Have the HF meters changed? I've had no problems using any normal shrouded leads with mine. Around $6 shipped on ebay gets a decent set of leads. I usually search for cat 20 leads with or without silicone as a search term.
Replacement Leads for Harbor Freight Multimeter?
- Thread starter Wamsutta
- Start date
Sears has Craftsman multimeters on sale until Christmas for $9.99, regularly $19.99. I just bought another one to keep in the vehicle. I’ve had my first one for about 4 years and it works great. I have had the HF models before and they’re trash. Only thing it’s good for is a paper weight.
foolishpride
Well-known member
Correct! Just say no to anything under Cat. III meters. This piece of garbage is a Cat. II. Avoid at all costs, unless you are just using it for 24 Volts and under.
jrsavoie
Well-known member
Also looking for leads. I have decent tester that takes the same leads. My issue was cracking when cold. I ordered some off Amazon
Bryanthegreat
Well-known member
The craftsman 10.00 meters are a great meter and have done everything I needed it to do and use standard leads. I would move on from the HF meters or you can always cut off the ends of the Hf leads and install a clip or connecter that suits how you are using the meter to test components.
jgromada
Well-known member
I always love how people trash HF multimeters but for what most people use multimeters for it is fine.
Yes i own a Fluke, BUT
can you plug the HF into a wall outlet and see it is live? Yes
can you put it on your battery and see it is less than 12v which is why your car won't start? Yes
Can you check out those batteries you have in your drawer? Yes
Can you see if you have any continuity with a suspect bulb? Yes
I don't think its very accurate and I would never use it for any technical work but for basic tasks like above it is better than having NO meter at all. Stick it in your glove compartment for those situations. I think it useful grabbing as the HF freebie to at least giving away to a needy person. I can only use so many flashlights.
Yes i own a Fluke, BUT
can you plug the HF into a wall outlet and see it is live? Yes
can you put it on your battery and see it is less than 12v which is why your car won't start? Yes
Can you check out those batteries you have in your drawer? Yes
Can you see if you have any continuity with a suspect bulb? Yes
I don't think its very accurate and I would never use it for any technical work but for basic tasks like above it is better than having NO meter at all. Stick it in your glove compartment for those situations. I think it useful grabbing as the HF freebie to at least giving away to a needy person. I can only use so many flashlights.
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Larryjones
Well-known member
Don't know if anyone said so but just open the case and solder the leads to the board. Choose voltage or resistance before hand.
This. I've used hundreds and none have broken.
DPDISXR4Ti
Well-known member
I've done this and it certainly works. The challenge is the hair-thin wire can't take any physical load so you need to make sure the insulation is crimped down to your new clip to carry the load, else the new clip will fail in short order. I got 10 alligator clips on eBay for maybe a buck I think it was.
I too have about a half-dozen of these things (in addition to a Fluke), and they're totally fine for checking battery voltage and resistance on a car. I swap out the batteries that come in most any HF product unless I truly view it as throw-away from the leaking batteries.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
A non contact tester is easier, safer and faster
jrsavoie
Well-known member
How often does it get to -10 F there?
Never. It doesn't get +10 here. I wouldn't live somewhere it got cold like that. How Harbor Freight zip ties do at -10 somewhere, I couldn't care less because I'm not going to be there.
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DPDISXR4Ti
Well-known member
Do these replacement leads fit correctly with the $5 (or free) HF Multimeter? https://www.ebay.com/itm/1000V-20A-...193273707482?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
Rabid Badger
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2018
- Messages
- 1,338
Totally Agree!
If I didn't already have other spare meters I'd probably throw one of these in the truck just in case I needed to do some roadside troubleshooting, but outside of that I wouldn't trust these things.
for $6 I doubt if these are even CATII even though it says it is. Also what a weird rating, CATII 750V???
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
They'll fit if the shroud over the banana plug is trimmed back.
I bought some like that a few years ago. There's no way they are good for 20A. More like 5A. Otherwise, they're not too bad. They were cheaper back then.
If I were to get more, I'd much prefer a domestic source. International mailing can get wonky these days.
That's a cool specialty application for one of those meters. Make it a dedicated, low voltage tester.
DPDISXR4Ti
Well-known member
Thanks for the reply. And agreed, you can often find the same "Chinese junk" already landed in the US for only a couple pennies more.
DPDISXR4Ti
Well-known member
I picked up two sets of these on eBay for $6.95. Since I know eBay links aren't forever, the description is: 2 Pairs Multimeter Voltmeter Test Probe Leads with Banana Plug Connectors 1000V
the seller ID is: miniduino
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pairs-Mu...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
They work perfectly fine, as-is, with the cheapie HF multi-meter and are heavier duty than the one that come with the meter and readily fall apart (the reason for this thread).
the seller ID is: miniduino
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pairs-Mu...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
They work perfectly fine, as-is, with the cheapie HF multi-meter and are heavier duty than the one that come with the meter and readily fall apart (the reason for this thread).