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?

[Housedad]

But then again 001, it could be that you have gone off the deep end for good.   I hear that cabin fever is pretty bad in Antarctica.  It probably sucks that you only have penguins to talk to.

You should take a vacation somewhere warmer, like Siberia or Northern Finland.  There are reindeer and occasional eskimos that live there.  Party time.  You won't even think about your DMM. 

(for God's sake, please don't tell us you named your DMM  'WILSON'! )

[001]

But then again 001, it could be that you have gone off the deep end for good.   I hear that cabin fever is pretty bad in Antarctica.  It probably sucks that you only have penguins to talk to.

You should take a vacation somewhere warmer, like Siberia or Northern Finland.  There are reindeer and occasional eskimos that live there.  Party time.  You won't even think about your DMM. 

(for God's sake, please don't tell us you named your DMM  'WILSON'! )

Is it sort of some US memes? 

[Housedad]

I guess it is.  From the year 2000 movie "Cast Away" starring Tom Hanks.  The soccer ball he named and talked to so he would not go nuts.  But by personifying and talking to the ball like it was alive, he was already nuts.

Also, the forum shows you as posting from Antarctica.

[xrunner]

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?

Can you recollect anything in your childhood that traumatized you regarding electricity? Did your friends tease you regarding your hobbies? Take a deep breath and try to remember anything that size and bright red that you loved and lost and now may be trying to somehow reclaim at any cost.

[GreyWoolfe]

A dearly departed friend and co-worker loved getting free stuff from HF--meters and flashlights.  He gave me several of those meters over the years.  I just left them in the package and put them away.  I went for a training class and brought 2 of them with me along with fresh batteries.  The plan was to use it for a low resistance measurement that we would need to make.  Both were an order of magnitude off.  Never again.  My Anengs are almost dead on for the same measurement but they are 3 times the price (without coupon) .  Just resistance measurements; no mains, no worries!!  The plan is, every couple of months, bring them out of the company van and replace the batteries.  A fluke 27/FM for mains around the house lurks on my bench.

[retiredcaps]

The 806 ohm resistor is what modemhead, a member here, uses to test out some of his fixed meters.

001 stole his picture and posted it as his own.

See

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/gallery/cen-tech-92020-dmm/

Modemhead's pictures are also stolen and used without credit in many ebay ads as well.  I can spot modemhead's pictures a mile away.

[001]

001 stole his picture and posted it as his own.
Modemhead's pictures are also stolen and used without credit in many ebay ads as well. 

Why so serious? We just pick first google image for "Harbor Freight multimeter" It is silly to photograph wellknown DMM again

[ModemHead]

001 stole his picture and posted it as his own.
Modemhead's pictures are also stolen and used without credit in many ebay ads as well. 

Why so serious? We just pick first google image for "Harbor Freight multimeter" It is silly to photograph wellknown DMM again

Use of the picture here is fine.  However I don't like the idea of someone using them to mis-represent an item for sale on eBay.

The 806.00Ω resistor mounted to a dual banana plug is indeed something I use for quick checks, it plugs right into the input jacks on DMMs with standard spacing, no need to bring test leads into the picture.  The value is somewhat arbitrary since I just picked it out of a junk box years ago, and just stuck with it.  Any picture you find on the internet of a DMM reading "806" is probably mine.

I've never actually used these type DMMs before, but I do have some around for "science".  The progressive Muntzing of the design is interesting.  The last time I was at HF I picked up a free one and was amused to find the maximum voltage indicated is now 250V for AC and DC.  No actual design change, of course, just the labeling.  Some have even omitted the fuse, but this particular one still has a soldered-in pigtail fuse.

The latest generation of DTM0660-based cheapies really should render these things obsolete.

[rsjsouza]

The progressive Muntzing of the design is interesting.  The last time I was at HF I picked up a free one and was amused to find the maximum voltage indicated is now 250V for AC and DC.  No actual design change, of course, just the labeling.  Some have even omitted the fuse, but this particular one still has a soldered-in pigtail fuse.

The thread below reports some cross generational Muntzing with photographic evidence
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/harbor-freight-cen-tech-90899-small-teardown/

[001]

I see what You love this meter too
WHY?

I love its feeling, no any logical arguments