The U1273AX OLED handheld digital multimeter, the latest addition to U1270 Series, is capable of operating in winter weather down to –40°C temperature.
Even in frigid conditions, the U1273AX enables you to achieve immediate and accurate results without the need to warm up in advance.
OLED for more display clarity
Designed with OLED display, you can experience crystal-clear measurement readings with its outstanding 2000:1 contrast ratio. The display also allows wider viewing angles up to 160 degrees ensuring you get the right readings at the first glance even in poorly lit environments.
Increase productivity with Bluetooth® wireless connectivity
For wireless connectivity to smartphones and tablets, the U1270 Series is compatible with the U1177A infrared-to-Bluetooth adapter for maximum efficiency and productivity in completing measurements tasks.
Adding the optional U1177A to a U1270 Series you can easily perform remote monitoring and data logging via Android devices or Windows®-based PC.
Promotions
For customers in Europe, click on the following link to view promotion to get a free U1177A Bluetooth adapter for wireless logging and data transfer: [LINK]
Based in the US or Canada? Click here instead to view related promotions from Agilent Technologies: [LINK]
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Terms & Conditions
Testers will be selected on the basis of quality of applications: we expect a full and complete description of why you want to test this particular product.
Testers are required to produce a full, comprehensive and well thought out review within 2 months of receipt of the product.
Failure to provide this review within the above timescale will result in the enrolee being excluded from future Road Tests.
Just recieved my unit, i am hoping to post a video un-boxing sometime this weekend with some initial thoughts...and then in a few weeks post a full review!
My package was returned to element14 on the 15th and recieved by them on the 18th ... Can i at least have some updates? It sucks to wait 2-3 weeks already (Since the 5th of feb i've been waiting)
Due to some ... i think the lithium batteries are the problem, WHY USA WHY?!
Thank you all for applying. This RoadTest is now closed. We are pleased to announce the following members that have been selected to receive this Road Test:
Dave Seether
Shannon Mackey
Alex Marconnet
Mark Saunders
Anne Laure Maury
Congratulations! Your product will be shipped to the address each of you provided when you applied for this RoadTest. As a reminder, element14 and our supplier partners send these products free-of-charge because we place high value upon your unbiased, detailed product review. Please post your review back here within 3-6 weeks of receiving your item.
For those who were not selected to win this product, we have new Road Tests open for applicants
Wow, that's really some great interest in the U1273AX here. So hopefully we'll read some nice roadtests soon. Of course I would love to take one with me on my fieldwork and test it out, but I am sure there are plenty of others who would find good use in this one as well.
Hopefully we'll find out soon who the testers will be. I'm hopeful as I could greatly use it. I love writing reviews and doing review videos so lets hope for the best.
Good luck everybody. I'll donate my old multimeter to somebody if I get the chance to test one of these.
I think the most interesting aspect of this meter is its wireless interface. Giving the user the ability to make a setup and clear the equipment before powerup. Yet still retain the ability to monitor live measurements.
Yes, I agree. Well, from my experience the OLED can be a drawback as well. If it is very bright (like on snow with bright sunlight...for the AX) it can be hard to read the OLED when it is sunlit. Well, I do have made a small Carton-Sunscreen for that purpose and that helps, but narrows your viewing angle significant of course.
When you are working in low-light conditions it is great and contrasty. I often really enjoyed the OLED when working in a dark corner under a table or under a car. Mostly because of the nice viewing angle.
The OLED display and bluetooth seem like they would be very beneficial features to have in a multimeter and from what i read and see it is extremely ruggedized peice of hardware.
Well, I am not sure if the OLED actually would need a heater. As it is an organic material I expect it to be less active with decreasing temperature and therefore dimmer.
If I had the possibility to test it, I could check the Luminance under different temperatures if you like. I also have a U1253B which could be compared to that, but is already used for a while, so the Display is a bit dimmer anyway (not sure if that is actually that much differing). Would be interesting anyway ;-)....so I may check my U1253B for that.
With the insulation you are probably right, but I am not a fan of too much sealed housings. Maybe it's padded inside, but when I look in my U1272A which has the same dimensions, there is not too much space in it left. Open it up!....someone.....
I wouldn't be surprised if it's just in the insulation of the case - would be a lot easier to design a rugged outer shell that protects the stuff inside from the cold than to use electronics specifically designed for low temperatures. Don't expect superconductors though, even "high temperature" superconductors have transition temperatures around -135°C (bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide/BSCCO is an exampe)
As for the OLED display, there might be a small onboard heater that turns on when it's cold, but I'm not sure - as you say, we'll just have to tear it apart to find out
Do anybody has an idea of techology used inside this multimIeter to keep it working in so lower temperatures?.I hope for some superconductivty related technologies used with great structural design. Lets hope we get a chance to open it up.
At work we handle bits straight out of the chamber down to -70 or so. If it was metal or a material that conducts heat quickly, you'd be right. But as it's plastic, -40 isn't too bad at all and doesn't make your hands particularly cold. Keeping the accuracy of that meter working down to -40 though, pretty impressive.
Well, first of all it is developed for cold conditions.....so maybe tropics aren't really the intended use for it, but it's an interesting point now coming to my mind because of your comment. Is there any further protection against condensation in the meter itself or is the case "just" like the U1273A and needs to settle for while before switching it on after you went in warm room?
To your humidity problem: I have some Pelicases and Silicagel which werved me well so far. Our Dry cabinet was always filled with the radios, satellite phone and so on. So I kept my stuff dry mayself and regenerated the Silicagel every few days.
Wonder how it copes with humidity, living 1˚ north of the equator takes its toll on sensitive electronics... my dry cabinet is full enough as it is without having to stick multimeters in there!
I had a few times below 0°C (Winter maintenance), but not in any way like it is said to be capable.....where are the Skandinavians?!?!?! :-D
My biggest plus is that it's said to be accurate at low temp from the start on. So no need to warm it up and let it stabilize, just grab and measure at low temperatures?!
