Amprobe  AM240 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2013, 08:40:32 pm
content: Hi Ive been offered an Amprobe AM240, thumbs up or thumbs down, will this be a good stable mate for my Ideal 61-322 true RMS, which I trust from years of use, I have bought a couple of micky mouse meters, which will be on e/bay once I find another reliable meter , the AM240 is about the price I want to pay, as I have my eye on a Tektronix scope:)

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 24, 2013, 09:42:50 pm
content: You can buy one for $55 new in the US. Unless the price is btter than that I would consider something else. Maybe an Amprobe AM-270 for $90 or something else. It is difficult to make any real recommendation without knowing your price range and the intended use.

author: armandas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2013, 10:48:06 pm
content: We have a few of those meters at work and I would not recommend them. A few reasons why:The probes that come with AM240 are ridiculous, they actually got smooth *round* tips - don't expect to be able to pierce through oxidisation with those things.The second most annoying thing is that the Current and Voltage jacks are swapped. You have to be careful to not short out your project by accident.If you leave that meter on for too long, it will switch itself off, but before it does that, it annoys the hell out of you with its beeping.I haven't otherwise used that meter, so those are the only comments I can give at this time.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 02:05:05 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on March 24, 2013, 09:42:50 pmI'm a Radio Amateur ,so it's hobby use only , I love building devices to go with the ham radio, I don't really get near High voltages, apart from the PA tubes ,where most care is needed, thankfully I don't have to visit much. So it mostly filters audio receive /transmit, pre-amps and the like, the latest project was my 6 metre linear amplifier, which produces 600 watts, that was the max.so Accurate yes but obsessive no, all my other gear func/gen sig/gen scope frequency counter is all old ,but does what I want it to.Thanks for your reply.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 03:52:25 pm
content: From your use it looks like you could use another TRMS meter. Why ot get a Uni-T UT61E with its 22,000 counts and higher accuracy than the AM-240. You can get it for $55 shipped from iloveelectronics here on the forums and it is a great meter for the money but lacks back light and temperature. If you plan on doing anything mains related then it would be better to have a meter correctly built and rated for safety and the AM-270 is hard to beat for value at $90.Just don't pay more than $40 for a used AM-240 when you can get one for $55. I see you are in GB, so I don't know what the prices of things would be for you.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 05:00:27 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on March 25, 2013, 03:52:25 pmThank you I'll have a look thanks to your advice, there are so many out there,i t's mind blowing, years ago it was much easier Radio Shacks Micronta meters and I still have one, the New AM 240 was £35.00p UK.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 05:25:24 pm
content: Quote from: M0BSW on March 25, 2013, 05:00:27 pmthe UT61e is £49.00 uk I've offered £40.00UK the UT 61A is £30>UK don't really know the difference between UT 61E/UT61A

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 06:46:46 pm
content: Get in touch with iloveelectronics here for the UT61E. He is reliable and well liked here.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/brand-new-uni-t-ut61e-for-sale/$55USD shipped.The UT61E is the top of the line of the 61 series and has TRMS, 22,000 counts, 0.1% basic accuracy, has PC connection cable and software included, and is built rather well. The UT61A is more for electrical work than electronics but does not really have proper protection on the inputs for high energy circuits. Most people will never have a problem but you should know that both of these models do not meet their safety ratings.If you want more of a do it all meter that is much safer for electrical work then get an Amprobe AM-270, or a Brymen BM257, or Brymen BM815, all around $110 plus shipping. If you don't want to spend that much and want a meter just for bench electronics then it is difficult to beat the UT61E for value.

author: BillyD
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 09:31:55 pm
content: Quote from: armandas on March 24, 2013, 10:48:06 pmAgree with the above. The beeping is just insane and happens with every button press. I ended up stuffing some chewing gum into the speaker casing of mine to bring it down to a tolerable level.Also its backlighting is a bit of a joke: you have to press the Hold button to activate it, then it goes off after just 8 seconds. And the temperature probe is a bit ungainly.However it has grown on me and so far has proven to be a reasonably sturdy and accurate meter. An Extech ex330 which I bought around the same time for about the same price is letting me down on both of those counts.On the UT61E be aware that it has no auto power off, so if you're anything like me you should budget for lots of replacement batteries! Although if you have the time and energy there are a couple of clever hacks out there to add auto power off functionality.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2013, 06:00:55 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on March 25, 2013, 06:46:46 pmCurrently in contact with Franky with UT61E in mind

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2013, 07:15:46 pm
content: Quote from: M0BSW on March 26, 2013, 06:00:55 pmOrdered and paid for

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2013, 04:42:46 pm
content: Uni T Ut61E is on it's way

author: techie1234
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2016, 03:19:24 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on March 25, 2013, 06:46:46 pmOwning a UT61A already and curious, in what ways does it not meet its safety ratings?

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2016, 04:58:05 pm
content: Quote from: techie1234 on July 01, 2016, 03:19:24 pmThe UT61A is rated CATIV/600V and CATIII/1000V. The current jacks are marked as 250V MAX. Having two different maximum voltages on the same meter is not permitted under the IEC rules. If you open the meter up, you can also see that the fuses used are not rated for the requirements of fuses for the CAT ratings listed. The clearances and creepage distances are also not up to spec. It is a not horrible meter, but keep it on the bench only and away from high energy stuff.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2016, 09:33:38 pm
content: You never know what version of UT61A you get. There are places for MOVs on the PCB, but they are unpopulated sometimes.http://www.thebrightsideforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1334There can even be big HRC fuses, or not. I do not like that jack detection button thing or whatever it is.

author: techie1234
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2016, 12:35:51 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on July 01, 2016, 04:58:05 pmAh yes, I've seen the 250V warnings for the current measurement and the small 240V fuses inside (at least mine aren't glass). Didn't know that that you couldn't have two different voltage specs for the voltmeter/ammeter sections for the advertised ratings - but it certainly makes sense. Might be time to get a Bryman?