Kaiweets KM601 Smart Multimeter Review - A special multi meter for the repair technician?

LER #231 Kaiweets contacted me and aked if I would review their latest multimeter from the point of view of a repair technician. So how good is this multi meter and does it offer anything special when it comes to repair work (spoiler.... yes it does). And what features would make the perfect multi meter for electronics repair?
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Thank you
Richard

[@atifservicecenter]

I’m your big fan sir 🙏🏻 I always watch your videos. Lots of love for you from India 🇮🇳

[@mrlaw711]

After three weeks the KM601 is perfect. I needed a replacement set of "leads," and the Kaiweet's support team is second to one ...they sent me what I needed and more. I received a better response from the support team than you do on a new car, or new appliances at Lowes, or just about anything I've purchased in the past ten years that required contact with customer support.

[@fyvewytches]

May be a typo but the expression is « second to *none* », not « second to one ». 😊

[@yambo59]

One of the best ways to speed up your continuity is to either steel wool or use super fine 600 sandpaper on the lead tips, theres a coating from the plating process and if you remove that your contnuity will be MUCH better --- if that doesnt work buy a set of PROBEMASTER gold plated leads, they are the BEST IN THE WORLD.

[@hullinstruments]

Something I would love to see built into a multimeter …..would be an in circuit ESR tester. Basically just a high frequency resistance tester because it can be used to measure all types of components in circuit not just capacitors. Once you learn your way around it and exactly how to use it in each topology and circuit type… it sure can save a lot of time (even though they aren’t foolproof). Also would love to see a built-in constant current source for testing low resistances. (Milliohm ect….)

[@r.d.machinery3749]

I bought one. I got a great deal on the price from Ali Express. They knocked off 39% -only £28. Free shipping. Thanks for the review.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Good to hear, I'm sure you will love it 🙂

[@alibali4445]

This is great for the videos because the Display is way better than the Fluke. I was hoping we would get to see the inside as well but that multimeter looks nice.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

ali bali I am not the first to review one of these - just search KZbin for KM601 review and you will find guys testing it for accuracy (voltage resistance etc) and I think you may find tear downs as well. Kaiweets approached me and asked if I would give an honest opinion of this meter specifically from the point of view of a repair tech and that is what I did. If you watched the whole video you will know I found some features I felt were outstanding, and at least one that could definitely be improved.

[@nelsonjohnsrud5940]

I’ve been interested in this meter for awhile now, and your review of it has put me over the top. I will be ordering one straight away. Thanks.

[@gladstonemason5143]

Greetings, I love to play with electronics and have a weakness of purchasing equipment. I just purchased the blue one last week and I’m so glad that I found your channel you explained it all so well. Thank you

[@myscubablog]

Dear sir, thank you kindly for this review. You really helped me make up my mind about buying this multimeter. I think you’ve put your heart into it and this video is very informative. I will be watching your channel very closely.

[@mrlaw711]

Nice review. My 601 arrived this morning.

[@robtitheridge9708]

I like the readability from a viewer point far easier than your normal one.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yes that I do like - I'm going to use this on upcoming videos so we can all get to know the meter a bit better. The other two features I thought were exceptionally good for repair work were the way it makes you insert the probes correctly when using mA or Amps range, and the Auto feature where it will read AC voltage, DC voltage, continuity or resistance automatically and the fact it clearly distinguishes the difference between a good voltage rail, a voltage rail with no voltage on it, and a voltage rail with a short on it, with the device under test powered up and without me having to touch any buttons to make it do it! 😁

[@wannabemgtow2540]

I have to say this was a pretty good review on that particular multimeter. I am looking forward to seeing you use it more often on your repair videos.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yeah, I was asked specifically to review this meter as a repair technician and that is what I did to the best of my ability.

[@johnmoorhead5114]

At approximately 20 minutes into the video, where you are flipping through the manual to determine the Hertz ranges, if you look at the right-hand page of the DC milliamps range chart it does show that it will resolve down to .001 ma. This would make it comparable to the capability of the Aneng.

[@csimet]

After watching you use this meter on a number of following videos, I'm really starting to like how well it works... your using it constantly tells me it is that good. I picked up a AEMC 5233 and a low-cost LCR meter for general use and starting to think about retiring the AEMC in favor of getting this one. I'd love to see a version with the improvements you suggest *and* add a ESR feature with adjustable test frequency to it (even at the cost of a moderate price increase over this model). That would make for a killer all-in-one meter.

[@brianhooper9086]

I think a big plus for this meter is not having the big dial switch. I don't use the meters often and when I do I find the contacts doggie. That's why I have ordered one. Great review.

[@RickL_was_here]

Just picked up one of these myself. Probably the best money I've spent in awhile. No complaints but I'm looking to replace the leads though.

[@mattstroker3742]

Yup, just made the final decision. This is going into my toolbox.

[@Piasecznik72]

Biggest factor in continuity test is leads quality. Just throw test probes which comes with multimiter into "fuckit bucket" and use quality ones all the time. Beeps should also be latching - meaning it should give up solid continuous beep regardless of resistance in certain range.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

I really like the way the Fluke 79 works on diode mode - continuous beep for short and a quick 'blip' for semiconductor junction. I don't think that can be beaten

[@Piasecznik72]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair Sure but still your Fluke seems to have bit of lag and it is most probably probes fault. Same probes but new should be sufficient. At least I'm using same as your on your Fluke and they work great when fairly new. KM601 you tested for me has unacceptable lag but still I think it is caused by poor probes. Try to use your Fluke probes with it to see if there is a difference.

[@baltazarmtzgalla]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair so does this device does the same thing as the fluke or how does it work testing diodes or caps on diode mode?

[@Sizzlik]

First i disliked the auto feature (in gerneral, not only this meter)..but after using a meter that got auto detection i think its very handy for beginners as helper and for semi pro its a quality of life feature. When you know what you are about to meassure its nice to not have to switch buttons from voltage to resistance each time you go over a circuit. And when you want to measure a specific thing, you can set it manually like every other meter. So its "fool proof" for beginners and "quick switch" for fast testing different things.

[@NotThatGuyJD]

Love that it has a contrast screen. With white lettering on black background. Would be nice if it had some more resolution for mV and Ohms just down to how in "PC stuff" especially the new stuff we're dealing with stuff on a much lower end of the spectrum but at the same time are a significantly smaller community.

[@belaarbibrahim1051]

Hi richard i love what you doing i learn from u a lot thanks a lots 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@irlstreamclips6016]

Was intersted in this meter - bought one after watching this. Good, practical review - cheers👍

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Nice. I'm sure you will love it. If I had paid for this one myself I can still say I would be really pleased with it. 🙂

[@mattstroker3742]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair It's not expensive either so... Yeah, probably will order one.

[@silviutudose7868]

Thanks Richard, very usefull your video, I will buy this multimeter, it's really powerfull

[@kriswillems5661]

Another interesting meter is the aneng a870. It's a 19999 digits device with pretty good specs (high accuracy) and it's cheaper than this one. How silly it might sound, but a good meter for repair is one with a very responsive beep. It's useful when dragging your probe over IC pins. The km601 meter is comparable to the aneng q10.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Hi Kris, thanks for the info, it looks intersting - I'll buy one myself and review it from the point of view of repair use. Cheers.

[@kriswillems5661]

Nah, you've already lots of good meters. For repair with low voltages most meters are good enough. It would be pretty much a waste of money, except if you can somehow recover it from youtube. The thing that is missing in your tools is probably thermal camera. I hope some company would be kind enough to send you one for free to review. But given they are so expensive, that might not happen.

[@jayytee8062]

Ive been looking at these two meters you've mentioned. Not sure which one yet but slighty leaning more towards the A870.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

@@jayytee8062 I'm going to get an A870 myself and review it. I'll be cheeky and ask Aneng if they will send me one, but if I don't get a reply I'll buy one myself this month. It looks like a useful addition to my workbench, and anyway you can never have too many test meters yeah??

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Ha ha well I was cheeky and asked Aneng for one and they were very quick to say 'not right now'. But I'm nothing if not persistent so I'll just buy one myself and review that 😁

[@johnes0522]

Since they're so affordable I Ordered one.

[@zedcarr6128]

For the price, it's a no-brainer. I have several multimeters in my arsenal of test equipment, and this meter is deffo going to be part of that. The display is lush, and it has some great features. What I would say about your review, Richard, is it would have been nice if you had put it on an external PSU to see what its current consumption is. I think that Dave at EEVBlog mentioned in one of his multimeter reviews some years ago that the OLED display meters were power hungry. I'm not sure if this meter has an OLED display, but it looks lovely and makes me think, is this eye candy draining the batteries.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

That is a fair question, I will check over the weekend and post here. I did wonder near the start of the video whether the fact this meter came with two sets of batteries as standard was just the manufacturer being generous or an indication that it chews batteries for breakfast!

[@kriswillems5661]

It's an LCD, not an OLED. The meter draws 30 mA. This gives you 30 plus hours battery life on continuous use. Not so bad, but not as good as a fluke.

[@dracarnoir7606]

Hi Richard love your videos ,great information 👌

[@marcellipovsky8222]

Hello Richard, thanks for the review. If I may have one small comment to the speed of the MM. You mentioned it being stable, but in my opinion this can have adverse effect when you want to know if voltage is changing quickly. Say, on a laptop motherboard during startup when power rails are brought up and there is a fault.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yes that is a fair point. Because it has such as good display I'm going to use it on my upcoming videos so we will certainly find out

[@marcellipovsky8222]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair I am looking forward to it!

[@seeithappen1]

Hi Richard - it seems to be very good for faster fault tracking. No need to manually switch between ranges

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yes that is one of the two features I feel make this meter a bit special, the other being the way it makes you insert the leads in the right sockets for current measurement.

[@mypeeps1965]

Just ordered one. I only have 5 multimeters, I'm a noob!...lol

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

You can never have enough multimeters. I'm sure you will love it. It was a pleasure for me to review this and know at the end that if I had bought it myself I would still be delighted with it.

[@romancharak3675]

Hello. I believe the "insulator tubes" on the ends of the probes can be removed, exposing move of the the metal probes. Thank you for an in depth review.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yeah I did try to remove them, though not very hard. I'll have another go

[@Maxximilian]

Hi I think you are Richard right? , this multi-meter is sold in my country under brand name Habotest 116 about 75 $, by the way I bought Mesr-120 and thanks for introducing in your videos, in my country its hardly available about 90 $ ! I am saving money for Fluke 87V, maybe its time to change your fluke too 😛

[@stevedebeukelaer1424]

Hi richard you can also do manual range by capacitors, if you know the capacitance. Through pushing the range button then it will be quicker to see the capacitor value.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Thanks Steve.

[@MANINDERSINGH-bw4ms]

Probes below side and it is difficult to use without stand.sir plz make video of this similar type multimeter that has stand and probe on front side.thanks

[@JohnPooley-te9ei]

Nice1 Tool & thank u

[@nathan5315]

What can I say, I want one!

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Then why not, It seems others here are finding and buying these for around £28 at the moment 😉

[@unintendedperson]

Hello richard. I know you have function generator. Can you make a experiment for us? Try make 100khz output from that function generator and use the lm371 to limit the current and then measure impedance of capacitor and inductor. And can you make an experiment use it as dc supply for your $1 micro ohm meter cause i think it can have dc offset and low ac output frequency

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yes I will have a play with this, it sounds like an interesting experiment

[@unintendedperson]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair i will wait for that. Cause the mesr100 too expensive to me, and lcr der de 5500 almost near the msr price, and to test led with your method (lm317 again) it needs dc supply, the $1 mili ohm meter also need dc supply. I dont wanna use battery cause it will depleted rapidly.

[@ags_1905]

How fast does it chew through the batteries? Probably about 10 times faster than a classic LCD screen DMM?

[@muhammedaflah7920]

How is about it's battery life?

[@mauanderuk]

Thought this was going to be boring how wrong was I, what an interesting meter and well dirt cheap too £30 in the UK.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Glad you liked it. I do try not to be boring LOL

[@Dutch_off_grid_homesteading]

Heya I ordered that meter bby your affiliated link hope it will help thanks for the review

[@dj_sorra8605]

Identical to Hobotest HT116

[@kriswillems5661]

By the way. This model sells for around 26 pound were I live (I live in Asia).

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

That's is a bit of a bargain :D

[@EarthSurfer]

The Kaitweets DMM (Black only) is currently an Amazon Lightning Deal in the US for June 30, 2022 for $36.54 using LER's link in the video description. The 10% coupon does not work for this offer.

[@vladimirpopoviclipovac9689]

I am looking at Kaiweets ST500Y. There is also the same models under a different brand: GVDA GD120B. ST500Y/GD120B is slightly smaller and cheaper, but keeps all the functionality of KM601. Plus one added convenience, which got me sold - forward and back select buttons. :D

[@skysurfhf]

Hi. The ANENG Q1 9999 IS BETTER than yours ANENG ? And with that new on the review ? Thanks Greatings from Portugal 🇵🇹 🌟

[@kriswillems5661]

Looks great for videos, but you probably want a meter to be like a calculator: the batteries should last very long. I doubt batteries will last long in this.

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yeah I'm going to test the current drawn by the meter from the batteries after the weekend. I'm also going to use it on my videos because of the clear display so let's see in reality how long the batteries last.

[@kriswillems5661]

Another channel did a battery test. It draws 30 mA. That's not too bad. It will last about 160 15 minutes cycles with good batteries. Not bad at all.

[@weerobot]

Nice...

[@aziztcf]

What probes are you using? I want some of those sharp tip ones!

[@kevshouse]

You mentioned buying really sharp meter probes, can you suggest some good ones, please?

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

There are loads on AliExpress and ebay www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20220422101720&SearchText=needle+meter+probes&spm=a2g0o.home.1000002.0 I have bought these, and also from ebay, several times over the years (they don't last forever) but the last two times I bought (once from ebay, once from Ali) it seems the quality is not as good as it was, especially the leads, and they break fairly quickly. I need to order some more and I am going to try these ones instead of just the cheapest I can find www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002587589749.html

[@SomeOtherCrap]

Be careful Richard.. I think the fact that they sent you one for free means you should tick the vid as paid promotion..

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Oh I wasn't sure as I don't get paid anything for making this video. It's a first time for me to do this... actually it is not first time i have been asked - I seem to get offered quite a few things lately for free if I will make a review video but if they are not relevant to this channel (electronics repair) I just turn them down. This is the first time I was offered something I felt was relevant. I will contact KZbin and ask if I made a mistake there. I am being very open from the start of the video that I was sent this item for free and was told to give an honest opinion of the product, which if you watched all of the video you will know that I did.

[@mypeeps1965]

Its a review. No different than people receiving gpu's for the same purpose. If he was paid on top of receiving a review sample, then it would be considered a "paid review". Take care.

[@vlastimilhrazdil6757]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair Richard...It's KM601, so you can't really promote something that doesn't exist :DD

[@SomeOtherCrap]

@@mypeeps1965 Unfortunately under the Paid Promotion section, KZbin says "If you accepted anything of value from a third party to make your video, you must let us know.". You have to be very careful with these things as KZbin could demonitse your entire account if they decide their rules have been broken. Take care.

[@SomeOtherCrap]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair Yeah probably best to check with them. I know Techmoan is very careful with these things as KZbin makes their own decisions that can't really be challenged further down the line it seems. - Great job with the review though! I have a trusty Fluke 177 at work, but grabbed a cheap Aneng 8009 for home, this also looks like a solid choice though.

[@orion310591RS]

Hello, Can you measure voltages and current that this multimeter is using on probes in diode mode, resistance mode, beeper mode etc? Maybe it uses less current and voltage, so its better in diagnosing? It should not trigger diodes etc...

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

I did have a good look at the way the beeper mode works for both resistance mode and diode mode. Have a look from 34:00 In continuity mode it does not trigger semiconductor junctions, in diode mode it does. I like that but then I compare it to my Fluke for diode test / continuity test mode and while the KM601 does the job just fine (gives to all the info you need) it doesn't do it as well as the Fluke for one very obvious reason. Take a look and see what you think yourself.

[@orion310591RS]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair I understand your point about continuous beep and single beep. I personally would also prefer long beep. Although my "reca 0705 901 031" does not even beep/long beep in diode mode. The idea is about voltage on probes from multimeter. Online I read some FLUKE give 37V, some other have 7V, some other have 3V... and different mili amps or micro amps... Would be interesting to see results for this multimeter... Basically to connect another multimeter to this multimeter probes. This is quite big diode you tested, but this multimeter may be designed to destroy some components on graphic card, this is what I want to see, can he destroy gpu. Like this guy tested it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4fHhYeHndx5jpo

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

@@orion310591RS I'll check the voltage and let you know after the weekend. Actually I made a video demonstrating that the $1 short circuit finder I built (4.5V/50mA) will not damage sensitive components on a GPU. Check that out if you didn't see it already kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnbFiKyHnL2Sg8U

[@orion310591RS]

@@LearnElectronicsRepair This is already on my TO-DO list, to make when I have time.

[@nothingelsematters8217]

So in finding short...it's better than anang

[@rorymax8233]

Over 44 minutes to review a multimeter, really?

[@garygranato9164]

cant stand it up !!!

[@LearnElectronicsRepair]

Yeah that was one of my big concerns when I first saw it - but actually it turned out not to be a problem because: 1. The display has such a wide viewing angle, observing from the 'leads' end not the top end, that you can read the display just as bright and clear whether you look directly down on it, or almost horizontally across it when it is flat on the bench. 2. I didn't mention in my review but I should . This meter has a low profile and size very similar to a mobile phone. You could easily hold it in a mobile phone stand (or even put in a selfie stick if you so wish for whatever bizarre reason!) at whatever angle you like, and you would still be able to read it clearly.

[@stevejosrph6065]

Your review was very bad instead of a review you did a comparison to other much more expensive products ..