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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124822 is a reply to message #124789] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 11:10   |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| ljdavick wrote on Thu, 05 May 2011 22:37 |
I just watched the Onan video yesterday and a frequency meter is absolutely the way to tune an Onan!
I know what Isabel is getting for Mother's Day!
Larry Davick
The Mystery Machine
(possibly my new home)
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And if you still have the original Norcold compressor refrigerator, frequency is very important. Based on what is published, and what I have seen in person, probably the primary failure of the Norcold swing motor refrigerators is overvoltage and off frequency operation caused while running on the generator.
Remember, this is for the original Norcold swing motor compressor refrigerator only, not the propene ones.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124828 is a reply to message #124821] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 11:58 |
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A couple of points:
&Polarizing Opinion mode on.
1) DC Clamp ammeters are considerably for difficult to find
and are considerably more expensive. They also tend to be
NOT very accurate for small current loads. They are also
HORRIBLY sensitive to nearby magnetic fields, including and
especially the Earths magnetic field.
2) I have owned a version of this meter (from a different
manufacturer) for about 10 years (yes, the design is THAT
old). I have compared it to me (now dead) $400 Fluke and it
was essentially identical in accuracy. I sent it to work
with a friend who works for a calibration lab and he said it
was every bit as accurate as other low end (below $500) meters.
3) Most modern electronics have a VERY broad tolerance for
both frequency and voltage, so we do not need to practice
NASA level adjustments for those parameters on a generator
that IS going to swing both of those conditions based on
load, temperature, altitude (and possibly phase of the moon!)
4) I am REALLY tired of the continual bashing of Harbor
Freight and the subtle racism of implying that everything
Chinese is inferior. If you do not like (and choose not to
buy) Chinese products, that is your choice, but I will
remind everyone that we now (like it or not) live in a
global economy and manufacturers/suppliers are going to
source products from the low cost suppliers and most of
those happen to be in China right now.
&Polarizing Opinion mode off.
On 5/6/2011 9:08 AM, Phil Swanson wrote:
>
> You would be better off with a clamp type meter that also reads amperage for general purpose. See Home Depot or Lowes. You get what you pay for at Harbor Freight, crapola from China. The Onan is not a piece of precision eqipment and adjusting to voltage is fine. If you want frequency, you can always hook up an electric clock which will measure cycles. Voltage is more than adequate though. Cheap ammeters are garbage.
>
> Phil Swanson
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Terry Taylor
'74 ex-Eleganza SE
San Lorenzo, CA
http://www.n6mon.org
http://dldesignstore.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124830 is a reply to message #124821] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 12:03 |
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A couple of points:
&Polarizing Opinion mode on.
1) DC Clamp ammeters are considerably more difficult to find
and are considerably more expensive. They also tend to NOT
be very accurate for small current loads. They are also
HORRIBLY sensitive to nearby magnetic fields, including and
especially the Earths magnetic field.
2) I have owned a version of this meter (from a different
manufacturer) for about 10 years (yes, the design is THAT
old). I have compared it to my (now dead) $400 Fluke and it
was essentially identical in accuracy. I sent it to work
with a friend who works for a calibration lab and he said it
was every bit as accurate as other low end (below $500) meters.
3) Most modern electronics have a VERY broad tolerance for
both frequency and voltage, so we do not need to practice
NASA level adjustments for those parameters on a generator
that IS going to swing both of those conditions based on
load, temperature, altitude (and possibly phase of the
moon!) (standard electrical tolerances state that +/- 10% is
close enough).
4) I am REALLY tired of the continual bashing of Harbor
Freight and the subtle racism of implying that everything
Chinese is inferior. If you do not like (and choose not to
buy) Chinese products, that is your choice, but I will
remind everyone that we now (like it or not) live in a
global economy and manufacturers/suppliers are going to
source products from the low cost suppliers and most of
those happen to be in China right now. If you choose not to
buy Chinese, so be it, but your chances of finding anything
you want to buy that is American made (on-shore), ESPECIALLY
consumer electronics is very slim (Craftsman is now sourcing
a LOT of their tools from China).
(Note: this is NOT specifically directed at Phil, just a
generic comment based on trends I have seen on this list. I
, too, would prefer to buy Made in the USA products, but the
reality is that that is not normally a choice or affordable).
&Polarizing Opinion mode off.
On 5/6/2011 9:08 AM, Phil Swanson wrote:
>
> You would be better off with a clamp type meter that also reads amperage for general purpose. See Home Depot or Lowes. You get what you pay for at Harbor Freight, crapola from China. The Onan is not a piece of precision eqipment and adjusting to voltage is fine. If you want frequency, you can always hook up an electric clock which will measure cycles. Voltage is more than adequate though. Cheap ammeters are garbage.
>
> Phil Swanson
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Terry Taylor
'74 ex-Eleganza SE
San Lorenzo, CA
http://www.n6mon.org
http://dldesignstore.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124839 is a reply to message #124830] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 12:32 |
Peg
Messages: 124
Registered: April 2011
Location: Montana
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I prefer Made In America product.
I will pay the extra few bucks for Made in America. EVEN when its made of plastic. I will admit with the "global" economy it is getting more difficult....
Montanan with a Dream ...
Dreams do come TRUE don't they?
Mark & Peg
South Central Montana
1974 Sequoia 722/1,496
1974 Excella 500 RT
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124880 is a reply to message #124839] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 18:18 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| Peg wrote on Fri, 06 May 2011 10:32 |
I prefer Made In America product.
I will pay the extra few bucks for Made in America. ....
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I do look for items made in the USA and will pay a premium* for it... problem is, most items I buy are no longer even made here. You can not buy something that doesn't exist!
Note: Just because something is made in China, doesn't mean it is inferior.... just very likely!
They (the Chinese) are capable of making quality products... Read JimB's notes on "CJ750." <http://gmccoop.com/new_page_17.htm> It just depends on what the market wants. Currently, the cheap stuff sells so well, why spend the effort making and selling "good" stuff?
Anyway, when looking for items for my GMC (content) I look at total value and what quality I NEED. I try any get a little better quality than I NEED at the best TOTAL value. (I am NOT a professional, so speciality tools normally are only used one or a very few times. If I made my living with these tools... my needs for quality would go up.) Sometimes Harbor Freight stuff meets what I need... sometimes not.
* The premium I am willing to pay for US made stuff is maybe 5% for "cheap stuff" and up to 15 to 20% for "normal stuff." I'll pay double or more for some items... like the torque wench I picked up last week.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124902 is a reply to message #124794] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 19:57 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I just looked at that meter again and realized that the amp scale goes to 20 amps. That is unusual. Most of these meters only do 10 amps.
I'm going to HF tomorrow. I'll take a look at it.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124914 is a reply to message #124774] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 20:54 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Note that this meter DOES NOT measure OHMS.
I just wish my Simpson 260 did HZ and temp.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124931 is a reply to message #124914] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 22:24 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I just looked at the picture of it on line and it has 6 different ohms positions. They are the positions across the top on the rotary selector switch.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124934 is a reply to message #124931] |
Fri, 06 May 2011 22:50 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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| Ken Burton wrote on Fri, 06 May 2011 22:24 |
I just looked at the picture of it on line and it has 6 different ohms positions. They are the positions across the top on the rotary selector switch.
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Yep - when I blow the picture up I can see the Ohms positions. I wonder why it's not mentioned in the specs. Maybe it's so cheap because these positions don't work. <GRIN>
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #124955 is a reply to message #124880] |
Sat, 07 May 2011 09:56 |
Peg
Messages: 124
Registered: April 2011
Location: Montana
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| mike miller wrote on Fri, 06 May 2011 18:18 |
They (the Chinese) are capable of making quality products... Read JimB's notes on "CJ750." <http://gmccoop.com/new_page_17.htm>
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Had to send that link on to my son the motorcycle fanatic who two years in a row tried to conquer the bentonite nightmare (Billings) on a "rice burner" as it was termed in South Dakota...Then the Harley group watched him climb a hill @ Sturgis and they gained new respect for the bike he and his stepdad built. Honda frame, Kawaski 1,000 engine.
Mark ...
A voltmeter ohm meter wasn't built to check amps. Amperage was secondary. Anything over 10 amps you want to buy an amp meter.
Montanan with a Dream ...
Dreams do come TRUE don't they?
Mark & Peg
South Central Montana
1974 Sequoia 722/1,496
1974 Excella 500 RT
[Updated on: Sat, 07 May 2011 10:09] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Harbor Freight Multimeter [message #125037 is a reply to message #124934] |
Sat, 07 May 2011 22:26 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Well I dropped $20.00 on one today. I brought it home and I am very impressed. I compares favorably to one of my Flukes and is much better than my Craftsman. This is a large meter with large read out. I though I might throw it in the GMC but because of it's size I'm not sure what I'll use it for now. One of the things I like about is it immediately zeros unlike a lot of others that I have to short the leads together and recalibrate prior to use.
It is is definitely worth the $20.00.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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