Mustool MT77 multimeter

I saw one day an interesting looking multi-meter MUSTOOL MT77 Large Screen Smart Digital Multimeter Voltage Tester 3-Line Display Fully Auto-Range True RMS 6000 Counts DMM with Analog Bargraph.It is advertised as phone size design: 12 mm thin body and pocket size design make it looks like a smartphone. The meter has unibody design so no need to plug in and out probes because wires are fixed to the case (that has it’s pros and cons but on quite cheap multi-meters I consider it to be OK design choice). The pricing seemed reasonable at list price around $15, was on sale around $12.

It was also advertised as having an interesting Automatic Identification Design: Automatic identification design allows for no-switching when testing AC/DC voltage, Hz, continuity and resistance. The meter also promised a large screen triple line display can show 3 test results on the screen, such as voltage, frequency and analog bar.

Manual at http://myosuploads3.banggood.com/products/20190411/20190411214240ADMS7.pdf

DC voltage measuring worked well and was pretty accurate to 0.1V resolution.

AC voltage measuring also worked when you just put the measurement probes to voltage source.

I tested the resistance / continuity testing functionality. It worked but it was a little bit annoying slow. I am used to get the beep on continuity testing immediately and after few seconds…

Electrical field measurement seemed to indicate nearby mains electrical wiring well.

The V-ALERT is a buzzer that sounds when NEAR a voltage, without needing actual contact by a probe. Hold the unit near a power line, it will buzz, more buzz and bigger bar on display means higher voltage. The meter has also LIVE mode that allows to determine which lead is HOT and which is ground on mains wiring, by touching the the wire to be tested with at least one probe.

On the back side of the meter there is a LED lamp that is a nice addition to features.

For most measurements you use the AUTO mode that the meter is automatically set when power is turned on.  AUTO is the setting for actual use of the probes across a voltage. If the meter sees voltage between the probes, it will determine if there is AC or DC and show the voltage. The meter also shows the voltage on bar-graph. For AC the meter shows also shows the frequency (40-1000 Hz).

If there is no voltage, the meter tries to read resistance. The meter promises to show the resistance value in 1 ohms to 6000 ohms range.  If the resistance is below 30 ohms, the CONTINUITY buzzer sounds as well. The buzzer and resistance measurements seem to take more time than voltage measurements.

Those basic functions worked OK, but the next question is the accuracy and how the automatic mode detection actually works.

Some small testing shows that if there is DC more than around +-0.3V the meter measures DC. If there is AC component more than around 2V then the meter measures AC voltage and frequency. I have not figured out the exactly how meter always works when there is both AC and DC on the incoming signal. When voltage between pins below those tries to measure resistance in 1-6000 ohms range. This can be confusing when measuring for example very flat battery, instead of zero volts you can start getting strange resistance values on screen.

The measurement accuracy was OK considering that the voltage measurements had only just one range with 0.1V resolution. My tests with DC and AC gave accurate reading I expected to get. I used my other multi-meter and my reference meters as reference for voltage accuracy.

I was not happy with the resistance measurements. The resolution is one ohm. The measurement feels very slow, especially it takes annoying long time for beeper to react to low resistance. The measurement accuracy especially at the low resistance range was bad. When I measured 3.8 ohms resistor, I got reading zero ohms. When I measured 38 ohms resistor, I got 24-25 ohms reading. Those are quite much off. When I measured 5.1 kohms resistor, I got 5 kohms reading, which is reasonably close.

Pros:

- Small size that fits nicely to pocket with the wires

- Large easy to read display with bargraph

- Can show AC voltage and frequency at the same time

- Quite stylish and Good looking as it looks like a smartphone when it sticks out of your pocket.

- OK accuracy for basic AC and DC measurements

- Built in LED lamp

- Built in contact-less voltage detector

- OK safety ratings at least printed to meter

 

Cons:

- Inaccurate resistance measurement mode

- Resistance measurement is slow

- Continuity beeper is annoyingly slow to act

- The automatic measurement mode acting is sometimes annoying

- Has only has one range for Volts (up to 600V in 0.1V steps)

- Only one range for ohms (up to 6000 Ohms in 1-Ohm steps)

- The technical data on product page is not accurate

 

MUSTOOL MT77 Large Screen Smart Multimeter – Hands on video.

Check also BSIDE ADMS7 CHEAP-O Pocket Multimeter Review & Teardown!

The end verdict that that the MUSTOOL MT77 multi-meter is overall overall disappointing. A not so smart “Smart Meter”. It was promising, but did it feels like it got only half way to being good on the actual implementation (would their newer model MUSTOOL MT99 have improved from that?).

 

9 Comments

  1. Matthew says:

    This takes 2 x CR2032 cells, and replacing these is not trivial in terms of cost nor effort.This is a good form factor if you have an extra hand or a non slip surface.

    Otherwise it does not have sufficient mass (or a stand) to stay where you leave it.

    Reply
    • Tomi Engdahl says:

      For changing those 2 x CR2032 cells you need to open those four screws. That’s slightly more than normal two in most multi-meters.
      I can agree that those two CR2032 batteries can quite expensive in grocery stores, but this type of batteries are also available more cheaply elsewhere. It is just question how long they work if they end up being expensive or not.

      You are right on the problem it slipping easily and not having stand. Those can be annoying.

      Reply
  2. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Smart multimeters. A new trend? GVDA GD118B
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjfWJ_sBeuA

    In this video I bring the smart multimeter GD118B. A multimeter format that has become popular in the market. Small, accurate and cheap. They bring a series of facilities with large screens and change the way of operation. Is it a trend?
    They are not yet an industrial option, but I believe that over time they will be. If the multimeters will not be incorporated into the cell phone itself (as with the oscilloscope …).

    Reply
  3. Tomi Engdahl says:

    The most beautiful multimeter I’ve ever seen. The Mustool MT111
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yW4viiggC0

    It’s really beautiful. With many extra functions, but not everything is perfect. Some points leave a little to be desired. It is a product that is worth what it costs but would not have it with a single multimeter option but as a complement.

    Mustool MT111 Touch Screen Digital Multimeter – Banggood Tool Sets
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsuG-pXYekc

    Reply
  4. Tomi Engdahl says:

    ANENG 618C – Smart Touch Sensitive Multimeter (Unboxing & Test)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtNi4ynpoPI

    The coolest looking LCD screen electrical Tester/Multimeter with auto detect function. Measuring of electrical units has become very easy and closer to everyone. Ideal for beginer or professional electrician?

    ANENG 618C CHEAP-O Multimeter Review & Teardown!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xdxOljIL1U

    Reply
  5. Tomi Engdahl says:

    This has some interesting festures like phase sequences meter:

    MUSTOOL MT007/MT007 Pro/MT007 Pro-EN True RMS Digital Multimeter + Voltage Test Pen +Phase Sequences Meter 3 In 1 Color Screen Voice Broadcast – MT007
    https://www.banggood.com/MUSTOOL-MT007-or-MT007-Pro-or-MT007-Pro-EN-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-+-Voltage-Test-Pen-+Phase-Sequences-Meter-3-In-1-Color-Screen-Voice-Broadcast-p-1806010.html?cur_warehouse=CN&ID=6302089&rmmds=search

    Reply
  6. Tomi Engdahl says:

    MUSTOOL MT007/MT007 Pro/MT007 Pro-EN True RMS Digital Multimeter + Voltage Test Pen +Phase Sequences Meter 3 In 1 Color Screen Voice Broadcast – MT007 PRO
    https://www.banggood.com/MUSTOOL-MT007-or-MT007-Pro-or-MT007-Pro-EN-True-RMS-Digital-Multimeter-+-Voltage-Test-Pen-+Phase-Sequences-Meter-3-In-1-Color-Screen-Voice-Broadcast-p-1806010.html?currency=EUR&utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=cpc_brand&utm_content=all&utm_campaign=tools-emea-en&cur_warehouse=CN&ID=6302091

    The Lastest 3 in 1 Pen-type Multimeter of MUSTOOL team in 2021!!!
    Multimeter + Voltage test pen + Phase Sequences Meter
    Powerful function and Easy to carry(Only 17cm)

    Reply
  7. Tomi Engdahl says:

    One disadvantage is that this meter seems to use all the power from the batteries in just few months even if you don’t use it often.
    When batteries are too empty and you press the power button, the meter goes to beeping loop that can only be stopped by removing batteries :-(

    Reply

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