To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Replacement Leads for Harbor Freight Multimeter?

W

Wamsutta

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
10,867
Location
Amarillo, Texas
The regular Fluke type leads are too big and won't plug in. Does anybody make leads that will fit?

image_23327.jpg


Link To CEN-TECH Multimeter
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
I

ishiboo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
9,481
Location
Oshkosh, WI
Those meters are FREE. Just toss it and get a new one. I'd send you one but it'd cost more to mail it than its worth. :)
 
T

terry274

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2012
Messages
399
Location
Middle TN
It may be that he wants to get some better quality leads to work with the multimeter. The multimeter itself is fair, the leads not so much.
 
J

jd_1138

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
17,042
Location
NE Ohio
terry274 said:
It may be that he wants to get some better quality leads to work with the multimeter. The multimeter itself is fair, the leads not so much.
Click to expand...

The probe part of the leads on mine fell off as soon as I removed it from its package. lol.

The multimeter itself feels pretty solid.
 
B

bpjr

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Messages
554
Location
Florida east coast
I've had two of these and both were junk, didn't read the same values back to back and didn't match what my pricier multi-meter did. In my opinion they aren't worth buying new leads for or even owning. I thought they would be good backups for car tool bags but it didn't work out that way.
 
C

Citation

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
3,212
Location
Indy
Non-smart *** answer. The HF meter uses something between the standard 4mm safety banana plug leads and a non-safety lead. You have 5 options.
1. Get another HF meter. This assumes you actually want/can use the new set of leads for your job.
2. Buy just about any set of multimeter leads then cut the safety shielding back so they fit in the HF meter.
3. Get adapters so traditional safety leads can have exposed banana plug connectors.
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...MIp8umvu721wIVEJl-Ch0TLwE2EAkYCyABEgLwjvD_BwE
4. Find leads without the safety shield.
5. Buy a better meter.

I've actually got a lot of those HF meters, one in each car and a few others stashed around (paid nothing for them). I've found them to be sufficiently accurate but not something I would ever trust with high voltage and only something I reach for because my good meters aren't at hand.
 
C

Citation

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2016
Messages
3,212
Location
Indy
Wamsutta said:
I appreciate the product link. That's very kind of you sir. Thank you very much.
Click to expand...

No problem! I'm sure Amazon/Ebay etc will have those parts. Mouser was just the first thing that came up when I was searching.
 
I

ishiboo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
9,481
Location
Oshkosh, WI
Literally you can find a NICE Chinese multimeter with decent leads for $20. And the HF is free. There's NO reason to buy leads or adapters for that POS. If you really like it, get another free one. Otherwise buck up a $20 and get a surprisingly decent meter.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
U

unslow1

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 3, 2012
Messages
7,880
Location
Illinois
I'm actually using the leads off one of those free meters on my Fluke 87 until the new ones get here. They seem to fit fine.
 
J

jd_1138

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2013
Messages
17,042
Location
NE Ohio
unslow1 said:
Zipties or gloves are my go to purchase when I want to use a coupon and not spend much. I consider those consumables.
Click to expand...

Yep gloves, scissors, packs of fasteners, microfiber rags. Sometimes I even need a tool. Their new line of pliers are nice.
 
L

L.Cheapo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
Messages
5,880
Check the dumpster next time you're at HF. These meters have a lot of crib deaths. Grab the leads.
 
C

cheechi

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
4,384
Location
Triad, NC

about 12:15 in the same video
they come with these really cheap test leads...we found we blow up the leads before we blow up the meter
Click to expand...

Seriously. These meters are dangerous. Literally any meter is a safer choice. Get one that is UL or ETL listed.
 
W

WhiffySpark

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
6,252
unslow1 said:
Zipties or gloves are my go to purchase when I want to use a coupon and not spend much. I consider those consumables.
Click to expand...

Yep those zip ties makes it out the door and into the trash can. Never been more pissed off with zip ties in my life before dealing with those
 
A

apollo11

Banned
Joined
Aug 19, 2017
Messages
1,226
Location
State Of Reality
cheechi said:

about 12:15 in the same video


Seriously. These meters are dangerous. Literally any meter is a safer choice. Get one that is UL or ETL listed.
Click to expand...

I use mine for testing batteries and around the house
It works just fine
I doubt anyone with half a brain is going to be testing 750 volts with one of those
 
Last edited:
L

L.Cheapo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
Messages
5,880
jonesg said:
It's christmas, treat yourself to a very nice meter from autozone. Don't use the same battery.
Click to expand...

Leaking batteries in brand new meters still on the rack are the leading cause of death.

My mother works for a company that shared a parking lot with a HF. Their dumpsters were next to each other, and had to be walked past to get to the entrance of her work. She saw a few of these on top when it was full and grabbed them. One was DOA, the others had batteries that leaked terribly inside them...and the meters were still in their package, not a scratch on them. I took a quick look at them and told her to take them back to where she got them from.

Moral of the story, don't risk a good meter to save a couple bucks on a battery.
 
M

mfewtrail

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 14, 2011
Messages
675
Wyoming09 said:
Amen to that! Worst zip ties I've ever used. Many break while trying to use them. Never again.
Click to expand...

I must luck out on every package I buy then. Never broken one without actually trying to. I only use the two largest sizes they carry in black.
 
E

Estebanchee

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2017
Messages
16
Location
Los Angeles
They're decent enough for me. I like them better than my $60 multi. The accuracy falls off when the battery(9 volt) falls down to 7 or less. This was proven on a YouTube video. The leads on mine are still fine, but I dont use this everyday
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom