The UNI-T UT10A is a basic pocket multimeter that is useful for bench work and general testing. Small and light, it is ideal for quickly checking lower voltage jobs, with its ability to measure capacitance and frequency also making it conducive to being a handy ham radio device.
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Key Features
- Pocket size
- Automatic range finding
- AC/DC voltage measurements
- Also measures capacitance & frequency
- Continuity & diode checks
- Thumb dial
- Integrated test leads
- Relative mode
- Auto power-off
- Input impedance (DC): 10MΩ
- Size: 4.25″ (108mm) x 2.3″ (58mm) x 0.5″ (12mm)
- Weight: 2.2oz (62g)
What’s Included?
- Meter with integrated leads
- 3V Button Battery (CR2032)
- Instruction booklet
Get the UNI-T UT10A manual online here.
Complete Review of the UNI-T UT10A
UNI-T – or UniTrend – is one of the higher rated Chinese brands and is noted for churning out decent multimeters. Although the UT10A is somewhat out of spec with the better rated UT120C, it fairs well as a standby device.
Like the UT120A/B/C, the UNI-T UT10A is rated to just CAT-II 300V so is not recommended for testing mains voltage directly. It also doesn’t have current-measuring capability, but can test capacitance – from 4nF up to 200μF.
Test criteria for the UT10A are voltage (AC and DC), resistance up to 40MΩ, capacitance, frequency, duty cycle, diode testing and continuity. A data hold function lets you freeze the current reading (the present one, not amperage) on screen. There is also a relative mode, used to compare one reading with another.
Diode test: You can test a variety of diodes with the UT10A, along with integrated circuits and transistors. Note: with an output of just 1.5V, it cannot properly test all colors of light emitting diodes (LEDs), such as blue, green and white which require higher voltages to run.
SPECS
| Range | accuracy | |
|---|---|---|
| DC Voltage | 400mV / 300V | ±(0.8%+1) |
| AC Voltage | 4V / 300V | ±(1.2%+3) |
| Resistance | 400Ω / 40MΩ | ±(1.0%+2) |
| Frequency | 10Hz / 100kHz | ±(0.5%+3) |
| Capacitance | 4nF / 200μF | ±(4.0%+3) |
| Diode test | 1.5V output | |
| Duty cycle | 0.1% to 99.9% | |
Build Quality
The UT10A is quite well designed and built, with a nice enclosure and easy to operate dial selector switch. The buttons are of soft rubber and the leads are hardwired so won’t drop out. They also have sharp tips, but are un-shrouded so are easy to short out.
This meter comes with a battery included and installed, which is accessed through the rear cover via a brass insert. The board is of good quality, with an integrated A/D converter and PTC fuse.
Display: A large display for its size, it can show all icons, such as DC voltage, hertz, or low battery. The display is 3 3/4-digit, 4000-count resolution – about standard for a meter of this type. There is no backlight, however.
Performance
It responds quickly, with readout changes at around four times per second. Continuity and auto ranging are not very quick on the UNI-T UT10A compared with the top multimeters, and the continuity checker also doesn’t latch. These will be minor glitches for most users, with only linemen and the like requiring lightning fast response times.
Reliability is good and it doesn’t take much power to run, thus has good battery life. This is aided by an auto shut-off feature, which powers down the meter after 15 minutes of non-use.
Protection
The UNI-T UT10A is un-fused (it does not accommodate amperage), with input protection in the form of a PTC. Category rating is CAT-II (@ 300V), which signifies its limit is for testing appliances, computers and portable equipment etc. While you can test mains voltage in the above, it is not recommended to test it directly, such outlet sockets or circuit breakers, where transient voltages are potentially higher.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Cheap
- Pocket size
- Auto range
- Great for small jobs
CONS
- Cannot measure amps
- Not built to test mains voltage directly
- No display backlight
Wrapping Up
The review of the UniTrend UNI-T UT10A has a tiny multimeter with a decent range of test measurements, to include voltage, capacitance and frequency. One down from the successful UT120 series, it can’t measure current and is only rated to CAT-II, but is ideal for those into electronics / ham radio. Though not as widely available, you can still pick them up for a few bucks on various sites.
Alternatives: Review of the UT120C and a roundup of our best rated pocket multimeters here.