Gossen Metrawatt

Gossen Metrawatt is a German manufacturer of high-end test and measurement equipment, including multimeters.

This article tries to give an overview of the multimeters with interfaces for data exchange, OEM models and communication.

Company

• http://www.gossenmetrawatt.com/ (Homepage)
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossen_Metrawatt

Multimeters

One remark concerning device names: The manufacturer writes the name of the device series sometimes "METRAHit", sometimes METRAHIT' or even METRA HIT, sometimes not even consistently for the same device. For simplicity it will be "Metrahit" here most of the time.

Metrahit 1x series

Gossen Metrawatt	Siemens	Rishabh	Count	Remarks
Metrahit 12S		Rish multi 12S	3100
Metrahit 13S		Rish multi 13S	3100
Metrahit 14A	B1102 7KB1102-8AA		?
Metrahit 14S	B1103 7KB1103-8AA	Rish multi 14S	3100
Metrahit 15S		Rish multi 15S	3100
Metrahit 16S	B1104 7KB1104-8AA	Rish multi 16S	3100
Metrahit 17I	B1107 7KB1107-8AA ?		3100	Insulation measurement 500/1000 V
Metrahit 18S	B1108 7KB1108-8AA	Rish multi 18S	31000

The Metrahit 1x series supports sending data via IR/RS232.

The devices are not available from Gossen Metrawatt any more, but it seems that a company named Rishab in India 1 sells them as OEM.

Metrahit 2x Series

Gossen Metrawatt	Siemens	LEM ELMES/HEME/NORMA	Count	Remarks
Metrahit 24S
Metrahit 25S	B1102 7KB1102-8BA
Metrahit 26C				Multimeter + calibrator
Metrahit 26S
Metrahit 27EX				Milliohm meter for explosive atmospheres
Metrahit (27) H+E				with insulation tester; seems to be a METRAHit 27I in different colors
Metrahit 27M				Milliohm
Metrahit 27I	B1107 B 7KB1107-8BA ?			Milliohm and Megaohm, insulation tester
Metrahit 28S	B1105 7KB1105-8AA	Unigor 280
Metrahit 29S	B1106 7KB1106-8AA	Unigor 290		Energy measurement functions
Metrahit 30M			1200000	Laboratory multimeter

The Metrahit 2x series supports bidirectional data exchange via IR.

Metrahit Starline Series

The series of newer devices with only three sockets (only one socket for all current measurement ranges) is called Starline Series. The manufacturer sub-divides this further into an A Series, E Series and S Series, which does not make a big difference concerning communicating with the devices.

• Metrahit X-Tra (M240A), 12.000 Count
  • Metrahit Outdoor (12000 Count, IP65; seems to be a more rugged, different-colored flavour of the X-Tra)
  • SECULIFE HIT (seems to be a white version of the X-Tra)

• EBASE 60000 Count
• ESPECIAL
• ETECH
• EXTRA
• ENERGY (Energy multimeter)

• METRAHIT ISO
• METRAHIT ISO AERO
• METRAHIT T-COM
• METRAHIT T-COM PLUS

• Metrahit Ultra, 310000 Count, IR and (METRAHit ULTRA BT only) Bluetooth

Communication Hardware

All Gossen Metrawatt multimeters having data communication support support unidirectional or bi-directional infrared communication through the case using proprietary communication adaptors. The advantage of this construction is that it allows a closed case without unnecessary holes (one model, the Metrahit Outdoor, even has IP65 protection!), the disadvantage is a need for special, expensive adaptors to convert this to common RS232 or USB. Please note that the IR is just serial data (?), not IrDA.

The Metrahit Ultra BT also supports Bluetooth.

Metrahit RS232

IR→RS232 adaptor for unidirectional communication from the multimeter to the computer.

Works with Metrahit 1x and Metrahit 2x devices in Send Mode.

RS232 parameters: 8192 Baud, 8N1, DTR ON, RTS ON.

The communication speed of 8192 Baud is not supported by some operating systems and common RS232-USB adaptors.

Not available any more.

Metrahit SI232

IR→RS232 adaptor for unidirectional communication from the multimeter to the computer and data storage.

Up to six SI232 can be cascaded to communicate to the computer via a single RS232 interface. Up to 10 'SI232 can be cascaded to measure offline synchronously.

128 kByte battery-buffered CMOS memory, up to about 100000 data sets.

Multimeter: 8192 Baud, 950 nm, 8N1.
RS232: 9600/19200/38400 Baud, 8N1.

Not available from Gossen Metrawatt any more. It seems that Rishab in India 1 still sells them as OEM product Rish SI232.

Metrahit BD232

IR↔RS232 adaptor allowing bidirectional communication between multimeter and computer.

Works with Metrahit 2x devices, including 30M.

Up to six BD232 can be cascaded to communicate to the computer via a single RS232 interface. When only Metrahit 2x multimeters are used, BD232 and SI232 adaptors can be mixed.

9600/19200/38400 Baud.

Metrahit SI232 II

IR↔RS232 adaptor allowing bidirectional communication between multimeter and computer and data storage.

Works with Metrahit 1x and Metrahit 2x devices.

128 kByte battery-buffered CMOS memory, up to about 100000 data sets.

Multimeter: 8192/9600 Baud, 950 nm, 8N1.
RS232: 9600/19200/38400 Baud, 8N1.

4-8 SI232 II (depending on multimeter types and baud rate) can be cascaded to communicate to the computer via a single RS232 interface. Up to 10 'SI232 II can be cascaded to measure offline synchronously.

Not available any more.

USB Hit

IR↔USB adaptor for Metrahit.

For Metrahit 2x/30M devices only.

USB X-Tra

IR↔USB adaptor for the Starline Series devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Class 2

For the Metrahit Ultra BT.

Communication Protocols

Metrahit 1x/2x Send Mode

Proprietary binary protocol. Used for sending data to PC.

Metrahit 1x/2x Block Send Mode

Proprietary binary protocol. Used for polling buffered data from PC.

Metrahit 2x Other modes

There seem to be 2 or 3 other communication modes for the Metrahit 2x series. See description available from manufacturer.

Starline Series

Newer Metrahit devices use a proprietary communication protocol that is very close to SCPI.

LabView

Gossen Metrawatt offers LabView drivers for the Metrahit Energy and the Metrahit Ultra.