Author Topic: Coupon free digital multimeter  (Read 10471 times)

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Offline philb

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #15 on: September 14, 2012, 02:55:46 pm »
I just got a new mailing of coupons from HF. The meters are the same as back in March. Buy anything in the store or on line and get one free.

I have 4 I bought for $3.99 already. I expected them to blow up like popcorn but they haven't. The first one is 1 1/2 years old and doesn't click when selecting a function and has begun to read 1/2 a volt off compared to my ~$350.00 Fluke. Honestly, I would have not treated my Fluke as roughly as I have these "expendable" meters.

Offline Norm

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #16 on: September 14, 2012, 05:14:21 pm »
Yeah I've had 4 or 5? since I first found out there was a Harbor Freight
in Erie, PA.....only 2 problems I have with them ....they keep coming
unhooked from the probe ends....but mainly I take a reading of amperage
and forget to switch back when I go to read the voltage and wonder why
the little wires are getting hot and the wires are getting real soft just
before the fuse blows......Hmmm! oh Dang!
both of the 2 I have still work but 1 didn't have any probes or leads so
16 guage extension cord wire stripped ends doubled over and stuck in the jacks
the other ends stripped about 3/4 inch and soldered and points filed on ends
works better than original.
Norm.
$350 for a fluke .....never !
(as Norm slips quietly to the floor)

Offline ghurd

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #17 on: September 16, 2012, 10:12:24 am »
The first one is 1 1/2 years old and doesn't click when selecting a function and has begun to read 1/2 a volt off compared to my ~$350.00 Fluke.

Uhh, you did change that crappy "heavy duty" battery, right?
When the voltage readings go goofy, it usually means the battery is low.

I have a $couple true RMS.
Ran a bunch of tests on ECMs (amps, VDC, VAC, Voc...) with the TRMS, a red HF, and a yellow HF.
They were so close that I don't risk the TRMS for silly things.
Usually within <0.1V, worst was 0.2V but I can't figure out why that happened in just the one testing scenario.
G-

Offline Norm

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #18 on: September 16, 2012, 04:35:39 pm »
Yep replaced mine  about a week later on the last one.
Ever try using  those Heavy Duty AA batteries from DollarTree in
a 2 cell camera? voltage checked ok turned on the camera, and it went
beep and quit checked batteries each 1.6, tried again same thing
checked voltage....still good.....tried again etc.
     Then it came to me voltage good taking a picture too much of a load
....must not be heavy duty enough....

Yeah I'm going to try it on a tent camp light that normally uses 4 AA batteries
in series...don't have a lighter receptacle but 2 alligator work just fine !
Have to kinda glue em down with hot glue so them don't come loose and
touch each other.

catch ya later
Norm

Offline rossw

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #19 on: September 16, 2012, 04:52:24 pm »
voltage checked ok turned on the camera, and it went
beep and quit checked batteries each 1.6, tried again same thing
checked voltage....still good.....tried again etc.

Most "cheap" batteries have a fairly high internal resistance. They may contain a decent number of watt-hours but you just can't take it out in a hurry. Like a thousand gallon tank with a 1/8" pipe coming out. :)

Offline philb

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #20 on: September 16, 2012, 10:58:06 pm »
Yep, it's probably the battery. If I get enough meters, I might use them in place of panel meters on my battery bank.
Also, speaking of Flukes, I found some meters from Fluke China on eBay. They are exactly like my US made Fluke only a different brand name on the front.

Offline ghurd

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #21 on: September 17, 2012, 07:43:50 am »
It will not do Ross any good, but I like the Dollar General brand alkaline batteries.
Did some LED flashlight testing several years ago.  24/7 until batteries dead, or until LED failure.
Didn't have enough of the big name AAs left to test the lot, so used a couple sets of DG alkalines.
No difference in performance between the big name and DG AAs.
Then comparison tested D batteries, name brand to DG, which was a 24/7 LED test that went like 30 or 35 days!  Again, no difference.
G-

Offline Norm

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #22 on: September 17, 2012, 08:45:47 am »
Yep they work real good on LEDS ....tried NiCad AA's with a LED light
or even c size ....cause I guess the LED's suck up whatever  is there from a
NiCad.....why they're so much better than alkaline for a DC motor like
cordless drills
Norm.


Edited per Norms comment --Tom

Offline Norm

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Re: Coupon free digital multimeter
« Reply #23 on: September 17, 2012, 05:07:38 pm »
Speaking of fixing ....finally got the address rounded up
putting it on the box 3 of them all individually bubble wrapped
and in seperate WallyMart bags (lowering prices everyday).
They will be sent  out tomorrow Ta Dah !
(Cordless drill battery paks)
Have Fun !

Norm.
Oh Yeah (Fixed that. Should I remove this one then?)
Go Ahead....