there. Next up is the ACV, I'm not satisfied with that cal either, be back soon ...Note: Do so at your own risk, no warranties expressed or implied, I can not be held responsible for any bad results

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2017, 09:18:54 pm
content: If you want to cal ACV it's adjusted by VR1. I tweaked mine and now the DCV and ACV are much better. Not sure why OWON couldn't have done a better job.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 12:26:56 am
content: Ran across this - when measuring 5V I switched to the mV position, expecting to see an "OVLD" indication but instead it shows an odd reading of 59.59 mV. Found out by trial and error that anything under 2V, when switching to mV, will show Overload, but above that will show odd mV readings.An Oopsie in the design?

author: kwass
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 01:02:08 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on March 22, 2017, 12:26:56 amMaybe, or maybe it's just a way of saying that you're way beyond overflowA few other things to note about this meter:- The back light times out in about 50 seconds, not 10 seconds -- at least in my model.- There's no auto-power off indicator but the functionality is there. The meter will shut down in about 15 minutes with no user input, it will beep a warning about 1 minute before it shuts down. Auto power off can be defeated by pressing and holding down the SELECT button when you turn on the meter. It's also defeated in Bluetooth mode.- The shunt resistors are lower in value than most similar DMM's: .05ohms for the 20 Amp range, 0.5ohms for the mA ranges and 50 ohms for the uA range. Measuring 100mA only has a voltage burden of only 50mV, pretty decent!- There's some other functionality built in if you feel like hacking the main function switch. There's RPM measurement and the ability use use a clamp-on current probe, for example.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 01:40:38 am
content: Quote from: kwass on March 22, 2017, 01:02:08 amOh yea I forgot 59.59 mV is the international sign for "Overload".

author: MrCreosote
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 10:32:51 pm
content: B35T+ Data Logging Temperatures to Samsung Galaxy 4:First, discovered the red banana plug screw was loose resulting in TC noise.Logged to phone. Did 4000 1 second points without incident.The .CSV file saved from the app has tabs after the commas which confuses XL. Minor annoyance. Otherwise worked just fine.NOTE: While measuring stabilization of a laboratory furnace, when the controller goes into a chopping mode, evidently the TC acts as an antenna resulting in noise. Never ran into this. Solution? small capacitor across TC?OR:

author: kcbrown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2017, 11:31:55 pm
content: Quote from: kwass on March 18, 2017, 06:02:04 amI wonder how many people get theotherreference:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mote_in_God's_EyeOf course, the electronic store reference is the more apropos one...

author: The Soulman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 12:11:29 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on March 22, 2017, 12:26:56 amI've tested this on my cheapo ohmeron meter that uses the 4000 count version of this fs9922-dmm4 chip (dmm3)and it behaves as it should when switching from volts to (40) milivolts range, display shows OL and beeper beeps.tried different voltages from 1,2 V dc up to 43 V dc.Another meter (metrawatt) I have has the 6000 count dmm4 but the (60) milivolt range isn't implemented, maybe that's why?More info on that meter is here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/gossen-metrahit-2-ir-output-mod/msg1075499/#msg1075499Can anyone with a UT-61D replicate this behavior to see if this is a fs9922-dmm4 feature?Can't think of anything outside of this chip can cause that behavior..Maybe owon decided to add some additional clamps specifically for this range..

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 12:25:44 am
content: Quote from: The Soulman on March 23, 2017, 12:11:29 amThanks for those observations Soulman, I'd be interested myself if anyone with another meter using the DMM4 can replicate it.Edit: Maybe the input voltage in that range is being clamped if it gets too high so that the meter never reads an overload but the clamped down voltage?

author: crazyguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 12:54:05 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on March 23, 2017, 12:25:44 amVici VC99 6000 counts DMM (FS9922-DMM4) no separate mV Range, works as expected when overload it display "OL", no problem.

author: MrCreosote
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 06:02:40 pm
content: kcbrown,Wow, who would have thought getting a good SciFi lead!I'm looking for something to read andThe Mote in God's Eyeit is!Some Crazy Eddie Commercials:

author: MrCreosote
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 06:14:19 pm
content: B35T+: Thermocouple Interference:Has anyone found EMI, RFI, orinterference?Supposedly most TC meters have an RFI filter.However my situation might be different. As stated in previous post, am measuring laboratory furnace that has a high speed (1-10Hz) pulse modulation on the 33amp resistance heating coils. While # turns is low, amperage is high.Searching for some caps to put across TC external to DMM...

author: MrCreosote
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 02:25:07 am
content: Mine just failed.It is possible I applied Mains (244v) to the uA jack- not used to uA jack, too used to my Fluke 97.I suspect it survived the 245V 60Hz component, but this was on the pulse modulated/chopped heating element which has lots of higher frequency due to square wave.Unit appears to work in all functions except there is a DC offset present in the uA & mV inputs.I wonder if a repair might be possible? I'm assuming there is not some trim pot I could tweak?Maybe I should start a repair thread?Observations: ( shorted / open input)VOLT-OHM INPUT:V DC: 0 / 0V AC: 0 / 0.001mv DC: -1.37mv / -116.1mvmv AC: 0 / 0.5mvohms: .2 / OLHz: 0 / 0uA INPUT:hFE: OL / 14TEMP F: 11 / -56 (6 @ RT w/TC)TEMP C: -11 / -48 (-13 @ RT w/TC)uA DC: -29 / -29uA AC: 0 / 0mA DC: -3 / -3mA AC: 0 / 020A INPUT:A DC: -0.283 / -0.283

author: hoaivio
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 21, 2017, 05:01:39 pm
content: Help me!Capacitor C18 how much value ?OWON 35TThanks everyone!

author: tonycstech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 01:39:53 am
content: The meter is also stuck in Hold mode after it wakes up. This drives me crazy.I am ok with 15min shutdown, save battery etc but it wakes up in a HOLD.And cant read the screen on an angle. IT has to look straigth at you