- AC/DC V/A Resistance Capacitance Frequency Temperature DIode Test Continuity Buzzer
- Auto/Manual Range Selectable
- PC RS232 Interface, Software Included
- Relative value display
- 1 Year Warranty
Specifications for this item
- Brand Name
- Tekpower
- Part Number
- TP4000ZC
- Is Autographed
- N
- Is Memorabilia
- N
- Item Weight
- 0.75 pounds
- Power Source Type
- battery-powered
Product Features |
Product Details
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Product Description
The Tekpower TP4000ZC is a digital multimeter with a RS232 interface, via which you can connect your PC to monitor the real time measurement and also plot and save your data on your computer. This meter is auto/manual range selectable, you can use it to measure a wide range of parameters including AC/DC voltage and current, as well as resistance, capacitance, frequency and so on. This meter is brand new in its factory box with a one year manufacturer's warranty. Accessories include Test leads, 2 AA alkaline batteries, Thermo probe, RS232 cable , Software & User manual.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
My First impressions:
Positive things:
Meter uses two "AA" size batteries (I don't like 9V batteries!)
Meter is an auto ranging meter (not manual ranging like cheaper meters). Input impedance is 10 MOhm and has a 3-3/4 digit display.
RS232 connectivity sounds like an interesting feature, although I have not tested it yet
Meter comes with rubber slip-on protector (Like another reviewer pointed out it's red instead of yellow). The slip-on has holders on the back for the probes to clip onto for storage (although the leads would still dangle around)
Meter also comes with probes, thermocouple for temp measurements, RS232 cable, software CD and "generic" batteries (although the first thing I would do is replace the included batteries with alkaline AAs)
Meter can measure:
AC/DC voltage, AC/DC current up to 10 amps, Resistance up to 40 MOhms, Diode test, Continuity, Temperature
Capacitance up to 100uF. Note that the manual warns it may take up to 15 seconds to test/display a 100uF capacitor. Some other meters can measure higher value capacitors > 100uF, although I think testing large electrolytic capacitors with any multimeter may not give accurate results. (I have seen bad electrolytic caps test good with the cap test on multimeters)
Frequency 10Hz to 10MHz (according to the manual) as well as Duty Cycle (0.1% to 99.9%)
The case quality and buttons are better than I expected, I don't think the build quality is bad for the price.
Negative things:
The continuity beeper is too quiet, especially in noisy environments.
The LCD display is NOT backlit. This is a drawback if you work in dark places as the display would be unreadable unless holding a flashlight but your two hands are typically holding the probes.
The "instruction manual" is a joke. It's a folded piece of paper, with really small print. However if you're considering buying this you most likely know how to use a multimeter.
Overall it's an OK meter for the price. If you know how to use a multimeter and only occasionally need to use one this one will probably fit the bill. If you use one on a more-or-less daily basis, in noisy or dark places then you might consider a better (more expensive) meter.
A slightly more expensive alternative to this TekPower meter is Mastech AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter, MS8268
This Mastech meter appears to have a backlit display, can test hFE (transistor gain) which the TekPower cannot, and has an input jack warning feature so you have some protection against doing something dumb like trying to measure voltage with the probes in the current measurement jacks (if you do this you may blow the meter's internal fuse and will have to open it up to replace it)
Positive things:
Meter uses two "AA" size batteries (I don't like 9V batteries!)
Meter is an auto ranging meter (not manual ranging like cheaper meters). Input impedance is 10 MOhm and has a 3-3/4 digit display.
RS232 connectivity sounds like an interesting feature, although I have not tested it yet
Meter comes with rubber slip-on protector (Like another reviewer pointed out it's red instead of yellow). The slip-on has holders on the back for the probes to clip onto for storage (although the leads would still dangle around)
Meter also comes with probes, thermocouple for temp measurements, RS232 cable, software CD and "generic" batteries (although the first thing I would do is replace the included batteries with alkaline AAs)
Meter can measure:
AC/DC voltage, AC/DC current up to 10 amps, Resistance up to 40 MOhms, Diode test, Continuity, Temperature
Capacitance up to 100uF. Note that the manual warns it may take up to 15 seconds to test/display a 100uF capacitor. Some other meters can measure higher value capacitors > 100uF, although I think testing large electrolytic capacitors with any multimeter may not give accurate results. (I have seen bad electrolytic caps test good with the cap test on multimeters)
Frequency 10Hz to 10MHz (according to the manual) as well as Duty Cycle (0.1% to 99.9%)
The case quality and buttons are better than I expected, I don't think the build quality is bad for the price.
Negative things:
The continuity beeper is too quiet, especially in noisy environments.
The LCD display is NOT backlit. This is a drawback if you work in dark places as the display would be unreadable unless holding a flashlight but your two hands are typically holding the probes.
The "instruction manual" is a joke. It's a folded piece of paper, with really small print. However if you're considering buying this you most likely know how to use a multimeter.
Overall it's an OK meter for the price. If you know how to use a multimeter and only occasionally need to use one this one will probably fit the bill. If you use one on a more-or-less daily basis, in noisy or dark places then you might consider a better (more expensive) meter.
A slightly more expensive alternative to this TekPower meter is Mastech AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter, MS8268
This Mastech meter appears to have a backlit display, can test hFE (transistor gain) which the TekPower cannot, and has an input jack warning feature so you have some protection against doing something dumb like trying to measure voltage with the probes in the current measurement jacks (if you do this you may blow the meter's internal fuse and will have to open it up to replace it)
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Meter is nice and compact. Documentation is poor, but who needs to know how a multimeter works. Interface software seems to work on my Windows XP computer without a problem. Documentation on how to use the software is on the CD.
Unless you really want to write a lot of weird software yourself, you are forced to use the included computer interface software! That is because the meter actually does NOT send the value of the reading.
Instead it sends the current state of the segments on the LCD in the lower 4 bits of 14 bytes of data. One means black for example. It sends this continuously out of the RS-232 port. The upper 4 bits just have a value from 0 to 13 to tell you which byte it is. That means you need to decode the 4 digit 7 segment display into a number and decode other things like polarity, decimal point, and function to create the actual value. Sounds like a good programming homework problem.
Unless you really want to write a lot of weird software yourself, you are forced to use the included computer interface software! That is because the meter actually does NOT send the value of the reading.
Instead it sends the current state of the segments on the LCD in the lower 4 bits of 14 bytes of data. One means black for example. It sends this continuously out of the RS-232 port. The upper 4 bits just have a value from 0 to 13 to tell you which byte it is. That means you need to decode the 4 digit 7 segment display into a number and decode other things like polarity, decimal point, and function to create the actual value. Sounds like a good programming homework problem.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I got this to use with the Make: Electronics book by Charles Platt. I had one of the Electrical Engineers I work with help me pick it out of the listing on Amazon.
It's good meter, with all the functions that I want and need. Including an Auto-off Feature after 30 minutes of not being used. I'll definitely recommend this one other people.
The reason I give it only 4 (can't seem to give it 3.5 stars) stars are the following:
1) The "User Manual" is a folded sheet of paper about 8.5 x 14 with very small print.
2) The temperature probe, in the manual says is color coded, but is one solid yellow peice. You have to look really hard to see the + and - symbol so you can get the probe plugged in right.
3) The Only option for doing temperature tests is Celsius. I live in one of the few countries that still does everything in Fahrenheit, and there does not seem to be an option to change between the two scales.
The last two things I have to say about it, is the plastic / rubber like protector may not be yellow. Mine is red, with 2 lead holders on the back. Color isn't that important, and the lead holders were nice.
I also really seem to have to press with the leads to make sure the connection is right. However I've been told that is the case with all multimeters. The Electrical Engineers at work liked it when I showed it to them.
It's good meter, with all the functions that I want and need. Including an Auto-off Feature after 30 minutes of not being used. I'll definitely recommend this one other people.
The reason I give it only 4 (can't seem to give it 3.5 stars) stars are the following:
1) The "User Manual" is a folded sheet of paper about 8.5 x 14 with very small print.
2) The temperature probe, in the manual says is color coded, but is one solid yellow peice. You have to look really hard to see the + and - symbol so you can get the probe plugged in right.
3) The Only option for doing temperature tests is Celsius. I live in one of the few countries that still does everything in Fahrenheit, and there does not seem to be an option to change between the two scales.
The last two things I have to say about it, is the plastic / rubber like protector may not be yellow. Mine is red, with 2 lead holders on the back. Color isn't that important, and the lead holders were nice.
I also really seem to have to press with the leads to make sure the connection is right. However I've been told that is the case with all multimeters. The Electrical Engineers at work liked it when I showed it to them.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
RS232 works on Mac (and Win 7)
I bought this for the rs232 feature only. One phase of my residential AC was flaking out and I wanted to monitor it. Tried the bundled software on win 7 pc. Did not work. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Amritsari
Beware!
A versatile multimeter for under 30 bucks with PC INTERFACE? Well maybe. If you're PC is up to date with a windows 7 system forget about the PC interface. It aint gonna happen. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Gerald Goldner
You get what you pay for; $30 is very cheap.
This DMM is cheap. I realized (after I bought this) that proper meters should cost over $100 and probably around the $200 area. Read more
Published 4 months ago by ATKW
good but.....
I ordered this item as a gift for my husband and received it within a timely manner, however, it is not YELLOW. It is black. Read more
Published 5 months ago by omom
Great multimeter for the price
This is a nice multimeter for the price. It does the job for around the house work. The accuracy is not that great but fixing things like toys, cars, sprinkler controls,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Nad E. Gilbert
Good Meter Lousy documentation
The multimeter is OK. It is compact and offers reasonable options. I had read that the documentation is not good. I would say t s lousy. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Tallrey
Not a bad meter once you figured out how to interface to it
Overall, the meter seems to work as promised. All the modes do what they supposed to except for the diode check mode. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Patratacus
better pay more for something real good quality
This product is cheap because is not good enough, it given wrong lectures many times, I do not recommend it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jose H Melgar
Decent inexpensive DMM
I bought this device a week ago to replace one I had worn out. While keeping in mind that it is a low end DMM I'd say its pretty good. Read more
Published 7 months ago by repeedneve
get one - get two
For $30 this is a steal.
Yes, the selector action is stiff, yes the software is primitive and makes you think of something written at home for Win95. Read more
Yes, the selector action is stiff, yes the software is primitive and makes you think of something written at home for Win95. Read more
Published 7 months ago by C. Brown
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