An overview of the ADM 30 multimeter - a universal device for the home master

In Russia, Mastertech has become one of the most common brands of portable measuring instruments. The company orders its devices on the side, which the manufacturer took advantage of by offering its third own brand ADM. The first one bore the proud name HYELEC and was not very warmly received by our compatriots.

Such a move allows the plant to save money by refusing to pay for the trademark, and to us - to get a quality product with proven characteristics.

This is how the ADM 30 was created - a cheap device that includes all the tools the DIY-master needs.

What is ADM 30

A real multimeter is a universal meter of everything. Inside:

DC / AC voltmeter (up to 1000 V);
DC / AC ammeter (up to 10 A);
ohmmeter (resistance meter);
capacity meter;
frequency meter;
luxmeter (light level meter);
sound level meter;
thermometer;
humidity measuring device;
diode tester;
device for continuity of the chain.

Sooner or later, all these devices turn out to be very useful. An exception may seem to be light and noise meters, but this is not the case. The first is very helpful when installing lighting and zoning rooms, the second can be useful in the car and in the kitchen.

When all this abundance is not there, it seems that it is not necessary. But with the advent of a universal meter, much can be assessed not by eye, but in numbers.

Now let's talk in more detail about the device itself.

Appearance and design

Multimeters are special-purpose devices. But their appearance is a very important characteristic: it provides convenience and correct measurement.

The ADM 30 case is a sturdy plastic case in a tightly sealed rubber casing. At the top there are additional sensors for measuring temperature, humidity, noise level and lighting.

There are grooves for probes and a loop for a strap. In general, it looks cheap, but very durable, withstands casual touch of a soldering iron well and is not afraid of falls at all.

For the convenience of stationary use, a retractable stand is provided with the ability to install at any angle.

A battery compartment for AA batteries is hidden under it. Usually "Krona" is used, which is very inconvenient.

The complete test leads are of good quality. The manufacturer also supplied the multimeter with a thermocouple for contact temperature measurement.

Display, control and usability

A large LED display is provided to display information, with the help of which the device clearly demonstrates the readings. Even a child can figure it out.

The controls are even easier. The operating modes (measured value) and measurement limits are changed using a large rotary switch. The modes are displayed in the form of pictograms with captions, so if you once studied physics, there will be no problems with use.

The switch is assisted by additional buttons, with which you can turn on the display backlight, freeze the current reading and do much more. Interesting: you can select one digit as the base so that subsequent measurements are counted from this point (relative measurements).

The multimeter calculates automatically. There is a button that allows you to turn on the automatic measuring range. You just need to choose the right measurement value, the rest will be done by the ADM 30 itself.

Is it possible to believe the Chinese device

The process of checking the multimeter could not be recorded, but the results are worth discussing. For a Chinese budget device, they are very good and correspond to the passport ones:

During the verification, it turned out that the multimeter can measure with high accuracy a sinusoidal voltage (alternating current) from 10 Hz to 2 kHz.

For DC voltage, the error fluctuates within one decimal place over the entire measurement range.

Current and resistance measurements show slightly larger deviations - within 0.5%. The error for more complex measurements of the capacitance and frequency of the tested source likewise fits into the passport values.

Relative humidity measurements are more difficult with the ADM 30: deviations reach 5–7%. Which, however, is permissible for an amateur device.

Temperature measurement is implemented in two ways. Without a thermocouple, the multimeter uses an internal sensor to read the ambient air. Surface temperature measurements can be made using an external probe. Apparently, the device is calibrated at the factory for the boiling point of water. But the readings above and below can be accompanied by an error of up to 3%.

A light meter is a rare device in the house. Apparently, based on this, the manufacturer cheated: the error reaches 10-15%. Enough for a rough assessment of the quality of lighting (this is very important for health and well-being) in everyday life, but no more.

The noise meter works with 30 dB. A somewhat strange solution, leading to an error of 10% at a low level of noise (measuring the volume of the system unit in silence and similar perversions). As the noise level rises, the error decreases.

Bottom line: a good all-round tool

The private label allowed the manufacturer to make the ADM 30 cheap enough to grab the attention of the buyer. For $ 50 (the cost of three simple multimeters), he offers a complete set of meters needed for a household or a novice DIY master.

All that is missing is a hidden wiring detector and a simple laser level, which can be purchased for $ 5-10. Everything else is already in the kit, and you don't have to fight the toad, which repeats about the uselessness of the sound level meter (this is not the case).

Errors will allow using the ADM 30 for professional work that does not require proven devices: car repairs, household appliances and gadgets. It will come in handy even in the kitchen.