EEVblog #94 Near death multimeter experience

[eurokid]

I was looking around on the Jaycar website and came across this:

Looks very similar to the Extech RC200 as can be seen here:

I haven't found any pictures of the probes or tweezers for the Jaycar unit but it does come with both. I thought I would post this because although they aren't exactly the same they're pretty close to it, other than color and brand. I wonder if Extech makes the Jaycar unit or vise versa?
Specs for the Extech unit are:

Display 6000 count
Security class CAT III 600V
AC Voltage 600mV, 6V, 60V, 600V 0.1mV ±(1.0% of rdg + 4d)
DC Voltage 600mV, 6V, 60V, 600V 0.1mV ±(0.8% of rdg + 2d)
Resistance 600, 6k, 60k, 600k, 6M, 60M? 0.1? ±(1.5% of rdg + 8d)
Capacitance 6nF, 60nF, 600nF, 6?F, 60?F, 600?F, 1pF ±(3.0% of rdg + 5d)
6mF, 60mF
Diode Test 1mA @ 1.5V approx
Continuity <30?; 1.5mA test current Max.
Dimensions 7.1 x 1.4 x 0.8" (181 x 35 x 20mm)
Weight 2.3oz (65g)

Specs for the jaycar unit are:

 Display  6000 count
 Security class  CAT III 600V
 Basic DC accuracy  1.50%
 DC voltage  600mV, 6V, 60V, 600V (+/- 0.8%)
 AC voltage  600mV, 6V, 60V, 600V (+/- 1.0%)
 Resistance  600, 6K, 60K, 600K, 6M , 60M ohm (+/- 1.5%)
 Capacitance  6nF, 60nF, 600nF, 6µF, 60µF, 600µF, 6000µF, 60000µF 
 Ave/RMS  Ave
 Input impedance  10M
 Special features  SMT tweezer probes
 Dimensions  110(H) x 36(W) x 21(D)mm

Just thought it was a little odd that these two products are like almost 100% identical. Maby the Jaycar unit has the same issue as the Extech?

[FreeThinker]

A quick look around the extech site showed only 4 references to the original press release and no product listing. Alsofailed to find it listed with any UK disrto. Could well be a quiet relaunch with the original case rekeyed to cure the problem. You would need to check the removable probes to check (the tweezers should now have the peg to operate the switch.) You could always ask jaycar who the oem is.
Dave
did you ever get any feedback from extech?

[KJ6EAD]

Welcome to the not wonderful world of rebadging. Apparently Extech is willing to risk their reputation by either allowing their design to be sold as cheap Chinese no name junk (1HL) or by putting their name on 1HL design.

[squeezee]

Heh, the thing about extech is that half their product lineup is designed or made by CEM(alt) it seems.

Although they don't seem to make these tweezers.

[EEVblog]

A quick look around the extech site showed only 4 references to the original press release and no product listing. Alsofailed to find it listed with any UK disrto. Could well be a quiet relaunch with the original case rekeyed to cure the problem. You would need to check the removable probes to check (the tweezers should now have the peg to operate the switch.) You could always ask jaycar who the oem is.
Dave
did you ever get any feedback from extech?

Not fully.
Extech commented in the blog comments the other day about how they fully designed the meter based on my feedback.
Don't know the details about when/if it's been released though, and certainly no recall on the previous units.

Dave.

[Rodville]

Have they not responded? It's been a long time with no word. If they didn't recall the dangerous meters that is really scary.

[EPTech]

Hi there,

I recently saw the episode on the near death experience and the unit looked very familiar. That is because i have got the same little toy but from Tenma (Farnell element 14), most certainly a re-brand.

After some tests I can tell you that it is still on resistance-diode-capacitance test by default, BUT, they have somewhat changed the mechanical design so the probe contacts engage after the the switch has been actuated. So the unit is placed in high voltage range prior to the contacts being engaged.

All-in-all I like the meter but like Dave recommended, I only use it in tweezer mode. I use another DMM to measure voltages.