WTF is the price?!

[maginnovision]

I'm going to assume that can be fixed. Did he showcase that in the video and I missed it?

- Doesn't work out of the box
- Faulty negative socket
- Precision in generator mode way below specs
- Errors in small cap measurements
- Virus in software

It seems that the generator function is the core reason one buys a process calibrator in the first place.  If that doesn't work well... I can't see the point in buying this at any price.

[Kosmic]

I'm going to assume that can be fixed. Did he showcase that in the video and I missed it?

- Doesn't work out of the box
- Faulty negative socket
- Precision in generator mode way below specs
- Errors in small cap measurements
- Virus in software

It seems that the generator function is the core reason one buys a process calibrator in the first place.  If that doesn't work well... I can't see the point in buying this at any price.

Yes at 6:51 in the video.

https://youtu.be/nAa-OGt-DVU?t=430

[maginnovision]

Ah yep, I must have scrubbed passed it, but he didn't check 4-20 output which is pretty important. Either way I bet you can adjust those. If not, it might not be worth $8 unless you really want cheap(quality) probes or a cheap DMM.

[thm_w]

Yes at 6:51 in the video.

https://youtu.be/nAa-OGt-DVU?t=430

It reads:
- 0.957 at 1V (-4.3%)
- 2.886 at 3V (-3.8%)
- 4.774 at 5V (-4.5%)
- 9.545 at 10V (-4.6%)

So if it can be single point cal'd to -4.2%, worst case its out 0.4% (not sure if I calculated correctly)? Good but still nowhere near the claimed spec:

Calibrator
DCV Measure: 0 ~ 100mV, 0 ~ 10 V ±0.02%+2digit
DCV Source: 0 ~ 100mV, 0 ~ 10 V ±0.02%+2digit

If we are lucky there is a clear CAL button inside or documented routine that is easily executed. If unlucky, its undocumented and done purely in software, maybe onto an eeprom.
I don't think there would be many trimpots inside a meter of this "class", but I'm sure Dave will update us soon with a teardown.

[EEVblog]

Yes at 6:51 in the video.

https://youtu.be/nAa-OGt-DVU?t=430

It reads:
- 0.957 at 1V (-4.3%)
- 2.886 at 3V (-3.8%)
- 4.774 at 5V (-4.5%)
- 9.545 at 10V (-4.6%)

So if it can be single point cal'd to -4.2%, worst case its out 0.4% (not sure if I calculated correctly)? Good but still nowhere near the claimed spec:

Calibrator
DCV Measure: 0 ~ 100mV, 0 ~ 10 V ±0.02%+2digit
DCV Source: 0 ~ 100mV, 0 ~ 10 V ±0.02%+2digit

I can confirm that mine is bang on on all ranges, well within the 0.02%, let alone the +digits.

[Psi]

So the question is.
Is this whole thing a scam were someone in china..
1) makes 1000 crappy clone units that cost  $3 to make.
2) sticks them on AliExpress for $8
3) anoyomously leaks to Dave that they exist somehow
4) when they see an order from someone called Dave in Australia they send him a real $200 unit
5) wait for the order frenzy to begin and ship everyone else the $3 units
6) profit!

Note
I don't actually think this is what's happening because it looks like the official name has been scratched off the case. Meaning they came from the legit factory at some point.

I reckon they are old / reject stock.
Where some may have scratched cases but be fine otherwise  while others may have technical faults and be out of spec etc...

[all_repair]

Must be reject.  The meter is not listed on taobao, most of the other items of "my cozy lifestore" are.  The dropshippers on eBay and banggood shall sell these close to non-reject price, and make a huge margin.  After Dave saying his is good, I have loaded 3 myself. - hoping they can be fixed if they are not accurate.

[BravoV]

C'mon guys, don't be too overly serious, imo, this is becoming more like playing DMM's lottery. 

Its either you choose to play gamble, or not, thats it.

[EEVblog]

I reckon they are old / reject stock.
Where some may have scratched cases but be fine otherwise  while others may have technical faults and be out of spec etc...

Mine is 2015 stock, so it's most likely they are all 2015 stock and they made a ton of them and they didn't sell. Company goes under or whatever and they end up on pallets for $3 a pop. The Shenzen market stalls buy hundreds each and make their tidy little profit.
No idea how/why the name and number were scrapped off.

[CDaniel]

Ok , you can get that chinese calibrator cheap ... but you can trust it for calibrating equipment ? Some people have the equipment to check it , but it should be "bang on" without doubts for people that don't have ... this is the point for buying a calibrator , not to calibrate it yourself 

[maginnovision]

I have all the equipment here to check it. When I get it I'll do tests with expensive equipment to verify the 8$ process calibrator.

[all_repair]

Ok , you can get that chinese calibrator cheap ... but you can trust it for calibrating equipment ? Some people have the equipment to check it , but it should be "bang on" without doubts for people that don't have ... this is the point for buying a calibrator , not to calibrate it yourself 

This type of equipment is heavily used in plants/refineries to do troubleshooting by emulating sensor output, or to calibrate setup.  To save cost, a techincal capable plant shall just send one meter out to cal lab to calibrate, and use that as a reference to calibrate the rest of meters and calibrators.  It is a sizeable annual saving of money and time for them.  Beside the maintenance staff are not always fighting urgent work, and has enough spare hours to do these work.   If this $8 meter is cheap
good enough, it can also be deployed.

[Kjelt]

What is the voltage reference used for the 10V?
Is there a tear down coming?

[BravoV]

What is the voltage reference used for the 10V?
Is there a tear down coming?

With +5000 posts count, you haven't look harder enough. 

[Kjelt]

I saw the french video 
Although I had French for three years in high school 35 years ago, love the country and most of the people  ,  I can only speak it a little bit, and on normal speed can't understand it that much, esp tech talk unless it is originating from the english language, then the French mostly retranslate to their own language.

[BravoV]

I saw the french video 
Although I had French for three years in high school 35 years ago, love the country and most of the people  ,  I can only speak it a little bit, and on normal speed can't understand it that much, esp tech talk unless it is originating from the english language, then the French mostly retranslate to their own language.

No ... not that, with your posts count there (hint...hint...), its right in front of your face, try look harder. 

[Kjelt]

Got it thanks

[BravoV]

LOL, you just posted video that is not publicly listed by Dave ... yet. 

Guess the premelinary typhoon is coming. 

[Kjelt]

LOL, you just posted video that is not publicly listed by Dave ... yet. 

Guess the premelinary typhoon is coming. 

Oops removed it, thanks for the head up

[wilfred]

It doesn't matter because all the stores Dave linked to  are out of stock now.

[maginnovision]

One still appears to have about 1000. Just search mulitifuction. Can't be more than one hit, right?

[Psi]

I will be interested to see if they actually ship the 1000 or so orders that appeared in the last few days.
Or if all the sellers cancel the orders and relist at higher price.

[wilfred]

One still appears to have about 1000. Just search mulitifuction. Can't be more than one hit, right?

Oops. You're right. I missed that one. You can watch the stock going down by the minute. I hope Dave makes a nice little commission on the link referrals.

Still don't know why I need one. Two yes.

[Nusa]

I still suspect most, but not all, of the listings were mostly-automated drop shippers with no actual inventory, designed to make a few bucks on price differences. We will find out soon enough. Any that end up not being able to deliver will have to cancel.

[EEVblog]

Oops. You're right. I missed that one. You can watch the stock going down by the minute. I hope Dave makes a nice little commission on the link referrals.

About 60c a meter