Testo 760-1/760-2/760-3 Digital Multimeters with New Auto Range Detection Technology Reviews

     Hello, this week we will be discussing two new offerings from Testo. The first is the Testo 760 Digital Multimeter and the second will be the Testo 770 Hook-Clamp Digital Multimeter. Electrical test meters are a new market for Testo but it makes sense why they have decided to enter it; to meet the specific needs of the HVAC technicians who are using their other products.

The Testo 760 is a digital multimeter that has many features you would expect and a few new features that will most likely become an industry standard. There are three variations of the Testo 760, the 760-1, 760-2, and the 760-3. All three models handle the basics you would expect including, AC/DC Voltage, AC/DC Current, Resistance, Capacitance, Continuity, and Frequency. For specifics on the differences between these three models, as it pertains to the measurement ranges, you can access Testo’s datasheet at the Testo website here.

The Testo 760-2 and 760-3 add True RMS, Duty Cycle, Temperature and a Low Pass Filter. While the accuracy of the base model is great at 0.8%, the addition of TRMS and a Low Pass Filter improve the accuracy to 0.1% which is an 87.5% improvement. For those unaware, the low pass filter is a custom designed filter that, as the name implies, filters out electrical noise or signals that are not from the devices being measured so you have a cleaner signal to get a more accurate measurement.

The new features I hinted to at earlier are the auto test-setup feature and the new safety features that prevent improper lead installation. The Auto test-setup is a feature that automatically selects the correct test based on the configuration of the test leads. The meter will also prevent the user from accidently switching from Volts to Amps or vice-versa. This will reduce the amount of blown fuses which directly impacts a technician’s bottom line by eliminating wasted work time and money.

To summarize, the 760 series digital multimeter is a great new entry from Testo. It has a toned down simplified look and a large backlit display that is easy to read. The tailor fit for HVAC technicians is a nice touch as it will be clear that the tests they need are included. The addition of the auto set up feature as well as the safety measure to prevent blown fuses are nice touches that I believe will become a new standard for all multimeters going forward.

What are your thoughts on the auto test-setup feature? Do you agree with me that it will become standard for other multimeters?