EEVblog #1248 - INSANE A 0.02% Process Meter for $9? WTF

[EEVblog]

Dave found this crazy bargain of the century no-name $9 0.02% class multifuction process calibrator on Aliexpress.
Is it any good?
Actually, it's an AIMOmeter AMPX1 that sells for over $200 on ebay, so what gives?
How can they possibly manufacture and sell a 0.02% class device for under ten bucks?
Teardown time.

Links to stores with availability, grab two before they are gone:
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/2q15Asnm
GONE! http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/KzXfowmG
GONE! http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/pXZzeMQM
GONE! http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/N2SvlX3i
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/qREQSsXA
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/n9bRRByU
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/mgEv3VYU
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/B1dhXBHI
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/5SZr1USk
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/KOvQe5u8
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/MM6QzxEo
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/rROyF3hm
http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/Dw6LDRCk

[Nusa]

All the links show gone for me. Maybe there's a regional component? Or you're seeing cached results?

[maginnovision]

Search aliexpress for Mulitifuction Process Calibrator. There are some for $67. Assuming it works properly it may not be BAD. Certainly better than $200. Definitely still worth it if you want parts from it.

[ataradov]

All those "vendors" are likely to be the same company/person. Obviously just a fire sale of some surplus possibly stolen units.

[cowasaki]

I got one earlier today after the video went on Patreon.  There first company sold out whilst I typed in my card details.  There were 891 left a few hours ago!

[EEVblog]

I can confirm 150 sales through my links, almost everyone ordered 2 units, so that's 300 units total at least before the sub $10 party ended.
So those shops with stock number of 900+ etc were either BS, or they realised there was a "run on the bank" and they upped their prices.

[0xDEADFEED]

Just got one for slightly more from here now that AliExpress stock is all gone: https://www.dhgate.com/product/2-in-1-digital-multimeter-high-accuracy-mulitifuction/486004131.html

[Xenoamor]

Just got one for slightly more from here now that AliExpress stock is all gone: https://www.dhgate.com/product/2-in-1-digital-multimeter-high-accuracy-mulitifuction/486004131.html

I'm not expecting this one to ship but fingers crossed. Great find as always Dave!

[Bluebrain]

I can confirm 150 sales through my links, almost everyone ordered 2 units, so that's 300 units total at least before the sub $10 party ended.

And I guess a whole lot new patreons! 

[innkeeper]

Just got one for slightly more from here now that AliExpress stock is all gone: https://www.dhgate.com/product/2-in-1-digital-multimeter-high-accuracy-mulitifuction/486004131.html

thanks 0xDEADFEED
grabbed one at dhgate also - missed the 10 dollar party but still not a bad price.

[TurboTom]

Dave - thanks for the detailed teardown of the instrument. It's funny how many small solder sprinkles are distributed over the PCB (shouldn't be a problem to remove them -- but they rather shouldn't be there at all in the first time...). I wonder how well the switch will perform over the time. The push-button on/off switch will of course reduce the "milage" on the range switch compared to meters that have their "off" position on the latter.

Regarding the voltage reference for the ADC, I guess it's the combination of D14 and U16. I wonder why they should have installed a though-hole diode (D14) in an otherwise all-SMD instrument if it's not for a special purpose. It's very well possible that D14 is a member of the 1N825 family or a similar ultra-low tempco voltage reference diode while U16 is controlling its bias current.

I'm quite curious if the sellers will actually ship the instruments that they sold at the ultra-low price. Maybe they finally understood that they could ask some more money (albeit selling the meters more slowly) and refuse to send them. If they do ship, I should receive two within three or four weeks... 

Cheers,
Thomas

[wilfred]

This is a great example of the perennial forum debates about just what relationship price has to value. At $9 it is clearly a bargain at runout prices and could never have been sold for this price. So should it be criticised as if it were a true $9 cheapy?  What is the true value price point for this meter on the market?

Someone offered comment on the range switch, but what is it about the range switch that makes it poor. Is it simply that it was on a meter bought for $9. No objective testing has been done. I have heard of another meter not in the $9 class which had range switch issues. Aren't all range switches largely created equal?

[ataradov]

Tolerances and quality of manufacturing is what makes a difference. Even if you assume seemingly real market price for this thing of ~$200, the switch is still garbage. No matter what you do, it should not behave as it does in the video.

Of course we don't know how it will behave with wear over time, but it should not fail like that out of the box.

Quite the opposite, on a $9 device it would probably be acceptable and expected behavior.

[beanflying]

This is a great example of the perennial forum debates about just what relationship price has to value. At $9 it is clearly a bargain at runout prices and could never have been sold for this price. So should it be criticised as if it were a true $9 cheapy?  What is the true value price point for this meter on the market?

Someone offered comment on the range switch, but what is it about the range switch that makes it poor. Is it simply that it was on a meter bought for $9. No objective testing has been done. I have heard of another meter not in the $9 class which had range switch issues. Aren't all range switches largely created equal?

Looked like good value will do a job I generally had to cobble something together to test and is likely as or more accurate unless I get serious. So I brought one to suck it and see.

Not to worried about the range switch as I don't let my gear be handled by neanderthals and other assorted rock apes who delight in seeing how to break a device or if I wiggle this thing this one particular way it 'sometimes' doesn't work therefore it is a failure. Some of us still have contact/relay adjusting tools and know how to use them if it is or becomes a problem

I had a few other 'cheap' calibrators on my Aliexpress list and if this one is 'OK' then for my generally limited use case it will be good value.

[someperson]

Ugh, I'm kind of upset. I'm in serious need of a new meter, but seems like I missed out, even though I'm a supporter D:

[ataradov]

But this device is mediocre as an actual meter. Get a real meter instead.

[beanflying]

They have a website but Google hates it it seems  http://www.aimometer.com

and http://www.aimometer.cn/

[Electro Detective]

The Price Is Right (to my standards  ) but do these things work and stay working?   

Or is it perhaps a dud product dump or tacky ThreeHungLow promotion?   

[FrankBuss]

They have a website but Google hates it it seems  http://www.aimometer.com

and http://www.aimometer.cn/

Clicking on the link for the meter, which they advertise in the image slideshow on their main page, leads to a 404 webpage. And looks like in "products" it is not listed.

[amspire]

We still have to see if the various stores ship the meters. The ones I ordered Friday will expire if they are not shipped by Tuesday and I will just get my money refunded instead of receiving a meter.

Has anyone had any of the meters ordered since Dave mentioned them marked as "Shipped" yet?

[beanflying]

They have a website but Google hates it it seems  http://www.aimometer.com

and http://www.aimometer.cn/

Clicking on the link for the meter, which they advertise in the image slideshow on their main page, leads to a 404 webpage. And looks like in "products" it is not listed.

Yep that's what I found too. Seems they have some sort of MASTEK relationship there is some AIMO branded Mastek products out in the wild in particular the anemometer, the Mastek process calibrator is available by the links. Maybe they have considered them slow sellers from a 2015 release or build and have dropped them?

[BravoV]

The USB interface chip is Silabs CP2102 , USB to UART bridge.

Dave's close-up shots -> https://www.flickr.com/photos/eevblog/

[blargg]

Dhgate claims that if the seller cancels or fails to ship, you get a full refund plus $20-$30 extra credit. Win-win for anyone who missed out on Ali Express and paid $23 for the one on dhgate.

[BravoV]

We still have to see if the various stores ship the meters. The ones I ordered Friday will expire if they are not shipped by Tuesday and I will just get my money refunded instead of receiving a meter.

Has anyone had any of the meters ordered since Dave mentioned them marked as "Shipped" yet?

Mine ordered at 27th still in processing, and will expire in 9days 11hours as I typed now, lets wait & see. 

[someperson]

Dhgate claims that if the seller cancels or fails to ship, you get a full refund plus $20-$30 extra credit. Win-win for anyone who missed out on Ali Express and paid $23 for the one on dhgate.

Unfortunately, I missed out on that one too.
Cheapest I'm able to find now is $50 delivered. Seems like a bit much for something that's a bit of a gamble.

EDIT: Found a bit better deal for $32.50 delivered. Still on the fence.