Comparison Richmeters RM409B vs OWON OW16A

The upper limit of the lower sub-range in which the device can measure DC voltage (see "Type of voltage").

The operating ranges of modern multimeters and other measuring instruments are usually divided into subranges. This is done for accuracy and convenience when measuring: for example, to assess the quality of AA batteries, you can set the subrange “up to 3 V” — this will give an accuracy of up to tenths, or even hundredths of a volt, unattainable when measuring with a higher threshold. The minimum constant voltage describes exactly the lower subrange, designed to measure the smallest voltage values: for example, if 2000 mV is indicated in this paragraph, this means that the lower subrange covers values \u200b\u200bup to 2000 mV (i.e. up to 2 V).

It is worth choosing according to this indicator taking into account the specifics of the planned application: for example, a device with low rates can be useful for delicate work, such as repairing computers or mobile phones, but for servicing the on-board electrical network of a car, especially high voltage sensitivity is not required.

Measurement accuracy provided by the instrument.

Measurement accuracy for multimeters is usually indicated by the smallest error (in percent) that the device is able to provide when measuring direct current. The smaller the number in this paragraph, the higher the accuracy, respectively. At the same time, we emphasize that it is the smallest error (the highest accuracy) that is usually achieved only in a certain measurement range; in other ranges, the accuracy may be lower. For example, if in the range "1 — 10 V" the device gives a maximum deviation of 0.5%, and in the range "10 — 50 V" — 1%, then 0.5% will be indicated in the characteristics. Nevertheless, according to this indicator, it is quite possible to evaluate and compare modern multimeters. So, a device with a lower claimed error, usually, and in general will be more accurate than a model with a similar performance with a larger error.

Data on measurement accuracy in other ranges and modes can be given in the detailed characteristics of the device. However, in fact, this information is required not so often — only for certain specific tasks, where it is fundamentally necessary to know the possible error.

The upper limit of the lower sub-range in which the device can measure AC voltage (see "Type of voltage").

The operating ranges of modern multimeters and other measuring instruments are usually divided into subranges. This is done for accuracy and convenience in measurements: for example, to test a transformer that should output 6 V, it makes sense to set a subrange with an upper threshold of 10 V. This will ensure accuracy up to tenths of a volt, unattainable when measuring with a higher threshold. The minimum constant voltage describes exactly the lower subrange, designed to measure the smallest voltage values: for example, if 2000 mV is indicated in this paragraph, this means that the lower subrange covers values \u200b\u200bup to 2000 mV (i.e. up to 2 V).

If the device is purchased for measurements in stationary networks — household at 230 V or industrial at 400 V — you can ignore this parameter: usually, the minimum subranges are not used. But to work with power supplies, step-down transformers and various “thin” electronics served by low voltage alternating current, it makes sense to choose a model with a lower minimum voltage. This is connected not only with the measurement range: a low threshold, usually, indicates a good measurement accuracy at low voltages in general.

The upper limit of the lower sub-range in which the device can measure direct current (see "Type of current").

The operating ranges of modern multimeters and other measuring instruments are usually divided into subranges. This is done for accuracy and convenience in measurements: the lower the subrange, the smaller values it covers, the higher the measurement accuracy at low current values. The minimum direct current describes exactly the lower range, designed for the weakest current values: for example, if the characteristics in this paragraph indicate 500 μA, this means that the lower subrange allows you to measure currents from 0 to 500 μA.

It is worth choosing according to this indicator taking into account the specifics of the planned application: for example, a device with low rates can be useful for delicate work, such as repairing computers or mobile phones, but for servicing the on-board electrical network of cars, especially old ones, especially high current sensitivity is not required.

The upper limit of the lower sub-range in which the device can measure alternating current (see "Type of current").

The operating ranges of modern multimeters and other measuring instruments are usually divided into subranges. This is done for accuracy and convenience in measurements: the lower the subrange, the smaller values it covers, the higher the measurement accuracy at low current values. The minimum alternating current describes exactly the lower range, designed for the weakest current values: for example, if the characteristics in this paragraph indicate 500 μA, this means that the lower subrange allows you to measure currents from 0 to 500 μA.

It is worth choosing according to this indicator taking into account the specifics of the planned application: for example, a device with low rates can be useful for delicate work, such as repairing computers or mobile phones, but especially high current sensitivity is not required for servicing household electrical networks.

The upper limit of the lower sub-range in which the device can measure resistance.

The operating ranges of modern multimeters and other measuring instruments are usually divided into subranges. This is done for accuracy and convenience in measurements: the lower the subrange, the smaller the values it covers, the higher the accuracy of measurements at low resistance values. The minimum resistance describes exactly the lower range, designed for the weakest current values: for example, if the characteristics in this paragraph indicate 500 Ohms, this means that the lower subrange allows you to measure resistance from 0 to 500 Ohms.

When choosing for this indicator, you need to consider how important it is for you to accurately measure small resistances. At the same time, we note that the 500 Ohms given in the example are a fairly good indicator, indicating a fairly solid resistance measurement accuracy; in relatively inexpensive multimeters, this indicator can be 2.5 or even 10 kΩ, which ensures accuracy at best up to several tens of ohms.

The highest resistance that the instrument can effectively measure.

When choosing according to this indicator, you must first take into account the largest resistances that are supposed to be measured. And if we are talking about an analogue device (see "Type"), you must also remember that as you approach the maximum resistance, the measurement accuracy drops sharply. This is due to the peculiarities of measuring and grading the scale in such devices: for example, with a maximum resistance of 1 MΩ, the division value in the range of 0 – 2 kΩ can be 0.2 kΩ, in the range of 2 – 6 kΩ — 0.5 kΩ, in the range of 6 – 10 kOhm — already 1 kOhm, and closer to the maximum this figure can reach tens and even hundreds of kilo-ohms. Therefore, it is worth choosing an analogue device in such a way that its maximum resistance is at least 10 times higher than the largest resistances that are planned to be measured — only under this condition is a more or less acceptable measurement accuracy ensured.

The highest number that the DMM display can display (see "Type").

This indicator determines the range in which measurements can be taken without changing the settings. So, if the maximum number is 1999, then the measurement can be made in the range from 0 to 1999 of the selected units of measure — for example, from 0 to 1999 V if volts are selected, from 9 to 1999 mA (1.999 A) if milliamps are selected, etc. At the same time, 1999 and less for modern measuring instruments are considered a rather modest indicator, from 2000 to 3999 — average, 4000 – 9999 — not bad, and in the most advanced models this number exceeds 10000.

Note that the maximum displayed number is directly related to the display capacity — see below.

The digit capacity of the display installed in the digital instrument (see "Type").

Bit depth is the number of characters that can be displayed on the screen at the same time. The maximum displayed number directly depends on it (see above): for example, if the digit capacity is 4, then the device has a display for 4 full digits and is able to display a number up to 9999 inclusive. However, there are also more specific markings — with a fraction, for example, 3 1/2 or 4 3/4. This means that the largest (left) digit in this model is incomplete and the maximum digit that it can display is less than 9. Specifically, such marking is deciphered as follows: an integer means the number of full digits, the numerator of a fraction is the maximum number displayed in an incomplete digit, the denominator is the total number of values supported by an incomplete digit. Considering the above examples, 3 1/2 means a four-digit display with the maximum number in 1999: three full digits with a maximum value of 9, plus one partial digit with a maximum value of 1 and two options (1 and 0). Similarly, 4 3/4 corresponds to the maximum number 39999, with 4 options for values in the partial digit (0, 1, 2, 3).