ET-1700 Multimeter

[SKE]

This really isn't a technical question, but I am posting this here because I don't see any other means of contacting Adafruit about this. Please let me know if I should use another means of getting info on this.

About 2 months ago I ordered and received the $25 multi meter, labeled, ET-1700. I can't really state the brand name as it is labeled using one of those fancy fonts that nobody can really understand (Minipa?).

I went to use it for the first time today to simply test continuity/resistance of a SECO-LARM garage door magnetic sensor - but I never got that far.

Out of 40 years of habit, I turned the dial from OFF to the resistance/diode-check. The LCD screen lit up, I assumed all was fine. I did not study the character output but the larger digit(s) did read 0. I touched the meter leads together, and expected a beep/buzz, but I heard nothing. I looked at the screen and opened the leads and touched them again, and nothing changed, still a 0 on the LCD. Out of habit, I turned the dial to OFF and then back to the resistance test and after about 5 more seconds, the screen went dead. I really can't say what else the screen was showing because it went dead before I could look at the details. The larger digits were showing 0, but I am not sure about the other smaller characters that did appear. The screen wasn't gibberish, it was just static, and then went dead.

This would seem like a battery issue, as a resistance/continuity test is about as simple as it can get. Is it common for these items to ship with dead batteries? I will open it up and check and change the battery, if that doesn't work I will toss it. I just want to get some input before I open it up.

Thanks

Steve

[adafruit_support_bill]

We haven't had any reports of problems with these. If it doesn't respond to a fresh set of LR44's, please contact support@adafruit.com with a link to this thread for a replacement.

[SKE]

I pulled out the two batteries and one read 1.56v and the other is totally shorted. So I will replace them and all should be fine. I will follow up otherwise.

Thanks!

[coool12]

I just received my amplifier board on order 195429. Because other users have had some trouble, I inspected the solder job around the chip. I find one pin bent towards it's neighbor and both soldered together. On the other side, there is a solder ball between two pins and another appears unsoldered. I have not added the headers are powered it up.

[adafruit_support_bill]

@cool12 - Could you start another thread for this please? This thread is about multimeters.
In your post, please specify which amplifier you are referring to.

[Scott216]

I brought two of these ET-1700 multimeters and they seem pretty nice, but they really go through batteries. I have to change them every couple of months. I probably use the multipeter one or two ours a month. I also have an Ideal pocket multimeter that I've had for a couple years and never had to change the batteries. And the batteries are a little tricky to change on the ET-1700. You don't just remove a cover an pop 2 batteries in. You have to remove the whole case and the batteries don't want to stay put while putting things back together. I like the features of this multimeter, but I wish the batteries lasted longer.

[adafruit_support_bill]

You can use SR44's instead of the LR44's. They are a little more expensive, but have a flatter discharge curve and will last longer.