EEVblog #46 - Gossen Metrawatt Xtra Multimeter Review

What have those wacky Germans been up to?
Dave reviews the German made Gossen Metrawatt XTRA Multimeter. Also known as the Dranetz BMI Drantech XTRA

[Duglum]

Since i recently snatched a used one of these for cheap: You can adjust the resistance for the continuity in the menu, setting it to the lowest value speeds up the beeping a great way. :)

This is my favorite meter by far, because it screams quality in every way. And i like the fact that it's made here in Germany. :)
Even sold my old Fluke 87 and barely use my Uni-T 71E anymore.

[MithunPhilipWilliam]

22:20 Legend says he is still rotating that selector switch.... LOL

[mgbyte]

5 years after this review this meter now costs US$613 plus postage or AUD$825 locally. I might have bought one at $499, but this is just getting crazy!

[MP-oulb]

What I love the most about it (next to the input shutters): I can log data for what feels like FOREVER. I you set the logger intervall to anything above 1 Minute, it automatically switches off to save power and switches back on to take a reading and save it. I think I ran it for more than a week on the first set of AA-batteries and they still are more than half full. No DC adapter needed at all!

[EEVblog]

One is actually in the post to me already, but unfortunately it seems to have gone missing in transit! It's being chased up.

[EEVblog]

@XTYNoLuck No, still 240 "nominal" in my area. Technically Oz is now 230V.

[EEVblog]

@phikre Yes, it did. Any good top brand meter will survive that test.

[histgeek]

I think that the MetraHit Energy can do something like that. The manual is online. Maybe also other models of the E series might do, but I haven't checked.

But there's always the option of hooking a computer to a multimeter and do the processing yourself ;-) .

[AdamAus]

Had a quick look for Fluke 87 and they all seem around the price of this thing and more, and then a lot more.

[OQP]

It's fun to watch the little boy in you !

[lupo]

Hi Dave, first of all thank you for your shared experience, but the "USB-cable" is NOT a USB-cable only. It is an optical coupler with an USB cable at it for further connections if needed. The coupler contains an electronic device that transforms the IR signals in electrical signal and then a processor to transform these signals in USB conform signals. That make sense to make sure your PC or whatever you connect via USB is galvanically isolated from the multimeter. I never ever would connect a multimeter with a PC during measurments! But I think you know that, don't you? ; - ))) And btw, the USB adapter costs 250 bucks....not 500 !

[tomperli]

Dave, I agree super duper Meter one key issue ! Since they chanced from 9V battery to the new design with 2 x AA batteries (~15 years ago), you have a great chance to get a destroyed meter because of the poor Battery case. Its not sealed and directly under the battery case sits the main processor. I have seen dozens of metrahits ( had to service the meters) with battery leakage and severe damage on the pcb in the processor aerea. So dont store the meters upside down with batteries in it ! Or remove the batteries if you use the AC Adaptor for longer times. To get it right : Im a fan of this meters ! Nice software features, In terms of electrical security and specs, well made. Mechanical robust . But the battery case a mess ! Just if you look at the price tag😉

[EISENHEIM]

Oh that's hilarious about the temperature probe. I even got it in the package with my cheapo $40 multimeter haha.

[BenjaminGoose]

I can't believe how ridiculously expensive the cable and software are!

[histgeek]

But the software costs roughly the same. However, the customer support will send you a protocol specification on request, it is an ASCII-based protocol close to SCPI. I can't tell how difficult it will be to build an IR adapter yourself.

[lupo]

Hi Dave, you missed one information of Dranetz: It's not a brand name that the guys of Metrawatt choose. It's the name of a company (US-based) which Metrawatt took over in 2007.

[patricklozito]

You are so much fun to watch and listen to. Great review.

[SonomaComa]

When you took that apart at approx. 4:45 into the video it sure looks like some real heavy duty construction inside. How does the build quality compare to a Fluke 87?
This is in the same class as the Fluke 87, isn't it?

[fungusthebogeyman]

Does it prevent the dial from turning if you have the leads in the wrong holes?

[ArumesYT]

Why would you want the screw inserts to be metal? Since the screws are so close to the inputs, I think it's a nice security feature to use plastic instead of metal. It can't be a coincidence that Fluke and Gossen both use plastic in a high-end device.