owon bench multimeter? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: chifrido
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 01:49:33 am
content: I'm looking for bench multimeter to be used mainly in low volts motor control circuits (dc servo drives, microcontrollers, etc)In my country the test equipment is very expensive but I found that the local distributor of owon match the international price +tax and that makes the OWON XDM3041 4 1/2 my current choice.There is no review, video, tear down or single writen word about this model and I have my doubs about the quality.Does anybody own an owon bench multimeter? can you share your oppinion?Main Features- 4 inch 480 x 320 pixels high resolution LCD- resolutions up to 4 1/2 digits- reading rates up to 150 readings/s- true RMS AC voltage / current measurement- dual line display supported- the change trend analysis accessible via special chart mode- SCPI supported - remote control, and data-sharingpossible via LAN, USB, RS232 port, and WiFi** WiFi module is optional- multi- IO interface: USB Device / Host, RS232, LAN, and ext.trigger inputhttp://lilliputweb.net/digital-oscilloscope/digital-multimeter/xdm-series/xdm3041.html

author: radhaz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 03:06:47 am
content: Not much of a review, but it's something at least.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 03:21:20 am
content: Damn Can't recall the brand but seem to be a cloned versionspecs seems okay to me, price seems decent too, but an 4 1/2 displaynot enough

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 03:41:38 am
content: They appear to be cloning the Siglent meters which inturn are cloning the Keysight meters, I wouldn't even bother with the Owon meter personally, their pricing down here is a complete joke when compared to other established brands. Pricing elsewhere overseas seems reasonable but $1100 down here for the 5 1/2 digit is just outright ludicrous.

author: chifrido
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 03:44:09 am
content: I managed to find another video that shows the boot process but no practical use case , I can't understand a word (persian language ?) and the site navigation was an adventure.I can't embed the video, this is the link, I hope that Works between sessions:https://as3.cdn.asset.aparat.com/aparat-video/d1232359794da2aafa32ff91d1542f9b6112810-1080p__16308.mp4

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 03:48:28 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on July 16, 2018, 03:41:38 amActually no Muttley.The front panel is quite different.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 03:53:16 am
content: From across the room they are somewhat similar in appearance you must admit.

author: chifrido
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 03:56:36 am
content: the price here is about 425 usd , for this money you can buy a Uni-t Ut804 at bestthere is a 5 1/2 digits also, model xdm3051. I have no need for the higher resolution, I just want a multimeter to left powered on when I'm working.I just found that there is a rebrand of owon called peaktech:https://www.peaktech.de/productdetail/kategorie/digital---tischmultimeter/produkt/peaktech-4095.html

author: radhaz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 04:00:25 am
content: Do you have other test equipment vendor sites in Argentina we can look at?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 04:05:02 am
content: The 2 Siglent distributors, dunno what other brands they handle:ELECTRO TOOLS ARGENTINA SRLAddress: HOLMBERG 3560, C.A.B.ATel: 54 11 4542-8312ventas@electro-tools.com.arwww.electro-tools.com.arTEMTEC S.A.Address: Palestina 684 (C1182ADD) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresTel: (54.11) 4862-0062Fax: (54.11) 4862-0882ventas@temtecsa.com.arwww.temtecsa.com.ar@chifridoSee if SDM3045X meets your requirements and budget.

author: chifrido
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 04:12:56 am
content: Quote from: tautech on July 16, 2018, 04:05:02 amthere is severals distributors but the prices are out of my budget, for examplehttp://tienda.electrocomponentes.com/precios.php3?titulo=Multímetros%20Digitales%20de%20Banco&subrubro=101&rubro=10&expand=SIthe exchange rate is about 1 usd 30 ar$the siglent sdm3045X is my choice but the local distributors do not stock it and a direct import is about 750 usd!!!!

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 04:40:55 am
content: Quote from: chifrido on July 16, 2018, 04:12:56 amCan you make a deposit and wait for their next shipment ? US price is $ 389.https://www.siglentamerica.com/digital-multimeters/sdm3045x-digital-multimeter/

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 07:22:08 pm
content: Quote from: chifrido on July 16, 2018, 03:56:36 amI know I'm repeating myself but look for a VC8145 if you need a no-nonsense DMM. It isn't expensive and basically is a 4.5 digit handheld DMM in a benchtop case with a mains power supply. The VC8145 is my daily use DMM even though I also have a high end DMM.

author: chifrido
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 07:58:53 pm
content: The local siglent distributor was not helpfulSo the only real choice for me to own a siglent dmm is to buy it myself and brign it with me but there in no current plan to flight to the states (but currently is winter break here and a new dmm is totally a fair excuse right?)The vc8145, buyed in aliexpress, will be about 240 usd and a waiting time of a month.I can stomach the wait , the bad price, but I'm scared for the stories of "stuck autorange" at 8 vdc . Do the vc8145 has problems of this kind?On wednesday I will be visit the owon distributor to test the dmm.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 08:59:38 pm
content: Quote from: chifrido on July 16, 2018, 07:58:53 pmNot that I know of and I have mine since 2012.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2018, 09:08:36 pm
content: the vc8145 (not the 8145B) at 80,000 count should be enough without hurting your wallet ?? and like some people report, they dont seem to have may problem with them, just the backlight is not always on if i recall, but the display size should compensate.On AliExpress there is a few at 120$ usd

author: xbay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 15, 2018, 05:28:38 am
content: Hi, have you been able to test the owon dmm? I am also interested with it. But there is no reviews.

author: Mouse69
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2020, 10:33:07 am
content: Well here is my XDM3041, seems nicely made with space for a fan.Mine was obviously dropped at some point (I recall the packaging was Ok), but the last shot shows a bent corner and one popped spot weld. Still works and no external sign of damage.I will try and do some tests and add the results.

author: clane
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 12, 2020, 10:29:53 am
content: Hi Mouse69,so what your impression on the Owon DMM you bought?Is it fast at switch-on?Thanks.

author: Mouse69
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2020, 05:34:30 pm
content: It does seem to be fine, usable from switch on takes 6-7 seconds to get a DC voltage reading (defaults to this on startup)Voltage DC, not warmed up for thirty minutesResistance, not warmed up for thirty minutesAnd after thirty minutes, it's not changed.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2020, 06:03:28 pm
content: In the resistance pic, you're using Kelvin clips but the meter says it's in 2-wire mode.

author: Mouse69
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2020, 07:27:57 am
content: Hi AVGresponding,My bad, too busy taking the picture and most definitely not concentrating on the measurement (thanks for spotting my stupid mistake, I now have a chance to correct it). I should have uploaded this picture:

author: paulbt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2020, 12:28:04 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on July 16, 2018, 03:48:28 amHello guys!That Siglent bench DMM seems to be rebranded by RS PRO into model RSDM3055. See link below.https://ro.rsdelivers.com/product/rs-pro/rsdm3055/rs-pro-rsdm3055-bench-digital-multimeter-10a-ac/1236465Anyhow, is there any Owon bench DMM owner who encountered the same issue as this one presented in the video below?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2020, 08:28:54 pm
content: Quote from: paulbt on August 20, 2020, 12:28:04 pmYep, a few brands use Siglent as their OEM.Some more in this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/remember-when-siglents-logo-wasnt-ugly/

author: Mouse69
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2020, 09:24:53 am
content: Hi Paulbt:I'll try and recreate the issue in the video with my Owon and let you know. I saw it ages ago but have not yet tripped over it when using the meter, that I've noticed

author: paulbt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2020, 11:28:57 am
content: Quote from: Mouse69 on August 21, 2020, 09:24:53 amOh, that will be great for me!I'm planning next week to buy a 5 1/2 digit one, but rebranded as "Multicomp Pro MP730028".Waiting for your test results, or even a small video if you can...Thanks!

author: Mouse69
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2020, 01:50:27 pm
content: From the Video, I can't get the Owon to read bad resistance values (it was left to warm up for thirty minutes, but it still read the right value from 'cold'), I've tried switching between VDC/VAC, Current, Ohm's/continuity/diode, Capacitance, Frequency and Temp and back. I've tried high, middle and low update speeds as well:My BM869sThe XDM3041There is another video of 'features':Now this I did get some consistency from, the main input terminal acts like an ariel and messes with the resistance value (it should be open circuit) but reads odd values:Flickering from 'overload' to 72Mohm with both leads connected:With the 'Input' lead connected (does not happen with the 'LO' lead connected only), I then get the half value:It does not do this if using four wire (with kelvin clips connected)The unit is firmware version 2.12.0, not there appears to be any other firmware (that I can find)Hope this helps

author: paulbt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2020, 09:13:38 am
content: @Mouse69Hi, thank you for your sharings!This week arrived my unit, which is a rebranded Farnell MulticompPro MP730028 5 1/2 digits.I tried the same things as in the two youtube videos posted previously and gladly my unit does not behave weird. Then I tried and played with all it's features and everything seems to work very well. The only odd thing about it was somewhere in the menu, a little typo "Cancle" instead of "Cancel". My unit has version V2.12.0.I also brought it to my workplace where I have a calibrated 6 1/2 digit Agilent and compared them: DCV measurement was identical on all ranges, ohms was lower by very little on all scales, DCI was higher by very little only for currents greater than few hundred mA. I didn't check AC stuff.Other thing I liked was the fact that it can count up to 238'000. As the Agilent is able of ~1'100'000 counts, it was a nice sight for me to see the same amount of digits while measuring voltages between roughly 11V and 24V.The only downside from my point of view (and I hope it will remain the only one) is the continuous noisy fan, which is very noticeable in a silent room/lab.

author: paulbt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2020, 09:15:32 pm
content: Hello, guys!In my last reply here I had only good things to say about this DMM, but this week I saw (heard) something interesting and decided to share it with you. It does not bother me very much, but maybe someone else is planning to buy this unit and it may be his decisive factor not to do it. Please read the video description.

author: paulbt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2020, 09:18:19 am
content: Hello !I'm back with some teardown photos. The overall build quality looks cheap, I only liked that I saw Omron relays and many AD ICs.The current listing price on farnell is ~520 EUR including VATYou can judge yourself if it's worth the money. I bought it second-hand almost new for about half of that and I am glad I did it.Enjoy the photos!

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2020, 12:18:54 pm
content: Thanks for the pictures of the 5.5 digit meter. Might consider one if the price is right (as in your case), though I'd need to look at improving the noisy fan, even if it meant a slight downgrade in achieved specs.Have you got any comments on what the continuity, diode tests etc are like? Does it pick up brief contact, latch for a sensible time etc?Buzzing stuff out is not what you buy a bench DMM for, but DMMs in general use spend a lot of time in these modes so it's still important that they work well.

author: paulbt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2020, 09:37:42 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on November 04, 2020, 12:18:54 pmHi,I decided to do a quick video which maybe will answer some of your questions.Comments:- first I wanted to show that this rebranded unit does not behave weird like in the videos from previous posts;- in ohms mode I wanted to show you how fast it auto-ranges from OL to dead short while being set to "High" and "Low" sample rate;- in continuity mode I wanted to show you how the threshold value influences the beep;- in diode mode it can light up a blue LED (for me it's not useful, but I see people testing this during reviews);- in capacitance mode I just wanted to show you the time it takes to measure;- in temp mode it has a big offset, maybe because I removed the annoying fan and that 24C is the temperature of the cold junction (air) inside. It also has a menu where you can choose different types of sensors. When I first powered on this evening, I switched immediately to temp and with shorted inputs it displayed about 16-17C and slowly rising.If you have any other curiosity/question about it, please let me know.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2020, 10:22:16 pm
content: Thanks, that was very useful. Not so impressed by continuity speed (at low threshold) unfortunately.Was the room temperature correct on the handheld meter? I assume it was cooler than ~24C given the time of year! If the small meter was accurate then yeah that's a pretty major error.As for diode mode - I find it quite useful for testing connections to ICs etc, which normally have ESD diodes that will give a diode drop to either rail upon measurement. I don't care so much about LEDs, though that is also sometimes useful (I get out my 121GW when I need a higher voltage diode test mode).Sadly it's looking like you get what you pay for - I might have to look at second hand HP/Agilent/KS units (e.g. 34401A/34410A) or a little higher up the scale of new meters (the newer KS meters are too pricey for a hobby purchase unfortunately).

author: paulbt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2020, 03:39:57 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on November 10, 2020, 10:22:16 pmHi again!In the room where I have my mini-lab setup, there are no hot water radiators and I was wearing sweater and trousers and still felt cool. I guess it was between 15C and 20C, but no way it was 24C. So...yup...it has a significant offset error even with other K-type probes. Maybe if I put the fan back in, it will change the situation. To be honest, I will rarely use the features I showed in the video. Mostly I use it on DCV, DCI, 4W resistance, trend chart, dual display and data-logging via USB. It has nice performance/accuracy and I'm happy with it so far.

author: Neper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2021, 04:51:37 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on November 04, 2020, 12:18:54 pmDo the OWON XDM3041/2041 have a built-in fan?Ralf

author: MetricMe
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 21, 2023, 10:32:29 pm
content: No fan for XDM3041… it is silent and resistance is accurate compared to LCR ET4410 tho the it only have 0.00 ohm range while LCR has 0.0000 range. I just use LCR for extremely low resistance measurements.Got my own XDM3041 for 145 usd.Use it for hobby work… I like it.

author: pcbcrew
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2023, 06:50:53 am
content: I bought an Owon NDM3051 (Chinese local version of XDM3o51) a few years ago.(~200 USD equivalent at that time).I asked the seller to change its firmware for "global" version.So, it has same firmware as XDM3051. And the seller said that the only difference was UI language.If you're not Chinese but visiting China, you can buy such local versions and Owon salesmen support such firmware upgrade for free.Two thins I disliked:long boot timenoisy fanI could get rid of its noise after disconnecting the fan connector.Even after fan disconnected, I could feel (almost) no heat on the instrument.But there was no way to improve the very slow booting.I also bought Owon's NDS1104 at that time.It was silent. It was having same firmware as XDS1104, (because it's having language selection menu?)But it also had very slow booting issue.For about ~1 year using it, I could not watch its boot time anymore, and decided to move to other brands.Finally I packed them all and put somewhere in my storeroom.Now I own Iwatsu VOAC7520 that I bought at ~150 USD last year in the second-hand market.I'm quite happy with VOAC7520, not only because it's silent and fast-booting.