Author Topic: Teardown: Amprobe AM-270 Digital Multimeter (Read 47836 times)

FenderBender · « **on:** October 30, 2011, 10:36:24 pm »

Here's another,

Bought this thing for $90. I'm quite pleased for the price. Tons of functionality and very good build quality. Pictures:

FenderBender · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2011, 10:37:56 pm »

FenderBender · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2011, 09:42:53 pm »

I though I'd do a quick review also. More like some quick notes.

Pros:

-Pretty much every function you could dream of in a DMM
-Rated accuracy is on par or better than many meters in it's price range
-Separate mA/uA jack
-High Quality Internal construction:
+Huge HRC fuses
+Routed isolation slots/plastic blast shields
+Lots of input protection (vertical resistors even have their leads heatshrunk)
+Nicel VReference Resistor 0.1%
+O-Rings on screwholes and in input jacks
+Overall high quality passives and construction
+High quality soldering. No residue or junk
+Intriguing range selector switch...
-Appealing professional aesthetics
-Audible jack alert. ie. Plugged in for current, but on voltage mode
-Excellent price-point

Cons:
-LCD Backlight is blotchy: no light diffuser
-"Kickstand" is a tad bit flimsy
-Range switch is a little too stubborn for my taste, not very satisfying
-No dedicated battery holder, just a compartment with a 9V battery clip on a wire.
-Scratchy continuity tester. It's quick, but irritating.

Lightages · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2011, 03:35:19 am »

I am sorry but I meant to reply earlier. This looks like a very good buy and I somehow overlooked it earlier. Thanks for the information.

FenderBender · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2011, 10:06:08 pm »

Quote from: Lightages on November 09, 2011, 03:35:19 am

I am sorry but I meant to reply earlier. This looks like a very good buy and I somehow overlooked it earlier. Thanks for the information.

I think you can hardly beat it for the price.

amspire · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2011, 10:34:30 pm »

It does look a great multimeter for the price.

The one negative I could see is for current ranges of 500mA and below, it has a strangely high burden voltage.

From the Amprobe data sheet, the burden voltage is 1.65V full scale on the 500mA range and 0.75V on the 5mA range full scale.

On the 5A range however, you can resolve down to 1mA, and 500mA of current would cause a 15mV burden current and so most of the time, you could live with using the 5A range for measuring power supply current.

Richard.

FenderBender · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2011, 11:38:10 pm »

Hmm...Well I don't think it was designed particularly for low voltages. More industrial wiring kind of stuff.

I don't have a scope so I don't know if would really have an effect.

Maybe I should get a uCurrent!

IanB · « **Reply #7 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:19:00 am »

Quote from: amspire on November 09, 2011, 10:34:30 pm

The one negative I could see is for current ranges of 500mA and below, it has a strangely high burden voltage.

From the Amprobe data sheet, the burden voltage is 1.65V full scale on the 500mA range and 0.75V on the 5mA range full scale.

It's not strangely high as in uniquely or oddly high, it is consistent with more or less every meter out there in any price bracket.

Testing a whole range of my meters gives a meter resistance of 2-3 ohms on mA ranges and 100 ohms on uA ranges. I was surprised at the consistency of these measurements. I mean every meter was about exactly 100 ohms on the 200/400/500 uA range.

PeteH · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2011, 04:43:46 am »

I'm curious, does this meter give audible warning if you switch to measure voltage and forgot to change the probe over?

FenderBender · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:50:04 pm »

Quote from: PeteH on November 10, 2011, 04:43:46 am

I'm curious, does this meter give audible warning if you switch to measure voltage and forgot to change the probe over?

Yes it does.

PeteH · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:55:33 pm »

I could see the split input jacks, usually the usual method for detecting the probe. Looks like a good meter!

FenderBender · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2011, 06:10:19 pm »

Wow you have some sharp eyes. I didn't even notice they were split jacks. Haha. Atleast there the good quality split jack type.

sorin · « **Reply #12 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:34:52 am »

just 5000 counts

FenderBender · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:26:01 pm »

Is that bad?

Salas · « **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:38:19 pm »

Looks like it was designed with electricians in mind. Much input protection, hard switch for hand in industrial glove, so so tilting bail because almost always on hand or hanging off a terminal's frame, waist clip, 5000 count to have the important stuff in big size.

Lightages · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2012, 01:54:35 pm »

It may have been designed for electricians, but it has all the right stuff for almost any electronics work. 5000 count? So it isn't 40000, big deal. For the price it is a bargain and safe for newcomers to the hobby/profession.

peter.mitchell · « **Reply #16 on:** November 27, 2012, 02:10:45 pm »

5000 count is amazing, 4000 count sucks big ones (not the aerosmith album either), 5000 means you can see the voltage on a lithium chemistry battery in high resolution, 4000 not so much

multiJ · « **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2012, 08:59:04 pm »

It would have been great if AM-270 was available for sale in Europe

StubbornGreek · « **Reply #18 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:21:35 pm »

I was considering picking up an AM-140. This little review instills some confidence...hmm

Thanks for your input.

dr_p · « **Reply #19 on:** November 27, 2012, 10:42:30 pm »

Quote from: multiJ on November 27, 2012, 08:59:04 pm

It would have been great if AM-270 was available for sale in Europe

I live in Europe and got it for 90$+35$ shipping from Tequipement.net. It took 10 days more or less, half of that before departing the shop.

Lightages · « **Reply #20 on:** November 28, 2012, 02:06:15 am »

Quote from: StubbornGreek on November 27, 2012, 10:21:35 pm

I was considering picking up an AM-140. This little review instills some confidence...hmm

Thanks for your input.

Have a look at this too.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/amprobe-am-140-a/msg155623/#msg155623

iloveelectronics · « **Reply #21 on:** November 28, 2012, 02:35:49 am »

While we are on the topic of these Amprobe meters which I believe are basically Brymen's inside a different housing and badge, I have just got myself a Brymen BM-257. I will post some pictures and perhaps a short review if anyone's interested. http://www.brymen.com.tw/product-html/cata250/Bm250s.htm

T4P · « **Reply #22 on:** November 28, 2012, 05:25:01 am »

Quote from: iloveelectronics on November 28, 2012, 02:35:49 am

While we are on the topic of these Amprobe meters which I believe are basically Brymen's inside a different housing and badge, I have just got myself a Brymen BM-257. I will post some pictures and perhaps a short review if anyone's interested. http://www.brymen.com.tw/product-html/cata250/Bm250s.htm

Please do

retiredcaps · « **Reply #23 on:** November 28, 2012, 07:20:08 am »

Quote from: iloveelectronics on November 28, 2012, 02:35:49 am

I have just got myself a Brymen BM-257. I will post some pictures and perhaps a short review if anyone's interested. http://www.brymen.com.tw/product-html/cata250/Bm250s.htm

Yes, please!!!

StubbornGreek · « **Reply #24 on:** November 28, 2012, 09:43:37 am »

Quote from: Lightages on November 28, 2012, 02:06:15 am

Quote from: StubbornGreek on November 27, 2012, 10:21:35 pm
I was considering picking up an AM-140. This little review instills some confidence...hmm

Thanks for your input.

Have a look at this too.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/amprobe-am-140-a/msg155623/#msg155623

Thanks. I saw those but didn't realize he was on this forum.


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Author Topic: Teardown: Amprobe AM-270 Digital Multimeter (Read 47836 times)

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