Tool Review: Curien N2 Neuron and A1 Low Current Amp Clamp
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Q: How did the tool function as far as saving you time?
A: It saved time by not having to route wires from under the hood to the driver compartment to road test while monitoring a circuit. It also increased speed at which screen captures can be shared.
Q: What kind of setup was involved before using the product?
A: Minimal set up - just install the supplied batteries, download an app after scanning a QR code, and all was up and running. I set this up on Google Pixel 5 with Android version 12.
Q: How easy was it to use?
A: It’s quite intuitive. The tool side of this is super simple. Anyone with any meter experience won’t have any trouble installing the leads.
The app is easy to use at a basic level without any training. The meter packs a lot of features so spending some time watching the related training videos will certainly expand what you can do with the tool.
Q: How was its packaging? Did it come with any accessories?
A: From the sleek-looking retail packaging to the semi-hard clam shell case that is supplied for normal storage, it screams quality storage solutions. The accessory leads feel very high-quality.
Q: Was there a manual included?
A: A quick-start guide was included, and there was a link to access the full manual, plus demonstration videos and a user-based forum. A nice, magazine grade booklet was also included that gives history on the company, as well as all current options and part numbers in case you break something or want to add a feature. Hard to ask for more!
Q: What features did you like?
A: This is a feature-packed tool. It’s hard to pick just one or two good features. The ability to have the meter hooked up under the hood and a display in the passenger compartment while driving is convenient. Additionally, the amps present feature when checking fuses is slick and a huge time saver.
I’ve not seen that built into a tool before. I imagine a lot of techs may not appreciate this as much as more advanced folks will.
Q: Is there any way you could think to improve or add to this tool?
A: Making the amp clamp Bluetooth would be helpful. Also, extending the time it takes to disconnect would be good. Every time I left the app and came back to it, the meter and phone have disconnected.
My cell phone is a tool all on its own during many diagnostic approaches, and it’d be more convenient if I could bounce from one app to another without the meter having to be relinked in. It’d also be nice to include an SD card, so the logging feature is automatically enabled. Additionally, the online manual isn’t mobile friendly which makes it challenging to read the super small print from the phone I’m using as a display. I emailed it to myself and opened on a PC, which was easier to read.
Q: What types of repairs did you use this tool for?
A: Battery testing, draw testing, and relative compression have produced accurate results. The more I use the tool, the more I want to use it.
Q: How does this tool compare to other tools you’ve used like it?
A: I owned a Mooshimeter, which was the first Bluetooth app-based meter on the market back in 2014. The N2 Neuron is incredibly similar in size and in use. The case is more rugged, and the leads are significantly higher quality. I haven’t used the Mooshimeter in a while because it had connectivity issues. I didn’t experience connectivity issues with the Curien N2 Neuron.
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool overall? Why?
A: A solid 9. I think it’s a great tool and offers a of lot of practical purpose. It’s rare to need a higher powered meter/scope for auto repair testing, so this tool fits the bill quite well for most testing scenarios.
Ease of use, decent graphing, and a quality feel bring it back up in rating for me. This tool seems like it could replace a vantage or similar graphing meter. At the current price point, this tool is great bang for the buck.
