Dave, Love the concept, but on my bench that's why i use the Agilent 34970 data logger , a 6.5 digit dvm with 40 leads with the right harnessing out of the 40 channel module. computer controlled to store different setup and computations channels. it's just not portable, if you build it i'll buy it in a kit amd enjpy putting i together myself that's where half the fun is.
Just had an Idea. What if you could program the meter with different warnings on top of the standard safety features, for example, if current goes over 1 A then beep or even play prerecorded user msg or any other stuff. And make it simple, like really simple. New alert -> Type (A,V) -> Action ( standart alert, recorded msg, shutdown ex...) . MBY even integrate a basic oscilisscope? I like the idea about two screens, The main one could be really good LED, and the other simple efficient one. :)
How about size of this kind of multimeter. Is it possible (now, at this time) to make it not so much bigger than Fluke 87V (without developing of some new custom IC's)?
Love the videos, but why are you a hater? meaning why does everything have to do something extra to be better? A multimeter should be nice and simple to use not with 100's of options. It would suck!
If i make a multimeter that does the same as another why is it garbage to you? Just because others do the same ? Thats like saying " why have different tvs" there are many types of tvs. Some are clones. You complain way to much on things, Be an adult and stop hating on others good work.
@AtomSoft I don't hate other good work. I NEVER diss other people producing content or designing something. But I do always question WHY, and possibly try to help them with ideas. I offer advice and my own ideas which they or anyone else is free to use. If someone wants to do a basic open source multimeter and think it will be popular and sell well, then I feel a need to step in and suggest they may be off the mark. But if they really want to for fun, great, go for it.
Hey sorry if i came off like a dic*, was having a bad day then heard you complain and made it worse heh... thanks for explaining your way of thinking :) i get it
@markomnen Yeah but if it wast for the guys making the same things over and over cheaper then we would have what we do because all the hackers out there could afford it.
I thought you might be interested to know that CERN has launched open source hardware effort and some of the stuff they've got on show is mouth-watering
Do a Google on "For the good of all of us: CERN launches open source hardware effort" for more mouth watering details.
Regarding the range switch, what always annoys me is that I need two hands to change the range. One hand to turn the switch, and one to hold the meter steady. If you design something new for range selection, consider usability with one hand.
I like it, the swiss army knife of multimeters. Instead of USB why not go Bluetooth? You could really do some cool UI stuff with a phone or computer. You could have a "display" for each channel.
@jpelczar You'd need an Apple auth chip to do the iPhone Bluetooth, so it probably wouldn't jive with the OpenSource nature of the prjoect, but it would be cool!
SDCard would be neat and practical. WiFi would be fun! Having a DMM output realtime data over WiFi to a computer/phone/[insert choice device here]. Or AdHoc DMM-to-DMM!
I would love to build a multimeter, but what is the purpouse of having 4-6 channels if it can only display 2 at the same time? It should display everything!
Haven't watched all the way through but here's my 2cents. For open source, why not make it modular - that's how open source software is designed. So go back to the old days of plug-in oscilloscopes and built a multimeter platform architecture, rather than an end product. So given options for displays - I still consider the old analog displays have value in making some readings, particuarly nulling. Why not have the input sockets on a module rather than have so many (less chance of misplugging)
Dave, the double meter into one is a great idea. You could also add a relay that switch the leads by simply using the main selector switch. In this way never having to unplug the lead to measure amp or volt or anything else.
1. Instead of removable display, it should be a removable inputmodule... So all the inputs stay at your bench. Then you could pick up the multimeter (- the Inputs/outputs) and lean back in you chair and monitor it...
2. Scriptng functions, so you can load custom scripts that can use the inputs/output, displays and memorycard.
3. Built in batterycharger, so the batteries will charge while using it at your bench, so you allways got fresh batteries when you have to do work out of the office..
Make sure its IP rated. Make sure it won't blow up on ya or catch on fire. I like the temp. At least a range from say 15mv to 1550V. AC response from 20Hz to 700MHz (or faster!).. Cost below $500 US. Include high quality probes. Properly fused input jacks, etc.
How hard is it to interface to a USB pen? It's almost certain one will be lying around when needed and it's compatible with 100% of PCs. Same cant be said of SD.
What about induction?I had to buy a seperate Inductance-Meter because theres no good Multimeter with integrated meter on the market!This Function will be really cool for everyone who works with Coils and/or HF!I love building radios and everyone who is doing that too will love these Function!
Be nice to have a current limiter in it. even if it's not supplying its own power to the tested circuit. will help if your testing a battery circuit and slip with your scope probe.
I don't understand why multimeters don't have inductance measurement, I can't imagine its much more complicated than capacitance. Why not through inductance measurement as well.
@GTXAbunada Capacitance function on DMM uses the ohm current source to charge the capacitor. The additional cost is just a comparator. You cannot measure inductor this way.
Great idea is the SD-Card port. SD-Cards is my favorite kind of portable memory storage. If every computer had a SD-Card port, I'd use them exclusively, and not USB-Drives. I mailed my keyboard manufacturer, that I want SD-Card interfaces in keyboards (I have two USB ports there).
Nifty idea. I was thinking maybe a software knob for the range switch, so you can use it to go through menus or adjust settings/quantities or by default, change the range/function for the actively controlled input.
Also, as someone mentioned, possibly have scripting, so you can have user defined functions that could take data from an input and output the calculated data to the screen. Trouble with too much software control is that you start to lose the benefit of response time or low cost.
Why 4 channels? Why SD card? You need a FAT-compatible OS inside to get these feature. So I think it's simplier to add cascading output to single-channel multimeter and separate logging device =)
Very neat design, though the voice/talk-thing seems like a bit of garbage - If anything like that should be implemented it should be good old beep-codes! But the marketing-folks would probably digg the voice feature :P
You just got me thinking that the market for a mid range version of a 223 type meter would be huge. Just think of the number of times maintenance techs or even just ordinary electricians have to get someone to... "stand there and let me know when that says 240v"
Good, I like the multichannel design. I think I even mentioned the lack of such multimeters on the market here before.
Some ideas:
- I'd like to have some rudimentary calculator function or language for combining the measurements.
- I would like at least some functions (like avg, rms, peak..) to work on combinations of several channels in real time at some reasonable sampling rate. That might be hard to do but it'd be a lot more useful than simple post-processing of collected data.
what about a solar powered one? or at least one that could charge its own nimh AA when not in use? i think thatd be neat.
how about wireless test leads? that would make it real easy to get into tight spaces. also, how about a wireless watch module? the multimeter could transmit wirelessly to a watch or device you wear on your wrist or even some LCD glasses you could wear!
Loose the 2x 5 digit display, and put one bigger graphic display, then you could do the triple or quadruple readings at the same time,plus add a game like Tetris or something.
That would be cool.
Oh, and the possibility to load other games thru the sd card slot.
How about using one single graphical display for everything? This would enable users to reconfigure the display on the fly and change the real estate each measurement takes on it. Beside, at this point you have no way of indicating what the top row is actually measuring - I think the unit of measurement should be next to the digits to avoid confusion.
Love the independent 4 channels, the SD, the graphic LCD and data log.
I do not like the 7 segment display not necessary, power supply future to complex, the AA battery I prefer rechargeable Lithium battery and the voice recorder chip is not that useful.
Also not having a range switch is not necessary so that was a good idea.
Multichannel meter is what I was thinking about for some time. Now if it has good isolated inputs up to about 1000 V, that would be great. Small DC/DC converters are cheap today. The ESR measuring would be useful for me. I don't know if I would use thermocouples but some 1-wire or I2C thermometers yes. Basic tone/frequency generator is very handy bud sadly only few meters have it.
Addition to the voice output: Installable voice packs, why bother talking into your multimeter to record the stuff when you can get EE celebrity voices. Those can even be a commercial side of the open source thing.
I've made a microcontroller based voice voltage announcer before. But i have not taken the idea further than a mess of wires. I was told there may be some interest to people who need to concentrate on what they are doing without looking at the meter. Could also be used for class/lecture use. I'm not sure if it would help any sort of disability as you need good vision to see the circuit anyway.
@arots I can see that this would be useful if you could have a user-settable 'arrived at' (voice:'Required voltage achieved') voltage message when you adjust a circuit. This would mean that you can focus on what you're doing and not, constantly, have to look away from your work to find out how close you are.
Instead of a rotary range switch, have a pair of linear sliders. One per pair of channels. Each slider would have a settting for volts, amps, etc, and power.
what ever happened to the community bench meter that was suggested by geekgirl lots of people contributing to what they would like but came to nothing!
also i would ditch the 9v battery or the 4x AA batteries and swap them out for 18650 type LiPo batteries. they can be had for as cheap as chips and are rechargeable.
@joeles69 Not in my meter, ever. It's standard primary sizes or bust. There are very good reasons why almost no handheld meter in the market uses anything but standard 9V or AAA/AA batteries.
@EEVblog Dave maybe you could elaborate in a future video. Aside from availability I've wondered myself why you only see standard batteries in multimeters.
@Whisper6911 No, they doesn't anymore. You have plenty of cheap battery charger chips which don't let it overcharge, monitor every cell voltage and temperature and balance them. Li-polys are in every small gadget or phone and when was the last time they exploded? And if you are extra scared you can always use the LiFePO4 which doesn't have those exothermic reactions. So 18650 or just flat Li-poly isn't problem.
@igwood71 Because multimeters are also safety devices of sorts - and when you need them you dont want to be looking for a charger lead when a pair of AA's or a PP3 will do
@EEVblog no there aren't. and 18650 lithium is a standard and should be sold in stores. all we need is for old rigid people like you Dave to get used to the idea so the shops will carry them : )
what a great concept mate, when i worked in HVAC i always carried 3-4 meters and a couple temperature probes. your idea would have made the job a whole lot easier and less messy trying to lug in all my gear into customers homes.
how about a 8 channel multimeter. each channel is programmable and has every function of a normal multimeter and have the capability to be a signal generator.
I hope when your done with your PSU you could maybe take another look at this project.
rear3000 1 week ago in playlist Uploaded videos
DaveCAD is awesome :)
IcicleTrepan 4 weeks ago
Dave, Love the concept, but on my bench that's why i use the Agilent 34970 data logger , a 6.5 digit dvm with 40 leads with the right harnessing out of the 40 channel module. computer controlled to store different setup and computations channels. it's just not portable, if you build it i'll buy it in a kit amd enjpy putting i together myself that's where half the fun is.
GRDuhon 1 month ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
repetitive... first 3 minutes talk about the same thing: ALL MULTIMETERS DO THE SAME THING. stopped watching after 3:30...
just a headsup... maybe you could make shorter, more interesting videos.
AdvocatusDiabolii 1 month ago
@AdvocatusDiabolii Maybe you could actually make some videos of your own?
EEVblog 1 month ago 11
@EEVblog 1) don't feed the troll. 2) i'm camera shy.
AdvocatusDiabolii 1 month ago
@EEVblog You are my hero
Bertjeorge 1 month ago
@EEVblog AdvocatusDiabolii does have a point though, you really need to practice brevity.
chipset31 2 weeks ago
Why not add 4-wire resistance, 6-wire resistance (unity buffer to guard other paths in the circuit)?
qwqehwekrhlfjghdklfj 1 month ago
@iDestroyMcToys There is a HUGE amount of time, effort, and money that would go into a producing such a meter, so sadly the answer is no.
EEVblog 6 months ago
@EEVblog perhaps you should jump in and design the metering part of it, and let others design the logic, uP, etc part of it ?
Ie, divide and conquer approach ?
gryzman 2 months ago in playlist More videos from EEVblog
Just had an Idea. What if you could program the meter with different warnings on top of the standard safety features, for example, if current goes over 1 A then beep or even play prerecorded user msg or any other stuff. And make it simple, like really simple. New alert -> Type (A,V) -> Action ( standart alert, recorded msg, shutdown ex...) . MBY even integrate a basic oscilisscope? I like the idea about two screens, The main one could be really good LED, and the other simple efficient one. :)
Barto1361 7 months ago
when are they going into production??
moonlandingwasfake 7 months ago
Ill take 3!
mattsyme87 7 months ago
How about size of this kind of multimeter. Is it possible (now, at this time) to make it not so much bigger than Fluke 87V (without developing of some new custom IC's)?
markomnen 7 months ago
Love the videos, but why are you a hater? meaning why does everything have to do something extra to be better? A multimeter should be nice and simple to use not with 100's of options. It would suck!
If i make a multimeter that does the same as another why is it garbage to you? Just because others do the same ? Thats like saying " why have different tvs" there are many types of tvs. Some are clones. You complain way to much on things, Be an adult and stop hating on others good work.
AtomSoft 7 months ago
@AtomSoft I don't hate other good work. I NEVER diss other people producing content or designing something. But I do always question WHY, and possibly try to help them with ideas. I offer advice and my own ideas which they or anyone else is free to use. If someone wants to do a basic open source multimeter and think it will be popular and sell well, then I feel a need to step in and suggest they may be off the mark. But if they really want to for fun, great, go for it.
EEVblog 7 months ago 7
@EEVblog
Hey sorry if i came off like a dic*, was having a bad day then heard you complain and made it worse heh... thanks for explaining your way of thinking :) i get it
AtomSoft 7 months ago
@AtomSoft Without a wish to do things better we should still live like a monkeys (in the "jungle" without any tools).
markomnen 7 months ago
@markomnen Yeah but if it wast for the guys making the same things over and over cheaper then we would have what we do because all the hackers out there could afford it.
AtomSoft 7 months ago
What a coincidence!!
I thought you might be interested to know that CERN has launched open source hardware effort and some of the stuff they've got on show is mouth-watering
Do a Google on "For the good of all of us: CERN launches open source hardware effort" for more mouth watering details.
BarriosGroupie 7 months ago
Dave I was reading the comments and saw that you said that Li-Poly wouldn't be good for this. Why?
lucasmontec 7 months ago
Dave this is a really neat idea mate.
Please see it though to the end.
hla27b 7 months ago
Regarding the range switch, what always annoys me is that I need two hands to change the range. One hand to turn the switch, and one to hold the meter steady. If you design something new for range selection, consider usability with one hand.
-Andrew (ignoblegnome from LetsMakeRobots)
appterranova 8 months ago
I like it, the swiss army knife of multimeters. Instead of USB why not go Bluetooth? You could really do some cool UI stuff with a phone or computer. You could have a "display" for each channel.
flytepark 8 months ago
Dave, you wrote "Therocouple" in the CAD instead of thermocouple ;)
gglovato 8 months ago
@gglovato Umm, yeah, I blame, umm, something...
EEVblog 7 months ago 2
@EEVblog hehe happens to the best CAD programs too ;)
gglovato 7 months ago
why do you never cease to amaze me???
TheOneToxic 8 months ago
Whoa DaveCAD seems to have gone High-Def.
LinuxRaymaker 8 months ago 3
Why not use just a mobile phone for the user interface ? Add BT of WiFi to the multimeter and run iPhone/Android/Symbian/J2ME/etc. app.
jpelczar 8 months ago 2
@jpelczar You'd need an Apple auth chip to do the iPhone Bluetooth, so it probably wouldn't jive with the OpenSource nature of the prjoect, but it would be cool!
flytepark 8 months ago
Love the SD card idea. I'd get this just for that functionality.
sciguy14 8 months ago
SDCard would be neat and practical. WiFi would be fun! Having a DMM output realtime data over WiFi to a computer/phone/[insert choice device here]. Or AdHoc DMM-to-DMM!
LinuxRaymaker 8 months ago
You can use your PHONE (Android/iPhone) as second display :-)
ronaldlijs 8 months ago
@ronaldlijs Sorry didn't finish watching the video, already there...
ronaldlijs 8 months ago
Hi Dave,
I fully support this idea... (already donate so happy with all this!)
Now another idea that shouldn't take too much extra money for good quality, ideally you want to use relays for everything, so...
a) Can you have an option to switch grounds, i.e. to short the grounds from the diff inputs? (could be an LED on each input for example)
b) Could you MEASURE ground voltage/current between input > this would be awesome and I don't know any multimeter doing this...
2cents
ronaldlijs 8 months ago
Need a solar cell to boost power
Films4You 8 months ago
Maybe multiplex the display / signal to reduce the internal circuit, but will need to be super quick
Films4You 8 months ago
I'd buy/build one! It would need SDHC/SDXC capability though.
anon53602 8 months ago
What MCU would you recommend that this be build on for the initial prototype if you were actually going to built the thing?
ZNahum81208 8 months ago
I would love to build a multimeter, but what is the purpouse of having 4-6 channels if it can only display 2 at the same time? It should display everything!
Goncalgood 8 months ago
Why dont you integrate 5inch Super Duper AMOLED Touch screen to it? And maybe 1.6 dual core processor and 2gigs of ram?
Ruchira88 8 months ago
Haven't watched all the way through but here's my 2cents. For open source, why not make it modular - that's how open source software is designed. So go back to the old days of plug-in oscilloscopes and built a multimeter platform architecture, rather than an end product. So given options for displays - I still consider the old analog displays have value in making some readings, particuarly nulling. Why not have the input sockets on a module rather than have so many (less chance of misplugging)
abraxalito 8 months ago
I think you should add an osciliscope while your at it :)
astrowanabe 8 months ago
Dave, the double meter into one is a great idea. You could also add a relay that switch the leads by simply using the main selector switch. In this way never having to unplug the lead to measure amp or volt or anything else.
PoirierMike 8 months ago
Where's the baby food dispenser?
heroineworshipper 8 months ago
It needs a camera, IMU, a way to integrate & differentiate voltage, configurable lowpass filtering.
heroineworshipper 8 months ago
1. Instead of removable display, it should be a removable inputmodule... So all the inputs stay at your bench. Then you could pick up the multimeter (- the Inputs/outputs) and lean back in you chair and monitor it...
2. Scriptng functions, so you can load custom scripts that can use the inputs/output, displays and memorycard.
3. Built in batterycharger, so the batteries will charge while using it at your bench, so you allways got fresh batteries when you have to do work out of the office..
tobirod7 8 months ago
hmm, also looks likes dave got the newest version of dave CAD, this one with a "graph paper" interface
mitpatterson 8 months ago
Make sure its IP rated. Make sure it won't blow up on ya or catch on fire. I like the temp. At least a range from say 15mv to 1550V. AC response from 20Hz to 700MHz (or faster!).. Cost below $500 US. Include high quality probes. Properly fused input jacks, etc.
gbowne1 8 months ago
Is it just me or is the audio quality of these latest EEVBlogs not as clear? They sound muddy.
randomgarfield 8 months ago
Also, on the interface issue...
How hard is it to interface to a USB pen? It's almost certain one will be lying around when needed and it's compatible with 100% of PCs. Same cant be said of SD.
mageepaddy 8 months ago
Comment removed
elomatreb 8 months ago
What about induction?I had to buy a seperate Inductance-Meter because theres no good Multimeter with integrated meter on the market!This Function will be really cool for everyone who works with Coils and/or HF!I love building radios and everyone who is doing that too will love these Function!
elomatreb 8 months ago
I wish i could buy multimeter designed by Dave :) Let me know when you'll release it to the market xD
dosmaster88 8 months ago
Be nice to have a current limiter in it. even if it's not supplying its own power to the tested circuit. will help if your testing a battery circuit and slip with your scope probe.
bbmanpoison 8 months ago
you forgot about inductance, and damn you have noisy birds too :(
ciprianwiner 8 months ago
@ciprianwiner No, it's got "L" on the input jack.
EEVblog 8 months ago
I don't understand why multimeters don't have inductance measurement, I can't imagine its much more complicated than capacitance. Why not through inductance measurement as well.
GTXAbunada 8 months ago
@GTXAbunada Note the "L" label on the input jack. That's inductance.
EEVblog 8 months ago
@EEVblog Sorry I didn't see the full video before comment, my bad.
GTXAbunada 8 months ago
@EEVblog On your sketch perhaps, but why don't regular multimeters that have capacitance measurement also have inductance measurement?
simonrichards150 8 months ago
@GTXAbunada Capacitance function on DMM uses the ohm current source to charge the capacitor. The additional cost is just a comparator. You cannot measure inductor this way.
MichelDeSarcelles 8 months ago
Great idea is the SD-Card port. SD-Cards is my favorite kind of portable memory storage. If every computer had a SD-Card port, I'd use them exclusively, and not USB-Drives. I mailed my keyboard manufacturer, that I want SD-Card interfaces in keyboards (I have two USB ports there).
daspolemon 8 months ago
new cam??
megasmart1337 8 months ago
@megasmart1337 Yup, nicely spotted. A Canon HF G10.
EEVblog 8 months ago
@EEVblog ok
highlight me in a vid please
megasmart1337 8 months ago
Nifty idea. I was thinking maybe a software knob for the range switch, so you can use it to go through menus or adjust settings/quantities or by default, change the range/function for the actively controlled input.
Also, as someone mentioned, possibly have scripting, so you can have user defined functions that could take data from an input and output the calculated data to the screen. Trouble with too much software control is that you start to lose the benefit of response time or low cost.
Aeduo 8 months ago
Why 4 channels? Why SD card? You need a FAT-compatible OS inside to get these feature. So I think it's simplier to add cascading output to single-channel multimeter and separate logging device =)
TheVanyamba 8 months ago
Very neat design, though the voice/talk-thing seems like a bit of garbage - If anything like that should be implemented it should be good old beep-codes! But the marketing-folks would probably digg the voice feature :P
xXdenhartXx 8 months ago
A voltage detector would be a nice addition. Run it across a wall to see if there is power inside
mcarbaugh 8 months ago
What about an iPod style scroll wheel???
HackerMultiverse 8 months ago
You just got me thinking that the market for a mid range version of a 223 type meter would be huge. Just think of the number of times maintenance techs or even just ordinary electricians have to get someone to... "stand there and let me know when that says 240v"
Or is that corner of the market already done?
mageepaddy 8 months ago
Good, I like the multichannel design. I think I even mentioned the lack of such multimeters on the market here before.
Some ideas:
- I'd like to have some rudimentary calculator function or language for combining the measurements.
- I would like at least some functions (like avg, rms, peak..) to work on combinations of several channels in real time at some reasonable sampling rate. That might be hard to do but it'd be a lot more useful than simple post-processing of collected data.
nbsr1 8 months ago
with A/Out(constant current) you have a pretty 4 terminals ohmmeter!.. =]
bfestevao 8 months ago
what about a solar powered one? or at least one that could charge its own nimh AA when not in use? i think thatd be neat.
how about wireless test leads? that would make it real easy to get into tight spaces. also, how about a wireless watch module? the multimeter could transmit wirelessly to a watch or device you wear on your wrist or even some LCD glasses you could wear!
kekejojo1212 8 months ago
@kekejojo1212 Yes, that was the idea with the wireless, it could display on a watch if desired.
EEVblog 8 months ago
Loose the 2x 5 digit display, and put one bigger graphic display, then you could do the triple or quadruple readings at the same time,plus add a game like Tetris or something.
That would be cool.
Oh, and the possibility to load other games thru the sd card slot.
regeu 8 months ago
@regeu Requires more power, that's bad. And contrast isn't as good.
EEVblog 8 months ago
I'd buy that!
Dustycircuit 8 months ago
How about using one single graphical display for everything? This would enable users to reconfigure the display on the fly and change the real estate each measurement takes on it. Beside, at this point you have no way of indicating what the top row is actually measuring - I think the unit of measurement should be next to the digits to avoid confusion.
positivebits 8 months ago
@positivebits Yes, that's a given. Finer details like annunciators not worked out yet. This is a top level concept.
EEVblog 8 months ago
Add blue-tooth.
As Sheldon says "Everything is better with Blue-tooth".
exnol 8 months ago
Love the independent 4 channels, the SD, the graphic LCD and data log.
I do not like the 7 segment display not necessary, power supply future to complex, the AA battery I prefer rechargeable Lithium battery and the voice recorder chip is not that useful.
Also not having a range switch is not necessary so that was a good idea.
electrodacus 8 months ago
@electrodacus 7 segments displays give you unbeatable contrast and low power consumption.
EEVblog 8 months ago
Great ideas Dave. At first I didn't know what could be improved in a multimeter but you opened my eyes. Hugs from Brazil.
RicardoATBarbosa 8 months ago
Multichannel meter is what I was thinking about for some time. Now if it has good isolated inputs up to about 1000 V, that would be great. Small DC/DC converters are cheap today. The ESR measuring would be useful for me. I don't know if I would use thermocouples but some 1-wire or I2C thermometers yes. Basic tone/frequency generator is very handy bud sadly only few meters have it.
Vlakpage 8 months ago
@Vlakpage Ah, yes, a Maxim 1-Wire thermochron interface would be nice. A blue dot receptacle right on the meter!
EEVblog 8 months ago
For Bluetooth / Zigbee / whatever you can use a removable module to save some money on the initial cost.
ivaneduardo747 8 months ago
Add math features, so you can do calculations with ANYTHING, including calculations of calculations. Example:
Input power = Vi*Ii
Output power = Vo*Io
Power loss = Input Power - Output Power
Percentage of power lost = (I can't remember and I can't figure it out on my mind without some paper and a calculator)
It needs a good labeling system though.
ivaneduardo747 8 months ago
@ivaneduardo747 Yes, all that software calculation stuff is a given.
EEVblog 8 months ago
Addition to the voice output: Installable voice packs, why bother talking into your multimeter to record the stuff when you can get EE celebrity voices. Those can even be a commercial side of the open source thing.
hhdago 8 months ago
@hhdago Shame Bob Pease is gone. Could have got him saying "now hold your touge just a bit more to the right, and tweak..."
EEVblog 8 months ago
@EEVblog Oh no, I hope you mean gone from National and not gone as in R.I.P.
The man is a legend and I truely admire his work.
stewartdahamman 8 months ago
while your at it, why not integrate that burden voltage thingy?
Whisper6911 8 months ago 7
I agree you'd want more function than a 10$ meter ro why bother with open source.
I'm all for watt meter and seeing as you can't just multiply a meter's volt and current reading you need to measure faster. much faster.
so why not use a single dot matrix display and add a couple of oscilloscope level ADCs.. two displays isn't smart Dave.
a real meter is an oscilloscope too. 1MHz goes a long way for a lot of things and doesn't cost much.
you need the sample rate to do proper wattage
DanFrederiksen 8 months ago
@DanFrederiksen If it had the same power measurement functionality as the Gossen Energy meter I'd be happy.
Open source, because I'm responding to someone who is developing an open source meter.
EEVblog 8 months ago
@EEVblog I wasn't questioning the open source part. just saying if you do open source, no point in matching a 10$ meter.
do you agree you need high speed sampling to do proper wattage or how would you do it?
DanFrederiksen 8 months ago
Wouldn't some of these suggested features violate patents on various already existing meters?
Galfonz 8 months ago
@Galfonz It's like patenting an idea to wipe one's ass with toilet paper cut in half and then using it to clean the plate.
jpelczar 8 months ago
Being able to display VA & power at the same time would be a good feature
barearsed 8 months ago
I've made a microcontroller based voice voltage announcer before. But i have not taken the idea further than a mess of wires. I was told there may be some interest to people who need to concentrate on what they are doing without looking at the meter. Could also be used for class/lecture use. I'm not sure if it would help any sort of disability as you need good vision to see the circuit anyway.
arots 8 months ago
@arots I can see that this would be useful if you could have a user-settable 'arrived at' (voice:'Required voltage achieved') voltage message when you adjust a circuit. This would mean that you can focus on what you're doing and not, constantly, have to look away from your work to find out how close you are.
Really nice idea.
UrdYggradsil 8 months ago
Instead of a rotary range switch, have a pair of linear sliders. One per pair of channels. Each slider would have a settting for volts, amps, etc, and power.
artifactingreality 8 months ago
Hey I can see you've upgraded the camera, definetly little sharper, although contrast seems to be slightly down.
zzzzbest 8 months ago
i would like to see a touch screen interface but that would not do your battery life much good
thegamer589 8 months ago
An open source oscilloscope like the HP Agilent models would be great :) Probably huge R&D involved in those though.
Knight8365 8 months ago
With an sd card, you can't watch your log in real time, not that i would need that function, but maybe it could come in handy.
Inspirationisgone 8 months ago
3-phase multimeter?
nodariel 8 months ago
what ever happened to the community bench meter that was suggested by geekgirl lots of people contributing to what they would like but came to nothing!
Shandybrother 8 months ago
also i would ditch the 9v battery or the 4x AA batteries and swap them out for 18650 type LiPo batteries. they can be had for as cheap as chips and are rechargeable.
joeles69 8 months ago 2
@joeles69 Not in my meter, ever. It's standard primary sizes or bust. There are very good reasons why almost no handheld meter in the market uses anything but standard 9V or AAA/AA batteries.
EEVblog 8 months ago 8
@EEVblog So why not go for batteries used in Nokia phones ? They're not that hard to obtain.
jpelczar 8 months ago
@EEVblog Dave maybe you could elaborate in a future video. Aside from availability I've wondered myself why you only see standard batteries in multimeters.
igwood71 8 months ago
@igwood71 its simple dude: lithium ion batteries explode too easily.
if u overcharge them, if you are drawing from several in series with one of them
being weaker then the other, and that kinda thing.
considering the way multimeters are used that could be problematic.
Whisper6911 8 months ago
@Whisper6911 No, they doesn't anymore. You have plenty of cheap battery charger chips which don't let it overcharge, monitor every cell voltage and temperature and balance them. Li-polys are in every small gadget or phone and when was the last time they exploded? And if you are extra scared you can always use the LiFePO4 which doesn't have those exothermic reactions. So 18650 or just flat Li-poly isn't problem.
Vlakpage 8 months ago
@Vlakpage it depends on what you do with the meter.
to put it another way: li-ion are a bad idea for the same reason fuses are a good idea.
Whisper6911 8 months ago
@igwood71 Because multimeters are also safety devices of sorts - and when you need them you dont want to be looking for a charger lead when a pair of AA's or a PP3 will do
pittuck 8 months ago
@EEVblog no there aren't. and 18650 lithium is a standard and should be sold in stores. all we need is for old rigid people like you Dave to get used to the idea so the shops will carry them : )
DanFrederiksen 8 months ago
@EEVblog What are those reasons?
Desmaad 8 months ago
ambisosyo ang ogaga putang ina mo!!!lol
Dosayla4wd 8 months ago
what a great concept mate, when i worked in HVAC i always carried 3-4 meters and a couple temperature probes. your idea would have made the job a whole lot easier and less messy trying to lug in all my gear into customers homes.
oakiemouse 8 months ago
how about a 8 channel multimeter. each channel is programmable and has every function of a normal multimeter and have the capability to be a signal generator.
rroge5 8 months ago 2
@rroge5 The problem then becomes size. That would have to be for a bench style meter I suspect (but could still be battery powered and portable)
EEVblog 8 months ago 2
First view ftw :)
hazzks 8 months ago
@hazzks fuuuu
ddbbzz 8 months ago
@ddbbzz Ha Ha you two lol.
TheMFrelly 8 months ago
@TheMFrelly lol
ddbbzz 8 months ago