DMM Mustool X3

A clamp meter from Mustool that can only measure AC current.

I got the meter in a generic clamp meter brown cardboard box with very little information on.

Inside the box was a pouch with everything in it, except the manual that did not fit in the pouch.

It included the DMM, a pair of probes, a thermocoupler and a manual.



The probes are unbranded and marked for 1000V CATIII, but they do not have the partial tip cover.

The shrouded plug is the slightly short variety.




Flashlight is at the bottom of the meter, not the best position for a clamp meter.




There is access to the electronic inside the battery box, but it do not look like calibration terminals (Maybe on another model).
Display

The above picture shows all the segments on the display, not all are used.

Typical display during usage, it will show the number and what measurement is selected.

Meter is in auto mode, where it will automatic change to current, voltage or ohm.

In NCV mode it shows bars depending on field strength, but it is not very sensitive, a live mains wire (230VAC) touching the clamp only got me one bar.
Functions

The list of functions do fully not match the sequence they are selected in.
Buttons:

: Change mode: Auto/VDC/VAC/Continuity/Diode/Capacity/Celsius/Fahrenheit, hold down to turn on off.
: Turn flashlight on/off.

• NCV: Hold down to activate non contact voltage detection
  
• HOLD: Press to freeze display, hold down to turn background light on.
  

• COM: The common terminal
  
• xxx: The positive terminal.
  

• Volt and frequency
  
  
  
  • 1 VAC is 5% down at 2.1kHz (RMS will not work at the frequency).
    
  • Input impedance is 820kOhm on DC and AC
    
  • Initial range selection is a auto mode with ohm, continuity, volt DC/AC and ampere AC.
    
  • Auto will show VAC from about 0.47V and VDC from about 0.45V
    
  • Overload protection 700VDC or 500VAC peak
    
  
  
• Current
  
  
  
  • Ampere range will kick in when measuring above 0.10A (Display shows 0.15A, but will drop)
    
  • Clamp can handle about ø27mm
    
  
  
• Ohm, Continuity, diode and capacitance
  
  
  
  • Ohm needs about 1s to measure 100ohm (This is very fast for an auto ranging meter)
    
  • Ohm is 0.4V open and 0.15mA shorted
    
  • Continuity in auto mode is very slow (About 1.2s).
    
  • Continuity in continuity mode is very fast (About 10ms).
    
  • Continuity beeps when resistance is below 50ohm (Both modes).
    
  • Continuity is 0.6V open and 0.33mA shorted
    
  • Diode range uses 3.2V, max. display is 3.000V at 0.07mA, max. current is 1.0mA shorted
    
  • 10uF takes about 6.5 seconds to measure.
    
  • 11000uF takes about 13 seconds to measure.
    
  • 70000uF takes about 15 seconds to measure.
    
  • Overload protection 700VDC or 500VAC peak
    
  
  
• Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  • Current consumption of meter is from 1.5mA to 3.5mA in continuity (11mA with backlight, 11mA with flashlight and 16mA with both).
    
  • Meter works down to 2.2V where it turns off, battery symbol shows at 2.4V.
    
  • Reading is stable until meter turns off
    
  • Backlight fades with voltage and works down to where meter turns off.
    
  • Flashlight fades with voltage and works down to where meter turns off.
    
  • The meter usual need a couple of display update to reach the final value.
    
  • Viewing angle is good.
    
  • Display updates around 3 times/sec
    
  • Backlight will automatic turn off in about 15 seconds.
    
  • Flashlight will not automatic turn off, but turns off with the meter.
    
  • Will automatic turn power off in about 15 minutes.
    
  • Standard probes cannot be pushed fully down.
    
  • Weight is 194g without accessories, but with batteries.
    
  • Size is 179 × 67 × 33mm
    
  
  
• Probes
  
  
  
  • Probe resistance 48mOhm for one.
    
  • Probe wire is fairly soft and 74cm long.
    
  
  

Hantek CC-65 Current Clamp

This is a high sensitivity current clamp with a BNC connector for use with both multimeters and oscilloscopes.
Specifications:

• DC current (low range): 1.5%+5mA 10mA to 20A
  
• DC current (high range): 2%+20mA 100mA to 40A
  
• DC current (high range): 4%+300mA 40mA to 65A
  
• AC current (low range): 2%+30mA 100mA to 10A 40Hz ~ 2kHz
  
• AC current (low range): 4%+30mA 100mA to 10A 2kHz ~ 10kHz
  
• AC current (low range): 6%+30mA 100mA to 10A 10kHz ~ 20kHz
  
• AC current (high range): 2%+30mA 100mA to 40A 40Hz ~ 1kHz
  
• AC current (high range): 4%+30mA 100mA to 40A 1kHz ~ 2kHz
  
• AC current (high range): 6%+30mA 100mA to 40A 3kHz ~ 5kHz
  
• AC current (high range): 8%+300mA 40A to 65A 40Hz ~ 20kHz
  
• Load resistance 10kOhm typical.
  

• Power consumption is 10mA in both low and high range.
  
• Low battery turns on at 6.8V, this gives an estimated runtime of 50 hours.
  
• 1V output can be maintained down to 6V battery voltage in both low and high range.
  

Clamp meter UNI-T UT258A

This is a clamp only meter, i.e. not really a DMM (Digital Multi Meter).


The meter arrived in a cardboard box.

It included the meter, a pouch, a CD, a USB/Serial cable and a manual in Chinese (A English version can be downloaded from UNI-T).







Display

The above picture shows all the segments on the display. It looks to be a standard DMM display, but this meter only uses part of it.

Typical display during usage, it will show the number and what measurement is selected.

Saving a value when pressing HOLD.
Functions

Buttons:

• Off/DC/AC: Slide the switch to desired mode.
  
• HOLD: Use short press will freeze the display and save the current value. A longer press will switch to readout mode.
  

• Zero: Turn the know to zero the current display, it is best done in DC mode.
  

• Current
  
  
  
  • The meter crashed a few times and had to be power cycled.
    
  • Both DC and AC will react on DC current, but the AC ranges show about 25% too high in one current direction.
    
  • Zero setting is common for AC and DC, but it is easier to adjust on DC due to the sign.
    
  • Clamp is rated for maximum 60A
    
  
  
• Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  • Current consumption of meter is 12.3mA
    
  • Meter works down to 3.4V where it turns off, battery symbol show at 7.4V.
    
  • Meter has a small deviation below 3.6V.
    
  • Saved values are cleared when power is turned off.
    
  • Viewing angle is good, except from top.
    
  • Display updates around 3 times/sec
    
  • Will automatic turn power off in about 5 minutes.
    
  • Weight is 219g, with batteries.
    
  • Size is 216 × 65 × 35mm
    
  
  

NITECORE NSH10 - Multiuse Titanium Snap Hook

NSH10 was sent to me directly by Nitecore for the review.
For technical details: https://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/nsh10
For the purchase: https://www.nitecorestore.com/NITECORE-NSH10-Titanium-Multi-Tool-Carabiner-p/acc-nite-nsh10.htm

How many times would we need a small sturdy and light carabiner to attach to the jeans buckle or to a backpack to have keys or other items quickly available?
The NITECORE NSH10 titanium carabiner is a light and elegant multipurpose edc carabiner. It has a precision workmanship and an elegant design with angular lines and a smooth, sandblasted fine finish, which allows a good grip.

Nitecore NSH10 is light, weighs only 7.5 grams, and is made from a single piece of titanium alloy resistant to corrosion, wear and long life.

Nitecore NSH10 has a 45 degree spring lock that is easy to handle.

Nitecore NSH10 it is easy to carry it always with you, hooked to a belt or bag loop, like a light and resistant key organizer.

Multi-tool functionality:

The NSH10 has two compartments, which can be accessed via a single latch that allows you to organize the key ring.

Two accessory functions have been added to the Nitecore NSH10 carabiner, a bottle opener and a flathead screwdriver.
These two functions are very useful and can be used on many occasions.

We see the NSH10 close to other EDCs:

CONCLUSIONS:

The Nitecore NSH10 carabiner is a light and useful multipurpose to always carry with you. You can easily and securely attach bunches of keys or other small objects. Excellent construction and the material with which it is made. Useful the bottle opener and the flat tip to be used as a screwdriver. In conclusion it is an object that I will always carry with me considering the small size and weight and the great utility it can have.

DMM Mustool MT110

A meter without a rotary range switch, mode can be selected either manually or automatically.


I got the meter in a brown cardboard box with a generic meter drawing on.

It included the DMM, a pair of probes and a manual.



The probes has is rated for CATIII, but do not include the partial tip covers required for CATIII or CAT IV.

The shrouded plug is the short variety.

The buttons requires holding some fingers behind the meter to use when on the tilting bale.











Display

The above picture shows all the segments on the display, not all are used.

Typical display when turned on, it will show VDC/VAC/Ohm as needed.

But mode can also be selected manually.

The NCV is the usual EF with four bars, buzzer and a led.
Functions

Buttons:

• : Turn flashlight on or off
  
• NCV: Hold down to activate electric field detection.
  
• Hold: Press to freeze display reading, hold down to turn backlight on.
  
• : Hold down to turn power on/off, press to change between auto/VDC/VAC/Continuity/diode/capacity
  

• 10A: Current input
  
• COM: The common terminal for all ranges.
  
• xxx: All other ranges.
  

• Volt and frequency
  
  
  
  • 1 VAC is 5% down at 2kHz (RMS will not work at the frequency).
    
  • Input impedance is about 825kOhm on DC and AC
    
  • In auto mode it will show voltage above about 0.6V
    
  • If both AC and DC is present in auto it will show the highest voltage.
    
  • Overload protection on DC is 1000VDC and 750VAC peak according to manual.
    
  
  
• Current
  
  
  
  • Meter will switch to current when the current is above 20mA on the current terminal.
    
  • Meter has audible and visual alarm when current is 10A or above.
    
  • Current is protected by a 10A/250V 5×20mm ceramic fuse.
    
  • Current ranges must only be used up to 36VDC or 25VAC
    
  
  
• Ohm, Continuity, diode and capacitance
  
  
  
  • Ohm needs about 1.68s to measure 100ohm
    
  • Ohm is 0.4V open and 0.19mA shorted
    
  • Continuity is 0.6V open and 0.19mA shorted
    
  • If voltage is detected in continuity mode the meter will switch to auto mode and show the voltage.
    
  • Continuity is very fast (below 10ms).
    
  • Continuity beeps when resistance is below 50ohm.
    
  • Continuity flashes a small red led together with the beep.
    
  • Diode range uses 3.3V, max. display is 3.000V at 0.11mA, max. current is 1.35mA shorted
    
  • 10uF takes about 7 seconds to measure.
    
  • 70000uF takes about 13 seconds to measure.
    
  • It may switch to voltage range if voltage is applied in these modes (Depends on polarity and actual voltage).
    
  
  
• Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  • Current consumption when off is below 1uA
    
  • Current consumption of meter is 1.7mA, 9.5mA with backlight or flashlight and 15mA with both.
    
  • Meter turns off at 2.2V, battery symbol show at 2.4V.
    
  • Reading is stable with changing battery voltage
    
  • Backlight & flashlight varies with voltage, but are usable until meter turns off.
    
  • The meter often shows a wrong value before the correct reading.
    
  • Viewing angle is good.
    
  • Display updates around 3 times/sec
    
  • Flashlight can be manually turn on/off and will turn off when the meter turns off.
    
  • Backlight will turn off in about 15 seconds
    
  • Will automatic turn power off after about 16 minutes
    
  • Standard probes cannot be pushed fully down.
    
  • Weight is 207g without accessories, but with rubber sleeve and batteries.
    
  • Size is 145 × 69 × 35mm with rubber sleeve.
    
  
  
• Probes
  
  
  
  • Probe resistance 50mOhm for one.
    
  • Probe wire is soft and 74cm long.
    
  
  

DMM East Tester ET3240

This is a low end bench meter with interface for computer control.


It arrives in a big very solid cardboard box with the DMM well protected inside.

It includes the meter, a manual, a calibration certificate stating that the meter is in calibration, mains cable, a pair of probes with alligator clips and spare fuses.



Standard probe, that looks like CATII types.

The plug is fully shrouded.

Isolated alligator clips to mount on the probes.

The front has the display, the buttons and the input.




The handle can be placed in many positions, but the locking is rather loose.


On the bag is mains input with a fuse, a USB connector and the mA fuse.
Display

The display uses a color LCD with a main value and a secondary display that is very well used to show secondary values selected with the blue buttons. Default secondary reading is percent of range or frequency for AC measurements.
The bottom of the screen is used to show the current settings, the blue buttons are NOT soft keys.

Adjusting some settings for MAX+B and Limits mode.

A four terminal ohm reading of a 100ohm 0.01% resistor.

Statistic.
Functions

• Stats: Select statistic mode, this works in voltage, current, resistance, capacitance and frequency.
  
• MAX+B: Show a calculated value (Y) on secondary display. Use enter and arrows to configurate multiply and sum factors.
  
• dB: Show dB relative to 1V (default) on secondary display.
  
• dBm: Show dB relative to 600ohm (default) or 0.775V on secondary display.
  
• REL: Relative mode, current value is used as reference and shown on secondary display. Will also change between 2W/4W mode with RTD sensors.
  

• DC V: DC voltage, always starts in 20V range.
  
• AC V: AC voltage.
  
• Ohm: Press once for two wire ohms and twice for four wire ohms readings.
  
• Freq/Period: Press once for frequency and twice for period.
  
• DC I: DC current.
  
• AC I: AC current.
  
• Cont: Press once for continuity and twice for diode mode.
  
• Temp: Press once for capacitance and twice for temperature. In temperature the arrows select sensor type and ENTER is used to enter the ambient temperature.
  
• AC+DC: Press SHIFT and then AC+DC to AC+DC measurement in AC voltage and current.
  
• Hold/Duty: Press to freeze reading, use SHIFT first to select duty cycle mode.
  
• Cal/Auto: Press to select auto range, use SHIFT first for calibration (6 digit password required).
  
• Trig/Ext: Press to enter single measurement mode, each press will do a new measurement. Ext is not used on this meter.
  
• Limit/Save: Press to save subsequent measurement (Works fine with TRIG). Press SHIFT first to select limits and alarm mode (Use ENTER and arrows).
  
• 1/X/MEM: Press to read the saved values, use SHIFT first to show 1/value on secondary display.
  
• Exit/Sys: Press to see/set system stuff, use SHIFT first to leave some modes.
  
• SHIFT: Must be pressed before some keys to activate the function.
  
• F1: Keyboard lock.
  
• : Arrows and ENTER are used to adjust and select values/ranges.
  

• HI: The voltage, frequency, capacitance, diode, etc. positive input.
  
• LO: The voltage, frequency, capacitance, diode, etc. negative input.
  
• HIsense: Four terminal ohm.
  
• LOsense: Four terminal ohm.
  
• 100mA: Current low input, meter is rated for 240mA on this terminal.
  
• 10A: Current high input
  

• Volt and frequency
  
  
  
  • At 100mVrms frequency input range is from 1Hz to 20MHz (The dual display voltage/frequency is limited to 120kHz).
    
  • Frequency counter can handle a DC offset of at least 9.8V when measuring 0.1Vrms (The input impedance will be fairly low).
    
  • Duty cycle works from 5% to 95% at 10kHz with 1Vpp, precision is within 3.0 (Higher input voltage do not improve readings).
    
  • 1 VAC is 5% down at 120kHz, rms will not work at this frequency (It looks like the meter applies a correction depending on the measured frequency).
    
  • Period is 1/frequency, it do not show high/low period time.
    
  • Min/max captures in about 160ms on fast speed, but requires a couple of samples.
    
  • Min/max is based on normal measurements, there is no special mode/circuit to make faster captures, this is standard for bench meters.
    
  • Meter can show dB with either 1V (Adjustable) or 600ohm (Adjustable from 1 to 9999ohm) reference level.
    
  • Input impedance is 10Mohm on the high DC ranges.
    
  • Input impedance is 1Mohm capacitive coupled on AC ranges, but DC couple when using AC+DC.
    
  • mVDC & 2VDC range is high impedance.
    
  • Frequency input is a few kOhm above 3V
    
  
  
• Current
  
  
  
  • Low current ranges is protected with a 0.5A/250V 5×20mm glass fuse accessible from outside.
    
  • High current ranges is protected with a soldered 5×20mm glass fuse.
    
  • Most current ranges has their own shunt instead of a x10 amplifier, this means better precision, but also higher voltage drop on some ranges.
    
  • mA current terminal will disconnect shortly when changing range.
    
  • There is no warning about using the wrong current input terminal, but the reading will be wrong.
    
  
  
• Ohm, Continuity, diode and capacitance
  
  
  
  • Ohm needs about 2.4s to measure 100ohm in default slow and about 1.8s on fast.
    
  • Ohm is up to 3.2V open (1V in 200Mohm range) and 0.67mA shorted
    
  • Continuity speed is moderate (About 100ms).
    
  • Continuity beeps when resistance is below 30ohm, this is adjustable from 0 to 2000ohm
    
  • Continuity is 3.3V open and 0.16mA shorted
    
  • Diode range uses 3.3V, max. display is 1.64V at 0.35mA, max. current is 0.67mA shorted
    
  • 10uF takes about 3 seconds to measure.
    
  • 1000uF takes about 16 seconds to measure.
    
  
  
• Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  • I did not find a ambient temperature compensation, the ambient temperature must be entered manually for thermocouplers.
    
  • PT & Cu sensors can both be used in 2 wire and 4 wire mode, it is changed by the REL button.
    
  • The calibration procedure is documented, but it requires a 6 digit password and that is not documented.
    
  • Power consumption when on is 4.4 watt
    
  • Viewing angle is good.
    
  • Display update speed depends on settings (2, 5, 7 / second)
    
  • Weight is 2200g including bumpers.
    
  • Size is 300 x 270 × 104mm including bumpers and handle.
    
  
  
• Probes
  
  
  
  • Probe resistance 32mOhm for one.
    
  • Probe wire is very soft and 104cm long.
    
  
  

• The manuals on the CD cannot be opened by a PDF reader.
  
• The program is in both a 32 & 64 bit version, when installing it the only thing I got was a STM serial port driver.
  
• The meter do not include any documentation for the SCPI protocol (I got it directly from Banggood).
  
• The protocol is not correct SCPI.
  
• There are some bugs in the protocol, like 200A range when selecting 2A or 10A range and missing temperature.
  
• Temperature is not supported in the SCPI protocol.
  

DMM Aneng AN82

Another Aneng meter, this time without a range switch, but with buttons.


I got the meter in a unbranded brown cardboard box with a drawing of the meter.

It included the DMM, a pair of probes, a thermocoupler, spare fuses and a manual.



The probes has removable tip covers, the tip and tip cover has the usual CAT markings.

The shrouded plug is the slightly short variety.


The thermocoupler is the standard cheap type with banana plugs.

The meter uses buttons instead of a range switch, this means it is always possible to select range with one hand (It may be necessary to hold some fingers behind the meter).









Display

The above picture shows all the segments on the display, not all are used by this meter.

Typical display during usage, in AC the small display will show the frequency or duty-cycle.
In temperature mode the large display shows Celsius and the small display shows Fahrenheit.

The NCV is the usual bars and the buzzer and also includes a red led above the display.
Functions

Buttons:

• Power: Hold down to turn meter on/off. When a lead is connected to uA or A a short press will select between AC and DC
  
• Range: First press will switch to manual ranging, press more to select range. Hold down to return to auto ranging.
  
• mV C F: Select mVAC, mVDC, Celsius & Fahrenheit
  
• H %: In AC modes this will move frequency to main display and show duty-cycle on small display. Hold down to turn flashlight on.
  
• V NCV: Select VAC, VDC, NCV
  
• Hold Rel: A short press will freeze the current reading, holding down will switch to relative readings.
  
• : Select Capacity, Diode, Continuity, ohm (Not the usually sequence).
  

• 10A: High current. Manual specifies a 15 second max. but that is not marked on the meter.
  
• uA: The uA ranges, the meter do not have a mA range.
  
• COM: The common terminal for all ranges.
  
• xxx: All other ranges.
  

• Volt and frequency
  
  
  
  • Meter defaults to AC voltage, moving between mV & V will change to AC.
    
  • At 100mVrms input frequency range is from 1.1Hz to 6MHz (Using mV range).
    
  • At 2Vrms input frequency range can be stretched to 10MHz (Using mV range).
    
  • 1 VAC is 5% down at 2kHz (RMS will not work at the frequency).
    
  • Frequency counter and duty cycle can only be selected in AC ranges.
    
  • Frequency input requires a zero crossing.
    
  • Duty cycle works from 2% to above 99% at 100kHz with 1Vpp, precision is within 0.9.
    
  • Input impedance is 10..11Mohm on VDC& VAC.
    
  • mV range is high impedance for DC up to around 1.5 volt where it drops to a few kOhm. AC is similar, but capped at 10Mohm
    
  
  
• Current
  
  
  
  • Meter defaults to AC current, moving between uA & A will change to AC.
    
  • Meter will automatic change to current ranges
    
  • Meter slowly beeps when in current ranges.
    
  • Meter beeps fast when a current range is overloaded
    
  • Meter reading changes at 10A current, I saw a shift from 9.2A to 9.9A in about a minute (Manual specify maximum measuring time above 5A as 15 seconds, but it is not marked on the meter).
    
  • Frequency counter and duty cycle can only be selected in AC ranges.
    
  • uA current is protected by a 0.2A/250V 5×20mm fuse.
    
  • 20A current is protected by a 10A/250V 5×20mm fuse.
    
  
  
• Ohm, Continuity, diode and capacitance
  
  
  
  • Ohm needs about 2.7s to measure 100ohm
    
  • Ohm is 1.1V open and 0.36mA shorted
    
  • Continuity is very fast (below 10ms).
    
  • Continuity beeps when resistance is below 50ohm.
    
  • Continuity is 1.1V open and 0.36mA shorted
    
  • Diode range uses 3.2V, max. display is 3.000V at 0.12mA, max. current is 1.5mA shorted
    
  • 10uF takes about 4.3 seconds to measure.
    
  • 70000uF takes about 9 seconds to measure.
    
  • Overload protection is rated at 250C AC/DC
    
  
  
• Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  • Current consumption of meter is around 27mA depending on range (45mA with flashlight)
    
  • Meter works down to 2.6V where it turns off, battery symbol show at 2.8V.
    
  • Battery symbol will also show occasionally with a full battery.
    
  • Reading will start to change at about 5V, change is only a few % before the meter is off.
    
  • At low battery voltage (3V), meter may have problems with ranges, I have seen 816V on the meter with 10V input.
    
  • Backlight will start to fade at 5V, display is readable below 3V when ambient light is low.
    
  • Flashlight brightness follows backlight in voltage sensitivity.
    
  • The meter usual need a couple of display update to reach the final value.
    
  • Viewing angle is good, except from the top.
    
  • Display updates around 3 times/sec
    
  • Flashlight will automatic turn off in about 15 seconds.
    
  • Will automatic turn power off in about 15 minutes.
    
  • Standard probes cannot be pushed fully down.
    
  • Weight is 290g without accessories, but with rubber sleeve and batteries.
    
  • Size is 160 × 78 × 47mm with rubber sleeve.
    
  
  
• Probes
  
  
  
  • Probe resistance 60mOhm for one.
    
  • Probe wire is soft and 91cm long.
    
  
  

DMM Aneng M10

This is a cheap DMM with all common function.

I got it in a plastic envelope.

The meter and all accessories was protected in a pouch.

It included the DMM, a pair of probes and a manual.


The standard probes has removable tip covers.

The shrouded plug is the slight short type.

The meter is very light and smooth, i.e. it always requires some counter force when using the rotary switch.




Display

The above picture shows all the segments on the display. Not all are used.

Typical display during usage, it will show the number and what measurement is selected.
Functions

Buttons:

• Select: Select the ranges printed with yellow
  
• Hold: Freeze the display, hold down to turn backlight on.
  

• Off: Meter is turned off
  
• V: Show voltage, using the yellow button will change between VDC and VAC
  
• mV: Show millivolt, using the yellow button will cycle between VDC and VAC
  
• ohm: Resistance, continuity, diode and capacitance
  
• Hz: Frequency and duty cycle (Use SELECT to change).
  
• A: High current DC and AC.
  
• mA: Low current DC and AC, due to the PTC protection this range only works up to 200mA
  
• Off: Meter is turned off
  

• A: High current ranges
  
• COM: The common terminal for all ranges.
  
• xxx: All other ranges, including mA. The maximum of 200mA is marked here.
  

• Volt and frequency
  
  
  
  • 1 VAC is 5% down at 2.4kHz (RMS will not work at the frequency).
    
  • At 1Vrms input frequency range is from 1.1Hz to 6MHz
    
  • At 2Vrms input frequency range can be stretched to 14MHz
    
  • Input impedance is 10-11Mohm on DC and AC
    
  • mV range is 5Mohm up to about 2V then it drops to a few kOhm, depending on voltage.
    
  • Frequency counter and duty cycle works without zero crossing in Hz range.
    
  • Duty cycle works from 5% to above 95% at 100kHz with 4Vpp (1Vpp do not work), precision is within 0.7.
    
  • Hz input impedance is 1Mohm up to about 2V where it is clamped after the PTC
    
  
  
• Current
  
  
  
  • uA range is protected with 200mA PTC.
    
  • 10A range is unfused.
    
  • 10A range has audible alarm at 20A
    
  
  
• Ohm, continuity, diode and capacitance
  
  
  
  • Ohm needs about 2.7s to measure 100ohm
    
  • Ohm voltage is 1.05V open and 0.31mA shorted
    
  • Continuity is fast (About 15ms).
    
  • Continuity beeps when resistance is below 50ohm.
    
  • Continuity is 2.11V open and 0.31mA shorted
    
  • Diode voltage is 3.96V, display up to 3.3V with 0.34mA, maximum current is 2.0mA shorted
    
  • 10uF takes about 2.2 seconds to measure.
    
  • 11000uF takes about 9 seconds to measure.
    
  
  
• Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  • Current consumption of meter is 1.1mA to 2.4mA depending on range (6mA with backlight)
    
  • Meter works down to 2.2V where it turns off, battery symbol show at 2.3V.
    
  • Readings are stable with changing battery voltage.
    
  • Backlight only works down to about 2.6V where it is fairly dim.
    
  • Viewing angle is good, except from the top.
    
  • Display updates around 3 times/sec
    
  • Backlight will automatic turn off in about 30 seconds.
    
  • Plugs with full size shroud cannot be fully seated.
    
  • Will automatic turn power off in about 16 minutes.
    
  • The meter usual will show the final value in one or two display updates.
    
  • Weight is 119g without accessories, but with batteries.
    
  • Size is 130 × 70 × 31mm
    
  
  
• Probes
  
  
  
  • Probe resistance 52mOhm for one.
    
  • Probe wire is fairly soft and 67cm long.
    
  
  

Despite being one of the largest flashlight manufacturers, Nitecore`ve created (and will do) bunch different products for EDC / tactical enthusiasts. Usually, these are good-loooking , limited-edition and, therefore, quite expensive things.

For example, here are my reviews of the Nitecore NTK10 titanium utility knife, NTP30 \ Nitecore NTP40

Nitecore NTP31 official page

you can buy at :
ALIEXPRESS
BANGGOOD
AMAZON NTP31

PACKAGEANDAPPEARANCE

Decent-looking black velvety packaging with silvery embossed contour of pen and model name. Definetely ok to give such box away as a gift.

The pen looks pretty good. Even if it does not have any really frank design pretentiousness such as cut holes of the same NTP48, I am very impressed with this accurate laconic design. A neat brushed aluminum body will match office suit perfectly.

The only part that will distinguish NTP31 from its “peaceful” office cousins ​​is the spring-loaded switch. Move it slightly – wide and short thungsten glass breaker spike comes out from the upper part.

Of course, there are no backlashes, gaps or any other manufacturing and assembly defects at all. All moving parts moves smoothly.

I did not hit glass with this spike (here I have no doubt that it will break through any regular glass), but it is easy to drive it into the wood. And into flesh, of course, when it is about adding some arguments to your “There is no XHP90 LED!” bar brawl.

The grip is quite comfortable. Ultimately, this is a classic-sized pen, so it is quite comfortable to hold it with either a direct or reverse grip. In the latter case, the handle does not slip into the palm of the hand due to the clip and the protruding spike shift lever. Although, it seems to me that the larger NTP10 would be better for such a grip (and, in fairness, worse for writing).

Pen can be disassembled without any tricks. A writing Schneider unit is installed inside.

I write by hand REALLY rarely. And such situations, as a rule, boil down to the fact that I fill my data into the form to pick up the parcel with one more reivew flashlight.

And, frankly, what is written there looks disgusting. But not only due to poor handwriting and lack of practice, but due to the fact that pens with wide marks and monstrous backlash of writing units simply do not allow writing legibly. Every time in such cases I think something like “but if I had a good pen, there would not be this crap here.”

And, believe me, even the handwriting changes with a good pen. So , this part of review of Nitecore NTP31 is devoted to how this tactical pen writes. And it writes, no surprise, wonderfully. The move is easy, smooth.

What to hide, the merit of Nitecore is only in the fact they perfectly, without any slightest gap, cut hole for writing unit. It fits perfectly in diameter. Schneider does the rest.

The obvious fact is that it’s easy to work with a good tool. Whatever it is: a screwdriver, a knife, a flashlight (by the way, here is my guide to choosing flashlights) or a pen – if the thing is done well, then it is a pleasure to work with it. So is with Nitecore NTP31. It fits comfortably in the hand and simply glides on the paper. If I could draw not at the level “It seems a pterodactyl … or maybe a cockroach, you can’t tell right away”, then I would definitely illustrate the review of Nitecore NTP31 with some drawing made with this pen.
But, alas, my abilities are enough just to leave this photo here.

OVERALLIMPRESSIONS

The final verdict is simple. It is nice, external and functional, comfortable pen, which you will not be ashamed to give as a gift or use yourself. For a simple office worker / student / official, such a pen may not be of interest. But this pen will certainly delight any fan of all sorts of EDC and tactical stuff.

Multimeter guide

This guide is a simple (but long) guide for many details on multimeters, it do not tell how to make measurements, but explains about the different function on the multimeter. This guide has lot of pictures, each showing a small part of a multimeter to illustrate the functions and differences between meters. Most of the article is about measurement function, but at the end I will also look at a few physical aspects on the meter.
This guide can be very useful to make a list of functions you want in your next multimeter.
Contents
    Minimum, maximum and average of a value
    Peak or fast minimum, maximum
    Freezing the display
    Manual selecting range
    Selecting function
    Background light and flashlight
    Frequency and duty cycle
    Relative measurements
    Auto power off, can it be disabled?
    Dual or triple display
    Bargraph, sometimes a fast estimate of value
    Voltage measurement
    Current measurement
    Ohm, continuity, diode and capacity measurement
    Temperature measurement
    Non contact voltage or electric field detection
    Low-Z, getting rid of ghost voltages
    Low pass filter for variable frequency drives
    Turning the meter on or off
    Input terminals
    Tilting bale or kickstand
    Batteries and fuses
    Probe holders, need an extra hand
    Hanger

Minimum, maximum and average of a value

Many multimeters have a function to record minimum and maximum value, it is fairly slow (0.1 to 1 second), this is necessary to work for AC and not record random noise pulses. This function will usual work on most ranges on the multimeter, except capacity.
Depending on meter is may be possible to show actual value while recording minimum and maximum. Some of the better meters will also calculate a average while recording minimum and maximum. Meters with dual or triple display may use the extra display(s) for some of this.
To activate the function press the button, more presses on the button will change between minimum/maximum/average/actual depending on the meter. To end recording hold down the button. This function will nearly always disable auto ranging, i.e. remember to manually select the correct range before starting min/max collection.
Most brands agree on calling this function something with min/max or max/min, but Brymen desided to call it REC
As long as MAXMINAVG is displayed, the display will show the actual value. When only one of the indicators is displayed, it is that value.
Other meters do also use that notation.
This meter is using the secondary display to show minimum and maximum values.
Peak or fast minimum, maximum

This function can record fast transient, like current while a capacitor charges up (If it is supported in current ranges). It often need around 1ms (0.001s) pulse to record, but it varies with meter. This is fast enough to record maximum and minimum in a mains power sinewave. The function may only be supported in AC modes, but that is no problem because it usual records both maximum and minimum (I have seen exceptions to this). This function will nearly always disable auto ranging, i.e. remember to manually select the correct range.
This function can not replace a min/max, the fast capture means it is much more susceptible to noise and transients.
A PEAK label is added to the display when recording peak values.
This meter do not have a special peak indicator but uses the Hold indicator together with min/max.
Here a P is added before the min/max labels and the value is shown on the secondary display.
Brymen uses CREST instead of peak and add a C to min/max.
Freezing the display

This function freezes the the display, this can be used to move the meter to a better place for reading the value or writing the value down. Just about any meter has this not very useful function.
One press will freeze the display, next press will resume updating again.

Some meters has a auto-hold or touch-hold or something like that, it will freeze the display when measuring a stable value. This makes it possible to concentrate on the probe and when the meter beeps, remove the probes and read the meter. No button presses is required when doing this.
Usual one of these 3 indicators are used to show that the display is frozen.
Manual selecting range

On many auto-ranging multimeters it is also possible to manually select range, sometimes it is even required for a specific ranges (Like mV AC).
MIN/MAX, PEAK and REL will usual select manual ranging, but not on all multimeters. When canceling the function the meter will usual return to automatic ranging again.
Press the button once to lock the current range, press again to step through the different ranges, actual range can usual be seen on the point. Hold the button down to get back to auto-ranging.
This is sometimes used with varing values to avoid the meter changes range all the time. If a lot of resistors or capacitors with about same value has to be checked, manually selecting range will make the meter faster.
Usual there is a AUTO text somewhere on the display when using automatic ranging.
The MANUAL text is not always used.
Selecting function


On most multimeters there are more than one function for each rotary switch position, this button is used to select between them or at least some of them.
The color coding of the button often match the some color coding for the markings around the rotary switch.
Hz and duty cycle is sometimes select with this button sometimes with a Hz button.
In this document I will call the button SELECT.
When the blue switch is pressed the blue function is selected.
Here it is yellow and there are arrows to help with the sequence.
Not everybody believes in arrows. This meters starts in AC mode, the = is orange, i.e. SEL must be pressed to select it.
Here it is not possible to see what initial selection is.
Here it is not even possible to see what the SELECT button do (Southwire had to be different).
Each press will move to the next function for that rotary switch position, usual moving the rotary switch or turning the meter off will reset to the initial function again (Brymen and a few other remembers last selection).
Background light and flashlight

Many multimeters have a light that can illuminate the display, sadly it is often implemented in a way that makes it very awkward to use. On many of the cheaper multimeter it is only on for 15 seconds, then it turns off automatically and it requires a few seconds to turn it on. A few meters uses a light sensor to turn the background light on when it is dark.
The first light button requires a single press to turn the light on, the two next must be held down.
The background light on this multimeter works different: usual the background will turn on due to a light sensor near the display, i.e. when it is dark around the display the background light turns on. The button disables this function and the background light will stay off, until the meter has been turned off.

Some lights has a build in flashlight, that may be able to illuminate the place you are measuring (May require an extra person to hold the meter). This flashlight either has its own button or it turns on together with the backlight.


Flashlight placement is either top or back of the multimeter.
Frequency and duty cycle

The SELECT button may select this, but often an extra button is used for selecing frequency and duty cycle measurements.
It varies where this button can be used, but it is in one or more of these ranges:

• V AC – This is nearly always supported.
  
• V DC
  
• mV AC – If the meter is missing a Hz mode, this is usual the range with support for the highest frequencies.
  
• mV DC
  
• Hz – In the Hz mode it is often the Hz button that select duty cycle, not the SELECT button.
  
• uA AC
  
• uA DC
  
• mA AC
  
• mA DC
  
• A AC
  
• A DC

• V DC – DC voltage up to maximum voltage supported by the meter, that is usual from 600V to 1000V
  
• V AC – AC voltage up to maximum voltage supported by the meter, that is usual from 600V to 1000V. This may be lower than DC voltage, due to peak voltage being 1.4 times higher than display reading.
  
• V AC VFD/LowZ – AC voltage with some special function activated, see below.
  
• mV DC – DC voltage below 1 volt, sometimes this is a separate range, sometimes it is part of the V DC range.
  
• mV AC – AC voltage below 1 volt, sometimes this is a separate range, sometimes it is part of the V DC range. When part of V AC it may require manual range selection to select it.
  

• AC+DC – Combined rms voltage for AC and DC
  
• Frequency – Frequency and duty cycle
  
• Low pass filter (LPF) – Low pass filter, used on variable frequency drives (VFD’s) to remove high frequencies.
  
• Temperature – A thermocoupler is very low voltage and the selection may be placed on the mV DC range.
  

• Ohm – Measuring resistance, lowest range may have a resolution from 1ohm down to 0.001ohm (1mOhm), depending on meter, highest range usual goes into the Megaohm, sometimes up to more than 50Mohm. A few meters support up to Gohm, but that is usual measured as ns (nano siemens: 1000000000/ohm).
  
• Continuity – Audible resistance check, this range uses one of the low ohm ranges (Not always the lowest and test current/voltage may be slightly different) and will sound a buzzer when the resistance is low (Often below 50ohm, but varies with meter and may even be selectable). In addition to the buzzer some meters may also flash a light when continuity is detected.
  This is useful to trace wires, because you do not have to check the display, but can use the sound and a good continuity mode is very fast. This means you can pull the probe across a couple of connection and the beep will sound when you hit one with a matching connection.
  
• Diode – Test forward voltage of a diode, some meters uses up to 3 volt and can test white leds, others only use 1 volt and cannot test any leds only regular diodes. If working with white leds a meter that can show 3V in diode mode is very useful.
  
• Capacity – Measure capacitors, but the low and high end varies significantly depending on meter.
  

• ohm
  The nS is a special ohm mode that measures 1000000000/ohm and can be used for very high resistance.
  
• Continuity
  
• Diode
  It looks like somebody forgot the diode symbol for the second one.
  
• Capacity
  It will be nano (n), micro (u) and sometimes milli (m) farad that is shown as unit.
  

Here is my first ever review of an Emergency electronic whistle – take your headphones off for this one!

The coolest EDC pen but MORE than just a pen.

2 colors optional: blue/black

3 levels of lighting mode: standard mode / red and blue warning light / breathing light

4 functional pen heads, arbitrarily switch to other pen heads

130 Lumens Micro-USB charging

270 degrees rotatable fun to swing out and back

Robust body construction, accessible objects breaker

Magnetic body, magnetic to any iron objects, for liberating your hands

For more information: https://www.wubenlight.com/products/wuben-e61-gecko-multi-functional-tac...

I finished a small but fun project about a month ago or so. This is my flashlight bag which i use for work and general activities.

ANENG V05B Digital 6000 Counts Multimeter True RMS with Bluetooth and data logging function

Hi, I came across a new digital multimeter model on Aliexpress and thought I’d provide a brief review on here. ANENG has NOT provided the device for review, I bought this with my own money and all views are my own.
First of all, this is not going to be a HKJ style professional review, I have a lot of respect for the high quality reviews our members create and I am not able to create such content, yet! My technical equipment wouldn’t allow me to measure the details, but at least I can give you some experiences from using it within the last 48 hours – this multimeter seems great for our various hobbies.

Observations/features about this device:
- affordable (I paid only 13$ after coupons including tracked shipping via DHL however YMMV)
- decent quality craftsmanship, device is rubberized around the edges – won’t scratch easily
- comes with bluetooth functionality
- the free app is perfectly usable and has multiple ways of viewing the measurement
- it has data logging which provides a in-app chart & CSV file
- small/compact design and lightweight

This battery powered, auto-ranging multimeter should be ideal for a variety of hobbies like electronics, flashlight, driver development, raspberry pi, arduino, PCB development, R/C, and more.

Buttons
ON/BT – long press for on/off of the multimeter, short press for enabling/disabling of bluetooth
SEL/NCV – short press for mode selection, keep button pressed for NCV measurement
H/ZERO/light – short press for Hold/zero, long press for display light and flashlight functionality
Please note that the display and flashlight remains illuminated until you switch it off
There is a REDLED which indicates NCV measurement and continuity. Continuity measurements also have a sound.

Multimeter functions, display flow

It even has a flashlight

These are the OEM listed technical specifications:

Display segments

View of the back side

Bluetooth disconnects when weaker AAA batteries are used, but the eneloops I have in them work great.

View of the built-in stand

View of NCV sensor

App flow

Charting feature within the app

(on tested Android devices a standard CVS file is stored locally that can be exported to Excel or Numbers)

I selected the minimal version at checkout which comes with probes and a temperature sensor
Probes are 12cm long and the cables are approximately 64cm long, the temperature sensor works as expected

Bluetooth connectivity, app, and data logging
- Device connects easily with a mobile phone that has the app installed
- App appears crude, but has all the functionality (especially compared to other DMM apps out there)
- Mobile app has multiple views you can select during measurement (double tap)
- Standard .cvs file will be stored with user-defined filename and can be exported
- Remote measurement to other devices if account is registered through app (feature not tested)
- You can finally chart charging/discharging curves, store measurements, and share across forums and social media

Advantages:
- App, bluetooth and data logging works at a very affordable price point.
- Data logging feature provides CSV file for each measurement (tested on Android phones), which can then be imported to Excel or Numbers.
- Compact, modern design of the multimeter.
- App even allows remote management if you sign up for an account (I have not tested this feature).
- Very fast shipping through DHL, only took 9 days to my place.

Other comments
- According to other forums, this multimeter uses mini fuses. These are smaller fuses and not the “normal” size. I haven’t opened the multimeter yet but I have seen mini fuses on ANENGs before.

Disadvantages:
- 2xAAA batteries mean you may run out of battery power.
- Bluetooth feature keeps disconnecting when weak AAA batteries are used, make sure to use eneloops or similar.
- Flashlight is not really useful, but I am sure our members have another light source.
- Logging is only for one measurement at a time, i.e. you can’t log temperature and voltage at the same time.
- Auto-ranging feature can be a bit slow. On one occasion it took several seconds when I checked the voltage on Li-Ion cells and AA cells.

Conclusion
I honestly love this multimeter for what it is. It may not have the feature set of more expensive devices, but if you want a compact digital multimeter that comes with bluetooth, app support, data logging and includes a nice design – this ANENG multimeter is a great choice.

Just in case I forgot to mention something, these are the marketing images from ANENG:

Clicks on pictures will lead you to the ANENG store product

I have written a article about high-end multimeters, it is a good starting point for people that want to get a very good multimeter, but they are not cheap (The cheapest one is probably a couple of 100 dollars)!

http://lygte-info.dk/info/DMMHigh-end%20UK.html

The meters included are: Benning MM12, Brymen 869s, Chauvin Arnoux CA 5293, EEVBlog 121GW, Fluke 87V Max, Fluke 289, Gossen MetraWatt MetraHit Energy, Gossen MetraWatt MetraHit PM Prime, Hioki DT4282, Keysight U1252B, Keysight U1272A, Keysight U1282A, Kyoritsu KEW1062, Metrix MTX3291, Sanwa PC7000, UNI-T UT181A

I have all the meters and may be able to answer questions about them.

Astrolux TP-01 Review

I got a cool pen!

For starters: It's a pen. It writes, in ink. The cartridge itself isn't anything to write home about, but that's not why we're here. It is replaceable with a common cartridge size, if that's your thing. I'm eyeing one with purple ink, myself.

The pen claims to be machined in raw titanium. I don't have the equipment to actually test that, but I'm at least sure it's not aluminum. It's also not steel, although I was surprised to find the pen somewhat weakly attracted to a magnet. I set about disassembling it (all the tools were included), and found that the ink cartridge has a steel sleeve. Without that (or the spring), the entirety of the pen body was not attracted to a magnet. I don't have any reason to think it's not titanium, and it has the right feel.

The overall feel of the pen is raw. When I'm holding it or writing with it (or fidgeting with the bolt-action mechanism), it feels like raw machined metal. This is not a finished feel, this is not a smooth or refined feeling for a pen. But it is kind of cool. It's nice that the clip is removable, and that they supply all the tools to disassemble the pen, as well as a spare of each of three screws (two for the clip, and one for the end of the pen which retains the ink cartridge) and even an extra spring. It can be fully dis- and re-assembled with ease. The only trick is to re-insert the "bolt" from the bolt-action with the shallow cutout facing away from the pen tip.

Let me be serious for a moment. You don't need this pen. I don't need this pen. It doesn't offer any real advantage over other available pens, and it even lacks some of the common additional features of tacticool pens (like a window-breaking point, because a pen needs that?). But it's cool, and it's made of nerd-metal. I will admit that it's likely to make me replace ink cartridges rather than entire pens, and I'll use it more than my other pens because it's cool. So maybe it has a tiny net impact on my plastic use/waste. And maybe the mechanism will be more reliable than other clicky pens I own. But I'll be honest, I can only remember buying one pack of pens in the last ten years, and that was nominally for use at university. My pens before that were provided by parents, and my pens after that have mostly been the left-behind pens of retail customers at a previous place of employment. I still have several Pilot G2s from that...

This pen writes worse than my Pilot G2s or my Uni-Ball Jetstreams. Although it bleeds less than either and can't be smudged like the G2, it's just an average ballpoint cartridge. It's also a bit short; it looks worse than it is, but it's around a half-inch shorter than most of my other pens sitting at my desk. 

Disclaimer: I don't do any affiliate stuff. I didn't receive any compensation for this review; I bought the pen because I wanted it. I will admit, I didn't pay full price, M4d M4x helped me out a bit.

Got this as a gift and love it and its small design. I have two lights in there, a nitecore tiki and a lumintop tool aaa ti with a nichia 219b emitter.

Made a video about some of my multitools I use. Im no tool expert so take what i say with a grain of salt.

I was looking for a tool for my electronics kit and this seemed like a good option for my urban and tech needs.

I figured since I posted about my leathermans here, maybe a discussion on swiss army knives could be fun. For reference I use both brands and enjoy them both as they compliment eachother as I point out in the video. Do you guys have any and do you use both?