Can’t complain about the price, one of mine was free with a coupon, but they both died in the last 4 weeks.
Both read some absurd number on every setting, today it was 19.98. Changing the battery didn’t help. There is a fuse inside, but that looked OK. My 20 year old Craftsman still plugs along.
just goes to show you get what you pay for. i still have my 260-4 simpson thats fully operational and the instruction manuel has a print date ot 1964.
I have been using four of these for quite a few years and very happy with them.
Compared very well to am expensive meter.
Some years ago I picked up spare fuses ar Radio Shack but no more. I still have some fuses.
I was quite surprised to find out they read about 13.6 vac on my NCE Power Cab about ten years ago. I figured I would take whatever I got as a bench mark.
With a circuit I found online and using the 20ma DC current scale, a cheap DCC five amp meter.
Better wire and probes cost me more than the meters. I wanted three foot long probes and clip leads.
Rich
Henry you must have the “touch”, I have somewhere around a dozen of their cheapo meters (the freebee door prize), most have been dropped a dozen times or more and I think they still work.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Reading the voltage across your static grass zapper again, huh?
That’ll do it [;)] Ed
There was no droping involved in their demise. Like the old car found in the barn, it ran when parked.
My two vintage Radio Shack voltmeters take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.
Rich
I have one of those Rich, it has a moving needle pointer . . . . remember those? I think I got it back in about 1971, it still works.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mine must be just a Fluke…literally. And I still have my ol’ Craftsman DMM that I paid $20 for 15-20 years ago. It even came with a temperature probe.
Tom
I have a twenty year old Fluke model 73 meter that has quite lilterally been through hell with me. You cannot imagine the conditions this meter has endured, and it is still as good as new, except for the grease stains all over it.
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You do get what you pay for.
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-Kevin
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My first meter was a Heathkit VOM I built in 1955. Lasted many years until the meter movement gave out.
When I worked for NASA in 1970 I bid on surplus stuff. Got a n
Harbor Freight has some fantastic items. I love that they allow me to use two coupons! Their customer service is what to expect from an electronics store.
I have one voltimeter that works great. The 1st one never worked. Te manager didn’t believe me about it not working, so I put into an outlet. After one probe shot off and caused a spark, that was enough for him. In this case, the customer was right!
Me too. I also built their Audio meter for checking audio back in the early Stereo/Binaural days. Later I just had to have the huge Eico VTVM kit, I think it had a 5½” meter. Then came the Heath Scope, those were the days.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
&n
With a better set of three foot leads I used mine for checking house wiring. No problem.
I use to keep one in the car.
Rich
Have 4 of 5 of the HF meters, they’re good enough for general trouble shooting and it doesn’t matter if they get dropped, thrown(don’t ask), run over or lost. Keep one my car and truck.
I have two Harbor Freight meters, the red digital one and a black analog one from a long time ago. Both worked fine until I tested high voltage while they were in a low voltage mode. Oops! I blew up the fuses in both of them. Now I have to decide if I want to spend more money on fuses or just buy another meter for less……
Solder a single strand of stranded #30 wire across the fuse, I’ve been doing that for years and never a problem. Those quick blow low amperage instrument fuses are $$$$, the single strand will blow quick enough to protect the innards.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
I have eight HF meters hardwired into four MRC Controlmaster 20 PS. The leads where cut and soldered into the track circuits to monitor voltage and amperage of each PS. The readings are comparable to my Fluke meter. This setup has been in place for years. Only problem I have encountered…leaving meter turned on and 9v battery going dead. Planned for battery replacement when I installed on the control panel, so no problem replacing. Also use HF meter hardwired to rotary switch to monitor AC output of two Lionel ZW transformers running my O- gauge layout. To date, I’ve had no issues.
I picked up my VOM from one of those overstock type stores in Manhattan called Lot Less for like $5. serves me quite well. I also use an old diet scale that cost me 25 cents at a rummage sale to weigh rolling stock also serves quite well.
The real problem with Harbor Freight is quality control, but the prices are great or better than great.