Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2014 21:09:47 -0400
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: End of Draft: Analog VOMs for vans, was Re: AFM test readings
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[Post rejected for length, so splitting it in half]
Part 2 [works better if you read part 1 first]:
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Ok, back to specific meters, starting with some $60-and-up ones:
UEI (Importer is Universal Enterprises Inc of Beaverton) M110A, $60
from Transcat in Portland OR (according to the Simpson website for
Oregon Simpson distributors. Their website is showing an address in
Rochester NY); $50 from Amazon - 30 kohms/V DC, 60 mV DC lowest
range, +/-3%FS DC, no high amps, ohms range is five ohms center-scale
which is unusually low; 2 AA and a 9V battery for the high ohms
scale. Ohms ranges are x1, x10, x100 and x10K. Interesting
combination that should give good readability/accuracy on low ohms
and still have a scale that's useful up to a couple hundred
kohms.**** Plain but clear markings, all voltage/current ranges are
some factor of ten of 30/60/120 meter scales. Supposed to be aimed
toward HVAC service. I'd ask Transcat what they think of it as it
seems to be their cheapest analog meter other than one or two of the
little $20 pocket ones I described at the beginning, but it looks
like a good bet.
http://www.transcat.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?itemnum=M110A
http://www.transcat.com/PDF/M110A.pdf
http://www.amazon.com/UEi-Test-Instruments-M110A-Multimeter/dp/B000S94IBU
****Analog meter ohms scales are calibrated on a log scale with
resolution best at the low end of the scale, and a change at the high
end corresponding to the entire first half of the scale being a mere
twitch of the pointer. This one quotes two megohms for the high-ohms
scale but the difference between one megohm and two megohms is
possibly an eighth of an inch while the range between 0 and 50
kilohms on the same scale is half the pointer swing.
Hioki 3030-10, $110 from Transcat and same price from Amazon - 20
kohm/VDC, +/-2.5%FS DC, three volt resistance, no high-amps). Comes
with hard case. Clear markings, all voltage and current ranges are
some factor of ten of the 6/12/30 scales.
I bought a little Hioki digital volt-ohmmeter pen in Singapore in
1985 and it served me well for years until the calibration started
going nuts in humid weather. So they've been around for a while, and
they still make a somewhat similar but much fancier pen which
Transcat are willing to do calibration services on it for more money
than it costs to start with. So I'm betting that they're not too
bad. Back in '85 they were made in Japan, dunno now.
http://www.transcat.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?itemnum=3030.10
http://www.transcat.com/catalog/productdetail.aspx?itemnum=3246
They're quoting a month delivery on both of those, so they must order
them in as needed. Amazon has the 3030-10 in stock.
You could still get a brand new Simpson 260, or better a 160 which is
their hand-held meter (taut-band, 20 kilohm per volt DC, 5k AC, same
as the 260 but smaller and fewer ranges, no high-amp range). It's
got a x10K resistance range though, so in Simpson tradition it uses
both an AA cell and a 22.5 volt Eveready 505 battery that costs ten
bucks. It's included with the meter, which it should be for
$300-plus from Transcat. Various flavors of 260 run from $265 to over $500.
http://www.simpsonelectric.com/images/File/datasheets/160.pdf
http://www.simpsonelectric.com/images/File/datasheets/2608.pdf
http://www.transcat.com/Catalog/ProductSearch.aspx?SearchType=Combo&Mfg=Simpson+Electric&Cat=MM&SubCat=M4
- click on sort by price for most coherent view.
Ok, those are all the analog meters Transcat carry. I used them as
a source because they have their own calibration service and are
authorized distributors for Simpson which is a US brand with a
reputation to maintain that goes back to before WWII. Here are a few
more possibilities:
Triplett 310 (or 310C with polarity switch). Amazon lists one for
around $120. 20 kohm/volt but the approaching the size of the
cheapie 2k/V meters (Triplett calls it "hand-sized"). 3 VDC
scale. This meter has been around forever, Triplett and Simpson are
the big US meter builders from way back. It's currently in version
8. However:
The midscale reading on low ohms is 200 ohms. This lets them give
you a nominal 20 megohms on x1k scale, but is a lousy choice for low
resistances you may encounter around the van.
The new versions (8 and maybe 7) have complaints against them from
old-timers that they've been cheapened and lightened and the ohms
adjust doesn't work properly, hard to zero. But they use a cheapish
and available 12v battery for the high ohms scale, the same one
that's used in car key fobs, garage door openers and such.
The old versions are held in reverence by all who use them, but they
use an expensive and maybe hard to find 15v battery. You pays yer
money and you takes yer choice.
http://www.amazon.com/Triplett-Analog-Volt-Ohm-Ranges-Functions/dp/B0002E1JRW
http://www.triplett.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/310%20T8%20Manual%2084-870.pdf
Sanwa meters - Sanwa claim to be the leading Japanese maker of meters
of all sorts. I expect their quality is excellent, no idea of
price. I've seen reports of counterfeit versions of Sanwa meters
coming from China so you may want to buy directly from their US agent:
TECHNOMETERS LLC
1449 WRIGHSTOWN RD.
NEWTOWN PA 18940
Mr. Luis Margules
Tel : +1 215 968 3689
Mail : ventas@radiosurtidora.com
Canadian agent is:
Bhumika International Inc.
1408 Alboro Crescent,
Ottawa, Ontario, K1J 8B7,
Canada
Tel: +1 613 619 0894
Fax: +1 416 930 2931
Mail: info@bhumika.ca
Website : http://www.bhumika.ca/
Here's info direct from Sanwa about the counterfeiting
http://overseas.sanwa-meter.co.jp/technology/imitationwarning.php and
a pdf in .zip form with more specifics here:
http://overseas.sanwa-meter.co.jp/technology/imitation.zip . Between
the two of them you'll be able to tell right away if you've been screwed.
Sanwa TA55 - Aimed at automotive market, has .5 and 3 amp DC and a
special 30 amp DC range (unfused, five seconds with two-minute
cooldown) and 10 ohm continuity buzzer, special sixteen VDC range
with its own scale, 300 amp clamp-on available as
accessory. Taut-band meter movement (shock-resistant, no bearings to
crack or stick), labeled "drop proof" on the meter face. Has a tilt
stand. 20k/V, 0.3 VDC lowest scale. Slightly larger than most of
above meters, about six inches tall. Markings are extremely clear
and coded red/blue/green/white to match the red/blue/green/black
meter scales. The ranges marked in white have their own special
scales and all the rest are powers of ten of their matching-colored
12/60/300 scales. The control switch is simple because the highest
DC range is 60 volts and AC volts only have 30/120/300. It's still
usable around the house but it's strongly aimed at automotive
use. Ohms uses two AA cells. I think this would be a great meter
for van use if you can stand the price.
http://overseas.sanwa-meter.co.jp/items/detail.php?id=52 . I saw it
for $85 on ebay shipping from China so I assume that's a counterfeit;
so I expect the proper price is higher. Manual
http://www.sanwa-meter.co.jp/prg_data/goods/img/PH41341909961.pdf
I finally found a decent image of this meter, at
http://blog-imgs-23-origin.fc2.com/6/6/t/66tool/ta55-45.jpg . I
suspect that Sanwa are deliberately only publishing crummy images to
make it a bit harder for counterfeiters but I don't know, maybe
they're just humble.
Sanwa YX360TRF - Hard front cover and internal lead
storage. Taut-band meter movement, advertised drop proof. 20k/V,
0.1 VDC. Has +/- 5 and /- 25V zero-center scales. General-purpose
meter with some very nice touches, and the zero-center scales are
downright unusual (and don't forget to turn the meter away from those
ranges when you aren't using them, or you'll run down the
battery). Ohms ranges are marked with the maximum current the
properly zeroed meter will deliver on each range (150 mA on x1 range,
going down proportionally on higher ranges). Markings are very clear
except AC volt ranges are marked in red and may have low contrast
against the dark gray case. Meter face is very clear and readable
with 10/50/250 scales and a special scale marked for both zero-center
ranges. However the 750 VAC range has to use the your pick of the
three scales multiplied by your chosen factor (3/15/75). I hate that
but it's not a range you'll use much and the meter face would get
crowded if it was there so it was probably the right choice. The
other thing I don't like is that the leads appear to be built
in. That's not all bad but on a meter this far from its home it
might or might not be trivial to replace them if damaged (it can't be
too terrible, presumably they're soldered in or have screw terminals
and other leads can be adapted if necessary). Ebay price for
?counterfeit?
$50-60. http://overseas.sanwa-meter.co.jp/items/detail.php?id=308#
Face: http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7875/sanwa360trf1.jpg
Overall:
http://img01.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploaded/i1/T1rLOgXgddXXaUzjw8_101207.jpg
Going well down the food chain: Amico MF47A, $18 and free ship
through Amazon. Very capable meter for the price and liked by
reviewers except for range markings. 20k/V DC, 0.25 VDC, unfused 10A
DC scale with ten second limit. Can measure capacitors using ohms
ranges and separate scale. 2xAA plus 9V battery for high ohms. Main
meter scales are uncrowded and clear, all ranges some factor of ten
of 10/50/250 scales. Control face is sensibly laid out but crowded
because of many ranges, and ranges are marked in black, blue, and
red-brown (?) on dull blue background. I wouldn't want to read it in
the dark. Still, this is by far the most meter for the least money
that I've seen so far, it has a high-amp range which is unusual for
such a meter, and the meter itself is supremely readable. The DC
voltage and current ranges are marked with the actual internal
resistance for each range, which is a very nice touch that I've never
seen before. At least two knowledgeable users like it and had no
complaints about build quality. Somebody who cared thought about the
layout of the meter face and the meter's capabilities, and it boasts
about the city it comes from (Nanjing). I suspect someone put his
heart into this. At the price it seems hard to lose, so I just
bought one and will advise further when it arrives.
For twice the price there's the MF47C with a continuity buzzer and a
couple of LEDs for some sort of pulse testing feature; and black
range markings on what might be brushed aluminum. Comes with a hard
case
http://www.amazon.com/Amico-Voltage-Current-Testing-Multimeter/dp/B00975UH4I
(different seller). And the MF47F which has the buzzer and
mysterious pulse function but lacks battery check and may or may not
have a five-amp range instead of ten amp. There seem to be a number
of minor variations of these things available from Amazon seller
uxcell based in Hong Kong.
Mastech YX-360TRe-b, $15 from Amazon, claims list price of $150
<snerk>. This meter wants to pretend it's a Sanwa YX360TRF, but it's
not even close, though a resemblance is clearly intended and there
are counterfeit Sanwa markings on the meter face.. The so-called
list price is a, er, lie. But for $15 the users seem to like it. 20
kohm/V DC, claims +/- 3% on DC, .25 VDC lowest scale, D'arsonval
movement instead of the Sanwa's taut-band. No zero-center
scales. Readable markings, meter face easy to read with main scales
10/50/250. All ranges a power of ten of one of them. No idea what
it takes for batteries. One reviewer said the leads were flimsy but
the meter not bad. Claims fuse and diode protection but see what
Sanwa thinks of that in the pdf zipped at
http://overseas.sanwa-meter.co.jp/technology/imitation.zip . Worth
considering in the price
range.
http://www.amazon.com/Mastech-Analogue-multimeter-continuity-YX-360TRe-b/dp/B005UTGO6U/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_4
Dawson DAN120, $28 at Amazon. Liked by reviewers, reasonable build
quality according to them. 20 kohm/V DC, 2.5 VDC lowest scale. Has
ten-amp scale and continuity buzzer. Nicely readable markings and
meter face, ranges coincide with 10/50/250 meter scales. Fifty ohms
midscale which is a bit high but certainly usable, most of these
meters run in the 20-30 region.
http://www.amazon.com/Dawson-DAN120-Analog-Multimeter/dp/B0089DXOLW/ref=pd_sbs_indust_5
Sinometer 7030 hybrid analog/digital meter, $30 at Amazon. Most
reviewers liked it. However! It's not really a hybrid, it's a
regular digital meter with a driver that pushes the digital value out
to the pointer every second or so. Interesting but completely
useless for our
purposes.
http://www.amazon.com/Sinometer-8-Function-20-Range-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B000JJMIX4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_8
Ok, I could go on doing this forever but I've had enough.
The End
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