DMM / Multimeter $3 at Harbor Freight Tools

[NeoPTLD]

Harbor Freight Tool still has the sale on their multimeter. It normally goes for $10 and is on sale for $3.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90899
Some local stores might not have it priced for sale price, but if you print out the ad, they price match.

I bought a couple and the DC range accuracy is quite good. Compares with much more expensive multimeter. It has a seperate on off switch, so for computer people, you can just leave the range on 20V DC and it should do pretty much all you need it to do (check power supply, fan, etc. voltages). It reads down to 1/100v in 20v range.

The 10A range is useful for measuring cooling fan amperage draw.

Description:

Get accurate readings for DC voltage, DC current, AC voltage, resistance, transistor test, diode test, and battery test. Easy-to-read 3-1/2 digit LCD readout, positive set selector switch, and 32" leads.

* Automatic zero adjust
* Overange indicator
* 2.5x second sample time
* Low battery indicator
* Fuse and diode protected circuit

DC-A: 0-200µ A-2000µ A-20mA-200mA ; Resistance: 0-200-2000-20K-200K-2000K ohm; DC-V: 0-200mV-2000mV-20V-200V-1000V ; AC-V: 0-200-750V

 

[buzzer]

No audible continuity check for checking light bulbs, cables, fuses, etc.
I thought that was a feature on all digital meters, but when I got this one home I found out I was wrong.

 

[CKDragon]

Thanks for the post, Neo.

Any idea when this deal expires? I was hoping to find the retail flyer on the website but you have to sign up to be on a list (spam?) in order to get it sent to your email. I have a Harbor Freight Tools about 15 miles from me, so I'm interested.

Thanks,
CK

 

[QuixoticOne]

That's a good price for a DMM.

I just thought I'd mention another possible source, though, that I found to be
valuable in the past; the previous poster's mention of PC techs using the DMM made me
think of it.

I bought the following at a HVAC parts supplier that has a bunch of national locations
called "Johnstone Supply".

For about $16 a while back I bought a DMM that included a thermocouple readout
function as well as a thermocouple probe that was on about 18" or so of wire.
The DMM reads temperatures accurate to within about 1 degree F over a wide range
of temperatures (like well under the freezing point of water to well above a normal
flame's temperature). The probe head is fairly small one, about the size of a match head.

I thought it was a "hot deal" (pun intended) because thermocouple probes alone are often
in the $15 range from many sources, and welding your own is very difficult and doesn't
save any money unless you need several of them.

Buying water heater thermocouples at a place like Lowes / Home Depot will get you
a compatible (I think it's K type also; other types of thermocouples would not read
accurate temperatures when read according to a K-type thermocouple temperature table)
thermocouple for about $5, but that's a big stuff bulky one with no wire leads.

So for something you can easily stick in your freezer, refrigerator, heating / AC vent,
on your PC heatsink, etc. the small K type probe on 18" leads they include with this meter
is quite convenient and nice.

The thermocouple mode reads out in actual temperature, so you don't need to
convert a millivolts reading to temperature with a table or computer program as
you would if you hooked a thermocouple to a DMM without a thermocouple reading mode.

Of course it works well as a DMM too. 🙂

 

[mikeford]

Harbor Freight also has a infrared thermometer for $10, small enough for a keyring, and just -27 to +230 F range, but its a neat fun toy.