Cheap automotive Multimeters?

Automotive
1

Not sure what the protocol is here, but here goes:

Would it be helpful for anyone else to have some automotive multimeters available?

Like these $7 ones from Harbor Fright: https://www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-63759.html

I went over to the electronics lab last night and couldn’t find anything dumb enough looking for me to use to check resistance.

It could be that I need to learn more, or that I just need to bring my own $7 device with me, or that these things go missing all the time, or something else.

2

Snag me if you see me and I’ll walk you through it in a few minutes. I’ll be around this evening and tomorrow afternoon. I’m usually wearing one of these:
image

Or come by electronics office hours - next on June 12:

https://calendar.dallasmakerspace.org/events/view/19780

The $7 Harbor Fright (love that) multimeters are better than a wet finger, but not by much. They can work, but have a nomber of conditions where they misleading in substantial ways. I have a bunch of them from when they were periodic freebies. They’ve cost me a lot. I now use them only for really basic electronics classes where we compare them against a good one. .

2 Likes
3

Yeah but if we don’t take the Flukes out of E-lab how else are we going to raise @artg_dms’s blood pressure?

5 Likes
4

I don’t think Art’s issue is the taking out, it’s the not putting back, or putting back greasy :wink:

But ya know, Machine and Metal shop have prelubed DMMs

1 Like
5

For external use only.

2 Likes
6

There are times I have to vigorously remind my self of this.

7

Some long while back - prior to moving ELab over to 102 side - HF was giving them away. Show up w/ coupon whatever and here’s your free meter. 3 of those fine things showed up in the ELab. Connected to the same source and got 3 different readings. Shorted the leads and none displayed “0”. Where’s the trash can…

2 Likes
8

They’re good for continuity testing and little else.

9

Had the exact same experience. Typically the probes would just disconnect themselves from the actual wire. I end up losing multimeters before I break them. I make an annual amazon order of 5 with decent reviews under $10. Went with these this year. It’s almost cheaper just to throw it away when the battery dies than to buy a pack of 9 volts.

10

That’s essentially the same as the HF electrically. It may be more mechanically robust. Battery state is a major weakness. If they aren’t very new your measurements may vary. A lot.

11

Thanks for the offers - I’ll take you up on help at some date in the future - busy moving house right now (but not busy enough so that i can’t post equipment demands, obvs)

I appreciate the education I’m getting.

Still, I do love those little meters, as before today I didn’t know that they couldn’t be trusted much.

12

I loathe 9v batteries intensely - expensive, short lifespans, low capacity, low power delivery - and do wish manufacturers would stop designing around them.

13

I may be cheaper to throw them away well before the battery dies. They get really squirrelly a few hundred millivolts off of peak charge, and many fail with no obvious symptoms - just wrong readings.

14

The last time @artg_dms grumbled about a missing Fluke, I suggested he replace it with 25 or 30 Harbor Freight’s. I will not do that again!

1 Like