Still Harbor Freight Tools

[Anonymous-0]

I was afraid my thread might be lost. I have a friend that goes
there often and buys me the Digital Volt Ohm Meters. He has
found them I think on sale for as low as $2.99 or $ 3.99. I think I
have 8 brand new ones in the drawer right now. I just think a
person cannot have too many electric meters. I also have 3 or 4
more laying around where they are handy. Anyway they were so
cheap I just could not resist. One day I had one set on Ohms and
hooked it to 240. I ask my friend what that loud noise was? I"ll
bet you know.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Digital is the KEY werd here..

Think ANALOG...

 

[Anonymous-0]

How can I help myself when they are so Cheap. ( I really mean cost
effective) B. Jones

 

[Anonymous-0]

So you have 12 meters and paid 4 bucks each for them? 48 bucks, plus time and fuel to go and get them.

Might be ok, but that won't switch me from Fluke.

Same one sitting in the tool chest for the past 14 years. And when it gives a number, I trust it.

jb

 

[Anonymous-0]

You are comparing apples to oranges.

Don't compute.

I have Flukes that can certify cat 5 network cables, or tell you exactly where the problem is.

That don't mix with tractor folks that want to know 5 volts or 6.5 volts, while an 8N tractor is running.

Do I have continuity?

Just small examples.

 

[Anonymous-0]

 

[Anonymous-0]

I agree. I don't like the digital. Theone I used was underdamped and fluctuated very badly around the unsheilded electrics on an old tractor. I had a Craftsman that wasn't reliable when the temperature was below 40F. I mean it wouldn't read and it said so in the fine print on the instructions! That's a hell of a note in Montana in the fall when a guy is trying to trouble shoot the electrical system.

I have a Triplett and a Simpson 260 8P for the shop and a couple of cheap ones for rough working conditions and the mice are playing with my digital. There is a place for digital VOM's but not for what I do.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have one. Used it yesterday to diagnose a charging problem on my 8N.

Yeah, they are cheap and flimsy. That means I don't have to worry about damaging it. It's cheap enough I can just replace it.

That one job yesterday made it pay for itself. I would have removed the alternator and taken it in to be tested. It would have tested good and I would have to bring it back and install it just to be back where I started. I diagnosed the problem in under 3 minutes. A single broken wire. Fixed it in under 10 minutes. So it saved me a lot of work and a drive to town. It's paid its way. I'm ahead already.

Pooh Bear

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have been using the same Fluke Meter for allmost 20 years with out a problem. Good tools last a long time! I have been a electrician for 35+ years so it has seen a lot of use to. Mark H.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Problem is people who are not used to using them see readings jumping around when not measuring and think there is a problem with the meter. Mark H.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Bingo, Jerry.

Unfortunately, it is getting hard to find a decent analog VOM at a reasonable price.

My 30 year-old Radio Shack VOM finally seccumbed to corrosion (somewhere), and I miss it truely.

Wish I could find a good one at a decent price. I find a decent analog meter far more useful than a digital one for most tasks.

Dean

 

[Anonymous-0]

Radio shack still had a 9$ analog cheapy last time I was in there.. works good enough to see 6 or 12v.. or see a needle swing on low ohms or continuity..e tc..

Soundguy