The Keysight U1282AU1282A has just arrived for a road test It has been a long tough week but I wanted to get started on the road test with an unboxing video I intend to add more blogs and video to this review but I will edit this blog to add all the links as they get completed
Note the handy storage clips for the probes, that protect the probe tips and control the leads while not in use. Those probe slots provide extra cushioning if the device is dropped.
This instrument is quite large for a handheld meter, (22 cm x 10.1 cm x 5.8 cm) but feels good and solid at 702 g. The five large 2 cm digits are easily visible from about +- 80 degrees horizontally, about 70 degrees tilting down and about 85 degrees tilting up. The display also has a lot of other information on it depending on what it is measuring as this test screen shows.
This LCD test screen is initiated if you hold the Hold button down while turning the device on.
The primary functions are labelled well and intuitive to anyone familiar with digital multimeters, however this is a high end multimeter with many more functions available than those labelled. For example, when in setup mode, there is a whole menu of adjustments and settings to choose from. There are subtle arrows on the hold button allowing right and left menu navigation and there are similar vertical arrows on the Null and Backlight buttons for vertical menu navigation or parameter adjustment. The Hz button doubles as a select or Save button and the Shift button doubles and an ESC key.
Many of the features of this instrument are new to me, as I have never had access to a meter with this range of features before, but this road test is a great opportunity to learn more about some of the high end capabilities. Here is an unboxing video to show the size of the device and what is in the box:
My first impressions of the meter are very positive even though I had high expectations to start with. I really like the large digits, the rugged packaging, the high resolution, and the ability to measure diodes, capacitance and frequency. I definitely like some of the specifications as well such as accuracy, IP67 rating, and ability to send data to a remote computer.
The 312 page book that came with the device is actually just a quick start guide - only 28 pages are devoted to English instructions so the information is fairly cryptic, but is sufficient to describe most measurement features with enough detail to muddle through. I was able to download the full U1282A user manual here. It is 147 pages (9.8Mb) of English and a lot more comprehensive.
The Keysight product page is here:
The remote probe that came in the box is not well documented and there is very little instruction about how to use it. The Keysight part number is U5404A. I will show it in use in the next installment, although I'm still just experimenting to figure out its use.
The programming guide is here:
The Keysight Handheld Meter Logger Software is available here: It is over 467 Mb.
There is Mobile Meter Logger software available for iOS and Android here:
My next segment will explore some of the features that my other meters don't have.
Also I may have to convert this over to a proper road test when that form is available - right now the e14 road test selection menu does not include this device.
Links to other installments of this road test:
component and DC voltage measurements exploration
waveform measurements exploration
applications exploration - component sorting
applications exploration - water level measurement
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