When Tom Wang created what he calls the smartest and tiniest multimeter on Earth, he had a longer term vision in mind. Before I explain that, let me describe what Voltset is.
Voltset connects via USB to your Android smartphone, which acts as the user interface. It is designed to be programmable, so you can customize it to your needs, and code can always be updated. It takes smart measurements and provides data tracking, which is not something most multimeters do. And of course, it is designed to be really, really small.
There are two models, the Mini and the Mega. The Mini-Voltset provides voltage and connectivity testing only. It still has all the smart data tracking and programable features as its big brother. It can handle voltage readings from 0 to 250V AC or DC.
The Mega-Voltset adds current readings up to 10 amps and resistance measurements with better than 3% accuracy. The Mega also uses laser technology to isolate the electronics from the thing being measured. So your connected smartphone has nothing to worry about.
Voltset’s app is where it really differentiates itself. The software can provide the user with guidance. For example, displaying how an AC power outlet should be properly wired, or what voltage levels are safe for an appliance.
Now, remember that bit at the beginning about a vision? Here it is. Voltset wants to put an electrician in every house, every small remote village, and every place that needs one. Tom Wang hopes to build libraries of educational tutorials, so that anyone can learn to fix common electrical problems. He plans to allow for open software development. So there’s potential for users to build their own tutorials, and share them in a community. Imagine a user in Gambia fixing his village school’s lights with a tutorial written by another user in Chennai.
If you are at Maker Faire, stop by the Voltset table inside the Hall of Science in the lower gallery. Or visit the Voltset website. The Voltset Mini and Mega are available for pre-order in limited quantities (only 100 each!) for $40 and $50, respectively. You can also just sign up to be included in news and updates if you are not ready to buy. They are planning a Kickstarter campaign in the future, so be sure to sign up for their email list if you are interested.
17 thoughts on “Voltset – The Earth’s Smartest Multimeter”
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> The Mega also uses laser technology to isolate the electronics from the thing being measured.
2 things: this implies the mini doesn’t isolate the phone, which is terrible, and should be avoided.
also, laser technology? seriously? With no link or further details from they, I have to call BS. you could arguably construe an optocoupler as ‘laser technology’ because they both use semiconductors to generate light, but that’s about where the similarities stop. The voltage limit is 250v, there is no reason to use anything more than an optocoupler.
Hello Adcurtin,
I am sorry for causing some confusions. I will double check with our engineer and post a update here ASAP. But here are some quick replies to your questions from me:
1) the Mini-Voltset DOES have its signal electronically isolated. As far as I know its not using the same chip as the Mega-Voltset which is designed to take heavier loading.
2) Mega is designed to be >100% safe even under heavy loading. It uses diodes to generate light to prevent electrical signal passing into your phone. You are absolutely right about the laser technology since a laser diode and a LED diode both generates light in a similar way.
Thanks. I’ll post updates when available. And you can always reach the co-founders (Michael and I) directly from our website live chat.
I was looking at the pic at the top of the screen and had a laugh at the “AC – Alternative Current” Which is perhaps a good comment on the controversy between Direct Current and Alternating Current back around the turn of the century. :-)
ha yea, that’s a mistake that we didn’t catch! And I am very impressed at your sharp eye. Thanks.
You’re welcome! Nice idea BTW. I’ve often wondered why more add-on products are not made for the smartphone market. I remember Palm Pilots having modules that could be tacked on to create new functionality.
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These look like a great idea, especially with the data logging. Leads me to wonder, would it be possible to use one of the oscilloscope programs available on the play store in conjunction with this.
Yes Tim, we will find out the highest count rate for Voltset. (hopefully soon) If the count-rate is high enough, we can ‘fake it’ as a scope for sure! Register in the forum to stay in the loop.
Yo Tim,
Currently we are looking at 5Hz for the sampling rate for a higher accuracy. However, we can turn up the sampling rate as well (will sacrifice accuracy though). Talk in the voltset forum!
Thanks.
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The Mooshimeter is another entry in to the smartphone DMM space, but takes a very different approach.
http://moosh.im/mooshimeter
Thanks for sharing. Mooshimeter looks pretty interesting, though as you point out it is a different animal. Also about double the price point.
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If you can’t afford $40, don’t have a smartphone, or simply need less functionality for less money, read the summary about how to use a very cheap multimeter at http://www.jbryant.eu/pages/DMM.htm
I was ready and raring to get one but it was bigger than a regular small multi-meter and it was twice the price.
I think the market would like a really tiny pocket device that could BT connect to a droid and for about 20 clams.
Apparently this ain’t it.