TH2830 vs TH2832

[nctnico]

Any link to the Tonghui Aliexpress factory store?

Hi Nico,

I bought my unit from this shop (3 years ago):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000131204659.html

I don't think that is the factory store.

Agreed!

Also, considering the very shitty support, I would advise against Tonghui.

Duly noted! I didn't forget about your earlier remark about Tonghui!

[GnomeZA]

Sorry for being out of topic but you ordered from aliexpress 3-4 days ago and you already got it?

Yep, they shipped it with DHL.

[GnomeZA]

Ok so update after playing with the meter some more.

My TH2830 was calibrated 2023-12-05 (YY-MM-DD) based on the report with the meter (yeah wow, buying from AliExpress factory store has some advantages I guess).

Any link to the Tonghui Aliexpress factory store?

Sorry I was thinking of the East Tester ET35 which I tried to order from the East Tester Factory Store.
I got the TH2830 here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32488268754.html
If you go to the store's feedback you should see my customer feedback in the top there for this meter.

My cost was $962.07 from the store and an additional $81.78 once it got here on customs and clearance fees.  My country has 15% tax on 110% of the item value (yeah I know weird calculation).  And there is a $10 flat DHL clearance fee regardless if you pay any VAT (which is only paid on items above about $15 of value).

I suspect they understated the value because based on my calculations I should have paid more.

[GnomeZA]

Ok so update after playing with the meter some more.

My TH2830 was calibrated 2023-12-05 (YY-MM-DD) based on the report with the meter (yeah wow, buying from AliExpress factory store has some advantages I guess).
The meter was double boxed and sealed with Tonghui tape, so I doubt they replaced the report
The firmware for my TH2830 is clearly newer than any available on this thread and the version I have has the following that KungFuJosh was missing:

1. Arbitrary frequency up to 100kHZ
2. DCR measurement

What is missing:

1. Frequency > 100kHz
2. Bias adjustment, the item is there but it shows "----" and no amount of pressing and messing with it makes it available.

I'm not quite willing to risk the calibration and bugs in exchange for those two features.

1) Believe the TH2830 offers 5 digit resolution (display) for all frequencies from 50 to 100KHz, ours does

2) The 2830 has no built in DC Bias (enabled), think this comes with the 2832. If you build the DC Bias Adapter we disclosed, then you have much more DC Bias Range than what the 2832 offers, so capability is easily available.

Best,

I was actually looking to make a BOM for your board.  I only have reasonable shipping from RS electronics.  They are excellent actually but they have a more limited selection, so I needed to change out some components (ie. EPCOS/TDK Film caps & Vishay electrolytic caps, TE Connectivity BNCs but look identical and such tiny things)

My opinion the first 3 digits after the decimal are useful most of the time, after that I think the meter has too much noise for me to consider it seriously.  But the resistance values at least are 100% identical to my Keithley 2000 for about 20 or so resistors I did a quick test on using Kelvin Clips.  Down to 3 decimal points, it is pretty insane for them to agree so well.

Sadly I don't have a capacitance/inductor standard or meter I really trust.  I compared to some of my cheap handhelds, surprisingly the UNI-T UT61E was the closest.  The rest were like out there (all over the place, how many measurements I took is how many differences I had  ).  Only the UT61E and the TH2830 were at least same ballpark.  I know they measure differently, but I just wanted to compare against SOMETHING.  I'll see if I can get my hands on some caps and inductors with really good tolerances on my next RS/Digikey order.

I also already opened the meter and it uses an R core transformer, I thought I read other people had Toroidal transformers or something.
I'll take some pics a bit later today/tomorrow so we can compare.

I've also ordered the SMD fixture which was $45 shipped (postal however).
Looks like the one you have from the outside, I guess when I open it up we'll see what is cooking.

[Martin72]

Sorry for being out of topic but you ordered from aliexpress 3-4 days ago and you already got it?

Yep, they shipped it with DHL.

The Tonghui is not avaible for me(country)and the sourcetronic costs 600€ more..

[GnomeZA]

These pictures were taken in my bathroom because it is night and it has the most light output per sq/m.  Sorry it is what it is for now.

[GnomeZA]

I really struggled to get good internal pics, so if you guys want more I'd have to take it during the day outside or something to hopefully get some useable pictures.  I haven't looked at the other pictures available online for this too closely, so I'm not sure if it worth taken more pictures

[GnomeZA]

R core transformer.  I've never seen one in real life before, but I assume from the look that it has very low common mode noise.

[GnomeZA]

The Tonghui is not avaible for me(country)and the sourcetronic costs 600€ more..

I went into this LCR thing thinking I'd spend $500 max.  $1050 later.  Still, with all the options available, I didn't want to buy something crappy and then spend this amount anyway a year later out of frustration.

Near the end there I was just considering getting the DER-EE DE5000 (I have no LCR meters at all, so even the DE5000 is a massive "upgrade" from nothing).  Everything else was expensive, really expensive to ship or I simply didn't trust it (ie. East Tester).

So I definitely understand your pain.  You'll have to fix the Hioki

[Martin72]

You'll have to fix the Hioki

I'm working on it, or at least my motivation would be much higher if I had a service manual or at least a wiring diagram.

[tv84]

These pictures were taken in my bathroom because it is night and it has the most light output per sq/m. 

  Do you grow weed there?

[GnomeZA]

Do you grow weed there?

LOL wut.  Why?

My apartment has pendulum lights (single hanging light per room).
Except the bathroom that has two for a very small room.
I don't have it in me to rewire the place (the ceiling is cast, so moving lights is a massive amount of work).
Space is at a premium here, its right next to a mountain and not much space.
Anyway the rooms all have 150w equivalent Philips LEDs which in the bathroom, in person, has insanely good light.
Other large rooms not so much.

I should move to a house out in the burbs.
Anyway back to topic at hand.

[KungFuJosh]

I may have missed it in this thread, but where did you get the original TH2830 firmware? (and what was the date code)
I bought a TH2830 from AliExpress and it has firmware with date code "2022-05-31"
Any chance you could try get the latest from the Sourcetronic folks, or maybe you can tell me how exactly you asked them for it? (did you just email?)
I'm hesitant to do go backward in time in terms of firmware given your previous experience, not to mention bugs that have been (hopefully) been fixed

I got the original version from another user. Good luck getting anything from Tongui, their support is terrible. You're welcome to try and ask though.

I also wouldn't likely risk the firmware change without a backup copy of your current firmware.

If you can, please go to the firmware update screen, and share what details it says (version numbers etc.)

[GnomeZA]

I got the original version from another user. Good luck getting anything from Tongui, their support is terrible. You're welcome to try and ask though.

I also wouldn't likely risk the firmware change without a backup copy of your current firmware.

If you can, please go to the firmware update screen, and share what details it says (version numbers etc.)

Appears I have the same hardware revision as your photo.
Still version 1 with a newer date.

Someone really needs to explain to these folks how version numbers work.

[GnomeZA]

This thing has a really annoying buzz.
Is that all down to the fan?
I'm thinking of replacing that fan with a 40x40x20mm Noctua fan, standard fan is 40x40x10 ARX fan

[KungFuJosh]

Probably the fan. I can kinda hear what you mean, but the fan isn't all that loud. My SDM3055 fan is louder (but a clean fan sound instead of the weird buzzy one).

Let us know how your replacement goes. I might do the same at some point.

[KungFuJosh]

I just checked the stock fan, it's 2-pin and 5VDC. 40x10 is stock, but there looks like there's enough room for a 20mm depth if you prefer that.

[GnomeZA]

I just checked the stock fan, it's 2-pin and 5VDC. 40x10 is stock, but there looks like there's enough room for a 20mm depth if you prefer that.

Yeah I saw, I ordered a 40x20mm instead, should increase the airflow in any case (not arrived yet, with all the holidays things are going super slow)
That all said, I have sneaking suspicion the noise of the fan is going to be due to them driving the fan with PWM.

[KungFuJosh]

Yeah I saw, I ordered a 40x20mm instead, should increase the airflow in any case (not arrived yet, with all the holidays things are going super slow)
That all said, I have sneaking suspicion the noise of the fan is going to be due to them driving the fan with PWM.

I guess we'll both see, I also ordered one. 😉 I ordered the Noctua NF-A4x20 5V. I should have it Monday. I'm sure the crappy fan contributes too.

[GnomeZA]

Yeah I saw, I ordered a 40x20mm instead, should increase the airflow in any case (not arrived yet, with all the holidays things are going super slow)
That all said, I have sneaking suspicion the noise of the fan is going to be due to them driving the fan with PWM.

I guess we'll both see, I also ordered one. 😉 I ordered the Noctua NF-A4x20 5V. I should have it Monday. I'm sure the crappy fan contributes too.

Same fan I ordered I just don't live in the US so it takes quite a bit longer to reach me unfortunately

[luudee]

Same fan I ordered I just don't live in the US so it takes quite a bit longer to reach me unfortunately

Hello,

I too do not live in the US.

Noctua FANs are made in Austria. I find it usually best to order on their EBay shop.
Very fast and reliable service !

Best Regards,
rudi

[KungFuJosh]

Well, that worked great. A nice consistent/smooth fan sound. It's quieter, more efficient, and the buzzing is gone.

[Szybkijanek]

Hi, is it possible to provide modified firmware from the th/st2832 200kHz model for th2830?

[luudee]

Hi, is it possible to provide modified firmware from the th/st2832 200kHz model for th2830?

Hi Janek,

I was trying to extract the firmware, but it is protected (security fuse engaged).

We need a source for the firmware, which we so far do not have.

Best regards,
rudi

[KungFuJosh]

Hi, is it possible to provide modified firmware from the th/st2832 200kHz model for th2830?

Hi Janek,

I was trying to extract the firmware, but it is protected (security fuse engaged).

We need a source for the firmware, which we so far do not have.

Best regards,
rudi

The improved firmware I'm currently using is in this post: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/th2830-vs-th2832/msg4969857/#msg4969857

There are only a couple bugs in that, not sure if everybody will have the same issues.

The most recent stock 2830 fw I have is attached. It has more features including arbitrary frequency entry that the 2830 didn't previously have.