HF Caliper Readings Jumping Around

[sometoyotaguy]

The battery died in my HF caliper awhile back. It had been working fine before the battery died.

I put in a new battery, and the reading jumps to odd numbers like 30.447 then back to 0.773 or close to whatever it's supposed to be.

Has anyone seen this? It's been in the basement for awhile. Could it be corrosion?

 

[Matt018]

Hmm I have had one since Christmas time, Has worked fine, Although i never had to change a battery in it.

 

[redwrench60]

My "helpfull" answer:
The sliding contacts probably have dirt or grease trapped in them or the battery compartment has corrosion/dirt. Clean with QD electrical contact cleaner or mass air flow sensor cleaner and carefully blow dry.


My "****" answer:
It's a Harbor Freight caliper, throw it in the trash and get another one.

 

[Rory Bellows]

The new battery might be bad. I know my cheapie acts weird when the battery is nearing it's end.

 

[goodspeed]

I have one and have yet to have a problem with it. I usually use a dial caliper, though, since it has nothing to go dead, unless I'm working in metric.

 

[reptilezs]

clean the jaws. slide it shut and zero it

 

[sometoyotaguy]

clean the jaws. slide it shut and zero it

I tried that. It zeros, then works a bit, then jumps to some high number then back, but loses the zero.

I'll try another battery.

 

[pilotman81]

Refer to RedWrench's "****" reply. You can get a good caliper for $20-$50 if you look online or at enough pawn shops.

 

[e30bradley]

you trust a precision measuring tool from HF?? Good digital calipers can be had for under $50 from respected brands.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Honestly, I've never seen a digital that didn't eventually start jumping around. I've got a Starrett of an advanced age that has an accuracy of around +/- ½"

Buy a vernier - you can't lose calibration on one.

 

[Hawk]

Honestly, I've never seen a digital that didn't eventually start jumping around. I've got a Starrett of an advanced age that has an accuracy of around +/- ½"

Buy a vernier - you can't lose calibration on one.

The only real answer

 

[Davefr]

Toss it and either dig deeper and buy a Mitutoyo Digimatic or buy a name brand vernier caliper.

Used name brand vernier calipers go for pennies on the dollar on Ebay.

 

[franzdom]

I have never had a problem with Mitsutoyo digital, and have used many of them, or with my beloved Tesa.

 

[gibbon_guy]

I switched to analog because batteries where annoying to keep on hand and I'd rather use my noodle.

As far as troubleshooting goes, not sure how to remedy your issue. Is their a warranty on it?

 

[Mickey O]

I'm shocked.

 

[pipsters]

FWIW the packaging on that caliper says "lifetime warranty" but the paperwork says 90 days or 1 year IIRC. Typical HF fashion. Hey it was $6.99 I guess you get what you pay for...

 

[brianpgriset]

The only real answer

Agreed. Go vernier or dial cal and you'll be set for life.

 

[oldgoat]

I keep my old Helios dial calipers around the garage for the stuff I need. They are over 40 years old but since I'm not really doing precision measuring with them they are close enough and you can't hardly hurt dial calipers. Vernier I wouldn't touch though. I have a set of 4" HF calipers that work sometimes and sometimes they lay down on me. I like have a set of 4" calipers for when I get into tight places.

 

[Mickey O]

Agreed. Go vernier or dial cal and you'll be set for life.

Some of those new digital ones have fraction display, I'd like one of those.

 

[sharkytm]

I've got 4 of these, and they are unbeatable for price/performance. The battery is dying, or the contacts that touch the battery are dirty (they use tinned steel, not copper). Its tough to beat a digital caliper that matches a Mituyo for accuracy for $8 on sale...

I know because the one at my house is jumping around, and if I push on the battery, it'll stabilize. I need to clean the contacts and solder on a new negative terminal.

 

[Professur]

I've got a digital, and a plastic venier ... I use the plastic one more.

 

[Skin]

I have never had a problem with Mitsutoyo digital

I have, got one right now thats off by 1/8" if you measure anything over an inch long. Its seen a good amount of use though.

 

[ImportTuner]

I have the same problem with a digital caliper I bought from Rockler; the reason I bought it was that it had the fraction display option

 

[Mickey O]

I've got 4 of these, and they are unbeatable for price/performance. The battery is dying, or the contacts that touch the battery are dirty (they use tinned steel, not copper). Its tough to beat a digital caliper that matches a Mituyo for accuracy for $8 on sale...

I know because the one at my house is jumping around, and if I push on the battery, it'll stabilize. I need to clean the contacts and solder on a new negative terminal.

That's why I bought a Ford Focus instead of a Lamborghini Gallardo, basically the same thing but the Focus is cheaper.

 

[coldfusion21]

Honestly, I've never seen a digital that didn't eventually start jumping around. I've got a Starrett of an advanced age that has an accuracy of around +/- ½"

Buy a vernier - you can't lose calibration on one.

I've got a mitutoyo 6" that's pushing 5 years now, second battery and still zeros out. And I mean 0, not .001 or .0005. I check them frequently on a set of standards, always within .001 or so from .1 - 5.9

Downside is I dropped them about a year ago and ever so slightly bent the top of the solid ID jaw. They'll get replaced eventually. My current employer wants shop tools used and I honestly would need a 12" for most things. Even the dial ones get expensive then