Why I really love this old 1999 DMMs?

[001]

It is my love for decades 
I have tons of them in my workshop, basement and few at sauna house too

Yes it is "free" and crappy
But I WANT to use it everyday
Tell me WHY?

[DaJMasta]

I had one of those once, I think it was like $6 and I tossed it as soon as I got something better (which has since also been given away).



I'd be concerned that it's currently reading 806 ohms

[HKJ]

I had one of those once, I think it was like $6 and I tossed it as soon as I got something better (which has since also been given away).

I do not like them, I prefer much better precision and reliability.

I'd be concerned that it's currently reading 806 ohms

Why, there is 806.00ohm resistor connected to the meter?

[DaJMasta]

Oh, haha, it looked like just a dual banana jack to me 

[tautech]

Yes it is "free" and crappy
But I WANT to use it everyday
Tell me WHY?

Hfe tester and OFF/ON switch.

Do yourself a favor and get a VC99.....while still nothing flash, a much better/safer DMM.

Always scared me using those little POS DMM on mains as I did years ago. 

[bd139]

They’re fine little DMMs for lots of tasks.

That’s a transistor junction or diode not a resistor. Usually measure them on 2k ohms range to get voltage drop.

[001]

Always scared me using those little POS DMM on mains as I did years ago. 

Hi! Why everyone at this forum says about mains? Why really need DMM for mains? Simple neon bulb will be ok for all household electric duties

Do yourself a favor and get a VC99.....while still nothing flash, a much better/safer DMM.

I`m happy with pair of my Flukes when I really NEED precision measurments.
But at other time it is nice for me  to clack with this small Harbor Freight DMMs selectors and to hear its buzzz
Is it for  nostalgic reason?

They’re fine little DMMs for lots of tasks.

Yea
i`m lovin it

[RoGeorge]

Unintended prank, I guess. 
There is a black precision resistor of 806\$\Omega\$/0.25% connected on top of that black dual banana.

Probably not visible at all on a small screen without zooming in, but it's there!

[tautech]

Always scared me using those little POS DMM on mains as I did years ago. 

Hi! Why everyone at this forum says about mains? Why really need DMM for mains? Simple neon bulb will be ok for all household electric duties

Power electronics !

Play nothing but safe ! !

[001]

Always scared me using those little POS DMM on mains as I did years ago. 

Hi! Why everyone at this forum says about mains? Why really need DMM for mains? Simple neon bulb will be ok for all household electric duties

Power electronics !

Play nothing but safe ! !

 

[bd139]

To be honest I’ve used those meters on the mains with the probes they came with. I wouldn’t consider doing it with my hands on the device. Maybe a couple of feet away and definitely not CAT IV installations.

Regardless of the meter, wear safety glasses. Even some vaporised TL175 tips will take your eye out.

I’ve got decent meters now but you can use them safely. In fact the UK spec ones have HRC fuses and stuff in them!

[001]

--

Yea
But I`m confused why everyone told about "safety"
Nobody can`t know his death day
I`m 65 years old and still live
I  come from pre-CAT ratings dark  times   

[bd139]

Indeed. Safety is important for sure and is a priority but it's not just entirely one factor of what you're doing or the equipment you're using.

I've got top notch safety meters: BM867 and a Fluke 87V but I'm aware I can still kill myself with them if I do something stupid.

[001]

I've got top notch safety meters: BM867 and a Fluke 87V but I'm aware I can still kill myself with them if I do something stupid.

You can kill yourself  without any multimeters and electricity too 

I make this tread for pretty small beeping  boxes and clacking selectors not for another "keep it safe" morality

[bd139]

Exactly

[001]

Ok
Why this buities so attractive?
Becouse red DMMs go faster
It is also looks like a piece of scientific gear not a smartphone
And it makes cute analog beep 

[HKJ]

I have touched mains (230VAC) a few times over the years, now I am old enough that next time may be the last (I hope not).
But that has very little to do with multimeter safety, good probes will prevent that. The multimeter safety is about not exploding and tell that the voltage is possible lethal. Most multimeters does that well enough, even cheap ones. The risk is a defective range switch and that is most likely on a cheap meter.
One multimeter I bough (long time ago), showed wrong values (Less than 1/10 the real value) first times I used it, later on it showed correctly, but I have never got my confidence back for that meter.

Another reason for good/expensive multimeters is that you want/requires precise results.

[helius]

Hi! Why everyone at this forum says about mains? Why really need DMM for mains? Simple neon bulb will be ok for all household electric duties

Not just plugging the probes into the outlet, but making measurements on mains connected equipment, such as power supplies.

I agree that these cheap meters are great when there is no mains connection. I use one to monitor my car battery.

[cdev]

That super cheap meter is arguably better than my first three multimeters.

I'd cut them some slack, as they are doing a huge service to beginners by making them so available.

For the money, or especially if they are free, they are a great deal.

I have a meter (my UT210e clamp meter) that I tend to gravitate to for anything that has live AC in it (because it has a NCV feature) my other meters never go anywhere near lines voltage.

[RoGeorge]

A pertinent reason to like it: Instant power on, zero boot time.   

[Fungus]

It is my love for decades 
I have tons of them in my workshop, basement and few at sauna house too

Yes it is "free" and crappy
But I WANT to use it everyday
Tell me WHY?

Mental illness?

[001]

It is my love for decades 
I have tons of them in my workshop, basement and few at sauna house too

Yes it is "free" and crappy
But I WANT to use it everyday
Tell me WHY?

Mental illness?

Is it contagious?
Every day then I hear "safety" I say "use condoms" 

[rsjsouza]

I have an older model (not Centech nor red) that I really liked to use, but it ended up becoming part of the inactive items of my collection (a.k.a. the bottom of the drawer) when I found out about the existence of tilting bails.

Many years later I got a few Centech units but after I peeked at their internals I lost interest - I feel dirty using them.

Moved by curiosity, I bought its younger and more modern version (Mastech MAS830L) that is much better built and has a tilting bail. That is on the top of my drawer and is used occasionally with my UT-136C.

Safety is a loaded word; you can't make the world safe. That said, it doesn't mean you have to act irresponsibly: procedure, equipment and attentiveness are intrinsically intertwined.

[blacksheeplogic]

Not really sure what the point of your post is?

I don't have a lot of free space on my bench, I used to use a 117 as it was small but I keep the 87 on my bench now mainly because of the Auto-Hold. I don't see the point of having a draw full of DMM's and selecting a DMM for the task. If the DMM stays on the bench, it's the right DMM.

[Housedad]

001, you love it for the same reason I have a few analog meters, including 2 copies of my first one, a top of the line Radio Shack Micronta from 1974. 

It was where you started, and it reminds you of the wonder and thrills of the first time you learned to use one, of the anticipation of new discoveries as you started down this path, of finding out something new.  The anticipation of learning that is intrinsic in the makeup of the young mind.

For me, there is nothing like probing a DC line and finding a AC component on it that makes the needle vibrate back and forth.  I used to get a thrill by finding that AC that way.  I still do, but as a set up with a function generator and power supply just for kicks!!

Nostalgia.  What could be more fun than actually reliving fond memories?