My experience with the little red wonders have been mixed. They will blow if you try to read large amounts of current. Also, on the highest voltage range there was a 50 v dc difference between the two meters I was using to check out a plate supply. I think the manufacturer was more interested in low voltage, low current measurents and didn't really build the unit to handle tube gear sized power. The Radio Shack $29.99 auto ranging meter is worse. Very slow to auto-range and intermittant operation. Blows fuses frequently too. I just bought a $20 DMM from Sears and so far, it's seems to be ok. 73's Greg WA7LYO Kinston NC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Isbell, W5JAI" <[email protected]> To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:01 PM Subject: [AMRadio] better meter, same price
> The $2.99 meter at Harbor freight has removable leads, 1000VDC and > 750VAC ranges, Ohms200 to 2000K, 10ADC and 200maAC and includes a > transistor tester and back lighting. I usually buy 5 each time I am > in there and I sometimes use them as panel meters in projects if there > is room behind the panel. Just set them to the scale you want, mount > behind a rectangular cutout to view the face, use a 9V zener to grab a > little power from the main circuit of the project....or if you dont > mind changing the battery, leave it as is. Its cheaper than you can > buy a panel meter and you can set it to what ever range you want and > label it below the viewing port as to what it is reading. Save the > leads for when you connect your bench unit to a high voltage circuit > with it in AMPS mode and burn up a lead. .......Dont ask how I know. > BTW, its fused so only the lead takes the hit. > > -- > Jim Isbell > "If you are not living on the edge, well then, > you are just taking up too much space." > ______________________________________________________________ > Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net > AMRadio mailing list > Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html > List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio > Post: [email protected] > To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] with > the word unsubscribe in the message body. > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Post: [email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected] with the word unsubscribe in the message body. This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
