It's been a while since we've seen a multimeter of this quality. I've been looking for a fully manual multimeter and this is it. Auto and semi-auto range Multimeters are good but they don't compare to manual.
Recommendation: battery current consumption for various test modes. Include flashlight, backlight and buzzer events. 😊 divide by cell capacity to estimate run time.
Additional recommendation: 4-wire tests of the test leads that come with the unit, individually for the red and black. While lower resistance is better, when they are inconsistent between the two it's a good sign of poor build quality. If you don't have a 4-wire tester you can build your own using a constant current source and observe the voltage drop across the lead with kelvin clip cables.
Your mention of this meter in the DMM/iron review led me back here, so I decided to buy one. I don't yet have an orange one. Hopefully, I will be over my aversion to orange very soon!
Unsure of viewer interest, but since you asked for ideas... I'd like to see a test of at what voltage the low batt indicator comes on and what voltage the meter cuts out. It would also be interesting to check that accuracy remains good when batteries are low, though obviously a thorough test would be impractical; perhaps just single tests in dc voltage, resistance, and capacitance or something like that. We'd like devices to work down to 1.0V per cell or so and that might be possible with the RuoShui here as it outputs just over 3V in diode mode. An alkaline is technically dead at 0.9V, but 1.0V is dead enough in practice. I dislike devices that shut off at 1.2V or more as that wastes single-use batteries and prevents us from using NiMH cells, so a device might be considered "rechargeable friendly" if it runs and remains accurate down to 1.1V per cell or less. The ratings below *aren't* necessary and the simple test of reducing voltage until the low batt indicator comes on and then until the device shuts down would be sufficient. Though potentially incomplete, my initial thoughts on ratings are: Low battery indicator comes on at (per cell): >1.3V = poor 1.2V - 1.3V = fair 1.2V = poor 1.1V - 1.2V = fair
I found a probable benefit to all those discrete op-amps on-board. The input impedance on all DC and AC ranges is 27.3 MΩ, with the exception of mV which is 9.65 MΩ. For reference, most meters I have are 10 or 11 MΩ on these ranges. A higher input impedance allows you to have less effect on a high impedance circuit you are testing. Unfortunately, the range you will sometimes be using in such a situation is mV. Some inexpensive meters I have which have >200 MΩ on mV range only: AN870, AN8009, ZT-5566 and ZT-Y.
At 1:22 first page shows (top right section 5-2) that max counts is 1999 not 6000. Maybe our beloved host mixed something in his eggnog.. So for that I'd drop one star off this IMHO. *(watching further add a half star, they need to upgrade sloppy documentation..)
Correct the 9808+ is 2k display ..my humblest apologies 😅. I was reviewing another dmm at the same time..So I'm not blaming the egg nog. I'm sticking with 5 stars irregardless as this is the best manual ranger Ive seen in a long time I even used it at work last week and it was a really solid performer.
This looks to be a great little meter. Victor have a cheap insulation tester that I tested a clone of a while back and leaves quite a bit to be desired, so good to see they are producing some quality items. Not much point having a CAT iii meter with CAT ii leads though.
Damn! $30 Cdn. I haven't bought a manual ranger in a while. And it has Inductance. But I DO have a BK LCR meter. And a SZ20, ZT-702S, KM601S, and they are just the recent ones. I need a Test Equipment Acquisition Syndrome intervention! Only $30, Canadian! Free shipping.......
EEVBLOG once devoted 3 videos to fixing an old HP 1740A CRO. He used SIX DMMS at once to check PS voltage levels. He's my hero! I guess there are no six-channel scopes. @@KeepOnTesting
At first glance this meter seemed nothing special for me: 2000 counts, transistor-tester and manual ranging... - What should I expect? But it performed surprisingly well, especially regarding the input protection. New ideas for your channel? For themes aside of reviewing DMM`s or for the testing of DMM`s? Hmm... - for testing DMM´s, it woul´d be interesting for me: Are the meters able to show the AC and DC parts of a mixed voltage and additional: Even if (with autoranging DMM´s) one part exceeds the range of the other? (BTW: That was the biggest flaw of the original UT-61E) I assume, You have a signal generator. So, this test should be possible and pretty fast doable. I´m not speaking about the AC+DC function of some (mostly more expensive) DMM´s. Additional test, if You are already using a signal generator: Does the measuring of frequencies makes a crossing of the zero-line necessary? Or is it able to handle AC on top of a DC voltage? Hoping, you were able to understand me.
A few additional facts. The leads are about 20 milliohms each. The backlight and flashlight are switched together. I was able to test my largest capacitor 22 mF which is far above the max spec 2mF. The number of counts exceeds 1999 in some modes. The manual states any measurements below 0.2 mH are for reference only. My experience is the meter reports 00.00 for anything below 0.1 mH. No NCV or live wire. The meter does MIN & MAX. Some modes have auto ranging, but no manual override. Auto power off can be defeated by holding REL while turning on. The power switch is a true physical two-mode, not a soft switch. The buttons are low profile, not likely turned on by mistake. The display is recessed so it won’t scratch easy.
A real solid multimeter for the price. It seems like the short backlight time is its biggest problem. I was even more impressed because I apparently misheard you saying that it's 6000 counts. And I couldn't believe that you can get this functionality + shielding for only $25. But even with 2000 counts, it's still a good meter.👍 In my region it's hard to find it for less than ~$50, which makes UNI-T or Kaiweets a better choice. But in that $25-30 range, it's definitely hard to beat this one. And hey, you did the flashlight luminosity test! You're a legend. ♥It's just I often do repairs in dark or dim lit conditions and have to rely on a head light or a torch. And flashlight luminosity is never specified in the spec for multimeters. So, I was curious to know if there were any major differences in brightness between different models.🙂
Great stuff my friend! Firstly, thx again for the FLASHLIGHT idea, I've left a comment for you with my email address so I can send a new Multimeter your way ! (Hopefully with a flashlight 🔦 😊). Yes, I blurted the wrong display count at some point (oops) makes no difference though as it's a winner for the price! Speaking of which, really too bad it's more in your parts..AliExpress can be weird 🤔 All in all, a big KeepOnTesting BooYa! 😊 Thx again.
Good quality inexpensive meter that seems perfect for a typical hobbyist who needs to buy one good meter. Strange that it isn't more than a 1999 count meter, it has the digits for it? Is the unit as fluorescent as it appears? Orange or Orange-Red? The range selector looks like a slightly different color. Even so, that selector is very cool. It seems that selector will get lots of use, maybe too much switching is needed, giving new meaning to "range anxiety". Thanks for bringing this review!
Hey Paul..glad you liked the review 😊 6k count would be preferred but ultimately it's still very good. 👍 I think a hobbyist would love this dmm, tons of features and built well too! Yes uts a bright deep Orange that looks really nice on the bench ..(leaving it on mine!). Really stands out which is always a good thing. As you say the selector switch is really solid, I think it will stand up very well in the longterm. I do really like the manual ranging dmms!
That’s a nice meter for the price! Fairly accurate and even has RF shielding. Manual rangers have a faster response vs auto rangers as it doesn’t have to think, IMHO. I think I will get one for a gift.
@@KeepOnTesting Not everyone can afford a Yellow meter. This is a good deal for someone starting in low voltage/hobby level. For working on stuff higher than residential, an independent tested meter is needed (UL/CSA/ETL). JMHO.
ZOYI ZT-702S, UNI-T UT117C also made the 5 Star list this year ✨️ 👌2023 has been a banner year! That being said, the RuoShui is the first CHEAP-O Multimeter to make the coveted 5 Star rating this year.
HI Darren, I bought this multimeter because of your review, very beautiful and robust, it's a shame that the weak point of this multimeter is the capacitance measurement, otherwise everything is good.Regards
I did not find the capacitance a weak point. I have a calibration board with 14 capacitors from 30 pF to 22 mF, this unit aced the entire series. Even the largest one which is 11 times the stated max! The weak point is definitely inductance. The 2 mH range is practically useless. Hope you are enjoying your unit, it's built very well for the price point 🧡
@@pault6533 Weak point in the sense that hypothetically it can only measure up to 2mF although it can measure a little more, if it could measure up to 100mF it would be wonderful. On the other hand, I couldn't measure low inductances, but inductances with higher values can be measured, but I have to apply a correction factor and it can fulfill this function with some precision...
Привет Даррен. Писал тебе на почту недавно )) Хороший мультиметр. Согласен с оценкой. Стоимость его действительно не высокая, но в целом это плата за 2000 отсчетов и полностью ручной режим. Будь он на 10 000 отсчетов и полуавтоматический режим, его стоимость была минимум в 2 раза дороже, и он бы был похож на ZOYI ZT-225 или ZOYI ZT-Y RM777 или даже ZOYI ZT219. Схемотехника очень понравилась. Не понравилось что в нем 4х ааа питание. Слишком сложно как по мне. По идее должна быть стабилизация напряжения, какой смысл там иметь 6v питания мне не понятно. Возможно из-за главного чипа. Понравились толстые и крупные полигоны возле высокотоковой части, вот только шунт маловат для таких дел, будет слишком большое падение из-за нагрева. В общем, интересный аппарат, под CAT 2.
Happy New Year my friend ❤️ It's definitely a different multimeter with lots of great improvements, it's definitely not perfect but at said price point I'm quite happy overall 😊 I agree a bigger mire robust current shunt should have been added..
It sounds crazy but it's actually really useful...Cooling/Refrigerator techs use the feature it all the time, HVAC and automotive can find it useful as well.
Any professional measurement should be reported with for test conditions like temperature, humidity, and so on. Also, you will want to ensure your ambient sensor reads above the dew point before introducing it to a warm environment. This prevents condensation.
It's been a while since we've seen a multimeter of this quality. I've been looking for a fully manual multimeter and this is it. Auto and semi-auto range Multimeters are good but they don't compare to manual.
Spot on...this dmm is really well done and sure to put a smile on your face! 😊
Recommendation: battery current consumption for various test modes. Include flashlight, backlight and buzzer events. 😊 divide by cell capacity to estimate run time.
Roger that Paul..thx for the recommendation 👍
Additional recommendation: 4-wire tests of the test leads that come with the unit, individually for the red and black. While lower resistance is better, when they are inconsistent between the two it's a good sign of poor build quality. If you don't have a 4-wire tester you can build your own using a constant current source and observe the voltage drop across the lead with kelvin clip cables.
Great feedback and recommendations...as always 👍
Wow better than expected, but with so much good it would be great to at least see a 4,000 count display. But again, better than expected quality
5 Stars never looked so good Mike 👍 🌟 what a banner year 👏
I just bought Victor 890C+Pro it’s a manual too. The parcel is on the way
Excellent! Victor/RuoShui are putting out some solid multimeters! 👍
The response for suggestions from the community is great 😊, I like this move.
Agreed..love getting all the feedback which really helps the channel ! Some very cool ideas 💡 😊
Your mention of this meter in the DMM/iron review led me back here, so I decided to buy one. I don't yet have an orange one. Hopefully, I will be over my aversion to orange very soon!
Excellent news Barry ! 💢 Let us know how you like it..it's the perfect time of year for orange 🍊 👍
Idea: AC voltage measurement frequency / 3db point.
😊👍
Unsure of viewer interest, but since you asked for ideas... I'd like to see a test of at what voltage the low batt indicator comes on and what voltage the meter cuts out. It would also be interesting to check that accuracy remains good when batteries are low, though obviously a thorough test would be impractical; perhaps just single tests in dc voltage, resistance, and capacitance or something like that.
We'd like devices to work down to 1.0V per cell or so and that might be possible with the RuoShui here as it outputs just over 3V in diode mode. An alkaline is technically dead at 0.9V, but 1.0V is dead enough in practice. I dislike devices that shut off at 1.2V or more as that wastes single-use batteries and prevents us from using NiMH cells, so a device might be considered "rechargeable friendly" if it runs and remains accurate down to 1.1V per cell or less.
The ratings below *aren't* necessary and the simple test of reducing voltage until the low batt indicator comes on and then until the device shuts down would be sufficient. Though potentially incomplete, my initial thoughts on ratings are:
Low battery indicator comes on at (per cell):
>1.3V = poor
1.2V - 1.3V = fair
1.2V = poor
1.1V - 1.2V = fair
WOW!! I'll have to give that a thorough looking and report back! Thx for the detailed idea/suggestion 👍
Looks great! 5/5. I'll go ahead and grab one.
Grab it and rejoice my friend ! 😊👍
Good review. Nice DM.
Cheers 😊
Darren una pregunta cual otro de tus multimetros le has calificado con 5 estrellas
th-cam.com/video/7mB5jIO4uz4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=8NiEPF4mhJMmcdWN 😊👍
I found a probable benefit to all those discrete op-amps on-board. The input impedance on all DC and AC ranges is 27.3 MΩ, with the exception of mV which is 9.65 MΩ. For reference, most meters I have are 10 or 11 MΩ on these ranges. A higher input impedance allows you to have less effect on a high impedance circuit you are testing.
Unfortunately, the range you will sometimes be using in such a situation is mV. Some inexpensive meters I have which have >200 MΩ on mV range only: AN870, AN8009, ZT-5566 and ZT-Y.
At 1:22 first page shows (top right section 5-2) that max counts is 1999 not 6000. Maybe our beloved host mixed something in his eggnog.. So for that I'd drop one star off this IMHO. *(watching further add a half star, they need to upgrade sloppy documentation..)
Correct the 9808+ is 2k display ..my humblest apologies 😅. I was reviewing another dmm at the same time..So I'm not blaming the egg nog. I'm sticking with 5 stars irregardless as this is the best manual ranger Ive seen in a long time I even used it at work last week and it was a really solid performer.
This looks to be a great little meter. Victor have a cheap insulation tester that I tested a clone of a while back and leaves quite a bit to be desired, so good to see they are producing some quality items. Not much point having a CAT iii meter with CAT ii leads though.
Agreed, leads can always be upgraded but ultimately it's a very good choice either way.
Read the 24C08 near the main chip. Does its content resemble the typical data for a 0660 chip?
T24C08 Eeprom ..main ic could be a DTM0660 hybrid..
@@KeepOnTesting Read it with a programmer and compare to a typical 0660 based device.
Damn! $30 Cdn. I haven't bought a manual ranger in a while. And it has Inductance. But I DO have a BK LCR meter. And a SZ20, ZT-702S, KM601S, and they are just the recent ones. I need a Test Equipment Acquisition Syndrome intervention! Only $30, Canadian! Free shipping.......
Hehe..I hear ya Barry..multimeter addiction is REAL😅 !! Still, cheaper than gambling
.Muhahaha
But even I won't stoop to a 2k meter!@@KeepOnTesting
EEVBLOG once devoted 3 videos to fixing an old HP 1740A CRO. He used SIX DMMS at once to check PS voltage levels. He's my hero! I guess there are no six-channel scopes.
@@KeepOnTesting
@@barrybogart5436 muhahaha..promise I won't tell ! 😆
@@barrybogart5436 Dammit Barry.
All along I thought I was your hero..sigh.
At first glance this meter seemed nothing special for me: 2000 counts, transistor-tester and manual ranging... - What should I expect? But it performed surprisingly well, especially regarding the input protection. New ideas for your channel? For themes aside of reviewing DMM`s or for the testing of DMM`s? Hmm... - for testing DMM´s, it woul´d be interesting for me:
Are the meters able to show the AC and DC parts of a mixed voltage and additional: Even if (with autoranging DMM´s) one part exceeds the range of the other? (BTW: That was the biggest flaw of the original UT-61E) I assume, You have a signal generator. So, this test should be possible and pretty fast doable. I´m not speaking about the AC+DC function of some (mostly more expensive) DMM´s.
Additional test, if You are already using a signal generator: Does the measuring of frequencies makes a crossing of the zero-line necessary? Or is it able to handle AC on top of a DC voltage?
Hoping, you were able to understand me.
Gotcha my friend...will report back with more questions soon. Appreciate the input , really helps when I hear what viewers are missing.. 👍
A few additional facts. The leads are about 20 milliohms each. The backlight and flashlight are switched together. I was able to test my largest capacitor 22 mF which is far above the max spec 2mF. The number of counts exceeds 1999 in some modes. The manual states any measurements below 0.2 mH are for reference only. My experience is the meter reports 00.00 for anything below 0.1 mH. No NCV or live wire. The meter does MIN & MAX. Some modes have auto ranging, but no manual override. Auto power off can be defeated by holding REL while turning on. The power switch is a true physical two-mode, not a soft switch. The buttons are low profile, not likely turned on by mistake. The display is recessed so it won’t scratch easy.
A real solid multimeter for the price. It seems like the short backlight time is its biggest problem. I was even more impressed because I apparently misheard you saying that it's 6000 counts. And I couldn't believe that you can get this functionality + shielding for only $25. But even with 2000 counts, it's still a good meter.👍
In my region it's hard to find it for less than ~$50, which makes UNI-T or Kaiweets a better choice. But in that $25-30 range, it's definitely hard to beat this one.
And hey, you did the flashlight luminosity test! You're a legend. ♥It's just I often do repairs in dark or dim lit conditions and have to rely on a head light or a torch. And flashlight luminosity is never specified in the spec for multimeters. So, I was curious to know if there were any major differences in brightness between different models.🙂
Great stuff my friend!
Firstly, thx again for the FLASHLIGHT idea, I've left a comment for you with my email address so I can send a new Multimeter your way ! (Hopefully with a flashlight 🔦 😊).
Yes, I blurted the wrong display count at some point (oops) makes no difference though as it's a winner for the price! Speaking of which, really too bad it's more in your parts..AliExpress can be weird 🤔 All in all, a big KeepOnTesting BooYa! 😊 Thx again.
Recommendation from me is a drop test.
Is common to mesure in high places and to escape the meter from 1.5 -2 meters, or from a table.
Thanks for the feedback. Noted and I'll certainly consider this.
Good quality inexpensive meter that seems perfect for a typical hobbyist who needs to buy one good meter. Strange that it isn't more than a 1999 count meter, it has the digits for it? Is the unit as fluorescent as it appears? Orange or Orange-Red? The range selector looks like a slightly different color. Even so, that selector is very cool. It seems that selector will get lots of use, maybe too much switching is needed, giving new meaning to "range anxiety". Thanks for bringing this review!
Hey Paul..glad you liked the review 😊 6k count would be preferred but ultimately it's still very good. 👍 I think a hobbyist would love this dmm, tons of features and built well too! Yes uts a bright deep Orange that looks really nice on the bench ..(leaving it on mine!). Really stands out which is always a good thing. As you say the selector switch is really solid, I think it will stand up very well in the longterm.
I do really like the manual ranging dmms!
Nice 😊😊👍👍
Definitely!
That’s a nice meter for the price! Fairly accurate and even has RF shielding. Manual rangers have a faster response vs auto rangers as it doesn’t have to think, IMHO. I think I will get one for a gift.
You won't be disappointed. I used it in an operational environment last week and I did not miss the regular "yellow" dmm we normally use..😅
@@KeepOnTesting Not everyone can afford a Yellow meter. This is a good deal for someone starting in low voltage/hobby level. For working on stuff higher than residential, an independent tested meter is needed (UL/CSA/ETL). JMHO.
this would be the first multimeter to have 5 stars? :O I thought no one could beat the HT118A habotest :)
ZOYI ZT-702S, UNI-T UT117C also made the 5 Star list this year ✨️ 👌2023 has been a banner year! That being said, the RuoShui is the first CHEAP-O Multimeter to make the coveted 5 Star rating this year.
@@KeepOnTesting Where do the RuoShui 9808+, ZOYI ZT-702S and UNI-T UT117C fit on your top 10 list?
@@DavidMulligan Hi David, great question! I'll be updating the TOP Ten list for 2024 on Jan 30 so Stay tuned... 😃👍
@@KeepOnTesting I can't wait!
Hi David..we should have it posted by next Saturday ..thx for the nudge 😅👍
HI Darren, I bought this multimeter because of your review, very beautiful and robust, it's a shame that the weak point of this multimeter is the capacitance measurement, otherwise everything is good.Regards
Great to hear my friend 👍 I still use it often..it's a fantastic test instrument. Now let's hope uF gets an improvement 😀
@@KeepOnTestingBut the Buzzer is excellent 😂
I did not find the capacitance a weak point. I have a calibration board with 14 capacitors from 30 pF to 22 mF, this unit aced the entire series. Even the largest one which is 11 times the stated max! The weak point is definitely inductance. The 2 mH range is practically useless. Hope you are enjoying your unit, it's built very well for the price point 🧡
@@pault6533 Weak point in the sense that hypothetically it can only measure up to 2mF although it can measure a little more, if it could measure up to 100mF it would be wonderful. On the other hand, I couldn't measure low inductances, but inductances with higher values can be measured, but I have to apply a correction factor and it can fulfill this function with some precision...
This is the first manual range meter that gets a solid 5 out of 5
Yes indeed! 😊👍
1st comment i bought aneng sz08
Congrats! This is soooo much better than the sz08 😮😮😮
Привет Даррен. Писал тебе на почту недавно ))
Хороший мультиметр. Согласен с оценкой. Стоимость его действительно не высокая, но в целом это плата за 2000 отсчетов и полностью ручной режим. Будь он на 10 000 отсчетов и полуавтоматический режим, его стоимость была минимум в 2 раза дороже, и он бы был похож на ZOYI ZT-225 или ZOYI ZT-Y RM777 или даже ZOYI ZT219.
Схемотехника очень понравилась. Не понравилось что в нем 4х ааа питание. Слишком сложно как по мне. По идее должна быть стабилизация напряжения, какой смысл там иметь 6v питания мне не понятно. Возможно из-за главного чипа. Понравились толстые и крупные полигоны возле высокотоковой части, вот только шунт маловат для таких дел, будет слишком большое падение из-за нагрева.
В общем, интересный аппарат, под CAT 2.
Happy New Year my friend ❤️ It's definitely a different multimeter with lots of great improvements, it's definitely not perfect but at said price point I'm quite happy overall 😊 I agree a bigger mire robust current shunt should have been added..
🤤🤤🤤👌👍❤
I always wondered, why do people need to measure temperature with their multimeter?
It sounds crazy but it's actually really useful...Cooling/Refrigerator techs use the feature it all the time, HVAC and automotive can find it useful as well.
It can also be used to calibrate your soldering equipment, when you don't have your temperature testers at hand👍
Any professional measurement should be reported with for test conditions like temperature, humidity, and so on. Also, you will want to ensure your ambient sensor reads above the dew point before introducing it to a warm environment. This prevents condensation.