Apexel ET8103 Intelligent Digital Multimeter Review
The Apexel ET8103 is a good multimeter for the beginning electronics hobbyist. It is versatile, affordable and accurate. The big plus is the easy operation. This “smart multimeter” does not have a rotary knob but a single push button, and it can often choose the correct measurement itself. The large LCD screen with clear numbers ensures that the measurement results are legible.
My meter comes from Gearbest and was supplied with test leads, batteries (AAA), a Chinese and English manual.
Smart multimeters
With traditional multimeters (manual ranging) you must indicate yourself what you want to measure and in which range. You have to turn a rotary knob with a large number of positions to the correct position. With newer auto-ranging multimeters you just have to indicate what you want to measure, they then determine the correct range themselves. The rotary knob therefore only has a few positions from which you have to choose. Smart multimeters such as the Apexel ET8103 go one step further. They not only try to determine the measuring range themselves, but also the type of measurement that you want to do.
Apexel ET8103 / WinAPEX ET8103
The ET8103 is a medium-sized, automatically scanning multimeter. What can you measure with it:
Volt (DC): 0.5V – 1000V
Volt (AC): 0.5V – 750V
Ampere: 10 mA – 10 A.
Resistance: 0.1Ω-60MΩ
Capacity: 10nF – 60mF
Continuity (with buzzer and LED)
Non-Contact Voltage
Semi-automatic
The meter does not work fully automatically but semi-automatically. The most common measurements will be determined by the meter itself, others you will have to choose with the red button. For example, for voltage (volt), current (ampere) and resistance (ohm) you just have to turn the meter on and it will determine the type of measurement and range itself. If you want to measure the capacitance of a capacitor or the forward voltage of a diode, you have to choose that type of measurement with the button. The meter will then determine the range of that measurement itself.
Easy operation
Plug the black test lead plug into the middle connection (“COM”). You plug the red test lead into the left connection (“10A”) if you want to measure current (ampere) or into the right connection (“VΩ”) for the other measurements.
You turn the meter on by pressing and holding the red button for 2 seconds. Then you enter the automatic mode, the screen shows “- – – -” (scanning).
If the meter is then performing an automatic measurement, this is indicated at the bottom of the screen with “AUTO”. Pressing the red button again brings you in the following measurements:
- DC voltage
- AC voltage
- Resistance/continuity: if the measured resistance is lower than 50 ohm, the multimeter automatically switches to continuity test
- Diode
- Capacity
So keep in mind that for these measurements you use the red test lead on the right connection (“VΩ”).
During a measurement, you can “freeze” the measured value on the LCD screen with a short press on the HOLD button. By pressing this button longer you can switch on the backlight of the screen. The backlight will turn off automatically after about 15 seconds.
The test leads and test probes
The test leads (cat. III, 1000 volts max.) Are remarkably flexible and flexible. Meters in this price category usually have rigid PVC cords. These Apexel cables are probably just made of PVC, but almost feel like silicone cables. The points of the test probes are sufficiently sharp.
Apexel ET8103 extra functions
In addition to the measurements mentioned, the Apexel ET8103 / WinApex ET8103 has two extras:
- Non-contact voltage tester: allows you to measure if there is voltage on something (eg a cable or socket) without making physical contact.
- LED Flashlight: handy, but a real flashlight probably works better.
Apexel / WinAPEX ET8103 specifications
6000 counts, 3 5/6-digit RMS
Measurement category: CAT IV 600 V
Measuring range V / AC: 0.5 mV – 750 V V / DC: 0.5 mV – 1000 V
CAT III 1000 V, CAT IV 600 V
Sampling rate: approximately 3 times per second
