Multimeter design has been somewhat of a stagnant craft, the basic look and layout being maintained for a several decades. The shape has been pretty much the same, and they are typically stand-alone instruments that don’t usually connect to any other device (although some meters have had PC connectivity typically through RS-232 or USB). Now there seems to be starting a new trend to connect the multimeter functionality to smart phone. When the data is in the smart phone, it can be analyzed and shared through internet connection to coworkers at other location or stored to cloud. Smart phone is smaller device to carry and quicker to set-up than PC (which needs to be booted and connected to Internet). What are the options to do multimeter measurements with smart phone?
VoltSet: A Smart Multimeter For Smart Phones article shows a multimeter design that connects to a smart phone. VoltSet company mission to make the multimeter sexy, modern, and accessible. His line of VoltSet multimeters accomplishes this by reducing the size of the hardware and connecting to a smartphone which provides a friendly user interface. The VoltSet comes in two flavors and both versions are able to connect to a smartphone via USB, through which measurements can be stored and analyzed.
If you are looking for oscilloscope functionality that connects to smart phone, check out LabNation SmartScope that is on Kickstarter. It looks really interesting.
Mooshimeter Is the Multimeter We Always Wanted article tells about Mooshimeter by Mooshim Engineering. Like the Voltset, the Mooshimeter plans to take advantage of modern smart devices to expand the capabilities of traditional multimeters. By shifting the burden of display and control to another device, the Mooshim team could afford to make improvements in other areas of the Mooshimeter. One of the main innovations in the Mooshimeter is a 24-bit analog to digital converter (average multimeter comes with a 16-bit ADC for 4.5 digit multimeter). The Mooshimeter is capable of taking voltage and current measurements at the same time, giving you a real-time I-V curve or a real time power measurement, not possible with a traditional multimeter. One twist to the design is that the Mooshimeter connects to smart devices via a Bluetooth Low Energy wireless connection with a 50 meter range. Mooshimeter crownfunding campaign has really taken off and is almost certain to be successful.
It seems that those start-up ideas have made big-name companies to notice this option. Fluke Connect: A Cool Concept That Begs for More article tells that this week, Fluke Corp. introduced Fluke Connect, a technology that links handheld instruments to smartphones. It lets iOS 7 or Android 4.4 phones share measurement data anywhere in the world through an app. Fluke Connect lets you share measurements from multimeters, infrared thermometers, and AC/DC current meters. A local phone connects over BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to a meter or over WiFi to an infrared thermometer. If the local phone has internet access through a WiFi or cellular connection, it can send the data to a remote phone through the app, assuming that phone has internet access. Such connectivity could be be a great time saver because you can see what’s happening on equipment without being there.
What else would you like to do once you have that data in your phone?
68 Comments
Esa Piirila says:
Thanks for the interesting post. You may find this open source solution interesting:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/Bluetooth_Multimeter
Tomi Engdahl says:
Yes it looks interesting.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Discovering a Wifi Enabled 10MHz Oscilloscope
http://hackaday.com/2014/05/23/discovering-a-wifi-enabled-10mhz-oscilloscope/
encountered the neat oscilloscope shown in the video above, made by the Belgian company Velleman. Even though it only has a 10MS/s sampling rate and a 10MHz bandwidth, our guess is that it may still be useful for some hobbyists out there as it can communicate with any PC/smartphone/tablet using its Wifi interface.
The protocol used to export the acquired samples is open, which may allow users to create their own analysis program. The oscilloscope uses an 8 bit analog to digital converter and a 4K samples buffer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mooshimeter: The ‘Why Didn’t I Think Of That’ Multimeter
http://hackaday.com/2014/01/08/mooshimeter-the-why-didnt-i-think-of-that-multimeter/
Far from being a two-trick pony, the Mooshimeter is actually a pretty good multimeter by itself. It can handle 600V and 10A with 24 bits of resolution.
Michael Bruun-Larsen says:
Hey Tomi, Thank you for including us in the write up of the new upcoming meters.
Quite a few things have changed since last years Makers Faire in New York.
We are mainly using this page now to show our product offering: http://www.tinyurl.com/voltset
Might consider to update it. Keep up the good job!
Voltset Team, Mike
Tomi Engdahl says:
TIQ Probe is More Logical than Most
http://hackaday.com/2014/05/29/tiq-probe-is-more-logical-than-most/
The point of the tool is to bridge the gap between things which would be measured with a DMM and those measured with a proper Oscilloscope.
Tomi Engdahl says:
tiq probe – an easy to use tool for debugging maker projects
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1866698905/tiq-probe-a-new-way-to-debug-electronics-projects
Simply touch tiq to a circuit and it instantly displays repetitive pulse activity and timing or detailed logic level analysis with voltage measurements. Fully automatically, no settings or adjustments required!
Tomi Engdahl says:
The smartphone will bend the measurement display
German imc MESSSYSTEME devices allow measurement results to be watch anywhere with tablets or smart phones: each device is equipped with a web server, which in practice makes smartphones to the measurement screen.
imc responsibility says the Internet of Things – or, as they say in Germany: industry 4.0 – requirements. Applications are wide ranging, as the web server on the imc’s devices are based test systems can be monitored remotely while the system is online-only closed.
The company’s Remote Webserver creates each device its own web site home page, which is accessed by a smartphone or tablet web browser (or PC). There is a Wizard with web page templates is where the measurement channel data can simply “drag and drop”. The server supports HTTPS protocol, so the measurement data is sent to the network secure.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1451:alypuhelimesta-mittausnaytto&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and similar measuring devices are often priced such that a hobbyist or student to invest. RS Components has started selling a small PC card that converts your smartphone or on-screen measuring devices. At an affordable price.
Card oscilloscope samples the two 12-bit signal 125 million samples per second. Spectrum analyzer, it follows two 50 MHz channel width. The card can also generate random waveforms in two channels at 125 megahertz frequency.
Red Pitaya can be connected to almost any external monitor. This is suitable for a measuring instrument with a tablet, a smartphone as a portable PC. For your application to program your linux-based card with ease. The device supports, for example, in C / C + + with Matlab, a variety of scripting languages, HTML interface, and also the HDL description languages.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1534:kortti-muuttaa-alypuhelimen-analysaattoriksi&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Red Pitaya turns your smartphone, tablet or PC into many amazing instruments
http://redpitaya.com/
$470
Tomi Engdahl says:
Five instruments in one package
National Instruments is primarily known as virtual measurement instruments, which are run on a PC. Now, NI has introduced a solution that will bring five laboratory work required for the developer’s use of the instrument. In one package there are mixed-signal oscilloscopes, function generator, digital multi meter, programmable DC power source, as well as digital I / O.
Devices used VirtualBench software, either on the PC or iPad.
VirtualBenchin the two biggest advantages are space and cost savings (1,690 euro price tag).
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1533:viisi-instrumenttia-yhdessa-paketissa&catid=13:news&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
2 Channel WLAN Digital Storage Oscilloscope WFS210
http://www.velleman.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p666_wfs210.html
The Velleman WFS210 is the world’s first WLAN dual channel digital storage oscilloscope geared towards tablet computers.
The WFS210 is a compact, portable battery powered fully featured two channel oscilloscope. Instead of a built-in screen it uses your tablet (iOS, Android™ or PC(Windows) to display the measurements. Data exchange between the tablet and the oscilloscope is via WLAN (WiFi).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fluke Connect
http://www.yeint.fi/index.php?main=95&newsID=415
Tomi Engdahl says:
Voltset Multimeters at World Maker Faire
http://hackaday.com/2014/09/27/voltset-multimeters-at-world-maker-faire/
Many tents at World Maker Faire were divided up into booths for companies and various projects. In one of these tents, we found the Voltset booth. [Tom, Ran, and Michael] were on hand to show off their device and answer any questions. Voltset is essentially a multimeter which uses your phone as a display. It connects to an Android phone via USB or an optional Bluetooth module.
Now we’d be a bit worried about the risk of damaging our phones with a voltmeter electrically connected via USB. However, many people have an old phone or retired tablet kicking around these days, which would be perfect for the Voltset. The Bluetooth module alleviates this problem, too – though it doesn’t fix the issue of what happens to the multimeter when someone decides to call.
Voltset isn’t new; both the Voltset team and the similarly specced Mooshimeter were also at World Maker Faire last year. In the interim, Voltset has had a very successful Kickstarter.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Raspberry Pi Connects Oscilloscope to Tablets
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1320309
Not long ago, if you wanted to connect an instrument to a computer, you connected to a PC. Early instrument connections use serial ports, parallel ports, and GPIB. Then, USB, Ethernet, and wireless came along. For the most part, the computer controller was almost always a Windows-based PC.
In many applications, the PC is still the system controller and will be for some time. The prospect of using a tablet or a phone as an instrument interface may, over time, become the normal way of controlling measurement instruments. Because of that, instrument makers are faced with having to support more than one platform or operating system. It’s not exclusively a Windows world anymore.
In an effort to develop a universal, browser-based interface between tablet computers and their MSOs, the engineers at Link Instruments turned to open-source hardware and software. The engineers set out to develop a driver stack that a microcontroller can use to control the MSO-28 over USB, then use a wireless interface to the outside world, ending at a tablet computer’s browser. The result: PiMSO, which uses a Raspberry Pi module as an interface between the tablet and the MSO-28. I spoke to Link Instruments engineer John Yeh late one night about the project. (Apparently, writing code and running a DesignLine are both all-the-time jobs.)
USB Oscilloscopes Get Beta Drivers for Open-Source Hardware
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1324771&
Cambridgeshire, UK — On November 5, Pico Technology made a small but significant announcement: the release of beta drivers that let its USB oscilloscopes communicate with BeagleBoneBlack and Raspberry Pi open-source controllers. Although it didn’t have much fanfare, the announcement made to the Pico Technology Linux community shows what could be a trend in using open-source hardware to control measurement equipment.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://linkinstruments.com/appnotes/pimso/
Tomi Engdahl says:
DMM provides numerical and graphical displays
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-reviews/other/4438436/DMM-provides-numerical-and-graphical-displays
Keithey’s DMM7510 combines a 7½-digit DMM with an 18-bit, 1 Msample/s digitizer, which lets you see measurements both numerically and graphically.
Having the ability to see waveforms lets you uncover problems that used to require an oscilloscope. The DMM7510 also features a 5-in. capacitive touch screen.
Keithley also provides free KickStart software for controlling the instruments from a PC.
There us also smart phone app.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Give your Multimeter a Wireless Remote Display
http://hackaday.com/2015/02/01/give-your-multimeter-a-wireless-remote-display/
[Ken Kaarvik] has created the Multimeter remote display. Remote displays are pretty handy when you want to measure something several feet away from your bench. They’re also great if you need to check something in an enclosed space, like a server rack or a refrigerator. Fluke actually sells multimeters with wireless displays, such as their model 233.
The key to this project is the FS9721 LP3 chip by Fortune Semiconductor.
The FS9721 is essentially a system on chip (SOC) for multimeters. It contains a digital to analog to digital converter, an LCD driver, and a microcontroller. It also can send data out over a 2400 baud serial link.
The Trinket formats the data and sends it to an nRF24L01+ 2.4GHz radio module.
https://hackaday.io/project/3525-multimeter-remote-display
Multimeter remote display system consisting of two separate parts:
1) Transmit Unit – connected to multimeter, read serial data from meter, and send to display unit via wireless connection.
2) Display Unit – display meter data on LCD.
More than one system can be used at a time without interfering with each other. I’m running a Fluke 17B transmitting to a GameBoy Advance as well as a Digtek DT-4000ZC transmitting to a pocketable OLED display. I’ve programmed the OLED display unit as being switchable to either meter.
The range of the nRF24L01+ boards are a respectable few floors in a house.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mooshimeter 1.0 set: DMM-BLE-2x01A + Case + Leads
http://store.hackaday.com/collections/new/products/mooshimeter-1-0
The Mooshimeter makes multi-channel measurements possible in situations that are too fast, too slow, too sensitive or too dangerous to use a traditional multimeter.
$118.97
Measure 600V and 10A with 24 bit resolution through 50 meters of space and 6 months of time.
Wireless.
Simultaneous sampling.
24-bit resolution.
Logging via microSD card.
One channel means you can monitor a state. Two channels means you can monitor a relationship.
In the world of DMM’s, precision is usually given as a number of digits. The cheapest meters are usually 3.5 digits and carry a 12-bit ADC at their core. An entry level professional meter will usually be 4.5 digits and have a 16-bit ADC internally. The Mooshimeter reinvested the money saved by dropping the display and interface hardware back into the measurement components and is built around a 24-bit ADC. This gives you up to 7 digits to work with, though for most measurements expect 5-6 noise free digits. Combined with the graphing capability of your smartphone, this allows you to pick up the smallest and most subtle signals.
You can also measure from -10A to 10A in 2uA steps. Most multimeters add 1-10 millivolts / milliamp of burden voltage when measuring small currents! This drop can easily be enough to kick a USB device off bus or brown out a microcontroller. The Mooshimeter’s current measurement mode introduces 20 microvolt/milliamp of burden voltage when measuring in 2uA steps over a full 10A range. Capture the sleep currents and the active currents of your digital circuits without autoranging.
The Mooshimeter accepts a microSD card up to 32GB and can log data for months. Just set up the sample rate through the app and walk away. The data is timestamped and saved either in binary or CSV.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Velleman 2 Channel WLAN / WiFi Digital Storage Oscilloscope WFS210
http://www.vellemanprojects.eu/products/view/?id=416586&lang=en&country=be
The Velleman WFS210 is the world’s first WLAN dual channel digital storage oscilloscope geared towards tablet computers. Android App. now available
The WFS210 is a compact, portable battery powered fully featured two channel WiFi oscilloscope. Instead of a built-in screen it uses your tablet (iOS, Android™ or PC(Windows) to display the measurements. Data exchange between the tablet and the oscilloscope is via WLAN (WiFi).
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=be.velleman.wfs210&hl=fi
http://sigrok.org/wiki/Velleman_WFS210
Tomi Engdahl says:
USB oscilloscope by and for makers
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4440422/USB-oscilloscope-by-and-for-makers?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_pcbdesigncenter_20150928&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_pcbdesigncenter_20150928&elq=482092e67df74b278bef65972a28efe1&elqCampaignId=24947&elqaid=28310&elqat=1&elqTrackId=498d773534e84ba6b5ebc68a2e866b93
The proliferation of low-cost development platforms such as Raspberry Pi and Arduino have fuelled the Maker Movement. Many of these “makers” come from software backgrounds and have little knowledge of circuits and signals. But, they often have to debug their systems by looking at signals. That need has launched low-cost test equipment designed by makers for makers. The latest entry is The SmartScope USB oscilloscope from Belgium-based LabNation.
LabNation developed the SmartScope through funds raised by a Kickstarter project. The tool has two analog inputs and eight logic inputs. Analog bandwidth is 30 MHz and a 100 Msample/s sampling rate. Waveform memory is 64 Mbits, or 8 Msamples. Logic inputs sample at 100 Msamples/s.
“The user interface with a smartphone is more powerful than a low-end bench oscilloscope” claimed LabNation’s Riemer Grootjans when I spoke with him prior to the product’s launch. “Makers don’t know what to do with knobs.”
It’s $229 price puts the SmartScope in competition with Link Instruments, BitScope, and Hantek, covered in USB Oscilloscopes from Pro to Hobbyist. Of the oscilloscopes covered there, only the BitScope also runs on Linux and MacOS.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.labnation.com/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Clamp meters communicate data wirelessly
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4440798/Clamp-meters-communicate-data-wirelessly?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20151117&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20151117&elq=87be80ba777e408d965a7a3d084c2335&elqCampaignId=25754&elqaid=29323&elqat=1&elqTrackId=a19aadf9ee984ac9938f825e0bdb3ef9
Fluke Connect-enabled 370 FC series clamp meters log measurements to pinpoint intermittent faults without a technician being present. Measurements are wirelessly transmitted to the Fluke Connect app on smart phones or tablets and automatically uploaded to the cloud.
The 370 FC series comprises three models of true RMS AC/DC clamp meters carrying Cat III 1000-V and Cat IV 600-V safety ratings. An integrated VFD (variable frequency drive) low-pass filter is included with the 376 FC and 375 FC meters to allow accurate motor-drive measurements.
Fluke 376 FC True-rms AC/DC Clamp Meter with iFlex®
http://en-us.fluke.com/products/clamp-meters/fluke-376-fc-true-rms-acdc-clamp-meter-with-iflex.html?trck=376fc
The Fluke 376 FC Wireless True-rms AC/DC Clamp Meter offers measurements up to 1000 V and 1000 A, ac or dc, plus an included iFlex™ Flexible Current Clamp
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hey, instead of tapping away at your cell phone because you are bored, ask for a Bluetooth multimeter this December and get some validation from all that cell phone handling.
Another offering from Seeed, the Bluetooth multimeter can be had for a very reasonable $39. Powered by an on-board rechargeable lithium battery, the meter has a 30 volt input range and can handle current measurement up to 1 amp.
The hardware and software for this guy are open source so you hackers and tinkerers out there wouldn’t just be getting a tool, but a project as well.
Source: http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328299&page_number=7
Product page: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/bluetooth-multimeter-p-1535.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Conrad Business Supplies has increased the range of Ryobi measuring devices that can be controlled conveniently from a single smartphone application. The product family is named Phone Works. It contains five modular instrument that can be controlled by Android or iOS application: RPW-3000 hygrometer RPW-5000 oscilloscope, RPW-2000 Infrared Thermometer, RPW-1650 laser meter and RPW laser rangefinder.
Measuring devices connected to Android or iPhone smartphone through audio connector.
The application is of course free of charge. It can store data and send ii (phone messaging and e-mail).
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3752:ohjaa-testereita-alypuhelimellasi&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Infrared is dead, long live Bluetooth
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/rowe-s-and-columns/4441177/Infrared-is-dead–long-live-Bluetooth?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_weekly_20160121&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_weekly_20160121&elq=e6bca7be6f3943b4a58f51b75bad6169&elqCampaignId=26617&elqaid=30437&elqat=1&elqTrackId=21179e30017f45c6b0e53702d2357968
Twenty years ago this month, Test & Measurement World published an article (PDF) on testing infrared communications that conform to the IrDA protocol standard. At the time, it was seen as a wireless replacement for RS-232, though it’s now capable of speeds comparable to low-speed USB. While infrared is still going strong in remote controls for consumer electronics, at least one test-equipment maker is phasing it out, replacing it with Bluetooth.
In December 2015, Megger announced that the DET24C Clamp-on Ground Resistance Tester would no longer support IrDA USB communications for downloading measurements to a computer, but would use Bluetooth instead.
http://us.megger.com/clamp-on-ground-resistance-testers-det24c/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mooshimeter 1.1 set: DMM-BLE-2x01A + Case + Leads
http://store.hackaday.com/products/mooshimeter-1-1
The Mooshimeter makes multi-channel measurements possible in situations that are too fast, too slow, too sensitive or too dangerous to use a traditional multimeter.
$118.97
Measure 600V and 10A with 24 bit resolution through 50 meters of space and 6 months of time.
Wireless.
Simultaneous sampling.
24-bit resolution.
Logging via microSD card.
The Mooshimeter was born out of our frustrations as electrical engineers at the limitations of the “standard” digital multimeter.
Almost every digital multimeter will only let you use one mode at a time, meaning that to watch relationships in an active system you need to use multiple meters. Most have a front panel dominated by a numeric LCD display and a gigantic mode selection knob. Having the display mounted on the measurement hardware makes it very difficult to measure moving or enclosed systems, because the user must have clear line of sight to the meter to be able to read it.
Wireless
A wired meter forces you to get up close and personal with what you are measuring. This can be a mild inconvenience or downright dangerous. The wireless link provides you the freedom in your measurements.
Simultaneous Sampling
One channel means you can monitor a state. Two channels means you can monitor a relationship. Most meters can only measure one thing at a time. The Mooshimeter can measure any two of its 3 inputs. The high-speed synchronized measurements allow for very fine measurement of power,
24-bit Resolution
In the world of DMM’s, precision is usually given as a number of digits. The cheapest meters are usually 3.5 digits and carry a 12-bit ADC at their core. An entry level professional meter will usually be 4.5 digits and have a 16-bit ADC internally. The Mooshimeter reinvested the money saved by dropping the display and interface hardware back into the measurement components and is built around a 24-bit ADC. This gives you up to 7 digits to work with, though for most measurements expect 5-6 noise free digits.
You can also measure from -10A to 10A in 2uA steps. Most multimeters add 1-10 millivolts / milliamp of burden voltage when measuring small currents! This drop can easily be enough to kick a USB device off bus or brown out a microcontroller. The Mooshimeter’s current measurement mode introduces 20 microvolt/milliamp of burden voltage when measuring in 2uA steps over a full 10A range.
The Mooshimeter accepts a microSD card up to 32GB and can log data for months.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wireless Oscilloscope Probe
https://www.eeweb.com/news/wireless-oscilloscope-probe
Introducing Aeroscope, the world’s first wireless oscilloscope. Remotely measure any analog signal up to 100 MHz bandwidth. Captured data is streamed to your iPad, iPhone, or Android device.
Analog Bandwidth: 100 MHz
Sample Rate : 500 MSPS
Voltage Resolution: 20 mV/div – 10 V/div
Measurable Input Voltage Range: +/- 40 V
Max Input Voltage: +/- 100 V
Channels: 1 (optional 2nd channel)
Sample Resolution: 8 bits
Memory Depth: 8k+ samples
Battery Size: 950 mAh
Typical Battery Life: 12 hours
Always On Battery Life: 2 hours
MSRP: $349
Aeroscope
Wireless Oscilloscope
Shipping Fall 2016
http://www.aeroscope.io/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Remote Display Digital Multimeter
https://www.eeweb.com/company-news/master_electronics/remote-display-digital-multimeter
The Fluke 233 is a flexible digital multimeter that allows the user to acquire measurements in different scenarios all at once. The display is removable making it very convenient for hard-to-reach places and hazardous areas. It uses low power wireless technology that allows the device to be carried up to 10 meters (33 ft) away from the point of measurement .
Low power wireless technology allows the display to be carried up to 10 meters (33 ft) away from the point of measurement for added flexibility. No interference with measurements
The removable magnetic display can be conveniently mounted where it is easily seen
Fluke 233 Remote Display Digital Multimeter
http://en-us.fluke.com/products/digital-multimeters/fluke-233-digital-multimeter.html#overview?utm_source=eeweb&utm_medium=tech_community&utm_term=news&utm_content=master_electronics&utm_campaign=source
Tomi Engdahl says:
Full-Featured Digital Multimeter
https://www.eeweb.com/news/full-featured-digital-multimeter
Thermal imagers are invaluable to help quickly troubleshoot electrical equipment, panels, and transformers but electricians and maintenance technicians often don’t have access to one when they need it. Fluke announces the 279 FC TRMS Thermal Multimeter, the first test tool to integrate a full-featured true RMS (TRMS) digital multimeter (DMM) with a thermal camera in one device to speed troubleshooting.
The 279 FC allows technicians to quickly and safely check for hot spots in fuses, wires, insulators, connectors, splices, and switches with the imager and then troubleshoot and analyze issues with the DMM.
The optional iFlex® clamp can wrap around conductors and wires in tight, hard-to-reach spaces and expands its measurement capabilities to include ac current up to 2500 A.
The wireless 279 FC is part of Fluke Connect® — a system of wireless test tools that communicate via the Fluke Connect app, or Fluke Connect Assets software, a cloud-based solution that gathers measurements to provide a comprehensive view of critical equipment status — allowing technicians to record and share both thermal images and electrical measurements in real time via their smartphones or tablets and automatically upload them to the cloud.
http://a.fluke.com/IG-GL-MULTI-2016-279-LAUNCH-USEN-CONTACT-LP-1-A?lcid=3c96dd9d-5bfc-e511-a393-bc305b2a71dc&lls=200013&lrpf=DMMS&lpid=B9B1E687-32C9-E511-8CFF-A4BADB1DDEB8&llr=1&plt=100000000&redir=http://en-us.fluke.com/products/contests-and-promotions/thank-you-multi-contests.html&scl=4120&trck=279fc
Tomi Engdahl says:
Former Agilent engineers developing a wireless oscilloscope
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/rowe-s-and-columns/4441822/Former-Agilent-engineers-developing-a-wireless-oscilloscope?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160414&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160414&elqTrackId=0cc64bcd2c1e4eb49e17ffbdde52d8d7&elq=2c7a33f1a50d4758b5a0e3ef90fefeca&elqaid=31852&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=27791
“We designed the hardware from scratch,” said Lee, focusing on power and the analog front end.” According to Lee the Aeroscope will have a ±40 V input range. It’s based around an 8-bit ADC (analog-to-digital converter) and a programmable gain amplifier. An FPGA (field-programmable gate array) handles triggering and memory management. An ARM-based processor handles communications to the BLTE (Bluetooth Low Energy) transceiver.
Lee and Ward are developing the Aeroscope software for iOS devices, at least for now. Lee claims that unlike the LabNation SmartScope, you won’t have to jailbreak your device to use the software. That’s critical, for would you jailbreak your iPhone or iPad to use a piece of test equipment? Lee didn’t rule out the possibility of developing Android or Windows versions, but for now it’s all iOS.
A necessity for iOS-based oscilloscope is pinch gestures for setting vertical and horizontal sensitivity. Lee confirmed that the Aeroscope will have that ability.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Get a DMM and thermal imager in one
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4441808/Get-a-DMM-and-thermal-imager-in-one?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160414&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160414&elqTrackId=654aadeb7e824375b83bad621898ba79&elq=2c7a33f1a50d4758b5a0e3ef90fefeca&elqaid=31852&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=27791
The Fluke 279 FC’s thermal imaging camera is on the back of the unit. Just flip up the cover when you need to use it.
Available starting May 9, 2016, the Fluke 279 FC also incorporates Fluke Connect, a wireless technology that lets you send measurements to a remote location wherever you have internet access from your phone or tablet.
Fluke Connect: Never lose touch with measurements
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-reviews/other/4430283/Fluke-Connect–Never-lose-touch-with-measurements
Engineers often need to monitor measurements from across the room or from across the world. With Fluke Connect, you can now get measurements from many Fluke handheld instruments through your smartphone, even if you’re far away.
Fluke Connect adds BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or WiFi capabilities to handheld multimeters, process meters, clamp meters, and infrared thermometers (see list of compatible products) so you can see their measurements with your phone.
Handheld meters can connect to your phone through BLE using an iOS 7 or Android 4.4 app.
The app lets you see and record measurements as graphs or in numerical form. If the phone connected to meter is also connected to the internet, you can store data to the cloud with a free Fluke account. If you don’t have internet access, the data can be logged locally and when access is restored, it will automatically synchronize to the cloud. The app also lets you take video of what’s happening.
Going farther, much farther, the Fluke Connect app has the ability to make a call, then send data, voice, and video to another phone that also runs the app. Think of is as Apple’s Facetime for measurements.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hacking A Fluke Multimeter To Serve Readings Over WiFi
http://hackaday.com/2016/06/07/hacking-a-fluke-multimeter-to-serve-readings-over-wifi/
Lord of Hackaday [Sprite_TM] decided to hack his multimeter to serve its readings over Wi-Fi. Rather than start with a throwaway meter from the bargain bin, he did it with a Fluke. The meter he chose was a Fluke 15B+, the company’s budget offering for the Indian and Chinese markets, since he had one spare.
Opening up the 15B+, he was presented with its processor concealed under a blob of epoxy
he did find an I2C EEPROM
Removing this chip
Further detective work allowed him to identify the baud rate, and supplying random commands delivered him some that returned data packets. Eventually he identified a packet containing the states of the LCD’s segments
Connecting an ESP8266 module with appropriate software left him with a Wi-Fi connected multimeter.
Fluke 15B+ WiFi – Introduction
http://spritesmods.com/?art=fluke15pluswifi&page=1
Tomi Engdahl says:
Aeroscope funding campaign launched
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/rowe-s-and-columns/4442222/Aeroscope-funding-campaign-launched?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160621&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160621&elqTrackId=6425604b449140df902fff7a4b25b15b&elq=6355852853774988b974f63e2284cefa&elqaid=32763&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=28613
Engineers Jonathan ward and Alexander Lee, developers of Aeroscope, have launched their funding campaign. They hope to raise $100,000, with which they can start manufacturing and promote their product.
Ward explained that making the Aeroscope prototype was much easier today than it would have been in the recent past.
Aeroscope: Wireless Oscilloscope Probe
https://www.crowdsupply.com/aeroscope-labs/wireless-oscilloscope-probe
A wireless, ultra-portable oscilloscope with impressive specs – debug circuits in their natural environment.
Aeroscope is a wireless oscilloscope probe that pairs to a user’s tablet or phone. It was designed with both portability and performance in mind. Aeroscope crams an impressive amount of measurement power into a small package. It includes a rechargeable battery for a typical full day of measurements, and a wireless range of up to 200 feet.
Aeroscope is small enough that it can be embedded inside of mobile systems. This opens up new measurement possibilities for anyone working in fields like robotics or drones.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Crowdfunding: A Wireless Oscilloscope
http://hackaday.com/2016/06/25/crowdfunding-a-wireless-oscilloscope/
One of the most ingenious developments in test and measuring tools over the last few years is the Mooshimeter. That’s a wireless, two-channel multimeter that can measure voltage and current simultaneously. If you’ve ever wanted to look at the voltage drop and power output on a souped up electrified go-kart, the Mooshimeter is the tool for you.
A cheap, wireless multimeter was only the fevered dream of a madman a decade ago. We didn’t have smartphones with Bluetooth back then, so any remote display would cost much more than the multimeter itself. Now this test and measurement over Bluetooth is bleeding over into the rest of the electronics workbench with the Aeroscope, a wireless Bluetooth oscilloscope.
Aeroscope: Wireless Oscilloscope Probe
https://www.crowdsupply.com/aeroscope-labs/wireless-oscilloscope-probe
Tomi Engdahl says:
Battery status directly on your smartphone
CTEK solutions provider of automotive batteries and accumulators repair and maintenance has launched the Battery Sense, which allows the motorist receives information on the status of its battery directly from their mobile phones via a Bluetooth-supported peripheral device. Battery Sense collects data from the battery and displays the current status of the battery in addition to the three-month trend of development of easy to read charts.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4647:tieto-akun-tilasta-suoraan-alypuhelimeen&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Arduino Glasses for BT Multimeter
https://hackaday.io/project/12211-arduino-glasses-for-bt-multimeter
Building an HMD with no special parts, to make work easier and safer
The challenge is, that It should be constructed out of common materials that can be found easily.
The project is more about how to build the optical system for this HMD
I have a few ideas and one of them is to connect it to a Multimeter over Bluetooth to get the Data right in front of my eyes.
The lens was a tricky thing.
The best working lens is an Acrylic Plano convex lens with a focal point of 100mm. If you place the screen at a distance of 73mm from the lens away, you will get a virtual image at a distance between 27-30cm. The magnification factor is x3
That’s perfect, because another important thing is, that your eyes can only start focusing things at +-25 cm
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hackaday Prize Entry: Head-up For High Voltage
http://hackaday.com/2016/10/05/hackaday-prize-entry-head-up-for-high-voltage/
[Alain Mauer] wanted to build something like a Google Glass setup using a small OLED screen. A 0.96 inch display was too large, but a 0.66 inch one worked well. Combining an Arduino, a Bluetooth module, and battery, and some optics, he built glasses that will show the readout from a multimeter.
You’d think it was simple to pull this off, but it isn’t for a few reasons as [Alain] discovered. The device cost about 70 Euro
Arduino Glasses a HMD for Multimeter
Building an HMD with no special parts, to make work easier and safer
https://hackaday.io/project/12211-arduino-glasses-a-hmd-for-multimeter
The challenge was, that It should be constructed out of common materials that can be found easily.
The project is more about how to build the optical system for this HMD
I have a few ideas and one of them is to connect it to a Multimeter over Bluetooth to get the Data right in front of my eyes.
The optical design will be the most difficult part, but I think I found a solution for this.
The best working lens is an Acrylic Plano convex lens with a focal point of 100mm. If you place the screen at a distance of 73mm from the lens away, you will get a virtual image at a distance between 27-30cm. The magnification factor is x3
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphone Bench Instrument Apps: Disappointment or Delight?
http://hackaday.com/2016/11/17/instrument-apps-on-your-phone-the-christmas-cracker-novelties-of-the-test-bench/
If you are interested in electronics or engineering, you’ll have noticed a host of useful-sounding apps to help you in your design and build work. There are calculators, design aids, and somewhat intriguingly, apps that claim to offer an entire instrument on your phone. A few of them are produced to support external third-party USB instrument peripherals, but most of them claim to offer the functionality using just the hardware within the phone. Why buy an expensive oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, or signal generator, when you can simply download one for free?
Engineering-oriented apps follow this cycle of hope and disappointment. But there are occasional exceptions. Let’s tour some of the good and the bad together, shall we?
Tomi Engdahl says:
2-CHANNEL WiFi DIGITAL STORAGE OSCILLOSCOPE
https://www.velleman.eu/products/view/?id=416586
https://www.radioduo.fi/tuote/digitaalinen-wlan-muistioskilloskooppi-2ch/WFS210/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Luke – Open Framework Multimeter/Logger
https://hackaday.io/project/10398-luke-open-framework-multimeterlogger
DMM dedicated to PC/smartphone with cross platform SDK provides user-friendly measurement and automation system
Luke is a DMM, Digital Multi Meter, used with PC/smartphone for measuring DC voltage or current. However, this project is not just making an instrument but also focuses on establishing user-friendly measurement and automation system with open source SDK.
For example, logger software working on PC can directly get measurement values from Luke via USB and draw real-time waveform. You don’t need to read numbers shown on DMM and type a keyboard again and again to take statistics on PC. In addition, if you make some codes calling API provided by SDK to control Luke, your program can automatically measure data and use it.
decided to make both of a simple multimeter/logger named as Luke and open source SDK which supports multi-platform. Luke doesn’t even have display nor any control button. It should be connected to PC or smartphone via USB, and then application software or command line tool controls it and acquire data.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Wireless Oscilloscope Isn’t As Dumb As It Sounds
http://hackaday.com/2017/03/18/a-wireless-oscilloscope-isnt-as-dumb-as-it-sounds/
The latest CrowdSupply campaign is a wireless, Bluetooth oscilloscope that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense until you really think about it. Once you get it, the Aeroscope wireless oscilloscope is actually a pretty neat idea.
If the idea of battery-powered, Bluetooth-enabled test and measurement gear sounds familiar, you’re not dreaming. The Mooshimeter, also a project on CrowdSupply, is a multichannel multimeter with no buttons, no dial, and no display. You use the Mooshimeter through an app on your phone. This sounds like a dumb idea initially, but if you want to measure the current consumption of a drone, or under the hood of your car while you’re driving, it’s a really, really great idea.
https://www.crowdsupply.com/aeroscope-labs/aeroscope-wireless-oscilloscope
Tomi Engdahl says:
Safety Glasses With B.T. Display for Multimeter
https://hackaday.io/project/20780-safety-glasses-with-bt-display-for-multimeter
A safety glasses with a bluetooth enabled head mounted oled Display, to diplay data from your measuring device right into your view field.
Tomi Engdahl says:
An Oscilloscope in Your Pocket
https://www.eeweb.com/blog/adam_c/an-oscilloscope-in-your-pocket
A new project from IkaLogic is about to make its public appearance. The IkaScope WS200 is a wireless, handheld oscilloscope that has been under development for a little over a year and a half. I have to admit my bias for IkaLogic products, which I’ve been using for a few years. I have found them to be price-competitive to their competition while offering a superb user experience.
What then is the IkaScope? It is a small, handheld device that is about the size of a highlighter. It has a 200 MSPs ADC that provides 25 MHz of analog bandwidth while offering a waveform update rate of 200 WFPs. The internal processing comes from a Spartan 3 FPGA. This is not going to be a device with which you will be wanting to go looking for signal glitches, but it will be more than adequate for the general probing of hobby projects, including audio, digital logic, and low-voltage AC power circuits.
Though headless, the WS200 communicates with smartphones, tablet computers, or PCs using Wi-Fi. The device can be configured as a wireless hotspot such that one does not need to first attach it to their network and then find the device.
The addition of a small touchpad on the device allows the user to interact with the software application directly from the handheld unit.
I very much look forward to having the opportunity to take the IkaScope WS200 for a test drive.
https://www.ikalogic.com/ikascope-wireless-oscilloscope/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hackaday Prize Entry: Safety Glasses Are Also Hands-Free Multimeter
http://hackaday.com/2017/06/04/__trashed-15/
Safety Glasses With B.T. Display for Multimeter
https://hackaday.io/project/20780-safety-glasses-with-bt-display-for-multimeter
A safety glasses with a bluetooth enabled head mounted oled Display, to diplay data from your measuring device right into your view field.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wireless scope module review
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-reviews/other/4458440/Wireless-scope-module-review
As a scope aficionado, I’m always excited by new product introductions, whether from established brands, or startups. Here’s a new scope module that recently caught my eye. The packaging is slick, and it uses an iPad for its UI. But as I delved into the published specs, I became somewhat incredulous at the design and cost.
The Moku:Lab from Liquid Instruments retails for USD 4,990, and is positioned as a professional instrument – obviously. They currently include an iPad in that price, but that may be an introductory offer only.
The key specs are:
2 channels
200 MHz 12-bit input at 500 MSa/s
DDS: 2 channels, 200 MHz sine (100 MHz others) 16-bit at 1 GSa/s
External (TTL) trigger (5 MHz bandwidth)
No, that’s not a typo: 5 MHz external trigger bandwidth, and fixed threshold. The current version of the app doesn’t seem to have a setting for external trigger anyway, so, not a problem! Two-channel scopes are bearable when they have a good external trigger…especially if you can view it. This has neither. At least the app is pretty slick.
There is a single “Math” channel which can compute the four basic math functions, integrate, differentiate, and FFT. I can’t see any way to control the FFT parameters though!
The DDS is admittedly superior to what’s normally found in scope “add-ons”, though only the basic waveshapes are available. There are AM/FM/PM modes, but no sweep. A Bode Analyzer feature does sweep up to 120 MHz, so I guess that could be used in a pinch, though presumably sans sync pulse.
That brings us to the “feature set”. Besides Bode, there are phasemeter, PID controller, data logger, and lock-in amplifier “instruments” included. Does this extra-scope functionality count for much? In some cases, perhaps it does.
Comparisons
A comparable module is the Pico 5244B – for $1,975
Coming from the other direction, a Pico 6403D costs 15% more than the Moku, but provides four channels, has 350 MHz BW, and samples at 5 GSa/s. Hmm.
Conclusions & puzzlements
With software and FPGA updates, and a drastic price reduction, the Moku:Lab scope module could be a reasonable piece of gear. But I must surmise that the hardware upon which it’s based is fundamentally incapable of anything approaching professional needs, or even hobby needs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
IuT voltmeter for a breadboard
https://hackaday.io/project/23122-iut-voltmeter-for-a-breadboard
Measure several voltages on a breadboard and display results on a smartphone for less than $10 for parts
MOTIVATION: Conventional digital multimeters (DMMs) are usually quite bulky and inconvenient to use along with a breadboard. In many cases one wants to monitor/observe voltages at several circuit nodes, ideally at the same time. The latter is not possible with a single DMM; re-connecting the DMM lead(s) may affect the existing breadboard connections.
AIM: build an inexpensive IuT voltemeter, which can be easily connected to a breadboard and reports data from several measurement channels through a web server to a smartphone or tablet
OBJECTIVES:
1) inputs to be protected from overvoltage
2) must be powered from an isolated non-grounded power supply for at least 4 hours
3) resolution down to mVs with decent accuracy and repeatability
4) cost of components below $10; use off-the-shelf modules for easy and quick assembly
Design intentions
- usable straight away with any mobile phone or tablet etc, equipped with a web browser, with automatic refreshes of the measured volatge(s)
- fully self contained (no need to connect to any additional network)
- use of inexpensive ESP8266 then ESP8285 modules for implementing both a web server and an access point
- use of ADS1x15 module for voltage measurements
- protect inputs of ADS1x15 from overvoltage with resistors in series (no damage if the voltmeter’s input is connected to a voltage source of up to 50 V)
- rechargable Li-ion battery for powering the device
- ESP82xx is to be programmed in Lua (NodeMCU firmware) for the ease of development and debugging at first; other options may be used to improve operation of the functional design at later stages if desirable
Tomi Engdahl says:
IuT voltmeter for a breadboard
https://hackaday.io/project/23122-iut-voltmeter-for-a-breadboard
Measure several voltages on a breadboard and display results on a smartphone for less than $10 for parts
OBJECTIVES:
1) inputs to be protected from overvoltage
2) must be powered from an isolated non-grounded power supply for at least 4 hours
3) resolution down to mVs with decent accuracy and repeatability
4) cost of components below $10; use off-the-shelf modules for easy and quick assembly
Design intentions
- usable straight away with any mobile phone or tablet etc, equipped with a web browser, with automatic refreshes of the measured voltage(s)
- fully self contained (no need to connect to any additional network)
- use of inexpensive ESP8266 then ESP8285 modules for implementing both a web server and an access point
- use of ADS1x15 module for voltage measurements
- protect inputs of ADS1x15 from overvoltage with resistors in series (no damage if the voltmeter’s input is connected to a voltage source of up to 50 V)
- rechargable Li-ion battery for powering the device (to be capable of 4 hour operation without recharging it; allows for operating the IuT voltmeter independently of the breadbord circuit’s power supply and does not require earthing of the volmeter similarly to a conventional DMM);
- ESP82xx is to be programmed in Lua (NodeMCU firmware) for the ease of development and debugging at first
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Pair of Safety Glasses With a Bluetooth-Enabled Multimeter Display
https://blog.hackster.io/a-pair-of-safety-glasses-with-a-bluetooth-enabled-multimeter-display-2920d80430e2
Alain Mauer has been developing a head-mounted display system that can interface with a multimeter over Bluetooth, using an Arduino Pro Micro for control.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pockethetnet
https://pockethernet.com/landingpage/landing_video2.html?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=facebook+split
A smartphone-connected tester that includes all features that make up a high-end Ethernet tool, while remaining affordable for everyone.
Smallnetbuilder.com
Review
Pockethernet does the job of better-known handheld cable testers at around half the price.
Pockethernet comes with 20+ Features that are essential for anybody working with Ethernet networks
Wiremap including shield
Check whether pins on RJ45 jacks have been crimped in the correct order. Pockethernet as well tests the shield for continuity.
TDR
Advanced cable testing with only one end connected to Pockethernet. Determine how long a cable is and if it contains any short circuits, split pairs or bad terminations. Pockethernet also detects if a cable is connected to a switched-off computer or switch.
Graphical TDR
Generate a graph of signal reflections throughout the entire cable length. You can view the length of connected cables and any imperfections they may have (such as extenders or patch panels).
Etc..
Tomi Engdahl says:
IuT voltmeter for a breadboard
https://hackaday.io/project/23122-iut-voltmeter-for-a-breadboard
Measure several voltages on a breadboard and display results on a smartphone for less than $10 for parts
MOTIVATION: Conventional digital multimeters (DMMs) are usually quite bulky and inconvenient to use along with a breadboard. In many cases one wants to monitor/observe voltages at several circuit nodes, ideally at the same time. The latter is not possible with a single DMM; re-connecting the DMM lead(s) may affect the existing breadboard connections.
AIM: build an inexpensive IuT voltemeter, which can be easily connected to a breadboard and reports data from several measurement channels through a web server to a smartphone or tablet
- use of inexpensive ESP8266 then ESP8285 modules for implementing both a web server and an access point
- use of ADS1x15 module for voltage measurements
- protect inputs of ADS1x15 from overvoltage with resistors in series (no damage if the voltmeter’s input is connected to a voltage source of up to 50 V)
- rechargable Li-ion battery for powering the device (to be capable of 4 hour operation without recharging it
- ESP82xx is to be programmed in Lua (NodeMCU firmware) for the ease of development and debugging at first; other options may be used to improve operation of the functional design at later stages if desirable