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Member's Forum Should Handheld multimeters have color LCD displays?
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Related

Should Handheld multimeters have color LCD displays?

scottiebabe
scottiebabe over 2 years ago

As I am waiting for my OWON HDS242 to come in the mail, I thought I might ask other members how they feel about a handheld multimeter having a power hungry color LCD display.

The product webpage suggests a battery life of 3-6 hours. https://www.owon.com.hk/products_owon_hds200_series_digital_oscilloscope 

Even more interesting/exciting is the batteries can be recharged with a USB-C cable.

Based on Kerry Wong's teardown: http://www.kerrywong.com/2021/09/18/teardown-of-an-owon-hds272s-3-in-1-handheld-oscilloscope-dmm-awg-compared-with-hantek-2d72/ the multimeter functionality is galvanically isolated from the usb connector.

What do you think?

First time trying the poll feature, hopefully I didn't goof it!

Based on Kerry's notes the meter also has the bones of a real oscilloscope (ADC, FPGA, Sample memory, etc..) How performant is oscilloscope it? I don't know yet.... But I am intrigued!

Update: The scopemeter arrived!

Indoors the color LCD looks awesome! For me my multimeter ends up either sitting flat on my desk on in my lap and in both those cases the display is 10x easier to read than a segment LCD without a backlight.

Outdoors with direct sunlight the segment LCD is easier to read than the color LCD.

In the shade outdoors, I think both display technologies are equally legible.

image

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Top Replies

  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 2 years ago +6
    So.... I'd say, "yes," but, I'd rather have a higher-quality monochrome than a lower-quality color. That said if I can slightly flex, a company called Kaitweets sent me one of their meters. These are…
  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 2 years ago +4
    I voted Yes! although I don't know why I'd need it yet. In other instruments, colour has often been a gimmick in the beginning. But then real good use was found for it. I put my money on this: "in a…
  • dang74
    dang74 over 2 years ago +4
    I voted yes, but it was in context to the additional information that was provided, namely that in this case it's perfectly acceptable because the product also doubles as an oscilloscope. Should all manufacturers…
Parents
  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 2 years ago

     scottiebabe , is this the same one: MP720780 ?

    I have a shopping cart from project14. May pick this one ...

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  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 2 years ago

     scottiebabe , is this the same one: MP720780 ?

    I have a shopping cart from project14. May pick this one ...

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  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 2 years ago in reply to Jan Cumps

    I can't say for certain but if I had to guess I would say yes! That is exciting news!! You may also consider the model with an AWG included 

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  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 2 years ago in reply to scottiebabe

    I ordered one of that family. MP720783

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  • shabaz
    shabaz over 2 years ago in reply to Jan Cumps

    Nice specs! Looking forward to hearing what it's like.

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  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 2 years ago in reply to Jan Cumps

    Woohoo! Sparkle I am excited for you! We are twins for Scopes (DS1054z), I have the big sister to your function generator and now you have the big brother to my scopemeter! Excellent choice, can't wait to hear your opinion of the meter:)

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  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 2 years ago in reply to scottiebabe

    My scope arrived!

    image

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  • scottiebabe
    scottiebabe over 2 years ago in reply to Jan Cumps

    Happy new year and new scope day to you! Tada

    I still enjoy using it, I love the display! I was just probing usb-pd

    image

    image

    Working on my own pd interface too...

    image

    image

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  • shabaz
    shabaz over 2 years ago in reply to scottiebabe

    Nice work! Very neat seeing that is possible on a handheld instrument. 

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