Following-on from http://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/...p?tid=5501
I ordered one of these off e-Bay for £2.31 on 28 February.
It didn't turn up but I got my money back with no trouble and ordered another from a different Seller.
I paid slightly more (£2.69) so as to get a yellow one for reasons purely of aesthetic taste.
This came very quick and I was satisfied with it, though not a hundred per cent. The only actual is the hfe range not working — I strongly suspect that the fault is in the socket as the transistor leads don't seem to encounter any resistance on insertion. As that's a function that I very rarely want, and is easy enough to lash-up when I do, it hasn't kept me awake at night.
I did however change the sockets after getting some mind-bending readings when I connected the probes across the V/mA/Ω and 10A sockets as they were all the same colour. Before anybody yells "False economy" I've got load of 4mm socket in stock and these in fact came off my old DMM — the originals on that had been the old wander plug size, and we all know how difficult they are to obtain.
The initial black one I ordered arrived today. Despite having the same model numbers they are different.
The black one has a slide-off access hatch to change the battery whereas the whole back has to be un-screwed from the yellow one.
On the back of the yellow one it says it is fitted with a 500mA fuse but the black one says 250mA, which is what I'd expect given that its maximum fused current range is 250mA.
Neither of them actually have fuses fitted. Both have PCB pads for fuse clips but these are shorted by very fine tracks; presumably to form an ersatz, un-changeable, fuse. Implementing a proper one would certainly be a simple matter but as most meters I've had haven't had fuses it's not exactly a priority.
The other difference is the black one's sockets being mounted on a separate PCB and the mechanical mounting is more robust so changing them would be easier than it was on the yellow one.
Sadly, it shares the non-functioning hfe range.
Also, when I tried it the 1000V and 200V DC ranges were u/s. Luckily wiping the PCB switch contacts with Servisol got them going.
— Joe
I ordered one of these off e-Bay for £2.31 on 28 February.
It didn't turn up but I got my money back with no trouble and ordered another from a different Seller.
I paid slightly more (£2.69) so as to get a yellow one for reasons purely of aesthetic taste.
This came very quick and I was satisfied with it, though not a hundred per cent. The only actual is the hfe range not working — I strongly suspect that the fault is in the socket as the transistor leads don't seem to encounter any resistance on insertion. As that's a function that I very rarely want, and is easy enough to lash-up when I do, it hasn't kept me awake at night.
I did however change the sockets after getting some mind-bending readings when I connected the probes across the V/mA/Ω and 10A sockets as they were all the same colour. Before anybody yells "False economy" I've got load of 4mm socket in stock and these in fact came off my old DMM — the originals on that had been the old wander plug size, and we all know how difficult they are to obtain.
The initial black one I ordered arrived today. Despite having the same model numbers they are different.
The black one has a slide-off access hatch to change the battery whereas the whole back has to be un-screwed from the yellow one.
On the back of the yellow one it says it is fitted with a 500mA fuse but the black one says 250mA, which is what I'd expect given that its maximum fused current range is 250mA.
Neither of them actually have fuses fitted. Both have PCB pads for fuse clips but these are shorted by very fine tracks; presumably to form an ersatz, un-changeable, fuse. Implementing a proper one would certainly be a simple matter but as most meters I've had haven't had fuses it's not exactly a priority.
The other difference is the black one's sockets being mounted on a separate PCB and the mechanical mounting is more robust so changing them would be easier than it was on the yellow one.
Sadly, it shares the non-functioning hfe range.
Also, when I tried it the 1000V and 200V DC ranges were u/s. Luckily wiping the PCB switch contacts with Servisol got them going.
— Joe