REVIEW – Each now and again, a product comes alongside that’s amazingly revolutionary, eminently sensible, and fills a mighty want. I’m my household’s go-to man for all issues technical and have lengthy sought a meter that may be unobtrusively carried. The Volty voltmeter by PC Doodle lets me do exactly that! Volty, the place have you ever been all my life!
What’s it?
The Volty is a tiny direct-current measurement device with a variety of two.5 to 30 volts that’s designed to suit right into a Leatherman ¼” multi-tool flat bit holder, or will be carried on a keychain, necklace, or tucked right into a pockets.
{Hardware} Specs
- Measures direct present from 2.5 to 30-volts
- Gold plated contacts
- Waterproof, however not to be used when moist
- 35.3 x 7.4 x 3.1mm (1.4 x .28 x .12 inches)
- Weight: too mild for my scale (I’m guessing just a few grams)
What’s within the Field?
- Volty inside a silver plastic bag
- Instruction sheet with a hyperlink to YouTube fitment tutorial video
Design and Options
Every week or so in the past, The-Gadgeteer posted a information article a few tiny DC voltage meter right here. I’ve had the pleasure of utilizing the Volty for the previous few weeks and I’m significantly impressed. This lil’ booger is slick!
Volty arrives in a silver bag inside a padded envelope.
It’s tremendous tiny!
Right here’s the Volty in comparison with a typical Leatherman flat bit.
I attempted to weigh the Volty on my scale, nevertheless it’s too mild for my scale’s 0.1oz decision. Compared, I might say it weighs lower than a Nickle. You’ll by no means discover it in a pocket or on a key ring, however watch out – I can attest they’re straightforward to lose. I purchased a second one after misplacing the primary ? !
The Volty is just not restricted to make use of in Leatherman instruments. In case your favourite device has a ¼-inch bit socket, the Volty will be trimmed to suit it. Here’s a video displaying the fitment process.
As soon as it’s trimmed to suit, the flat bit holder spring engages the notch within the Volty’s facet and holds it securely.
To make use of the Volty put in in a device, the physique of the device would be the adverse terminal. In fact, the physique of the device must be conductive. The sharp gold tip on the Volty is the optimistic connection.
No multitool? No downside! There’s a small gap within the physique so it may be carried on a keychain. In case your keys are metallic, you may even use your keys to bridge to the adverse battery terminal. This methodology of carrying the Volty is nice for loss prevention!
Earlier than shifting on, a phrase of warning: Don’t attempt to use the Volty on something larger than 30 volts DC or AC circuits. Should you do, on the very least, the Volty will be broken. At worst, you may burn your home down or kill your self, so please, for the love of God, know what you’re doing and watch out! Measuring low voltages shouldn’t pose a danger to life or property, but when unsure, please seek the advice of an expert.
The Volty is a super-simple system to make use of. Utilizing any conductor, bridge the facility supply’s adverse terminal to anyplace on the Volty’s gold tail. Subsequent, contact the sharp bit to the facility supply’s optimistic connection.
Right here is the Volty comfortably resting in place inside my Leatherman Cost TTI.
I used to be happy to search out that the handles shut utterly with the Volty saved.
The enter vary is from 2.5 to 30 DC volts. In case you are curious in case your voltage is within the appropriate vary, examine the battery or energy provide. Many rechargeable gadgets are within the Volty’s vary, nevertheless it received’t measure single 1.5-volt batteries like AA, AAA, C, and D batteries. Nonetheless, it CAN measure the voltage of two of those batteries in collection (Aww yeah!).
I spoke to Derek Traxler, who prefers to be known as “chief mentor” for his small Minneapolis, Minnesota firm, PC Doodle, the designer and producer of the Volty. He defined that the voltage limitations are largely as a result of complexity of becoming the parts into such a tiny bundle and the voltage wanted to efficiently activate an LED. He’s persevering with the event of one other model that’s able to measuring below three volts. I’ll actually be a repeat buyer if he succeeds!
There are two LEDs (purple and inexperienced) on the circuit facet of the Volty. As soon as related, the LEDs alternately flash for just a few seconds. After a brief pause, the inexperienced LED flashes as soon as for each 10 volts, (one flash for 10, twice for 20 – you get it). There may be one other brief pause, then the purple and inexperienced LEDs flash collectively (the colour seems yellow as a result of the LEDs are shut collectively), as soon as for each 1VDC increment, one other pause, after which solely the purple LED flashes as soon as for each 0.1 volts. For instance – 24.6 DC volts could be two inexperienced flashes, 4 purple and inexperienced flashes, and 6 purple flashes. Simply depend the flashes and add them collectively, tens, ones, and tenths. Nothing to it! Here’s a video to indicate how the device is used.
If the Volty stays related, the identical sequence repeats, alternating flashes, inexperienced for tens, inexperienced and purple for ones, and purple for tenths. This can be a nice function for monitoring slowly declining voltages.
Contained in the diminutive circuit, the Volty has a small resistive load so measurements needs to be comparatively correct. For perspective, I’ve different meters that measure voltage however with out a load. In some circumstances, the battery can check okay, however when it’s put into a tool, it rapidly fails as a result of it will probably’t provide the voltage on the load present. Volty does very effectively right here. Throughout my assessments, I pulled a three-volt button battery of questionable age from a drawer, making ready to switch a lifeless one in a watch. Earlier than going by way of the duty of disassembling the watch, a fast Volty check of the battery indicated it was low at 2.4 volts. Thanks PC Doodle – you saved me from having to take the watch aside twice and while not having to run round the home attempting to recollect what I did with my Fluke multimeter. The Volty was simply there once I wanted it!
What I Like
- Tremendous-tiny carry in every single place measurement
- Cheap
What I Would Change
- Ultimately, I wish to see a model with a wider voltage vary
Ultimate Ideas
The Volty isn’t going to switch a multifunctional meter, however the carry-anywhere measurement and form are one thing I’ve lengthy sought. Are you that useful particular person that’s consistently requested to “check out” that gadget for your loved ones and pals? Are you a techie that simply must know if that photo voltaic panel is making energy? Is your automotive battery lifeless, or solely faking it? If these are the questions you may ask your self, you want a Volty! This product is implausible!
Worth: $25
The place to purchase: PC Doodle
Supply: The pattern for this overview was bought for private use from PC Doodle.
