EXTEC meters E320X

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dacflyer
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EXTEC meters E320X

Post by dacflyer »

Anyone have this name brand of meters?
They are ok for what they are, but I hate that they keep cutting off after 5 min or so.
Does anyone know if there's a way to override this auto shut off function ?
I'm bout ready to throw them all out.. i hate when i'm trying to do things and it just cuts off..
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haklesup
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by haklesup »

Disappointing the links on the manufacturer website to download the manual are totally broken and redirects to FLIR and an error 404

https://www.extech-online.com/index.php ... 6e96dd24ea

I did find it here but it says that Auto Sleep is after 30 min on page 10 and 14, sounds like yours might be defective in that respect.
https://www.instrumart.com/assets/Extec ... Manual.pdf
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Janitor Tzap
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by Janitor Tzap »

I've also looked at the manual.
There doesn't seem to be a way to shut off the "Sleep Mode" on this meter. :sad:

Though.....
I'd check to see if it really is shutting off sooner than the 30 minutes.

Simple enough to have a egg timer ready and set for 30 minutes.
Connect the meter to a voltage source, {Battery or 110Vac outlet}.
The activate both the meter and egg timer.
Now just see if the meter is going into sleep mode to early.

If it is......
Check the warranty on the meter, and see if it is still covered.

Otherwise, get yourself a FLUKE-77 or equivalent.
My Fluke-77 has sleep mode{20 minutes}, but you can override it so it stays on constantly. :grin:


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dacflyer
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by dacflyer »

I actually just got a Fluke 77-4 It's nice..
and I have already learned that auto shut off can be overidden and the same for backlight to stay on as well...And work paid for it..lol

The Extec, it might be up to 30 min, but it sure doesn't seem like it.. Just annoying that it cuts off.. I have another meter that cuts off after 1 hr.. so that's not an issue
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dacflyer
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by dacflyer »

Uhhh, I can't remember which button i pressed on the Extec.. but it hasn't shut off in the last 65 min..
So there is an override.. I just have to figure it out now which one i pressed... Stay tuned....Have to start over...lol
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Janitor Tzap
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by Janitor Tzap »

Hmmm..................
I wonder...........


Try this:
Just turn on the meter and start the egg timer at the same time.
Do Not Connect The Probes To Anything.

Now see what happens.
If the meter shuts off, after 30 minutes.

Then I'd say.
The meter starts it's sleep timer when it doesn't sense anything across the probe leads.


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dacflyer
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by dacflyer »

the meter actually turns off after 15 min.. I'm still arguing with the meter to figure out what i have done to make it stay on beyond the 15 min mark... I've done it 2x now, but i can't remember how, So now i am writing it down...lol
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Janitor Tzap
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by Janitor Tzap »

I found this for a different model EXTEC meter.
But it may work for yours.
Disable Auto Power OFF
The meter will enter sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity. Press the Mode button to awaken
the meter. To defeat this feature, follow the steps below.
1.
With the meter OFF, press and hold the M (MODE) button and, while continuing to hold, turn
the rotary function switch to any position to power ON the meter.
2.
The EX650 will beep five times indicating that APO has been disabled. The EX655 will beep
two times indicating that APO has been disabled.
3.
Release the button.
4.
APO will now be disabled until the next cycle of power.

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dacflyer
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by dacflyer »

Tried that before, didn't work,, But i did find this out... Once the meter beeps right about the 14 min mark (warning turn off beep 3x)
When it does this press the HOLD button 1x and and it'll stay on...
Will also work after it cuts off, just press the HOLD button and it'll stay on..
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by Janitor Tzap »

dacflyer wrote: Sun Jan 22, 2023 6:56 pm Tried that before, didn't work,, But i did find this out... Once the meter beeps right about the 14 min mark (warning turn off beep 3x)
When it does this press the HOLD button 1x and and it'll stay on...
Will also work after it cuts off, just press the HOLD button and it'll stay on.
Hmmm...........

When you press the HOLD button when it starts beeping, or after it has gone into "Sleep Mode".
Does it stay on permanently, or does it just reset the timer for another 15 minutes?


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dacflyer
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by dacflyer »

Update>> Seems to work only after it cuts off,Pressing HOLD after it cuts off, it'll turn back on and stays on til you turn it off..
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haklesup
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by haklesup »

That seems to solve your issue, if you can tolerate one reset. Most meters do this and frankly I like it better than pulling the meter out of the case only to find dead batteries because it was left on.

Now if only someone will make a meter with a rechargeable battery that charges through the probes and gives status on screen. Just turn the knob to charge and stick the probes into a wall socket for instance. I know, it will never happen,
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by dacflyer »

heehee... good idea.. the more you use it,,the more it'd be charged..
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Janitor Tzap
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by Janitor Tzap »

Hmmm............

I seem to remember an old analog VOM {?Simpson?} that had a battery indicator on it.
And some of the Bench Style VOM's would have rechargeable battery packs in them.
So you could take it to the site where you were working on equipment.

As for recharging through the probes......
Nope, haven't seen anything like that. :lol:


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haklesup
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Re: EXTEC meters E320X

Post by haklesup »

well, it's not hard to find a "rechargeable DMM" they charge through a USB port. There must be some obvious safety issue I am missing, certainly it pushes up cost unnecessarily or maybe someone has tied the idea up with a patent.

Like this 2012 patent
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8395351B2/en

I do see a lot of new design DMMs in a cellphone full face touch screen format, low cost and cute, perhaps I can justify one along the way.
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