I originally made this clip for Agilent since I thought it showed a bug, but they didn't seem to care. Their attitude was, "Why are you using it on DC function if you're measuring AC?" Thing is, dangerous voltages can appear in unexpected places in malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment. I still think it's a design oversight.
Mark . I have a klein muttimeter from them The 1000 series version . She works fine but for bigger caps like 4700uf it dont seam to work for them .But everything else is fine on it .
Maybe I have misunderstood the problem here but I have never used a multimeter on a DC range and expected to read an AC voltage. Nor have I seen a meter give a reading of AC on a DC range. If the meter isn't set to read an AC voltage why would you be surprised to find the meter doesn't alert you of the presence of the AC voltage?
The alert is a life safety feature and should function reliably, no if's and but's, whether it is AC, DC or AC superimposed on DC. This happens in vacuum tube gear all the time. It is a crying shame that a shame rich megacorporation like Agilent doesn't give a damn. Maybe it's time to consider Chinese made units. Oops, these are made in Malayasia already...
Michael: 1. This is a dual display meter and still did not alert when in dual mode. 2. If you have never probed a test point expecting one but not the other, or had the meter set wrong, you are in the distinct minority. Any modern meter should alert above a preset threshold regardless of setting. I do not understand your thinking. If I happen to have a meter set to DC and inadvertently probe a high AC voltage instead, I want to be ALERTED. Hazardous voltages may appear at unexpected points in malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment. Most modern meters would pass this simple test with flying colors. I made this brief video to demonstrate to Agilent what I felt was a potential LIABILITY issue for them. That they chose to ignore it is not my problem.
+Mark Zacharias The meter is doing EXACTLY what you are asking it to do. Read AC? Check, and alert. Read DC on AC? Check. No DC, no alert. It would be more of a hazard having it alert outside of what you are asking it to do. I've been doing industrial maintenance for a VERY long time. You always check both before you grab a wire. Hell a Fluke isn't going to tell you that you have AC on a DC scale.
And I'm sure I'm the only one EVER to probe a hazardous AC voltage while the meter is set to DC volts function. The Flukes at least indicate something on the bargraph. Too much to ask for a lightning symbol?
In every case potentially dangerous places should be grounded and disconnected, and cap circuits shorted. Multimiter fault should not be cause of your death
There should be a class action lawsuit demanding total recall of this poorly designed and unsafe meter, to get attention of executives. How about the idiotic puny 9V Ni-MH rechargable? Some Radio Shack batteries or even capacitors hold charge longer. Oh, and the meter can't be used while being charged! Simply laughable, unless you use one, in which case you cry. How about the after-thought internal heat sink? What engineering school did the designers attend?
I originally made this clip for Agilent since I thought it showed a bug, but they didn't seem to care. Their attitude was, "Why are you using it on DC function if you're measuring AC?" Thing is, dangerous voltages can appear in unexpected places in malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment. I still think it's a design oversight.
this video is interesting. the points made were clear and mark is right.. for safety purposes that feature should and must be added to the meter
The video is great😀
Mark .
I have a klein muttimeter from them The 1000 series version . She works fine but for bigger caps like 4700uf it dont seam to work for them .But everything else is fine on it .
Maybe I have misunderstood the problem here but I have never used a multimeter on a DC range and expected to read an AC voltage. Nor have I seen a meter give a reading of AC on a DC range. If the meter isn't set to read an AC voltage why would you be surprised to find the meter doesn't alert you of the presence of the AC voltage?
The alert is a life safety feature and should function reliably, no if's and but's, whether it is AC, DC or AC superimposed on DC. This happens in vacuum tube gear all the time. It is a crying shame that a shame rich megacorporation like Agilent doesn't give a damn. Maybe it's time to consider Chinese made units. Oops, these are made in Malayasia already...
Michael:
1. This is a dual display meter and still did not alert when in dual mode.
2. If you have never probed a test point expecting one but not the other, or had the meter set wrong, you are in the distinct minority.
Any modern meter should alert above a preset threshold regardless of setting. I do not understand your thinking. If I happen to have a meter set to DC and inadvertently probe a high AC voltage instead, I want to be ALERTED.
Hazardous voltages may appear at unexpected points in malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment. Most modern meters would pass this simple test with flying colors.
I made this brief video to demonstrate to Agilent what I felt was a potential LIABILITY issue for them. That they chose to ignore it is not my problem.
+Mark Zacharias The meter is doing EXACTLY what you are asking it to do. Read AC? Check, and alert. Read DC on AC? Check. No DC, no alert. It would be more of a hazard having it alert outside of what you are asking it to do. I've been doing industrial maintenance for a VERY long time. You always check both before you grab a wire. Hell a Fluke isn't going to tell you that you have AC on a DC scale.
And I'm sure I'm the only one EVER to probe a hazardous AC voltage while the meter is set to DC volts function. The Flukes at least indicate something on the bargraph. Too much to ask for a lightning symbol?
In every case potentially dangerous places should be grounded and disconnected, and cap circuits shorted. Multimiter fault should not be cause of your death
It is good function to warn potencial hazard but is bad practice because you relying on instrument only.
Another thing relaying on this suddenly if you pick standard multimeter and you have no warning and you get electrocuted. Never trust your tools ;)
There should be a class action lawsuit demanding total recall of this poorly designed and unsafe meter, to get attention of executives. How about the idiotic puny 9V Ni-MH rechargable? Some Radio Shack batteries or even capacitors hold charge longer. Oh, and the meter can't be used while being charged! Simply laughable, unless you use one, in which case you cry. How about the after-thought internal heat sink? What engineering school did the designers attend?