Rebranding of multimeters? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Axtman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 05:10:33 am
content: What manufacturer makes what brands of multimeters? For example I believe that CEM makes Extech multimeters. I think Craftsman and Southwire were also made by CEM.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 06:28:59 am
content: Too many to list. Easier to know who makes or design their own meters.Obviously Fluke and Keysight. I can't think of anyone else now.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 07:00:59 am
content: APPA is the manufacturer of Ideal, Greenlee, Iso-Tech, Jensen, Westward, Benning, some Tektronix and Megger meters, plus other brands.Some other OEM manufacturers of other brands are Brymen, Uni-T, and Mastech.In the past there were even rebrands of European meters: some ITT Metrix units were rebranded by BK Precision!

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 07:29:30 am
content: Just thought of a couple more who make their own meter and don't allow rebranding. Gossen and some Hioki high end meters.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 02:26:04 pm
content: Quote from: helius on January 12, 2018, 07:00:59 amI believe Greenlee is made/rebadged by Brymen.

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 02:47:14 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on January 12, 2018, 07:29:30 amActually Gossen do/have rebranded their meters as Dranetz, Siemens, Avometer, Unigor, I've even seen a ABB metrawatt on the bay of evil.Someone had an Megger branded Gossen 28S for sale here a while agohttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/gossen-metrawatt-metrahit-28s-(avometer-oem-clone)/Gossens Metraclip 61 leakage current clamp is a Megger DCM300EI think Hioki even rebadged someone elses at one stage as their own.Fluke's leakage current clamps are actually Yokogawa'sEveryone rebrands the AEMC SL261/Chauvin Arnoux E3N clamps and a lot of their other ones.

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2018, 04:43:46 pm
content: Quote from: Old Printer on January 12, 2018, 02:26:04 pmGreenlee used to exclusively rebrand APPA, in the past 5-10 years most of their higher end stuff is now all Brymen. They still have a few APPA models but these are becoming fewer and fewer.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 01:15:23 am
content: Quote from: helius on January 12, 2018, 07:00:59 amThe way I understand it, at least in the past, APPA was making multimeters for Tektronix but they were a Tektronix design.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 01:26:30 am
content: As the above posts indicate, it's especially complicated as often the brand will encompass more than one company's products rebadged to the brand, and sometimes alongside first party produced products. You've almost got to approach it on a product by product basis, as one brand name may have three different OEMs producing its product line and different ones in past product generations.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 02:07:20 am
content: This is perfect stuff for that improved EEVblog Wiki I was talking about.

author: Zeitkind
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 01:27:09 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on January 12, 2018, 06:28:59 amGossen/Metrawatt and Sanwa for sure. I'd also suggest Beha-Amprobe (Danaher Corporation as Fluke), Hioki, Kyoritsu, Der EE, Tonghui, Yokogawa all do their own. There might be co-development across some brands, esp. from Danaher-brands like Fluke, Tek & Amprobe, but overall those companies should have their own development.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 02:05:59 pm
content: Brymen makes their own meters under their own brand. They also design and make the MM series of Extech meters, the AM-250, 270, 140, 160, and PM pocket models for Amprobe, Some of the Brymen models are re-branded by Greenlee and some other lesser known brands. Many Amprobe clamp meters are re-branded Brymens.

author: Alex P
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 03:13:56 pm
content: Quote from: Zeitkind on January 13, 2018, 01:27:09 pmFluke and Tektonix are part of "Fortive" (spinoff of Danaher mid 2016).

author: lem_ix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 03:42:54 pm
content: Quote from: Zeitkind on January 13, 2018, 01:27:09 pmI'm not so sure about Sanwa, they use Brymen ICs and apparently the same data logging cable. Maybe someone has more info. Amprobe rebrands stuff developed by Uni-t(to a better standard) and Brymen I think. Don't know about the Meterman stuff, did they buy that company or is it their own brand? Kyoritsu has same/similar meters to Yokogawa.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 07:24:51 pm
content: Gossen Metrawatt have clones of their MetraHit 28s meters under AvoMeter M3045S, Siemens B1105 and Drantech Ultra M230H, ST Gamma 20, Unigor 380 or 390, Rishab RishMulti 20 (but have less functions)I had the AvoMeter clone, and a Metrahit 28s the input protection is slightly different in parts, it loose the cat IV specs ... but same quality fuses.Slow in display speed, but incredible features not found on recent meters, ditched my flukes, they lost me with the 83 series 5 models (ac modes by default, erk could not stand it).Now added an Gossen 29s to my collection.

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 08:08:22 pm
content: The first Agilent handheld DMM's where relabeldRecordsEscort's (if I remember the name well) until Agilent bought the company

author: lem_ix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 08:28:11 pm
content: Think it was Escort actually.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 08:32:42 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on January 13, 2018, 07:24:51 pmAvoMeter M3045 - absolutely no google hits for me?The last digital AVO I remember after some research is the AVO DA116. I had one of these AVO meters back in 1989/90 and it was insane compared to handheld DMMs like a Fluke. However I have since learned it was actually of 1977 vintage and used the same hand wound and calibrated resistors of the AVO 8 which does excuse its similar massive bulk.Elektrotanya has the manual with schematicsI zapped mine on an old Philips G8 HT supply that went to the diode "tripler" to produce EHT. An AVO 8 could cope with the HT no problem. That sprung cutout could deal with anything

author: ModemHead
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 08:42:29 pm
content: Speaking of Agilent, here's an interesting re-brand for you. It's a Fluke 19 with "Agilent 977A" on the front.

author: Zeitkind
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 08:47:28 pm
content: Quote from: Alex P on January 13, 2018, 03:13:56 pmYeah, right. But nothing really changed (for Fluke or Tek), because they span off all tech related parts.. ^^Fortive has ~80% institutional owners, it's just another big mixed tech company. Doesn't really matter if the owner is called Danaher or Fortive or "Fantasy Name Inc".

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 08:57:49 pm
content: @Macbeth bought from an EEvblog member ...

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 09:44:27 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on January 13, 2018, 08:57:49 pmVery interesting. Megger own the AVO brand. Perhaps this is some prototype marketing of the old AVO label?I've tried Google, Bing and duckduckgo and can't find the M3045S for sale or images anywhere other thanebay sale.There are plenty of "part number aggregation" websites that just waste everyones time with shit results and are internet cancer that google should deal with instead of diversity bollocks.

author: Zeitkind
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2018, 11:37:36 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on January 13, 2018, 09:44:27 pmlook @www.maxtechinst.com.hk/product/pdf/megger/M3000.pdf

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 01:30:02 am
content: Quote from: Zeitkind on January 13, 2018, 11:37:36 pmThank you Zeitkind, I was particularly amused at this:AVOwins-DMM Software• Runs underMS Windows 3.0+, 95 & NTThat seriously dates it for sure (1995!) - Megger tried to use all that was left of AVO (their brand) and it appears they failed.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 02:36:17 am
content: oh oh, found another Gossen 28s clone, from Dranetz a DranTech ULTRA ...on google : drantech-ultra-brochure-rev3.pdf

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 05:50:45 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on January 14, 2018, 02:36:17 amDranetz is owned by Gossen Metrawatt. So it's the same meter with different labels and boot color (light blue for Dranetz and dark green for Gossen).FWIW, the bottom image is the current model, while the Dranetz is the previous model.

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 08:45:41 am
content: Brymen are also sold under "Elma" brand in scandinavia. They are in a green holster;https://elma.dk/produkter/el-maaleudstyr.aspx?FGroupID=1-130070&SortBy=

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 09:00:16 am
content: Quote from: ModemHead on January 13, 2018, 08:42:29 pmWoah!From:http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/gallery/agilent-977a/

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 09:21:40 am
content: Back before HP was renamed to Agilent, they sold meters from the same numbering sequence, 973A and 974A. They were made by a HP-Yokogawa partnership in Japan.

author: Zeitkind
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 01:34:09 pm
content: Dranetz sells Gossen multimeters for ages.. prob. because Gossen owns Dranetz? ^^"Dranetz is owned by Gossen Metrawatt (GMC-I), a world leader in test and measurement instrumentation. Dranetz is the authorized distributor of Gossen Metrawatt products in North, Central and South America."

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2018, 02:25:46 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 13, 2018, 02:07:20 amThat or add a column to wytnucls' excellent spreadsheet.

author: fergch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2018, 12:56:14 am
content: Another re-brand of a Fluke 17/19 is the Maplin Pro2 Multimeter that I wrote about herehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/maplin-pro2-multimeter-rebadged-fluke-1719/msg811189/#msg811189This looks like the Agilent 977A shown on Mr. ModemHead but in the case of the Maplin Pro2 the re-brand is the Fluke 17...

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 18, 2018, 02:37:36 am
content: Here in Canada, Canadian Tire has these rebranded 4000-count DMM's currently on-sale for $20 USD (35 CDN). Members say it's a Colluck but this one's new for 2018 and I can't anything remotely like it on the website. Maybe the new shell is exclusive to CTire, or maybe they've switched suppliers? Interesting that it can do freq. all the way up to 10Mhz.. Perhaps I should buy one and send it to Joe so he can add-in some lacking fireworks we used to get on his YT channel.

author: Markus2801A
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 11:27:39 am
content: Hello folks!I would like to take up this topic again. Started a new Topic coveringgraphical Multimetersmost of them which also offer COLOR Display.It is obvious that there are many rebranded models so I think it would be helpful to creat an actual list containing OEM Manufacturers and rebranded types of them!IN future I will update this Post to include new replies and knowledge provided buy other users who reply to this one:So if I understood right, the following Companies make their own Multimeters, left row, and rebranded types are in the right row:OEMSub-BrandownedReBrand`sFlukeTektronix, Beha-AmprobeChauvin ArnouxMetrixGossen MetrawattDranetzSiemens, Avometer, UnigorKeysightAgilentAPPAIdeal, Greenlee, RS Pro (aka Iso-Tech), Jensen, Westward, Benning, some Tektronix and Megger meters, plus other brands.BrymenGrennlee, Extech, ELMAC.E.M.RS Pro (aka Iso-Tech),PeakTech?HiokiKyoritsuDER EETonghuiYokogawaSanwaMastechUEI Test instruments

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 01:17:51 pm
content: As someone else said before, there are too many to count, but it would be an interesting list.One important OEM missing from your list is Mastech - there's also UEI (121GW is from them), Uni-T, Bside (I think) that has also rebrands such as Aneng, Richmeters, etc.As for brands, Minipa has meters from Brymen, Uni-T and Mastech and maybe CEM. Another brand is Icel, which has CEM and maybe Mastech. Anprobe has both original and rebrands.Digging through such list is a very involving work, but it may be quite interesting.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 02:43:33 pm
content: Of the Amprobe branded meters I have looked at, two are made by UNI-T and the other Brymen.Fluke is a subsidiary of Fortive.Amprobe is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation.Maybe because there is still something to squeeze out of Fluke?

author: malagas_on_fire
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 03:25:57 pm
content: other rebrand off uni-t is tenmaeg for the uni-t 61Ehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EID8TI0/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_IGEUCbYRETTMWBy the looks of their website they are focused in electrical stuff , but not much details

author: threephase
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 04:01:38 pm
content: Extech is a brand of Flir, who are the parent company I believe. Extech are predominantly CEM rebrands, but some of the Flir instruments also look suspiciously like CEM, but do not seem to have exact models.Di-LOG are another brand that use predominantly CEM instruments.RS Components have their own RS Pro brand, which was the old Iso-Tech brand, they have a mixture of CEM and Appa Technology instruments.Megger own the AVO brand, they certainly do some of their own instrument design, but that may be more towards the electrical test side. Some of their meters are close to Appa Technology styling.Sonel, a Polish Company are another own manufacturer, I cannot place who makes their multi-meters or if they are their own design.https://www.sonel.pl/en/products/devices/others/multimeters/Metrel from Slovenia manufacture their own instruments, but are more towards the electrical test sector.https://www.metrel.si/en/shop/DMM/All-Sun are another Chinese meter OEM with a large multimeter range.http://www.all-sun.com/EN/p.aspx?px=1Kind regards

author: Markus2801A
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 04:17:08 pm
content: Puh there are so many, its really almost impossible to list them and to keep the overview. But together we can make it! :-)So APPA and C.E.M. seem to be big players in manufacturing Multimeters for a dozens other Companies, which only rebrand them?!

author: smithnerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 04:26:59 pm
content: Quote from: threephase on April 19, 2019, 04:01:38 pmI think Metrel handhelds are all Brymens.At the time that Dave's BM235 came out, I did wonder if 'eevblog blue' might be a little too close to 'metrel blue' for comfort.

author: Markus2801A
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 04:34:59 pm
content: Can we also do/create some ranking like "best OEM Manufacturer" for Multimeters? Considering Build Quality, accuracy, durability etc.You know like the car manufacturers: high Quality but pricey is BMW, VW, etc. and lower Quality would be Renault, Opel etc.

author: threephase
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 05:00:32 pm
content: Quote from: smithnerd on April 19, 2019, 04:26:59 pmGood spot, they do indeed look the same, clamp meter offerings from Metrel also look like Brymen. I wonder who makes the insulation testers and power analysers from Metrel, as they look fairly unique?Kind regards.

author: Markus2801A
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 06:26:00 pm
content: I tried to do some visual comparison, hope you like it :-)Of course its not complete, to many Types und SubTypes from different RE-Brands etc.

author: Markus2801A
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2019, 05:30:04 pm
content: Can anyone confirm Benning MM12 is the same as APPA 506B?http://www.appatech.com/en/product-553883/APPA-500-SERIES-MULTIMETERS-APPA-506-506B.htmlhttps://www.benning.de/products-us/testing-measuring-and-safety-equipment/digital-multimeter/benning-mm-12.htmlTIA!:-)

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2024, 10:56:40 pm
content: new one come up today from GermanyRare to find ... v 1.52 in itwith a brother i got a week ago, expensive hobby i have

author: Bobson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2024, 03:02:54 am
content: Quote from: David Hess on January 13, 2018, 01:15:23 amAt least some Tektronix DMMs were designed and made by Escort (later bought by Agilent).

author: Bobson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2024, 03:06:39 am
content: Quote from: threephase on April 19, 2019, 04:01:38 pmA lot Sonels are rebadged CEM.

author: PushUp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2024, 04:48:57 am
content: Here are some further rebadged DMMS...Funny to see, that "B&K Precision" now switched to APPA, whereas other brands like Voltcraft and partly Benning with their lower range DMMs, for example, left them...B&K Precision with their "new" DMM-Range: 390B, 391B, 393B and 394B (ProcessDMM):https://www.bkprecision.com/products/multimeters?category_type=Handheldhttps://www.tme.eu/de/katalog/digitalmultimeter_112609/?queryPhrase=B%26K%20Precision%2039Cheers!

author: LeonR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2024, 01:52:47 pm
content: Quote from: Markus2801A on April 19, 2019, 11:27:39 amIIRC Yokogawa multimeters are made by Kyoritsu.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2024, 03:45:48 pm
content: Gossen = Rishabh Rish, Dranetz, T Com / T-Com / Deutshe Telekom, Tif (this one is new ?), Unigor, Avometer, Siemens ...that's what i've found so fargrabbing a few here and there ...

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2024, 05:35:32 pm
content: Why would you care?I don't buy rebranded meters, simply because you have less insight of what it actually is. 20 years ago you were sort of limited to what was locally available, but now it's just as easy to directly buy the OEM meters.Once I was tempted to buy an UT 61, but Uni-T meters are apparently a bit hit or miss concerning quality, and the last straw was that the contents of the UT-61 vary depending on where you buy it. (The Chinese versions hardly have any MOV's inside).Once I was interested in the 121GW (although that is also "rebranded") and I still would have bought it if the firmware was officially open sourced, but the closed software made me hesitate.Then I asked myself what I find really important in an EUR200 DMM, and I considered reliability and accuracy more important then fancy measurements and I choose the Brymen BM869s.

author: PushUp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2024, 11:48:52 pm
content: Just an old find, which may change your mind:Last week I bought an used "Chauvin Arnouix C.A 5289" via our local ebay (now called "Kleinanzeigen"). Some years ago I sold my Agilent U1272A as I am still happy with my Keysight U1273A, but the settings of the C.A 5289 reminds me of the good old Agilent, so that I am quite sure that one of those - maybe Chauvin Arnoux (sorry CA, if I am mistaken!) - is a rebadge?!This time, however, I prefer the rebadged DMM C.A 5289 as I am no fan of the button design and colour of description of this Agilent/Keysight. Both can measure up to 500 MOhm resistance and up to 100 mF capacitance, which was the reason for me to buy it, as all new DMMs are not able to reach these values anymore - don't know why???...and yes I have enough LCR-Meters, to prevent a longterm discussion about the use of DMMs having this ability, because no one can deny the fact that it is still useful being able to measure capacitance, to get a fast overview before going any deeper in measurement... ;-)...but other than that, I don't know the inner values in order to compare any further...perhaps some other users have any better information about it...The build quality and feel is simply perfect - even after all this time!Cheers!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 25, 2024, 12:02:03 am
content: Quote from: Doctorandus_P on June 24, 2024, 05:35:32 pmThe 121GW is not just another "rebranded" meter. Kane Test and myself did the design, and they manufacture it. But it's not just an existing design "rebranded".If you are interested:The BM235 and BM786 are "rebranded" in the sense that the design already existed.

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2024, 12:24:38 am
content: Quote from: helius on January 14, 2018, 09:21:40 amNo HP for sure, Yokogawa more likely, still could be a SOAR design.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2024, 01:17:55 am
content: Quote from: shakalnokturn on June 25, 2024, 12:24:38 amCould you express yourself more clearly? The meters are branded HP, made in Japan by YEW, and the two companies had a joint venture at that time (that was wholly responsible for several instruments including the 4260A).The 973A and 974A were sold in Yokogawa livery as the 7537 and 7544.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2024, 10:34:51 am
content: Quote from: Doctorandus_P on June 24, 2024, 05:35:32 pmYou contradict yourself. You say why should you care? Then you said you don't buy rebranded meters. If you don't care how would you know which is rebranded which is not? And if you don't know how do you avoid buying rebranded meter? As others have listed it's quite difficult to be sure which is rebranded which is not.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2024, 12:45:45 pm
content: I have been told that APPA made the handheld multimeters that Tektronix had before Fluke sued them, and there is some resemblance, but that the design was custom.One feature I like, that is not present on current APPA multimeters, or any others, is having an OFF position at both ends of the rotary switch travel.

author: Sensorcat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2024, 08:45:54 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on June 26, 2024, 12:45:45 pmMy first DMM, decades ago, had a push button for on/off. Advantages:For those who use the same function all the time, it is always the first to access. The whole debate whether that should be DC or AC volts becomes superfluous.Less wear on the rotary switch.True one-hand operation of even the lightest DMM (for your main function), because you don't rotate the meter with the switch when turning on or off.Now I have a DMM that is better than the first one in anything but this. The pushbutton is hard to find today, limits the choice of models too much.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2024, 08:58:10 pm
content: Quote from: Sensorcat on June 26, 2024, 08:45:54 pmManual ranging DMMs tend to use a separate control for power because their rotary function switch has so many more settings, but with an automatic ranging meter, if the rotary control is also for power, then it should have an OFF position at both ends of travel.I just thought it odd that none of the current or older APPA meters that I could find have this feature, when they included it on the Tektronix models, although not all of them, that they produced.The situation reminds me of features in battery powered hand drills. Long ago Black and Decker included levels on their drill, and later Craftsman did also. This is a very handy feature, yet practically nobody includes levels now after any patent would have run out. I glued a couple of 2D levels to my Milwaukee drills.