Owon XDM1041 Bench Multimeter Review and Testing 

I appreciate that. I'm just a tell it like it is kinda guy and if there is a dirty truth (as is the case with this particular model) I point it out and move on. I have been inactive lately, but I have more coming, so stay tuned. Thanks again for your comments.

@@Sui778 I will. I like that big display and the price so I probably will buy either that one or the Owon model right above it. Soon, there will be no more cheap effective electronic gear and guys who repair things will be invaluable. I too tell it like it is.

If you're talking about the 1241 you might want to look at that to see if the capacitance mode behaves itself better - it's awful on the 1041.

@@Sui778 Yep, that's my concern.

I have a hand-held Hioki meter from 1985. It has a resolution on 10 nano amps in the 20 microamp range. Not bad for a 3 1/2 digit meter.

@Jay McLemore Unfortunately reports I have seen are that the latest firmware update did not fix the issue with the capacitance function - or make any other noticeable changes to the unit. I do not know this with absolute 100% certainty but I've seen attempts to update to the latest firmware that result in basically nothing other than the version changing in the utilities view. I suppose I could do a direct comparison on known components between the XDM1041 and UT8804N but in the meantime I can give you a quick rundown: Voltage- UT8804N is more accurate below 5V and slightly more accurate above 5V. Current - UT8804N is slightly more accurate. Diodes - UT8804N is significantly more accurate. Resistance - UT8804N is somewhat more accurate. Capacitance - about the same on values between 500pF to 10nF, but the UT8804N is more accurate on higher values and can measure all the way down to 22pF whereas the XDM1041 can't measure anything below 500pF. It's the terrible autoranging that makes the XDM1041 fall really short in this category. Continuity - about the same. Frequency - UT8804N is more accurate and has a wider range. Temperature - UT8804N is more accurate and can run two thermoprobes at the same time. Relative feature is superior on the UT8804N - can do multiple levels of REL whereas the XDM1041 can only do one level of REL. UT8804N has 20 times the memory onboard and can save auto data recordings in unique (and separate) filenames. The display is really nice on both - but the UT8804N has better facilities for dual displays and other secondary information. Finally - overall the UT8804N has faster (and better) autoranging and is generally faster to pick up higher value resistance and capacitance values. This does not make the XDM1041 a bad buy - it is very useful save the shortcomings on capacitance (and diodes to a lesser degree) - it makes a good secondary bench meter - but I cannot recommend this as a main do-it-all bench meter.

@@Sui778 Thank you for information. I think I will probably go with the Uni T.

It's a good one! But I will say I like the XDM1041 for what I use it for - this is a great companion to my DIY battery pack projects.

@@Sui778 Hi I have many multimeters, I have one Fluke 289ii, Fluke 28ii, Fluke 87v and many others. I have some problems with my eyes, I use the continuity mode only, some times I measure some voltage. I am thinking to buy this meter for the screen only, what about continuity? I don't undertand why I buy Us$600 dollars multimeter for test continuity only. Best Regards.

@@treadmillrepair754 The XDM-1041 is just fine for continuity and voltage readings - very accurate voltage readings as a matter of fact, especially on the DC side, and it's no slouch on the AC side either. Continuity is very responsive.

REL feature just zeroes out stuff before you take measurements. Just simple math to help compensate for better overall accuracy. In the case of your 0.439 ohms, it basically would subtract that amount to start at 0 before you measure the resistor - works similar with the other measurements as well. Not sure what you are referring to with "RES" - perhaps resolution? I'm not a fan of the onboard recording features of this unit - it's very basic and unorganized - you can't save a set of readings as a file onboard although I think the software probably could. I also don't like how recorded readings get appended on the end of a previous set of readings - kind of useless.

@@Sui778 Thank you (it is really writtent "Rel" on my 1041 (res was just a typo) , I guess it mean "release" so "zeroing" could do) I would not say I am much pleased with that multimeter You could measure 1-2 Ohm, I cannot, for instance (or I did not see where to optimize my readings I obtain an "overload" when reading R002 for instance ) I can read a moving 0.01 0.06 Ohms when courcicuiting some probes, is it normal that the values change at every trigger ? may be with double display I could see mean or max min values , when measuring shunts it would be convenient . Regards

@@IsaacOLEG I was particularly disappointed with the 1041's accuracy on diodes and the capacitor mode, while generally quite accurate for a standard DMM it is TERRIBLE with the auto-ranging on capacitors and it takes forever to get readings. You are not going to get the same readings on a component every single time - it will vary slightly - that even happens on the better meters I have. Now if you are saying it's wandering a bit - well I see that happen on some meters and others it settles. I'm not a big fan of drifting either. What I do like the 1041 for is voltage readings - it does a very good job of that - I use mine for monitoring voltage when charging up battery packs and such.

@Peter As far as I know the newer units all have USB rather than RS232, but you might want to confirm with the seller that the unit they are selling has that. Chinese resellers are notorious for being a bit erroneous in their advertising. You have to get the software for the XDM1041 from the Owon website.

@@Sui778 Thanks for the reply and answer.

@@DIYerGuy No problem!

@@Sui778 Mine comes with USB port but configuration is for RS232, I thing they put a RS232 to USB converter inside the new units. When you setting the software you need to configurate all the parameters for the RS232 inside the meter. Best Regards.

@@treadmillrepair754 I must have gotten an older unit then - mine's just a straight up RS-232 port.

Yes - the menu is always on.

For that price I would say it's probably a good upgrade.

@@Sui778 If price is not a factor, would you recommend this over an Aneng AN870? Is it more accurate? Thanks!

@@lazal3m I haven't tested an AN870 personally so I cannot say for certain, but I have tested nearly 20 meters and the XDM1041 has outperformed all of them except my main bench meter on most measurements - but it is below average on diodes - tends to measure those a little too low for my taste.

@@Sui778 I appreciate your advice. Thanks and have a great day.

@@lazal3m where are you that it is that cheap?

Pretty much - but to be fair, all general purpose meters really aren't all that great for cap readings compared to LCR meters if you need it to be really precise.

Yeah - I don't use mine to measure capacitors - that mode is definitely too wonky, and I'm not a fan of the diode function either. It's great for voltage, which is what I use it for.

You are wrong, if you can test capacitor on board you need to use an ESR meter for that. I bought many ESR meters but for my job I prefer the GME-236 is fast and precise. Peak Atlas ESR is a good option inclusive. I have one fluke 87v, one Fluke 28ii, one 289 series 2 but I never use it for test capacitors. Due to my age my eyes are failing, i bought the XDM1041 for test continuity and DC voltage only, I like the big display. I have one Siglent SDM3045 in one workbench and bought this one for my other bench. Best Regards.

Yes, the UT8804N has math functions - just that UNI-T refers to math functions as "Stats". I show them in the video I did for that one.

@@Sui778 thank's, for almost half the uni-t price this owon might be a good choice, despite the capacitance and auto range issue. Plus i like the push button function rather than rotary switch for bench DMM. Very good and detailed video anyway.

@fajarsan I'm more of a rotary guy, but to each their own. The XDM1041 would probably be fine for most people - the capacitance issue can be circumvented to a good degree by just measuring higher value caps using manual ranging. But if you need precise diode readings - there are better choices out there. The other thing you need to understand (and you probably observed) the XDM1041 isn't the fastest DMM in the world - it does tend to drag its feet a little. It's a great meter for my battery pack projects because its voltage accuracy is very good.

@@Sui778 thank's for the info

we are using the words "precise" and "precision" incorrectly here. if the meter shows a diode to be .501v every time you take a reading then the meter is PRECISE and has good Precision. if the diode should read .62v then the Accuracy of the meter in that mode is low but its Precision is still high.

This meter has a lot of little inconsistencies. It was also odd that they didn't supply a thermocouple in the first place. The x041 series in general feels a lot like Owon just kinda slapped a lot of things together and a lot of it was just an afterthought.

Watch my older videos. Then you'll understand why I didn't declare the values - they already have been established over and over.