ZOTEK ZT-980 CHEAP-O Multimeter Review & Teardown!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 พ.ย. 2022
- #Multimeter #topreviews
🌐 ZOTEK ZT-980 Multimeter is one of the best all around multimeters I've tested in 2022!
Solid, accurate and top notch performance.
Now if only that input protection was better !
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www.zotektools.com
Top 3 BEST MULTIMETERS of 2022!
• ZOTEK ZT-980 CHEAP-O M...
💢TOP 10 CHEAP-O MULTIMETERS💢
A=AUTORANGING M= MANUAL S= SMART P=POCKETMETER
04/08/2022
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Another great review, certainly seems to have a lot of functionality built in. Found it on Amazon discounted for $28, down from RRP of $40, so good deal for someone at the moment. AT about 16:40 it looked like there was a PTC next to the voltage input jack with isolation slots around both voltage and common input jacks. Couldn't see any clamping circuit though. I haven't seen the no voltage input warning on the screen before. The general issue is though that people switch to voltage function and leave the leads in the current jacks, so not sure how effective their warning is really. The difference for continuity between the OEM leads and the Probemasters was crazy. Top marks for the diode / LED test though. Meter is probably worth it just for that!
That's a super price 😳 on a very good general purpose multimeter! I'm telling ya, this dmm has already seen a few jobs on the bench and happy to report it passed with flying colors. Clean or better yet replace the stock leads and you have a highly capable test instrument on the Cheap!! 😃
Darren, great review like always. This meter is very good for the price and it is offered with the brand ZOYI too. For repair the velocity in continuity try to rub the test probes with rough paper impregnated in WD-40 anticorrosive or pure alcohol in the tip and connector plug, after clean the lint and residue. Regards from Chile an keep on testing!
Hello Sergio..Great tip! Agreed this multimeter is very hard to beat for the price...Keep On Testing my friend ! 😀
Excellent review as always!🎉
Thx 👍
So cool to see the current alerts as well as the on-screen warning.
What do you think caused the poor continuity results? I mean, it seems like it'd be difficult to make otherwise functioning leads that have that poor of continuity speed...The resistance was near zero, so what gives?
Good question! I thought the same thing..darn near perfect in terms of zeroing out. You'd think that would equate to stellar or at the very least "decent" continuity. Head scratcher 😕
It looks like a solid meter with some nice features. It might be a good one if the price is right. Nice video as always. 👏🏻👍
Thx 👍 This ZOTEK really grew on me. On my bench now and looking good 👍 Well made and great design. Radiogeek ,
Please email me:
Netplicity1@gmail.com
Thanks!
Thank You 😊
Here in Indonesia the price is USD 21 it's the new product. How about the current consumption?
Coolness.
You've maintained the Perfect Temperature in the lab 😁 and so is the dBA value of this big boy. Test leads bundled with cheap-o's mostly are crappy, man those probe masters never let you down!
Yessir, the PMs are d-y-N-o-m-i-t-E!!! 😃
@@KeepOnTesting
Re: crappy probes
Just give them a good rub down with an ink eraser (the blue ones). Then finish it off with an alcohol wipe.
You're welcome.
@@robinm1729 Love it! I knew those erasers were gonna come in handy.. 👍
The basic of the body case are taken from older design (aneng m-20, winapex 8102, winhy 108). Usually, they will release another multimeters (maybe automatic version) with this case also. I like this case and the big display.
The display is really nice. Clean crisp font that looks even better on person. 👍
@@KeepOnTesting May be the display is as big as the lcd on my proskit mt-1820, crisp clean with good backlight. I like this my new meter because althought it uses old technolgy, i only spent $7 US for it in BNIB old stock :D
@@qolbunsalim5188 Got to love those new old stock deals! Congrats 👍
Not sure if they are related but ZOYI has a ZT-980 going for about 35.00 USD. I like this meter. It has some nice features like the continuity light. The only feature I would like to be tested on this is the 4-20ma range. That is one of the most important features for me on a meter. Otherwise good job on the review.
Yes it's identical, ZOYI is a rebrand of ZOTEK
35USD seems reasonable 🤔 I've put the mA results on the website. 😃 www.keepontesting.com/post/zotek-zt-980
I have been watching this channel for two years. I have gone from one Bosch 7677 to having 7 working meters excluding the ones that died. I have had a good excuse for having all of them, for example I have a ut123 in the glovebox of my daily driver and a ut125c in the glovebox of my other car. The time it takes between leaving your work meter and driving home to your home meters might be exactly when a diode needs to be checked urgently ( I find an excuse to have them all). So, I can only have one more meter unless I give up some of my current batch. I have become more and more interested in electronics rather than just electrical. I wanted everyones opinion on a cheapo electronics meter. There are some things that I just wont put up with anymore. If it doesnt have a permanent backlight then it gets removed from the list for example. I have pretty much decided that the ut89xe is going to be it but what do you all think?
UT89XE or UT89XD is a solid choice ! Built like bricks and great performance too. I've used the 89XD alot over the past couple years and it hasn't let me down yet! Glad you've been watching 👀 over the years! Anytime you have an idea or suggestion drop us a line!
I will also state for the record that If you're going to go the cheap route, UNI-T's (and their various rebrands) are almost always a best bet.
wow.. nice body... i like the shape of it, the size too.. i mean the meter, even Habotest HT118A looks slim next to it. 😁
Voltage precision is great, too bad the Amps reading is not so, i wonder how the mA & uA reading is..
(11:20) Hey Darren, does that mean we will see some multimeter repair videos in the future then? 😃
Oh yeah..hoping I get more dmns sent in by viewers so I can post the repair vids..I'd like to have a weekly component to the channel doing just that but I need more broken multimeters!
@@KeepOnTesting Aw yeah, awesome!! i hope many viewers will read the message and start to send their broken meters to you. 😃
Hi Darren, I would rather have a OEM meter like Zotek/Zoyi than some brand that just slaps a name and colour on it. I think if Zotek wanted to make a great meter they could. they just have to appeal to the average person and sell or ODM lots for other companies, as brand reputation means more than quality
Hi Sean, I couldn't agree more. 👍 Zotek is a proven OEM in the industry and the quality is evident.
@@KeepOnTesting Thanks for replying as always Darren 👋👋
I have a few broken multimeters to send. They are all automotive or claimed to be. They all read rpm, dwell etc since my job is classic car restoration. How about a showdown between the cheapo automotive meters. They are getting harder and harder to find these days since points and dwell values are ancient history.
That's a great 👍 idea Guate! On my ToReview list !! I'd love those broken multimeters too ! You can Email me: netplicity1@gmail.com
NICE meter i like this one
You 'n me both! 😃
Well, just got mine yesterday... and man, what a letdown.
First off, the "Hold" function only registers AFTER you release the button (on the "upstroke" of the button press), and not immediately when pressing it down. That makes it nearly impossible to hold a precise value, especially in awkward positions when you can't readily see what the meter display is doing. The "Sel" button also behaves this way, which is admittedly more annoying than troublesome (like the "Hold").
That bargraph REALLY is totally useless. It updates at a very slow 2Hz (same as the digits). Not only that, but the left-right movement of the graph is CHEATING by moving 2 segments at a time! At first glance you think you're getting a high resolution 60-segment bargraph, when in reality it's only a 30-segment! This is easily verified by switching to a resistance range, connecting the leads to a linear pot and slowly varying the resistance values; you then clearly see the bargraph moving TWO segments at a time.
The rear moldings on the holster, the ones meant to hold the probes, are way too small and stiff to hold anything thicker than a pencil. I have other meters with rear probe holders and none of them are as bad as this. And the holster material itself is too thin and stiff (compared to say, what you'll find on the various HT118 clones)... 10 to 1 it'll show signs of chewing and/or splitting after a dozen or so of removal cycles.
On continuity: Dave Jones-style rapid-fire testing fails to register most of the time, even with "premium" probes. My other meters either pass this test flawlessly (e.g. Tenma 72-10415 & 72-13440 (rebranded UT61E & UT33D+, respectively)) or they emit a constant tone (various cheapies).
The cherry on top: The "flashlight" LED is VERY dim; it barely lights anything beyond a foot.
Note that these are all design flaws and not sample defects particular to this unit. I've contaced the seller to iniate a return.
And lest you think I'm being overly nit-picky, I also own the "Taiss" (i.e. "Twidec") model TA118C, which is essentially a manual-ranging HT118A. That meter is far better overall than this Zotek/Zoyi: The range switch feels much better, the "Hold" button registers properly (as do its "Func." & "Max/Min" buttons), the flashlight (and backlight) are far brighter, it also passes the 5/5 LED test, the holster is thicker & more supple with proper probe holders, the digits update at 3Hz instead of 2, there's no useless junk crowding the display, and it does it all on 2xAA's instead of 3. Oh, and did I mention that it cost me $15 LESS than the Zotek?
So, if you can live without hFE testing and a "Rel" button (and maybe a slightly less sensitive NCV detection), the HT118C/TA118C is a far better deal.
Don't be seduced by the Zotek's techy looking display... It's just a flashy smoke and mirrors show.
Oh yeah, almost forgot: The 118's also fare better on the inputs: 2x PTCs instead of 1, and 1-1/4" fuses instead of dinky 5x20's. (The Zotek does have a proper shunt instead of a sensing resistor, though.)
*ETA*
Not to pile on (and on) but the 118 also has a proper diode clamp, 100mF max capacitance measurement (vs. 60mF for the Zotek), and a 1-inch strap slot on the holster to attach a magnetic hanger.
20 usd on Amazon
Great price 👍 Thx for the update !
Never completely trust stock asian probes on continuity, sometimes they need a production film cleaned off. - this shows it - this meters a bit better than the usual, again there always has to be at least one weak spot it seems but you could do a lot worse.
Yea Mike..I know you're religious when it comes to cleaning new probes but I have to test them stock 👍
Oh I agree, they come with the meter so thats how the initial test should be done for sure - but when the leads are in question pull out the probe masters to get the whole story-lol I often shows when a meter is NOT at fault thus avoiding a possible strike against an otherwise good meter - in this instance the probemaster themselves are a test instrument of sorts.
Yes for i.m this multitester🤣🤣🤣
Hehe 👍
Looks like a kids toys.
Definitely Fisher Price approved! It's solid as heck!
@@KeepOnTesting i want to buy zt m1 or zt 225.
th-cam.com/video/W9UhA54JboA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Y6wxyz62uFJLDySc@@nejoh713
I reviewed the ANENG SZ20 wich is identical to the Zotek ZT225, they ate great multimeters!
COB instead of normal chip...NO, thanks...
Unfortunately, par for the course with most vendors these days.