UNI-T UT61 - opinions - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fenclu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:07:44 am
content: Yes, I know that Dave made a shootout with this Uni-t. But has anyone been using it for a longer time? I'm thinking of getting the UT61C for my "lab" and I'd like to know if they can survive more than 3 months.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:28:49 am
content: Nah if you want a proper meter get the UT61E

author: mubes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 10:11:30 am
content: Second for the 61E. My optical RS232 interface doesn't seem to want to work though and repeated emails to my eBay seller (radiogearpro) haven't resulted in any reply so far, so I'd avoid using him to buy it though, personally.DAVE

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 12:28:03 pm
content: DealExtreme, only 59.20$

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 01:13:01 pm
content: Quote from: DaveXRT on July 06, 2012, 12:28:03 pmAnd if you're lucky, they'll ship it the same year!

author: fenclu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 04:45:49 pm
content: Sorry, but the UT61E is not an option. Once again I live in Poland and the terrible currency makes everything cost much money. I can get the UT61C pretty cheaply.Why is UT61E better than the C model? As I can see the E has wider resistance and capacitance range but it doesn't matter to me. The C has more features so that's curious...And I wasn't going to use the RS232 interface anyway so it doesn't matter as well.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 06:33:37 pm
content: UT61E is 22.000 count, has larger display (more digits) and I believe it refreshes more often (it's quite fast, i have it on my desk). the 61C is only 6000 count.They're different "processors" inside, the one is UT61E is used even on more expensive multimeters. 60$ for it is quite a good value. If you get it from Dealextreme or eBay, you can pay with Paypal so you're not paying taxes (VAT) like you pay in local shops.Sure, in theory you pay when the package arrives at customs, but usually they're marked as toys or with a low value like 10$ or something like that, so you won't pay much more.I've bought mine from radioshop888 on eBay :http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E-Modern-Digital-Multimeters-UT61E-/260733900740?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb4f397c4Everything was perfect, he even included a bonus pen ... you can probably give him a message to mark it as a lower value for customs and vat purposes.

author: typeglob
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 06:53:01 pm
content: Quote from: fenclu on July 06, 2012, 04:45:49 pmHigher accuracy, 22000 v.s. 6000 count display.

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 06:58:08 pm
content: You can also get it fromjamesbondtb on ebay:) He delivers fast. One thing I noticed was when measuring AC Voltages I get some oscillation on the display at the milivolt level when nothing is connected. After switching it on it goes up to about 15 mV then decreases gradually to 0. Why is that? That does not happen on DCV but happens on the AC and DC millivolt ranges too when it climbs to 40 mV and decreases rapidly when nothing is connected.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:10:31 pm
content: UT61E is also a True RMS multimeter . UT61C isn't as far as I can see from the picture.How Accurate is Your Multimeter and what is True RMS?http://blog.globaltestsupply.com/technical-articles/how-accurate-is-your-multimeter-and-what-is-true-rms/Why use True RMS meters?http://www.clsfacilityservices.com/pdfs/UsingTrueRMSMeters.pdfIt's normal for the leads and for the components inside to have some inductance, capacitance etc left from the previous position the meter was on, which might explain the values shown on screen and decreasing to 0.

author: fenclu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:18:12 pm
content: Now I know. Thanks! I think I'm gonna get the UT61E. Well, first I've got to earn some money !EDIT:Well, I've just noticed, the E can't measure temperature and it's gonna be useful for me, so I'll have to think about it twice. Thanks anyway!

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:24:54 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on July 06, 2012, 07:10:31 pmOk thanks for the explanation

author: darrylp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:45:01 pm
content: Very good value LCD thermo couple devices are cheap on eBay 4 euros typically.Search for TM-902C these stand alone ones are good and accurate , includes everything you need. Ie battery and a k couple with plug connectorSent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

author: fenclu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:49:40 pm
content: Oh, how does the D (from the shootout) compare to the C and E?

author: Rick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 07:56:42 pm
content: Quote from: DaveXRT on July 06, 2012, 07:30:19 pmI first thought it was a fulfunction.And it is very sensitive.. when your hand approaches the multimeter it immediately shows some millivolt level voltages on the display, without even your hand touching it.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 08:34:23 pm
content: Quote from: fenclu on July 06, 2012, 07:49:40 pm61D is much like the C, still only 6000 counts, no True RMS, less digits.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 09:01:10 pm
content: Quote from: Rick on July 06, 2012, 07:56:42 pmit is high for obvious reasons.3Gohms doesn't take much to induce a current at allQuote from: mariush on July 06, 2012, 08:34:23 pmQuote from: mariush on July 06, 2012, 08:34:23 pmand not temperatureBut it must be said, if one wants temperatureBuy a proper temperature meter not use a DMM's built in function

author: fenclu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2012, 07:16:21 am
content: Well I still have to think about getting a meter from Ebay, especially from China. C in Poland costs 50 USD and the E over 80 USD so if I wanted to buy the UT61E I would have to get it from China. Thanks for the help.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2012, 02:44:32 pm
content: The UNI T 61 E has the peak measurement facility which is very useful as it will you things like voltage at switch on (I found that a fresh PP3 gives 12.312 Volts at the instant of connection settling to the 9 volts very rapidly but too fast to measure with just a volt meter)The only thing about the UNI-T 61E that drives me to distraction is the gibberish instruction booklet and PDF.

author: pelle.jansen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2012, 08:39:19 pm
content: I got my UT61E also from DealExtreme. Arrived in the netherlands in a good two weeks. Overall I am very happy with the DMM. Input impedance in mV range indeed is crazy high, sometimes even overloads sitting on the bench with just the leads hooked up but this may be a result of my air ioniser. With the leads disconnected or on the volts range it just reads a few millivolts. I'm working on a full review but that will take some time. I can highly recommend it as a lower budget fully specced and equipped DMM. For temperature measurements it is better to just get a separate temp. meter. Having at least one decimal digit can be very useful.