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Harbor Freight Voltmeter

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  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 7:31 AM

RR_Mel

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   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
 

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 nice HP tube type VTVM. That lasted until I had to move some years later.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 6:52 AM

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.

.

You do get what you pay for.

.

.

-Kevin

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Living the dream.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 6:26 AM

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

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 6:23 AM

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   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 4:07 AM

My two vintage Radio Shack voltmeters take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 8:44 PM

There was no droping involved in their demise.  Like the old car found in the barn, it ran when parked.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 8:42 PM

Reading the voltage across your static grass zapper again, huh?

That'll do it Wink  Ed

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 8:31 PM
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   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 8:25 PM

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

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    November 2016
  • 476 posts
Posted by j. c. on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 8:21 PM

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.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Harbor Freight Voltmeter
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 7:37 PM

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.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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