Difference between revisions of "Voltcraft VC-350e"

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| image          = [[File:Voltcraft_VC-350e.jpeg|180px]]  
| image          = [[File:Voltcraft_VC-350e.jpeg|180px]]  
| name            = Voltcraft VC-350e
| name            = Voltcraft VC-350e
| status          = in progress
| status          = not supported
| source_code_dir =  
| source_code_dir =  
| counts          = 4000
| counts          = 4000
| categories      = CAT II (750 V AC/1000 V DC)
| categories      = CAT II (750 V AC/1000 V DC)
| connectivity    = RS-232 (DB9)
| connectivity    = RS-232 (Metex)
| measurements    = voltage, current, resistance, diode, continuity, temperature, frequency
| measurements    = voltage, current, resistance, diode, continuity, temperature, frequency
| features        = autorange, hold, bargraph
| features        = autorange, hold, bargraph
Line 21: Line 21:


* '''Multimeter IC''': [https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/analog/data-converters/analog-to-digital-converters/MAX134.html Maxim MAX134] [https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/en/ds/MAX133-MAX134.pdf datasheet]
* '''Multimeter IC''': [https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/analog/data-converters/analog-to-digital-converters/MAX134.html Maxim MAX134] [https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/en/ds/MAX133-MAX134.pdf datasheet]
* '''CPU''': SAF350E
* '''CPU''': SAF350E (can be found under the LCD, markings on chip: 941d saftec saf 350-98)
* '''Fuses''': 800mA/250V 5x20mm and 20A/250V 6x30mm (superfast, ceramic fuses)
* '''Fuses''': 800mA/250V 5x20mm and 20A/250V 6x30mm (superfast, ceramic fuses)
* '''Battery''': 9V NEDA 1604 or 6F22
* '''Battery''': 9V NEDA 1604 or 6F22




'''RS232:'''
== RS-232 pinout and connection settings ==


* '''Transfer rate''':1200 baud
* '''Transfer rate''':1200 baud
Line 37: Line 37:
[[File:Vc350e-rs232.png]]  
[[File:Vc350e-rs232.png]]  


== Photos ==
{| border="0" style="font-size: smaller;" class="alternategrey sigroktable"
 
!Metex-connector pin
'''Multimeter''':
!RS-232 DE9-female pin
 
!Signal (multimeter side)
<gallery>
File:Voltcraft ME-42 1.jpg|<small>Front</small>
File:Voltcraft ME-42 2.jpg|<small>Back</small>
File:Voltcraft ME-42 3.jpg|<small>Inside, with shielding</small>
File:Voltcraft ME-42 4.jpg|<small>Back of board, without shielding</small>
File:Voltcraft ME-42 5.jpg|<small>Board and power button removed</small>
File:Voltcraft ME-42 6.jpg|<small>RS-232 interface and cover</small>
</gallery>
 
== Protocol ==
 
See [[Multimeter_ICs#Metex_14-byte_ASCII]] for the DMM IC protocol.
 
== Model family ==
 
It seems that this device belongs to a family of several similiar devices and OEM models.
 
{| border="0" style="font-size: smaller" class="alternategrey sortable sigroktable"
|-
!Metex
!Conrad
!PeakTech
!Radio Shack
!RMS
!Frequency
!Transistor
!Logic
!Temp
!Cap.
!Remarks
!Remarks
|-
|-
| Metex ME-11
| 1 || 3 || RxD ||
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| [[RadioShack 22-805]]
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| Amps manual range; seems to be similiar to ME-42
 
 
|-
| [[Metex ME-21]]
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | -
| Manual Range
 
|-
|-
| Metex ME-22
| - || - || empty space || space between pin 1 and 2 on Metex where there is no pin/hole.
| Voltcraft ME-22
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| Manual Range
 
|-
|-
| Metex ME-22 RMS
| 2 || 5 || GND ||
| Voltcraft ME-22 RMS
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| Manual Range
 
|-
|-
| [[Metex ME-31]]
| 3 || 2 || TxD || 
| style="text-align:center" | -
| [[PeakTech 3410]]
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ?
|
 
|-
|-
| Metex ME-32
| 4 || 6, 7 || DSR + RTS || DSR and RTS tied together on PC side
| Voltcraft ME-32
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| style="text-align:center" | ●
| Amps manual range
 
|-
|-
| Metex ME-42
| '''Voltcraft ME-42'''
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | ?
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | -
| style="text-align:center" | -
| Amps manual range
|}
|}


== Resources ==
== Serial protocol ==
 
* [http://www.produktinfo.conrad.com/datenblaetter/100000-124999/120130-an-01-de-Digitalmultimeter_ME_42.pdf Manual DE, single pages]
* [http://www.produktinfo.conrad.com/datenblaetter/100000-124999/120130-an-01-ml-Digitalmultimeter_ME_42_de_en_fr_nl.pdf Manual DE/GB/F/NL]
 
== Measurement functions and ranges ==
 
{|border="0" style="font-size: smaller" class="alternategrey sortable sigroktable"
|-
! Measurement function
! Range
! Resolution
! Accuracy
! sigrok result
! Remarks
 
|-
| rowspan="5" | V=
| 400.0 mV
| 100 μV
| rowspan="5" | ±(0.5% + 3)
| mq V, unit V, mqflags DC
| "
 
|-
| 4.000 V
| 1 mV
| "
|
 
|-
| 40.00 V
| 10 mV
| "
|
 
|-
| 400.0 V
| 100 mV
| "
|
 
|-
| 1000 V
| 1 V
| "
|
 
|-
| rowspan="5" | V≈
| 400.0 mV
| 100 μV
| rowspan="5" | ±(1.0% + 5)
| mq V, unit V, mqflags AC
| 40 Hz - 100 Hz
 
|-
| 4.000 V
| 1 mV
| "
| 40 Hz - 400 Hz


|-
To test on a Linux computer using the screen command, open a terminal like xfce4-terminal, gnome-terminal or xterm and start a session, we will use this terminal to display the data coming from the multimeter:
| 40.00 V
| 10 mV
| "
| "


|-
<pre>
| 400.0 V
/usr/bin/screen -d -m -S serial /dev/ttyUSB0 1200
| 100 mV
screen -r serial
| "
</pre>
| "


|-
Then open a new terminal to send commands to the multimeter, example to read the current measurements:
| 750 V
| 1 V
| "
| "


|-
<pre>
| rowspan="3" | A=
screen -S serial -X stuff "$(echo -e '\xE0\xFF\r')"
| 4.000 mA
</pre>
| 1 µA
| ±(0.8% + 3)
| mq Curr., unit A, mqflags DC
|


|-
Output something like "012.003 V". Often the units show garbled, aka you will see "012.003 �" or something especially when using Ohms. I remember I also had this with the original vendor software (which I no longer have). So maybe my device is poor or it was just never developed better.
| 400.0 mA
| 100 µA
| ±(1.2% + 3)
| "
|


|-
Taken from the manual found at [https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic2740476.html#13475581 elektroda.pl].  
| 20.00 A
| 10 mA
| ±(2.0% + 5)
| "
|


|-
The following commands can be send over RS-232:
| rowspan="3" | A≈
| 4.000 mA
| 10 µA
| ±(1.0% + 5)
| mq Curr., unit A, mqflags AC
| 


{| border="0" style="font-size: smaller;" class="alternategrey sigroktable"
|C0
|Yellow
|-
|-
| 400.0 mA
|C1
| 100 µA
|Relative
| ±(1.5% + 5)
| "
|
 
|-
|-
| 20.00 A
|C3
| 10 mA
|Blue
| ±(3.0% + 5)
| "
|
 
|-
|-
| rowspan="6" | Ω
|C4
| 400.0 Ω
|Record
| 100 mΩ
|
| mq Res., unit Ω, mqflags -
| Continuity beep < 50 Ω
 
|-
|-
| 4.000 kΩ
|C5
| 1 Ω
|Range Hold
|
| "
|
 
|-
|-
| 40.00 kΩ
|C6
| 10 Ω
|Memory
|
| "
|
 
|-
|-
| 400.0 kΩ
|C7
| 100 Ω
|Recall
|
| "
|
 
|-
|-
| 4.000 MΩ
|C8 AC
| 1 kΩ
|Power Off
|
| "
|
 
|-
|-
| 40.00 MΩ
|CA
| 10 kΩ
|Power off timeout enable
|
| "
|
 
|-
|-
| Diode
|CB
| 2.000 V–
|Power off timeout disable
| 1 mV
|
| mq V, unit V, mqflags DC,DIODE
| Max. 1.5 mA
 
|-
|-
| Data Hold 
|A0-A6
|
|Manual range set
| 
|
| -
|  
 
|-
|-
|E0
|Get measured value read out
|}
|}


The column "sigrok result" contains in short form what the driver generates for the resp. data type.


The device seems to be extremely slow when the RS-232 interface is enabled and often takes up to about 10 seconds to detect a changed value or switch to another range. During this time a previous value keeps being sent. When changing to a new range automatically or manually, the device might send the old value scaled to the new range for a short time. This behaviour is caused by the device, not by sigrok! It improves slightly in manual range.
All commands must be terminated by hexadecimal FF. Also multimeter will terminate it's response with hexadecimal FF.
 
== Resources ==


[[Category:Device]]
* [http://institute.unileoben.ac.at/physik/Praktikum/Manuals/VC_350E.pdf Manual]
[[Category:Multimeter]]
* [https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic2740476.html#13475581 Polish forum with the only resource for the protocol]
[[Category:Supported]]

Latest revision as of 06:23, 15 September 2020

Voltcraft VC-350e
Voltcraft VC-350e.jpeg
Status not supported
Counts 4000
IEC 61010-1 CAT II (750 V AC/1000 V DC)
Connectivity RS-232 (Metex)
Measurements voltage, current, resistance, diode, continuity, temperature, frequency
Features autorange, hold, bargraph

The Voltcraft VC-350e is a 4000 counts, CAT II (750/1000V) handheld digital multimeter with RS232 connectivity.

It is an OEM version of the Saftec SAF350E. The device was sold by Conrad Elektronik as article 125512 around 1997 and is not available any more.

Hardware

Multimeter:

  • Multimeter IC: Maxim MAX134 datasheet
  • CPU: SAF350E (can be found under the LCD, markings on chip: 941d saftec saf 350-98)
  • Fuses: 800mA/250V 5x20mm and 20A/250V 6x30mm (superfast, ceramic fuses)
  • Battery: 9V NEDA 1604 or 6F22


RS-232 pinout and connection settings

  • Transfer rate:1200 baud
  • Characters: 8-bit
  • Parity:none
  • Stop bits:1

This device uses what looks like a Metex connector, but it only has 4 pins (where 5 pins is seen on other devices).

Vc350e-rs232.png

Metex-connector pin RS-232 DE9-female pin Signal (multimeter side) Remarks
1  3 RxD
-  - empty space space between pin 1 and 2 on Metex where there is no pin/hole.
2  5 GND
3  2 TxD  
4  6, 7 DSR + RTS  DSR and RTS tied together on PC side

Serial protocol

To test on a Linux computer using the screen command, open a terminal like xfce4-terminal, gnome-terminal or xterm and start a session, we will use this terminal to display the data coming from the multimeter: 

/usr/bin/screen -d -m -S serial /dev/ttyUSB0 1200
screen -r serial

Then open a new terminal to send commands to the multimeter, example to read the current measurements: 

screen -S serial -X stuff "$(echo -e '\xE0\xFF\r')"

Output something like "012.003 V". Often the units show garbled, aka you will see "012.003 �" or something especially when using Ohms. I remember I also had this with the original vendor software (which I no longer have). So maybe my device is poor or it was just never developed better.

Taken from the manual found at elektroda.pl.

The following commands can be send over RS-232:

C0 Yellow
C1 Relative
C3 Blue
C4 Record
C5 Range Hold
C6 Memory
C7 Recall
C8 AC Power Off
CA Power off timeout enable
CB Power off timeout disable
A0-A6 Manual range set
E0 Get measured value read out


All commands must be terminated by hexadecimal FF. Also multimeter will terminate it's response with hexadecimal FF.

Resources

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