Saw a tech using a Harbor Freight multimeter on a high-end Sub-Zero in Seattle

I was picking up a part at a supply house in Ballard last Tuesday and watched a guy diagnosing a panel on a $12,000 fridge with a $15 multimeter. One side says the tool doesn't matter if you know how to use it, the other says you're asking for trouble with cheap gear on complex units. Where do you all stand on using budget tools for premium appliance work?

3 comments

3 Comments

casey1452mo ago

Ran a service van for years with a mix of good and cheap tools. The meter's safety rating matters more than its price for not getting shocked. I'd trust a known cheap meter over an expensive one with a cracked case any day.

jamie_garcia252mo ago

Saw a cheap meter fail once, casey145, scared me straight.

paul_stone292mo ago

Totally get what casey145 means about safety ratings being key. I read a forum post once where a guy said his cheap meter gave a wrong reading that almost caused a major short. That stuff sticks with you. It's like what jamie_garcia25 said, seeing one fail is enough to change your mind. For simple checks maybe it's fine, but on a complex board in a Sub-Zero, I wouldn't want any doubt in my readings. The tool might not do the work for you, but a bad reading sure can ruin your day.