#231

[@TheHWcave]

Nice one, but of course you are just scratching the surface here. There are a lot of issues with the XDM1041 (see my series of KZbin reviews for details). The XDM1041 has decent hardware and built-quality and uses the same measuring chip HY3131 as Dave Jones (EEVblog) 121GW Multimeter. It's great that it has a reasonably complete SCPI remote control interface. The worst thing is the totally useless recording function because there is no way to download the recordings! Measuring capacitance is not good either. It can't do less than 1nF and caps > 1000uF need help using manual ranging. Temperature measuring with K-type probes works but is flawed by internal heating (turning the backlight very low helps) and it updates its cold junction reference only every 10 minutes. This means for the first 60 minutes you get a staircase temperature curve even when the actual temperature you are measuring is constant. Oh and using the supported Platinum-type sensor instead is seriously flawed because it doesn't do 4-wire and in temperature measurement it can't do resistance-REL to cancel the lead resistance to the sensor (it RELs the temperature instead!). A lot of negatives but it is still my most commonly used meter because it is always on, sits right on my bench without taking any room and has a really large and bright display. Of course I only use it mostly for uncritical quick checks (mostly volts and continuity). For anything more serious I use my other multimeters, but you can't beat the XDM1041 for convenience.

[@Sui778]

It's not that great on diode measurements either - measures consistently low across the board - I was able to get mine to measure caps down to 500pF but anything below that - no reading at all. Autoranging on caps is absolutely terrible. Claims 60mHz on frequency specs - not even close. Temperature reading on mine is kinda wonky also. I got mine mostly for being able to monitor voltage with an always-on display so I'm happy with what I have it doing for me - and you can't beat it for portability.

[@TonyAlbus]

Thank you for the additional information, i have pinned it for others to see. Yes i did see your videos, thank you for writing that software and share it on github for others to use!

[@TheHWcave]

@@TonyAlbus Thanks Tony, I love your channel, so much cool gear and well presented

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

LOL! What do you guys expect from a cheapo meter? It works GREAT for it's PRICE! For a guy like me who is ONLY doing light work at home it's perfect. Another gear "snob".

[@TheHWcave]

@@DonnyHooterHoot True, the somewhat annoying fact is that the hardware is a lot better than the firmware. With a little more care from OWON (or by making the sw opensource this could be an amazing meter)

[@RonsLab]

I have the 2041, in auto mode it is slow but you can switch the measuring speed from auto to low to mid and high. At high speed the counting goes very fast

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi Ron, yes thats correct, i found myself doing that very often, just to speed it up. i have sold mine, but after i have heard also comments of people very happy with the Owon.

[@rologti]

I bought the 1241 (with battery), cost USD 65 shipped (aliexpress), I think for the money, nothing can beat this guy

[@TonyAlbus]

Great pricing... nice!!

[@patricksmith4424]

It beggars belief that more manufacturers are not developing slimline bench top multimeters. Coming from handhelds there would still be acres more space for the electronics than the handhelds. Good review and it has put me off the 2041, which I see is going cheaper at the moment.

[@TonyAlbus]

Yes Patrick, it is not that interesting to have a huge 3.5 / 4.5 digits desk multimeter.. while there are handies that have lost more digits.. for me a disktop DMM should have at least 5,5 and up. then it makes sense.

[@tonyhagen9716]

Hi Good to see the Instruments in possession. Could any one can recommend a Good LCR meter model which can take care of the smaller values in nano henry range effectively

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi Tony, in order of quality i was able to test here : #1 Matrix MCR-5200 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWTIoaCJp9BpitU #2 Victor EastTester kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5CboY2qhaZ_qMU #3 Hantek 1832C kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXbXn56LrbGdg9E maybe for small values get the 1833C, some even like the DE-5000 better, but i have not tested.

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

Do you know the 1041 has slow, medium and fast refresh times? Maybe the 2041 does also?

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi, the 2041 has slow, mid, fast. the 1041 i don't have anymore, it was a loan, so if i did not show in the video i do not know.

[@tamasgal_com]

Thanks Tony, nice wrap-up!

[@TonyAlbus]

Thanks for the nice feedback!

[@tamasgal_com]

@@TonyAlbus I almost bought the 1041 but your tests showed that the measurements are really slow. Compared to 30xx, it's really a different world. I am looking for a decent bench DMM and still has not decided which one to get. Currently I use a Fluke 8600a but it starts to act weird due to all the corroded multiswitches in the front (already tried to clean everything up with contact cleaner etc. but no chance). The question remains: should I spend 300-400 for an Owon or maybe a Siglent? Or a used Agilent? No idea...

[@TonyAlbus]

@@tamasgal_com i like my 34401A from Agilent for stable and accurate, you can find them 2nd hand also, but the display from the Siglent is a big big plus.

[@chirudb]

Hi, thanks for video. It is helpful. I want to know how small current it can measure. Can you please let me know?

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi, i am not sure... i don't have them anymore.

[@salvamipc]

hi, how would the 2041 or 1041 would compare with the vici 8145 80k count?

[@TonyAlbus]

Good question, i did not have the change yet to test the VC4145

[@jaymclemore9497]

Good review. I haven’t seen many reviews on the 2041 and was surprised it is so slow. I’m considering just going with a Bremen hand held. It seems it is much more bang for the buck than any of these entry level bench top meters. Is that a Brymen BM 869 on your bench? Have you reviewed it?

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi, yes agree, i would not buy the XDM2041 again and i will not the XDM1041, it is to slow, then i use my old Keithley or my new Siglent. but for entry it is nice. Yes the Brymen is much better but is a handheld. On my desk indeed a BM869s , i did review BM867s Video #210 that was very good so i decided to buy the BM869s because it should be even better, but i have net really noticed yet but should be more accurate, the 867s was already good.

[@TheHWcave]

@@TonyAlbus Agree, the BM869s is a fantastic handheld meter. I also like that I can get its readings through the USB interface on my Linux desktop (using my own software). The recording capability is very useful with the 2 temperature sensors supported by the BM869s. For example, one measuring room temperature and the other tracking the build-up of heat in some device I am testing.

[@TonyAlbus]

@@TheHWcave Cool you made software for that too? so great you write your own tools where the brand is lacking.. will need to look that video up.. thanks!

[@TheHWcave]

@@TonyAlbus Actually I never made a video about that one. I did not think it people would be interested. Brymen delivers some software on CD so I assume most (Windows) people would just use that. Anyway, my software (in Python3) is just a logger because the interface to Brymen handhelds is really a read-only affair. All you get is what the meter displays. My utility use the command line to produce a CVS file that you can open in most spreadsheet programs (including Excel). I can put it on my Github page with a short readme if that is of interest.

[@TonyAlbus]

@@TheHWcave Yes interesting, i will order the usb-kit and see if it can export..but still interesting to see if i can get your python script running on windows (should be possible) , i will need to start to look into python anyway because you can't get around it anymore :) i wish i could program in python. if you like to share it, that would be great!

[@bradclancy6069]

Good video! My fist thought was where is the SDM3065, glad you said something!! You can never own enough DVOM/DMM. Two is the absolute minimum. Even though my Siglnt can display amps and volts, same time. I prefer two metes actually measuring at the same time. Thinking of another bench top soon. The other day although not common I had 6 running at the same time. Finding out the efficiency of transformer. Just need to understand if they agree, if not by how much and is deviation linear.

[@TonyAlbus]

Yes indeed you can never have to may DMM's :))

[@585585MC]

No teardown? It's a half made video

[@TonyAlbus]

LOL, yes correct, it being a loan device, i think the owner agrees not to do a teardown :)

[@Sui778]

I was rather disappointed with the XDM1041 when it came to capacitance and diodes. Glad I didn't get it for use as a main meter. Was the capacitance mode as bad on your XDM1041 as mine?

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi, i did not test that, caps are always difficult, the reason i bought an LCR Video #083 VC4090C

[@Sui778]

@@TonyAlbus Makes sense. But just to quickly report - the XDM1041 not that bad on capacitance accuracy - the real problem is the auto-ranging - absolutely horrid.

[@TonyAlbus]

@@Sui778 i still have it for a few day.. i can check for you.

[@Sui778]

@@TonyAlbus Yeah would be interesting to see - mine wasn't just a problem with autoranging - when you get into higher values you start seeing artifacts on the display - look at my review of it (in the capacitance section) - I got some of that on camera).

[@TheHWcave]

@@Sui778 Yes that is my experience with it too. Capacitance works (well not for < 1nF) but above 1000uF autoranging just can't make up its mind. If you select manual range for > 1000uF , it works fine and is reasonably accurate.

[@Markus2801A]

Thanks again for this review. I watched some videos regarding this nice device. Besides the discussed "issues", it seems OWON again managed to create a nice little and affordable meter! A whole new Unit regarding Bench DMMs :-) Hopefully OWON will continue their great work and fix all isses and provide us with an upgraded version of the XDM1041 ;-)

[@TonyAlbus]

The size is indeed nice for quick testing.... yes if they make firmware more easy available that would be great, i here it is not just in a download but you need to request it??

Measuring small capacitances with an OWON XDM1041 multimeter: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ6rpq1nesZ4htk

[@TonyAlbus]

Thank you!

[@treadmillrepair754]

Someone knows if this multimeter have isolated USB port? Maybe the input board is isolated from the others boards? Any help will ve appreciate.

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi, i sold mine, if you add 'teardown' to your search on youtube, you will see the inside of the device you looking for.

[@davidh1187]

You have both meters set to their slowest sampling speeds!

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi David, its by default in slow mode... i sold mine, i got bored pushing the speed button every time i used it.

[@jeffsmythe2653]

Were to buy the proper calibrator

[@TonyAlbus]

DMMcheckplus in US is nice, but you can have a look at timelectronics in UK for real calibrators.

[@froeze]

Hello, I'm waiting for you to test the VICI VC8145.

[@TonyAlbus]

Was it send to the correct adress? i did not receive it yet.

[@froeze]

@@TonyAlbus I am French I have probably asked my questions incorrectly will you ever test the VICI VC8145?

[@TonyAlbus]

@@froeze Hello Edgar, i thought maybe you send me one, i have no plans buying it myself. i can try to get a free sample form BangGood. but i already have a sample coming of something else so it good be some months.. i will put it on the list. Thanks

[@froeze]

@@TonyAlbus Thank you very much take your time

[@manuelcv9475]

Excelent video Thanks

[@TonyAlbus]

Thank you!

[@soxx7710]

What buy 1041 or 2041?

[@TonyAlbus]

Siglent SDG3045 or 3055 or 3065. i find the slow scan of the Owon very annoying

[@biggityboggityboo8775]

@@TonyAlbus But those are a lot more expensive!

[@TonyAlbus]

@@biggityboggityboo8775 yes you mostly get what you pay for.

[@jeffsmythe3038]

Should i buy XDM2041

[@TonyAlbus]

i think you will be more happy with a faster multimeter

[@biggityboggityboo8775]

@@TonyAlbus Yes but then the question is what in the same price range with the same functions.

[@TonyAlbus]

@@biggityboggityboo8775 Zotek has a nice desk multimeter, you find it also on my channel

[@jeffsmythe3038]

Im stell waiting for VICI VC8145. but cence may

[@TonyAlbus]

it will not be coming, i did not receive one and i will not buy myself.

[@jeffsmythe3038]

I mite buy Owon XDM2041

[@TonyAlbus]

hope you enjoy it!.. have fun with the hobby!

[@anatolykrushen4279]

XDM1041 не мерит переменное напряжение свыше 1,5 кГц. Рекомендую его выбросить на помойку, он не годится даже для ремонта аудиоаппаратуры)))

[@TonyAlbus]

Yes it is a cheaper meter, so some feathers it will not have.

[@zdzisiek1979]

Szkoda że nie jest na baterie

[@TonyAlbus]

Tak, jest mały, świetnie nadaje się do użytku mobilnego! Yes it is small,that would be great for mobile use

[@kaybhee6]

got both of course

[@TonyAlbus]

:))

[@JamieBibb-s3e]

Schowalter Drive

[@TonyAlbus]

what is that?

[@XtianApi]

Better probes improve these dramatically

[@TonyAlbus]

Hi, i am not sure what you mean... scan speed will not improve.. voltage/high impedance will not change to much... please explain your concerns about my test (also it was a while ago) i am happy to explain or learn to make better test my devices.

[@XtianApi]

​​@@TonyAlbus no I'm not saying anything about your tests. I actually am not sure what I was saying. I remember my thought but I think it was meant for another video. Sorry. I was watching hours of dmm videos back to back to back. I can delete this comment. Edit: I remember now. I had this video paused briefly to go to the bathroom and before playing it again a short caught my eye and this comment was meant for that. Sorry. I do love your videos.

[@TonyAlbus]

No problem mate! thanks for watching and for putting a comment

[@3x__]

You know!

[@TonyAlbus]

No, not know to much, just collecting :))

[@KennethLopez-o6j]

3136 Michele Brooks

[@TonyAlbus]

Thanks!