Need advice before purchasing handheld scope DMM? - Hantek 1200 series? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: theswits
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 25, 2013, 08:54:05 pm
content: Hi forum members,I'm looking for a little advice on an upcoming purchase.I think what I'm looking for is a handheld scope/DMM, 2 channel, at least 100 MHz.My "typical" application is troubleshooting power system equipment in the field. Therefore, the portability is a nice feature. Also, the equipment I'm analyzing is typcially power generation type stuff (exciters, governors, etc.), and the isolation by being able to run on battery (and not having to plug into an AC supply) is another nice feature. And since I'm not getting any younger, a minimum 5 inch screen is required, and if I can get 7 inch, even better.All the above being said, I also like tinkering at home on hobby projects, and that's where I will probably need the higher sampling/bandwidth, but not all that often.I have been looking at the Hantek 1102, the 1200, and the 1202.The 1102 is 100MHz, but is the 1202 just an updated 1200 with a faster sampling rate?I have also seen the 1600's, but they are more than I need at 600 MHz.My budget is in the $500-$600 range.Is there anything else that I should be considering besides the Hanteks?Thanks in advance, cheers.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2013, 09:15:55 pm
content: If you're using it on power stuff, don't risk your safety on the crappy DMMs built into Chinese handheld scopes - get a decent DMM.You may also want a scope with isolated channels, unfortunately they don't come cheap.For portability the Owon scopes are about the best scope-to size ratio, but my HDS-3102M-N just died so a bit less keen now... Its DMM is truly awful and should be ignored.I got a Hantek as a replacement & is a reasonable enough scope, but IMO a bit too big & heavy, & not easy to use one-handed. The DMM is better than the Owon (which is not saying much), but does not have HRC fuses. One nice feature is you can use the DMM and scope simultaneously, though the DMM display in this mode is tiny.Metrix do some very nice looking ones but super-expensive.

author: theswits
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 26, 2013, 01:21:28 am
content: Hi Mike,Thanks for the tips.Based on your comments, I have been searching for the ratings/certification for the Hantek DSO1102b, but all I can find is 600 volts AC and 800 VDC, with no rating standard. The non-HRC fuses at 600 volts does have me a bit concerned, I sure don't want this thing poofing out on me. A lot of Canadian industry runs on 3P 575 vac, and some places like to run +5%.Can anybody provide the rating spec for the Hantek, and offer an opinion on whether its legit or not?The one handed operation is not that important for me, nor the non-isolated channels; common reference/ground is OK.I see a used Fluke 199 scopemeter on ebay right now for a little over $500, but I'm concerned about the monochrome display. Is the Fluke vs. Hantek a total apples/oranges comparison, and would I be better off with a used Fluke than a new Hantek?Thanks again.

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2013, 09:23:54 am
content: My DSO-8060 (practically a 1060 with a signal generator) has 5x20mm, 250V glass fuses inside. There are pcb footprints for HRC fuses, but the 10A shunt is in the way, so adding those is tricky. The multimeter is isolated from the scope, so at least you can use it simultaneously on an independent task. As Mike said, you can superimpoze the DMM on the scope screen, but it's tiny. In this snapshot you can see in the upper right corner the Hardware frequency counter and below that there is the DMM.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2013, 01:08:16 pm
content: In the USA, devices must be certified by any NRTL for safety. There may be similar rules in Canada. It would be important to check for any such stamps, UL, ETL, CSA etc., on those devices and insure its legitimacy, AFAIK many of the low end scopes do not, except Rigol, even its lowly 1000e series is TUV certified, but it has no portable version AFAIK.http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/If a worker is injured by a fault in the device, the employer can be held liable for workplace injury by the employee and subject to OSHA sanctions too. In addition, if the work was contracted, the contractee can sue the contractor for damages caused by using 'faulty' equipment.

author: theswits
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 26, 2013, 04:35:18 pm
content: Hi Dr.P,Does your DSO-8060 have any certification credentials on the meter?I don't mind the small DMM when in scope mode. I will usually do a DMM check before hooking up scope probes, and the small DMM display afterward is just a good reminder and crosscheck.Thanks again.

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2013, 05:09:39 pm
content: just "Cat III 600V", no UL, TUV, nothing...It doesn't feel like a safe thing to be poking power generators with.Don't get me wrong, I like it, but I would use it only for Cat II and 400V. (indoors mains)

author: mzzj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2013, 07:04:16 pm
content: Quote from: theswits on February 26, 2013, 01:21:28 amIf you can get Fluke 199 for less than grand I would go for it. Isolated channels and more robust design.Not much point even looking at CAT-ratings with these non-isolated scopes. Using battery and connect only channel 1 ground to live conductor and you have death trap waiting at channel 2 bnc connector (and ext sync and probe comp connector)e.I was going to say that none of these Chinese scopes offer isolated channels but Hantek 1100 S-series seem to have isolated channels.S-model availability seems scarce, found one seller in Ebay and thats about it.If you are absolutely sure that you don't need isolated inputs Owon SDS7102 has good battery life and probably best and clearest screen of any portable battery scopes. Handheld-only use is bit clumsy, needs preferably table or something to lay your scope.Can measure 5kV if you want, just buy 1:100 or 1:1000 probe (and don't f**k around with ground connection!)

author: theswits
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 26, 2013, 07:29:56 pm
content: Thanks mzzj,I never go onto anything over 600 volts with the DMM without some PT or CT in the circuit, and ditto for the scope for anything over 240 volts.I was looking at the Owon SDS7102 with a battery pack, but I have been montioring the great work being done by Siri and rf_loop on the SPS induced ground noise issue, and would like to wait until Owon fixes the problem before buying said scope.Otherwise, the Owon might be a good choice for me if not for the cautions posted by saturation (thanks). Nothing like getting to a job site and getting tossed for using equipment without CSA, ULC or other certs.I think I got save up a bit for a Fluke of some sort, maybe even an older 50Mhz 95 or 97 just to get by for a while until the Owon issue is resolved.Thanks everyone, good forum, great participants.

author: hgjdwx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2013, 02:34:25 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on February 25, 2013, 09:15:55 pmHow the died of your hds3102m-n

author: hgjdwx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2013, 04:12:37 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on February 25, 2013, 09:15:55 pmHi, Mike, please talk about your hantek handheld used, boot time is how long?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2013, 06:09:10 pm
content: Quote from: hgjdwx on February 27, 2013, 02:34:25 amNot sure - just started saying "FPGA Cofig error" on startup. Have just sent it to Owon in China.QuoteAbout 20 secs - a bit longer than you'd like but not a huge annoyance. It's a pretty reasonable scope - basically the same as their desktop unit repackaged. My biggest complaint is the size and weight.Note there are some earlier versions of the Hantek with much poorer sample rate - you want the B version only.There is a huge thread elsewhere here on bandwidth upgrading the 60MHz version.