T&MZONE Products for the week of October 2, 2006
Agilent Says . . .
U1250A: Feature-Rich Handheld Digital Multimeters
Agilent Technologies Inc. introduced a new series of affordable handheld digital multimeters, emphasizing its commitment to providing low-cost test and measurement solutions. With the release of this new range of products, in addition to the previously launched 34405A digital multimeter, Agilent expects to better serve quality-conscious and cost-sensitive customers who are looking beyond bench-top solutions.
Engineers and technicians in today's electronics industry face an increasing need for high-performance portable instruments in service and maintenance applications. Agilent's U1250A Series addresses these market needs, allowing users to perform tests in-plant and off-site without compromising performance.
"Having received constant feedback from customers on the performance and quality requirements for entry-level test-and-measurement instruments, we are expanding our solutions in the low-cost market," said Ee Huei Sin, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Basic Instruments Division. "The new handheld digital multimeters are designed to meet or exceed customers' needs for portable test solutions." These products are part of Agilent's long-term plan to provide a broader range of low-cost solutions to the market that are primarily available through distribution channels worldwide.
The Agilent U1250A Series Handheld Digital Multimeters
Built to ease electronic troubleshooting and validation, the high-performance,
portable U1250A Series enables engineers and technicians to complete their
day-to-day tasks without being confined to the bench. The initial entry
in this series comprises two feature-packed models, the U1251A and the U1252A,
which are designed for the cost-sensitive test and measurement market.
analogZONE Says...
The U1250A series of handheld test meters is being introduced with two models, the U1251A and the U1252A, the most fundamental difference between them being that the former uses a 9-V alkaline battery whereas the latter uses a 7.2-V rechargeable battery (adding about 25 g to the instrument weight and supplied complete with a 220 minute charger) and adds a few features. They are 4.5 digit resolution (5-digit backlit LCD) instruments with a maximum reading of 50,000 counts. The basic dc voltage accuracy is up to 0.025%.
These basic units offer dc measurements of voltage in 7 ranges from 50.000 mV FS to 1000.0 V FS; resistance in 7 ranges (plus one conductance range to 500 nS FS) from 500.00 Ω to 500.00 MΩ ; current in 6 ranges from 500.00 µA to 10.00 A; a diode test facility.
Temperature can also be measured, with a K-type thermocouple, from -200°C to 1372°C (-328°F to 2502°F). J-type thermocouple measurements can also be made with the U1252A, extending the lower range down a further 10°C. Capacitance can be measured in 8 ranges from 10.000 nF FS to 100.00 mF FS.
In the ac specifications, true-rms voltage readings can be made in 7 ranges from 50.000 mV FS to 1000.0 V FS; current in 7 ranges from 500.00 µA to 10.000 A. The U1252A offers an expanded, specified, accuracy out to 100 kHz (compared to 20 kHz for the U1251A).
Frequency measurements are also incorporated in both instruments with 5 ranges from 99.999 Hz FS to 999.99 kHz FS with a basic 0.02% accuracy out to 600 kHz. The U1252A adds a frequency counter with a divide-by-1 giving displays from 99.999 Hz to 9.9999 MHz and a divide-by-10 extending readings to 99.99 MHz. That product also offers a square wave output function with 28 preset frequencies from 0.5 Hz to 4.8 kHz, an output that can be set between 0V and +2.8 V and a duty cycle from 0.39% to 99.6%
A dBm/dBV calculation is also provided The instruments are CSA certified and in IEC EMC compliance. Data can be stored in the instruments and can also be interfaced to a PC where the Agilent GUI can be used to customize data logging and perform complex mathematical functions. The instruments are delivered with a soft carrying case, standard test lead set, reference CD, certificate of calibration and test report.
Getting a feature-full handheld test meter for about $400 is quite awesome. These are rugged instruments which better some bench instruments and clearly surpass the performance and features of many other handhelds. And they are at a budget level that an awful lot of managers will be able to sign off without a quibble. This pair will do extremely well.
The U1250A Series is in production and pricing starts at $399. A companion handheld oscilloscope family, U1600A, was also announced with pricing starting at $1320.