EEVblog #184 - Open Hardware Multimeter Concept

Dave's off-the-cuff open source hardware multimeter concept. Inspired by the thread on the EEVblog forum:

[MikePoirier]

Dave, the double meter into one is a great idea. You could also add a relay that switch the leads by simply using the main selector switch. In this way never having to unplug the lead to measure amp or volt or anything else.

[hlab]

Dave this is a really neat idea mate.
Please see it though to the end.

[TheAmmoniacal]

I hope this will be your next kickstarter, your very own multimeter!

[ernststavroblofeld]

What about an open hardware oscilloscope?

[EEVblog]

@joeles69 Not in my meter, ever. It's standard primary sizes or bust. There are very good reasons why almost no handheld meter in the market uses anything but standard 9V or AAA/AA batteries.

[Knight]

An open source oscilloscope like the HP Agilent models would be great :) Probably huge R&D involved in those though.

[oakiemouse]

what a great concept mate, when i worked in HVAC i always carried 3-4 meters and a couple temperature probes. your idea would have made the job a whole lot easier and less messy trying to lug in all my gear into customers homes.

[gnagyusa]

Dedicated buttons are way better than a dial. A dial is sequential: if you want to go from setting A to setting F, you have to click through B, C, D and E.
It's like a train.
A button is direct. Straight from A to F.
Teleportation!
Magic!

[yoosefnadiree]

Lol, all this time I thought DaveCad was a real cad package. I even googled it!!... was wondering why I couldn't find it. Would be great if you did a series on the design of this like you did with the lab power supply. An ESR meter would be cool to.

[EEVblog]

@GTXAbunada Note the "L" label on the input jack. That's inductance.

[andrewkowalczyk]

I think I'm going to take up making something like this, except power measurement isn't nearly as important to me. What I do like is separate buttons instead of a dial, that seems like a killer feature, also keep it relatively simple and utilitarian. Seems like a project worth pursuing, lot to be learned, and a lot to be gained.

Thanks for the video inspiring this!

PS: The feature creep in this is IMPRESSIVE :)

[EEVblog]

@positivebits Yes, that's a given. Finer details like annunciators not worked out yet. This is a top level concept.

[BOMBOVA]

You sure put your Heart, into your videos, good for you, enjoyed.

[EEVblog]

@rroge5 The problem then becomes size. That would have to be for a bench style meter I suspect (but could still be battery powered and portable)

[EEVblog]

@kekejojo1212 Yes, that was the idea with the wireless, it could display on a watch if desired.

[EEVblog]

@AtomSoft I don't hate other good work. I NEVER diss other people producing content or designing something. But I do always question WHY, and possibly try to help them with ideas. I offer advice and my own ideas which they or anyone else is free to use. If someone wants to do a basic open source multimeter and think it will be popular and sell well, then I feel a need to step in and suggest they may be off the mark. But if they really want to for fun, great, go for it.

[igwood]

@EEVblog Dave maybe you could elaborate in a future video. Aside from availability I've wondered myself why you only see standard batteries in multimeters.

[BarriosGroupie]

What a coincidence!!

I thought you might be interested to know that CERN has launched open source hardware effort and some of the stuff they've got on show is mouth-watering

Do a Google on "For the good of all of us: CERN launches open source hardware effort" for more mouth watering details.

[EEVblog]

@DanFrederiksen If it had the same power measurement functionality as the Gossen Energy meter I'd be happy.
Open source, because I'm responding to someone who is developing an open source meter.

[qwqehwekrhlfjghdklfj]

Why not add 4-wire resistance, 6-wire resistance (unity buffer to guard other paths in the circuit)?