DCUU PM9913 single phase power meter 5kHz - All it secrets

[Kiriakos GR]

DCUU PM9913 this is single phase power meter 5kHz Bandwidth, and the most modern and advanced in electronic design instrument at it class.

DCUU PM9913, PM9911, PM9912, background and history:

DCUU brand translates to:  Zhongshan Zhongxiang Instrument Co., Ltd, (This is a small factory at China mainland).
This brand, its actually a team of very young people, and Mr. Deng Changguj this is the general manager.
DCUU this is focused at 100% at the domestic market of China, their primary business focus,  quality control testing systems for LED lamps.
In their own portfolio, is the development of digital power meter, mainly for production line testing.

PM991x series this were introduced at the beginning of 2017.
This has six active windows,  and update rate of 5 measurements per second.
DCUU PM9913  True-RMS AC model 0.5mA ~ 2A (according to User manual)
DCUU PM9911  True-RMS AC model 5mA ~ 20A
DCUU PM9912 this is AC/DC  5mA ~ 20A.

Both 9913 & 9911, they offer identical number of measured electrical parameters.
The named as F LED window, this is a host  able to display another four electrical parameter.
In total a number of nine electrical parameters they are measured simultaneously.
 
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DCUU PM9913 this become my choice, as I wanted to be able to measure Low-Power, Stand-By power.

DCUU its does offer data logging software, for all three models, but under a peculiar requirement.
They are selling (as option)  their own communication interface for a connection with a PC.

This communication interface, has a VGA type DB15 as input, and the output it might be RS232 or USB, or RS485.
The converter to USB, this uses CH340 chip and a USB to serial port Windows driver required.

The name of data logging software, this is Electrical measurement system and it operates with the RS232 and USB options.
And in conclusion, at the price of the communication interface, they supply also and their software within a CD media. 

Its DCUU instrument, comes with:
1) Quality control inspection card.
2) Calibration Certificate     
3) User manual
4) Power cord

And here ends the quick presentation of these instruments.

[Andrew-88]

This quick presentation alone, it did deliver positive vibes even to me. 

Is there a User manual in English?

[Kiriakos GR]

This quick presentation alone, it did deliver positive vibes even to me. 

Is there a User manual in English?

Yes there is, latest revision November 2024.
Attached.   

[Kiriakos GR]

I think that I should feel as flattered.

DCUU factory this delaying the shipping, so to provide a power cord with Schuko CEE7/7, to their first European customer . 
They had to order stock first, so them to be able to provide.   

For PM991x series it is essential, the female receptacle IEC 60320 C13 to be right angle * ( So this to not protrude from the instrument).
At the back of the instrument, there is a protruding shield, so to protect all connected wires, even when the instrument this standing upwards.     

* right angle by viewing the plug from it back side. 

[Andrew-88]

I think that I should feel as flattered.

DCUU factory this delaying the shipping, so to provide a power cord with Schuko CEE7/7, to their first European customer . 
They had to order stock first, so them to be able to provide.   

So the power cord would be much fresher from the power meter.
I am at teasing mode 

[Kiriakos GR]

So the power cord would be much fresher from the power meter.
I am at teasing mode 

I do not have any proofs about that.
All that I know is, that my order it is packaged to ship at 18/11/2024 

[Kiriakos GR]

My order at SUNSKY about PM9913, this including and a few more items.

For savings on shipping costs, I did request instrument carton box, to be used as host for my entire order.
Because of that, I did receive today unboxing photographs from China.      

(packaged to ship inspection)

[Kiriakos GR]

FLUKE Corporation loves to mention John Fluke and founder, that he started a business from a small garage. 

Just of curiosity, I started to decode, the offered calibration certificate by DCUU.
There was an image at top right corner, of this document, and I primarily thought that is some sort, of electrical calibration lab initials.

I did make some hard use of google translate due an image.
The outcome, DCUU has earned, Chinese government award of High-Tech Firm.
And you may get such an honor, after extremely strict and repeatable assessments.     
     
I did contact DCUU today, so to discover of what these first three QC tests, performed by the operator, they translates to?

[overvolt]

DCUU User manual in English, this seems to me imperfect, too many syntax mistakes and neither product specifications looking accurate. 

But due this topic, the truth will shine as always and especially when Kiriakos gets his instrument at hand.
 
 

[Kiriakos GR]

DCUU User manual in English, this seems to me imperfect, too many syntax mistakes and neither product specifications looking accurate. 

But due this topic, the truth will shine as always and especially when Kiriakos gets his instrument at hand.

I cannot disagree that their offered documentation, this is poor.

After arrival, this is my to-do list:
a) How many actual ranges for AC voltage?
b) How many actual ranges for ACA current?
c) PM9913 this has a visual indication (due an led) for mA ranges, and I wish to find out how many are they.   
d) Calibration inspection due my Fluke 8846A (this is fully capable to inspect Class 0.5 meters accuracy).
e) PC communication due electrically isolated communication converter to USB.
 
Testing of Low-Power digital power meter, this is a significant challenge, if you do not own a programmable AC load.
Power factor accuracy testing this must be performed with loads of PF 1.0 and PF 0.5
PF 1.0 this is a resistive load
PF 0.5 this is a combination AC load (that I am researching about it, if I can go DIY?). 

[Kiriakos GR]

Myth busting time

I will start gently with few closeup images of the carton box.


The misspelled DIGTAL Power meter, this is even today printed at instrument face plate, and even at the carton box.
Its now double confirmed, that 99% of DCUU Team, they never when to learn English. 

[Kiriakos GR]

Today I will act as build quality evaluator, and I will stick to essentials.
I can confirm, that DCUU factory, and or their partner whom manufacture the metal case, he does a Spartan use of materials.

Electrostatic painting, a tremendously thin layer, at the frontier of is called as acceptable.   

Front mask, and push button keys, not made of hard plastic, but from nylon that is a much soften material.

Instrument and four feet, by design there is special location for insertion of rubber pads, that no one bother to add any.
About five brands in China use the same accessory in their instruments, all of them skip the rubber pads.

Power switch, with good mechanical feeling, but the cover key seems as scratched all around.

At PM9913 instrument mask, at B window, only the LED for mA, this is really there.
The Ampere printing bellows the mA printing, and the position for a second LED indicator it’s a decoration item.

At the back of the instrument, there is AC power connector with ROHS, and a spare fuse.
(Panel mount AC power receptacle 10A 250V, a product of HONGJU factory in Dongguan)
This is a certified product and it is exported worldwide, I did find it in stock even in Greece.
 

About the famous EU power cord, which for this detail, the shipping of my power meter this delayed for a week of time.
DCUU supplied a cable with stray female inlet instead of a 90 degree one.     
Yes this cable protrudes at the back of the instrument, and I did replace it with a 90 degree one. 

Most irritating detail, the quality of the screws over the case, most found with slightly oxidation (discoloration), and someone repaint them externally with spray paint. 

In summary, build quality it is at the edge of the limit of been called as acceptable.
When a factory it is small, when all participants are young and inexperienced, such quality control details they get overlooked without a penalty.
None of these irritations would be there, if production cost this was increased by five USD dollars.

Note: If you look after it enough, it will not gain the look of the industrial worker (last photograph)