For continuity on this Owon, I saw someone on YT comparing the Owon's probes and a pair of Probe Master probes. The response speed was way better with the Probe Master. The guy suspected it was the material of the wires that wasn't totally copper.
Thanks so much for the detailed look. I ordered one despite the major disappointment of internally accessed current measurement fuses. Even the pros blow these at times! Peter
Totally agree. BTW, when you get yours, would you mind posting what firmware you have? I am trying to make the case to OWON that some folks have V3.0.1 (or more?) already and they should make an update available for all those with an earlier version...
Yes, it would be nice to have better fuse access but looking around at my other bench and handheld meters, the XDM1041 is not alone in that. Only my Agilent 34401A and the HP3478A have outside fuse access and only on the HP3478A can you do it from the front which is convenient if you have the meters in a "stack" as I have.
To be honest, the XDM2041 is only 20-30 euros (where I live) more expensive, but you get much more meter for the money. It still has some "owon-quirks" of course but at least it doesn't have the silly V/mV selection and is capable of 4-wire resistance measurement.
Yes, in that case I would do the same. To be honest, I mostly bought the 1041 because it fits so nicely under my monitor on the work bench. Tailor made, so to say, and for everyday quick checks its very convenient.
I spent quite a bit of time to look for suitable (yet affordable) capacitors (and resistors) for my references. Unless you have already a precision meter that allows you to measure caps and resistors to sort out good ones from mediocre ones, don't buy from ebay or similar. It is best to buy these kind of components from reputable electronic distributors. However even with these, the market is always changing and whatever deals were available when I build mine are long gone. Another rule that I follow is to never use references for anything else but as references. That way they keep their values better.
Great review! .....I just received one of these in my lab. Software version 4.0.0 I really like it so far. I have the screen intensity set at 75%, has anyone left the unit on for extended periods of time? I would like to leave it on continuously so that warm-up stabilization would be negated, any issues with this approach?
I do admit that most of the time I forget to dim the display and its often running for many hours. So far no negative effect. Of course I do not use the XDM1041 to measure temperature. If I would, then the heat of the backlight causes an extra error
Thanks for this indepth review. I was intriguing by the form factor, but after this review... How to put it... I can't help myself, my 25 year old 34401a has a so much better useability... I stick with that oldie.
I agree, and I did not get the OWON to replace my trusted 34401A. But it sure is handy to be always-on and ready the whole weekend, for a quick check of voltage or a continuity. Because of its form factor it fits perfectly under a shelf supporting my monitors at the back of the desk, so it does not take any room and the display is large and easy to read.
Hi there, just purchased one of these meters from Amazon UK, the firmware version is V3.3.0 not sure what has changed in this firmware revision as all the quirks still seem to be present. Note I am yet to do some measurements so cannot really confirm the autorange function. Overall is a nice bit ok kit for 90 squids...fit for the majority of usecases in my view. The probes are just terrible in my opinion
I believe they changed the model of the LCD which needed a new firmware. I agree with you on the probes. As with most meters, its well worth upgrading from the probes that came with it.
On the XDM1041 the uF range tops out at 500 micro-Farad (uF), a capacitior of 1000uF or 2000uF has to use the 5mF or milli-Farad = 5000uF range. Top is 50mF or 50000uF
Just got one of these, it has Version 1.3.0 firmware, but it's just as useless on resistance ranges. Trying to measure a 4.7M resistor and it reads 2.2M in Med and High speed! Shame, it would be nice if the bugs where fixed.
I asked OWON last week if there was a newer firmware version and they said no. Because I don't see this resistance problem in my meter, I assume it got fixed in the version they gave me (dated 25-May). I asked for permission to share this upload with other XDM1041 users and they said fine. I will put it up on my Github page for download "as is" in the next couple of days. With "as-is" I mean, you take the risk of bricking the meter when patching the firmware. I put a comment on the OWON part 3 (the one on firmware) and update the description when I have put the zip file up. I should mention that this firmware still has a list of bugs which I have reported to OWON but they don't seem to spend to much work on it (if at all).
I am not surprised to hear that. The sw in the XDM1041 looks like it came from other multimeter models too. In principle there is nothing wrong with that but of course you also get the not-so-good features
A bit like asking whether to buy a sports car or an off-road vehicle. It depends on what you want to do with it. The XDM1041 is a lot more accurate , can measure low voltages and current better and has 50000 counts and you can connect it to a PC. The Fluke 17b+ is handheld ,only 4000 count and AFAIK is not True RMS. On the plus side, the Fluke is built like a tank and very safe to use. Fluke meters generally have a high reputation and should work for many years and still meet their specs. Unlike OWON, you can trust Fluke's CAT ratings. I would never us the OWON for any serious high voltage /high energy measurements. It is a bench meter for electronics with only rudimentary safety protection and that is it. If you want to do more like electrical installations stuff, the Fluke is definitely the meter to go for. It will be OK-ish for most electronics too. Not being True RMS being probably the only really serious shortcoming.
Sad I bought the XDM1041. It is slow even on "Fast mode" also the beep in Diode check is pointless and annoying. If you turn the beeper off in Diode mode it also shuts it off in continuity beep mode... Waste of money IMHO...
I sent them a list of bugs, some of which OWON accepted as bugs and others they deny being a problem (in their eyes!). Needless to say, nothing happened with respect to new firmware. I'd love to get my hands on the firmware. This meter has great hardware. With decent firmware, it would be a real winner.
@@TheHWcave I ordered the OWON meter anyway, so I am also interested in debugging the firmware. I will put up with the bugs as I don't have $ 1000 + to spend on a home workshop bench meter. Thanks for all you hard work making the teardown videos!
For continuity on this Owon, I saw someone on YT comparing the Owon's probes and a pair of Probe Master probes. The response speed was way better with the Probe Master. The guy suspected it was the material of the wires that wasn't totally copper.
Thanks so much for the detailed look. I ordered one despite the major disappointment of internally accessed current measurement fuses. Even the pros blow these at times! Peter
Totally agree. BTW, when you get yours, would you mind posting what firmware you have? I am trying to make the case to OWON that some folks have V3.0.1 (or more?) already and they should make an update available for all those with an earlier version...
Yes, it would be nice to have better fuse access but looking around at my other bench and handheld meters, the XDM1041 is not alone in that. Only my Agilent 34401A and the HP3478A have outside fuse access and only on the HP3478A can you do it from the front which is convenient if you have the meters in a "stack" as I have.
It would be fantastic if this unit had a built-in oscilloscope for the price point
That was a marvelously tenacious review, uncovering some interesting, some puzzling, and some gotcha features of this meter.
There are some more gotchas coming up... in the next one.
To be honest, the XDM2041 is only 20-30 euros (where I live) more expensive, but you get much more meter for the money. It still has some "owon-quirks" of course but at least it doesn't have the silly V/mV selection and is capable of 4-wire resistance measurement.
Yes, in that case I would do the same. To be honest, I mostly bought the 1041 because it fits so nicely under my monitor on the work bench. Tailor made, so to say, and for everyday quick checks its very convenient.
What impressed me was not the DMM, but the amazingly good tolerances on some of those capacitors!
I spent quite a bit of time to look for suitable (yet affordable) capacitors (and resistors) for my references. Unless you have already a precision meter that allows you to measure caps and resistors to sort out good ones from mediocre ones, don't buy from ebay or similar. It is best to buy these kind of components from reputable electronic distributors. However even with these, the market is always changing and whatever deals were available when I build mine are long gone. Another rule that I follow is to never use references for anything else but as references. That way they keep their values better.
Great review! .....I just received one of these in my lab. Software version 4.0.0 I really like it so far. I have the screen intensity set at 75%, has anyone left the unit on for extended periods of time? I would like to leave it on continuously so that warm-up stabilization would be negated, any issues with this approach?
I do admit that most of the time I forget to dim the display and its often running for many hours. So far no negative effect. Of course I do not use the XDM1041 to measure temperature. If I would, then the heat of the backlight causes an extra error
O meu tem uma atualização antiga, você sabe como atualizar?
Thanks for this indepth review. I was intriguing by the form factor, but after this review... How to put it... I can't help myself, my 25 year old 34401a has a so much better useability... I stick with that oldie.
I agree, and I did not get the OWON to replace my trusted 34401A. But it sure is handy to be always-on and ready the whole weekend, for a quick check of voltage or a continuity. Because of its form factor it fits perfectly under a shelf supporting my monitors at the back of the desk, so it does not take any room and the display is large and easy to read.
how do you do the SCPI over serial? i see the thing as a COM port, but can;t get it to echo or respond
Hi there, just purchased one of these meters from Amazon UK, the firmware version is V3.3.0 not sure what has changed in this firmware revision as all the quirks still seem to be present. Note I am yet to do some measurements so cannot really confirm the autorange function. Overall is a nice bit ok kit for 90 squids...fit for the majority of usecases in my view. The probes are just terrible in my opinion
I believe they changed the model of the LCD which needed a new firmware. I agree with you on the probes. As with most meters, its well worth upgrading from the probes that came with it.
I'm not disputing your findings, but they show uF and they show mF in the menu. Were you were talking about microfarads while in the millifarad range?
On the XDM1041 the uF range tops out at 500 micro-Farad (uF), a capacitior of 1000uF or 2000uF has to use the 5mF or milli-Farad = 5000uF range. Top is 50mF or 50000uF
Just got one of these, it has Version 1.3.0 firmware, but it's just as useless on resistance ranges. Trying to measure a 4.7M resistor and it reads 2.2M in Med and High speed!
Shame, it would be nice if the bugs where fixed.
I asked OWON last week if there was a newer firmware version and they said no. Because I don't see this resistance problem in my meter, I assume it got fixed in the version they gave me (dated 25-May). I asked for permission to share this upload with other XDM1041 users and they said fine. I will put it up on my Github page for download "as is" in the next couple of days. With "as-is" I mean, you take the risk of bricking the meter when patching the firmware. I put a comment on the OWON part 3 (the one on firmware) and update the description when I have put the zip file up.
I should mention that this firmware still has a list of bugs which I have reported to OWON but they don't seem to spend to much work on it (if at all).
Excellent work THWc ! Just Sub'ed
owon multimeter auto range issues is very common and annoying . my 2 owon multimeter ow18e and b35T also has such issues.
I am not surprised to hear that. The sw in the XDM1041 looks like it came from other multimeter models too. In principle there is nothing wrong with that but of course you also get the not-so-good features
i wanted to buy this bench multimeter ,
but can u suggest shall i go for owon 1041 vs fluke 17b+
A bit like asking whether to buy a sports car or an off-road vehicle. It depends on what you want to do with it. The XDM1041 is a lot more accurate , can measure low voltages and current better and has 50000 counts and you can connect it to a PC. The Fluke 17b+ is handheld ,only 4000 count and AFAIK is not True RMS. On the plus side, the Fluke is built like a tank and very safe to use. Fluke meters generally have a high reputation and should work for many years and still meet their specs. Unlike OWON, you can trust Fluke's CAT ratings. I would never us the OWON for any serious high voltage /high energy measurements. It is a bench meter for electronics with only rudimentary safety protection and that is it. If you want to do more like electrical installations stuff, the Fluke is definitely the meter to go for. It will be OK-ish for most electronics too. Not being True RMS being probably the only really serious shortcoming.
Do you have a regular Patron site??? Great videos!!!
Yes, the link is in the description of the videos
www.patreon.com/user?u=45604138
Ok! 👍
Sad I bought the XDM1041. It is slow even on "Fast mode" also the beep in Diode check is pointless and annoying. If you turn the beeper off in Diode mode it also shuts it off in continuity beep mode... Waste of money IMHO...
Peccato che questa bella recensione non sia in lingua italiana , Purtroppo ! comunque tutto sommato istruttiva . Complimenti.
Penso che tu possa attivare i sottotitoli in italiano, tradotti al volo
THWc should offer to debug the OWON meter firmware! ;-) For a good fee of course!
I sent them a list of bugs, some of which OWON accepted as bugs and others they deny being a problem (in their eyes!). Needless to say, nothing happened with respect to new firmware. I'd love to get my hands on the firmware. This meter has great hardware. With decent firmware, it would be a real winner.
@@TheHWcave I ordered the OWON meter anyway, so I am also interested in debugging the firmware. I will put up with the bugs as I don't have $ 1000 + to spend on a home workshop bench meter. Thanks for all you hard work making the teardown videos!
this aint worth the money over a hand held meter
Firmware disaster. Let's hope similar quality is used in their jet fighters during their immanent attempt to subjugate Taiwan.
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