Pokit – The Garage Journal | The Garage Journal

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firworks

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#2

I have a multimeter that uses a phone/tablet or your computer as the screen / controls. It's a Hantek 365F. I got it because it is also a logger and can take data over long periods for doing device current draw measurements. I think I paid around 70$ for mine which is what that Pokit thing is but this is a lot bigger and more... ruggedized.

Still a neat device though. Too bad they didn't just put 4mm ends on the retractable leads so you could put different tips on it. I recognize they were just going with what most people would use but it seems like the strength is it being wireless so you can attach it to something and leave it. Being able to stick backprobe ends on it and leave it in the engine bay would be pretty handy. That's how my current one can be used.

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coljar

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#3

I have a Fluke multimeter and I have thought the same as you. There have been several things I've thought the smart phone could eliminate only to find someone was way ahead of me.

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upsidedownone

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#4

The Pokit thing does look pretty cool, but seems like it would be pretty useless for anyone other than the hobbyist. Any measurements above 60V won't work with the Pokit. Even the low end Flukes, like the 115, can go up to 10x 60V. I can see how this would be nice to have for the DIYer though, since a lot of those measurements would be low voltage, low current measurements.
When I'm at home, I have no problem pulling out a dedicated DMM, since I use it so infrequently anyway, and it would end up just being more of a pain to take it everywhere, even if it is really small.

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ckucia

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#5

I like the innovation and it seems like it would have a lot of uses.

OTOH, there's something to be said for a tool that does one, or a few, things and does them well vs a universal tool that does a lot of things, maybe not all of them well.

You probably could rebuild an engine using a crescent wrench, but I'd still rather use a good socket set even if I can fit the crescent wrench in my pocket and carry it around everywhere I go. I sorta feel the same way about this device - I'd use it if I had to, but I'd rather use a real VOM.

M

Metalio

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#6

You'd still need a lot of extra circuitry to turn your phone into a halfway decent DMM though. If you open up the basic fluke models it's 99% measurement circuitry, which is obviously not included in a smartphone, and just a single chip that does all the thinking. The main use of connecting a smartphone to a DMM would be data processing and logging, which I agree could be pretty useful.

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Bluearmflames

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#7

The reason you buy a fluke meter is for the a) accuracy and b) knowing the damn thing won’t blow up in your hand (accidentally ohming a live circuit). For the hobbist it seems cool, but for real work no way. I own a few flukes that will display the live values on an iPhone via Wifi. Nice to watch a circuit from a distance.

H

honcho

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#8

I can imagine a few simple uses for a smartphone multimeter display. Problem is, as others have mentioned, the display is only a small part of what TMDE (Test, Measurement, Diagnostic Equipment..i.e. a multimeter and other electronic measurement equipment) devices provide. Plus, IOS and Android don't provide much in the way of reliable background processing that is required if you wanted to make a phone call or look up something while you were simultaneously making some measurement with your smartphone DMM app.

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LegacyIndustrial

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Dec 20, 2017

#9

Nice having a stand-alone meter, I have 3 or 4. I can see the next generation loving an item like this unit.

I have some speed wrenches but I reach for my Craftsman open end wrenches first.
Feels better to me.

Hoping someone comes up with a cable stripper for exterior 3 and 4 conductor cables that are now formed/poured around the 12 ga. wires. PIA to strip these when adding a receptacle or plug. Anyone have a solution, I would buy it!!

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cybrdyke

Well-known member

Dec 20, 2017

#10

I noticed that there was no safety ratings on the Pokit device. That could be because of the low voltage range. If they decided to ramp it up to 120v or higher, then they'll need to completely redesign the thing.
CD

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Bitv9WNEMVtHhzHudbBKg

Member

Dec 20, 2017

#11

I suppose one could make the equivalent of a Fluke 233 where the remote display is replaced with a smartphone, but the electronics that converts live voltage, amperage, and ohms to digital isn't available in a smartphone (I think some phones can do ADC with a mic input, but it would be as much effort to convert every voltage you want to measure to something that input could handle as it would to just convert it to digital remotely). Also, you need to be able to switch between huge input impedance for measuring volts to no input impedance for measuring milliamps. I suppose the nice thing about using a phone for the meter display is that it could also incorporate a "how to use a dmm" tutorial.

U

username2

Well-known member

Dec 21, 2017

#12

ckucia said:
I like the innovation and it seems like it would have a lot of uses.

OTOH, there's something to be said for a tool that does one, or a few, things and does them well vs a universal tool that does a lot of things, maybe not all of them well.

You probably could rebuild an engine using a crescent wrench, but I'd still rather use a good socket set even if I can fit the crescent wrench in my pocket and carry it around everywhere I go. I sorta feel the same way about this device - I'd use it if I had to, but I'd rather use a real VOM.

It isn't so much that as it is splitting tools into parts. A computational one with a touch display (and a few external I/O notions like USB and Bluetooth) and perhaps one with measuring probes, cameras, or whatever. You could argue that they split cell phones into a computer and an external phone radio in a separate box.

There's a kind of cycle to this kind of thing as the reasonable place for intelligence moves from local to remote locations and back...look at the movement from mainframe to desktop PC to web-based systems.

For something like a handheld instrument, I expect it'll head back into device (and out of the phone) as the cost of a CPU/memory/display heads to $0.

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bpankratz

Banned

Dec 22, 2017

#13

How about the best of both worlds with the Fluke Connect system????

S

Strouty

Well-known member

Dec 22, 2017

#14

Man, I thought we had started a hot women thread again.

I have a Fluke that has a removable screen, would be cool if they could integrate that into an app.

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bpankratz

Banned

Dec 23, 2017

#15

Strouty said:
Man, I thought we had started a hot women thread again.

I have a Fluke that has a removable screen, would be cool if they could integrate that into an app.

They do! It's called "Fluke Connect"

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LugNutTorquer

New member

Dec 23, 2017

#16

wrong thread

Last edited: Aug 24, 2020

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wyliesdiesels

Well-known member

Dec 24, 2017

#17

Ryan said:
I just bought a Fluke multimeter... When doing so, I was thinking about how ridiculous it is that I had to buy the thing when I have an iPhone in my pocket with the computi...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

Using a smartphone for DMM duties would work for hobbyists and the like...

But the professional, contractor and industrial maintenance worker could NEVER use a smartphone multimeter unless the cell phone manu. achieve safety ratings on the cell phones which i doubt they ever will.

No way would i use a smartphone multimeter around 480v electrical or even 120v.

As has been said, having the meter on the wrong setting or getting hit with spike could result in the meter blowing up in your hand or face.

Heres an article for your reading pleasure:

http://content.fluke.com/promotions...dmm/fluke_dmm-chfr/files/safetyguidelines.pdf

Bluearmflames said:
The reason you buy a fluke meter is for the a) accuracy and b) knowing the damn thing won’t blow up in your hand (accidentally ohming a live circuit). For the hobbist it seems cool, but for real work no way. I own a few flukes that will display the live values on an iPhone via Wifi. Nice to watch a circuit from a distance.

this

cybrdyke said:
I noticed that there was no safety ratings on the Pokit device. That could be because of the low voltage range. If they decided to ramp it up to 120v or higher, then they'll need to completely redesign the thing.
CD

Agreed. Dont use that thing anywhere near line voltage such as 480v.

LegacyIndustrial said:
Nice having a stand-alone meter, I have 3 or 4. I can see the next generation loving an item like this unit.

I have some speed wrenches but I reach for my Craftsman open end wrenches first. Feels better to me.

Hoping someone comes up with a cable stripper for exterior 3 and 4 conductor cables that are now formed/poured around the 12 ga. wires. PIA to strip these when adding a receptacle or plug. Anyone have a solution, I would buy it!!

Are you referring to UF-b type cable?

Bitv9WNEMVtHhzHudbBKg said:
I suppose one could make the equivalent of a Fluke 233 where the remote display is replaced with a smartphone, but the electronics that converts live voltage, amperage, and ohms to digital isn't available in a smartphone (I think some phones can do ADC with a mic input, but it would be as much effort to convert every voltage you want to measure to something that input could handle as it would to just convert it to digital remotely). Also, you need to be able to switch between huge input impedance for measuring volts to no input impedance for measuring milliamps. I suppose the nice thing about using a phone for the meter display is that it could also incorporate a "how to use a dmm" tutorial.

Many tutorials available online for DMMs...

bpankratz said:
How about the best of both worlds with the Fluke Connect system????

do you have an FC meter? How are they? I bought my 381 right before those came out.

Strouty said:
Man, I thought we had started a hot women thread again.

I have a Fluke that has a removable screen, would be cool if they could integrate that into an app.

Which one do you have?

Last edited: Dec 24, 2017

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LegacyIndustrial

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Dec 28, 2017

#18

Our install company uses thick extension cord for our 120V 1P grinding machines.
In the past it was simply (3) insulated conductors inside a rubber jacket, the conductors were all 12 ga.. Now, they make it buy pouring the jacket (vinyl) around the conductors. Very hard to strip when putting on the twist-lock ends.

I will post a pic when I get a chance.

B

Brunel

Well-known member

Dec 29, 2017

#19

Ryan said:
I just bought a Fluke multimeter... When doing so, I was thinking about how ridiculous it is that I had to buy the thing when I have an iPhone in my pocket with the computing power to walk circles around even the most expensive of multimeters. Wasted potential.

This dude, however, is working on that. I don’t think it’s there yet for a serious maker type, but I like the innovation.

Bluearmflames said:
The reason you buy a fluke meter is for the a) accuracy and b) knowing the damn thing won’t blow up in your hand (accidentally ohming a live circuit). For the hobbist it seems cool, but for real work no way. I own a few flukes that will display the live values on an iPhone via Wifi. Nice to watch a circuit from a distance.

I also totally agree. Processing power isn't really what matters for meters.

The Pokit has a basic accuracy of 0.5%, my Fluke 87V is 0.05% and my Fluke 187 is 0.025%. For many applications this is unnecessary, but for some users it is essential. And the protection circuitry on Flukes is widely regarded as best-in-class.

Fluke meters are known for exceeding their stated accuracy and holding their calibration in the long term. They use quality components whose values don't drift. John Fluke's philosophy was to give the customer a bit more than they were expecting.

Finally, the dearer Flukes have a lifetime warranty.

BUT the Pokit is a neat little gadget and I hope it does well.

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wyliesdiesels

Well-known member

Jan 1, 2018

#20

LegacyIndustrial said:
Our install company uses thick extension cord for our 120V 1P grinding machines.
In the past it was simply (3) insulated conductors inside a rubber jacket, the conductors were all 12 ga.. Now, they make it buy pouring the jacket (vinyl) around the conductors. Very hard to strip when putting on the twist-lock ends.

I will post a pic when I get a chance.

Did you post to the wrong thread?

B

Bdgjr215

Well-known member

Jan 1, 2018

#21

Seeing as though my fluke multimeter predates every cell phone I've ever owned by many years and is still in my toolbox ready to work when needed,and most of my phones aren't I don't see how this makes sense but I might be oldschool.

P

pendragon1998

Well-known member

Jan 5, 2018

#22

The pucker factor with this one seems high to me.

J

jcar302

Well-known member

Jan 5, 2018

#23

At a glance the idea seems cool.
But the reality is that it's just a novelty.
As an licensed electrician, if they do offer an upgrade to 120v-240v I see absolutely no real world use for it. There are working 120v-240v testers you can buy for $5.

Z

Zaylor

Well-known member

Jan 24, 2018

#24

There is the Mooshimeter .

I have had one for a while. I thought it would be the ultimate all-in-one for reasons that others have stated. However I still grab my Fluke 95% of the time because 95% of things are a quick voltage or continuity measurement.

I grab the mooshimeter when I want to do graphing, logging, or for something where I have to get in the car and flip a switch but I want to see the voltage in real time.

The thing is surprisingly well designed on the hardware side...batteries last as long as Fluke, 2 channels, small etc.

The software is unpolished and the graphing mode is difficult but other than that it is useable.

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