Nice multimeter on sale at Sears....

[Kerry]

Sears item #03482141000  (See the product info HERE.)



Normally $20, now $15.  The online page (see above link) says that the sale ended on 3 July, but the flyer I just received sorta indicates that it's still on....  :dunno:

I plan to buy one.  I can get it for $13.49 through July 21 because I signed up for a free Craftsman Club membership about a year ago.  I get monthly sale flyers, and 10% off the items in the flyer.  Anyway....

This meter has several features that none of my previous meters have had:

* Measures up to 600 volts in both DC and AC
* Audible continuity beeper (

Yes!)
* Tilt stand  (Yes!)
* Built-in battery tester (1.5 V and 9V)
* Rubber holster (??)[/list:u]It has manual ranging (not auto-ranging), but I'm used to that.  Kinda prefer it, actually.

Don't think you'll ever need one?  You may be right.  But this would be a handy unit to have around when that weird electrical problem strikes, whether it's on your bike, in your car, in your house wiring, your automatic sprinkler system, or whatever.

OK, 'nuff said....  

==============================

EDIT:  Well, maybe not QUITE enough.

Using the manufacturer's part number from the Sears page, I found that this is a repackaged  MN25 model from Extech Instruments.  To see where it falls in their full line of multimeters, see this page.  Or click HERE to go directly to the MN25 info.

I must say, I prefer the Craftsman color scheme....  

[Kerry]

So, like a dummy I go down to Sears for lunch today, waving my "Craftsman Club" flyer.  The nice saleslady pointed out that the Club pricing doesn't kick in until 11 July.  (Just like it says on the flyer ...DUH!)

Oh well.

But while I was there, I spotted another article that I kinda wish I had gotten instead of the one I have:



My torque wrench is like the larger 1/2" drive unit on the left.  I have never needed to go above about 80 Newton-meters, so now I wish that I had something like the unit on the right.  I don't think a 3/8" drive wrench like that was on display when I bought mine, though.   :x

EDIT: You can't really tell from the picture, but on the smaller wrench each line on the Newton-meter scale is worth 5 units, whereas on the larger wrench each one is worth 10 units.  In other words, the smaller wrench is more accurate within its smaller total range.

[Cal Price]

I think I have that meter's non-digital grandad, only problem I had was constantly blowing out the bleeper but it was a cheap enough part otherwise a sturdy piece of kit. I think I got it from a mail order firm "Maplins" with their name on it.

Looking at the wrenches reminded me of buying a torque driver, a very small bit of kit for radio cases, circuit boards and the like cost me a fortune, sixty-five notes about fifteen years ago.

[Kerry]

I ended up buying BOTH items today, plus a 3/8"-drive 6mm allen socket.

I'm waiting on a new pair of brake rotors, and I REALLY want to get the "disc retaining bolts" torqued down right.  Since they require a 6mm Allen wrench, I had all the justification I needed for both the 3/8"-drive torque wrench ("more accurate!") and the socket ("more torque than the standard Allen wrench").  So, while we were out shopping for "wife stuff" today ... I got 'em.

(No, I didn't have to justify them to the wife - they came out of my allowance!    )

[oldsport]

Thanks for the tip on the meter.  I've never had one. Only a test light.

Also, had a 3/8" socket crack when torquing the head on a GS recently; finished the job using a 1/2" drive.  

It was a "cheap/old" socket. Still, I was a little surprised.

[Kerry]

Good point!  The 1/2"-drive equipment is certainly more sturdy.  The dumb thing is that sometimes I have to use a 1/2"-to-3/8" coupler on my 1/2"-drive torque wrench.  The 3/8" end of that poor coupler is bound to shear off one of these days ....

The small wrench will come in handy where the large one was just TOO long and got in the way.  But I'll still be using the large wrench when appropriate.

[dgyver]

....The dumb thing is that sometimes I have to use a 1/2"-to-3/8" coupler on my 1/2"-drive torque wrench.  The 3/8" end of that poor coupler is bound to shear off one of these days ....

If you got a Craftsman 1/2 to 3/8 adapter, so what if it breaks. Love the lifetime warranties.

[oldsport]

Sears item #03482141000   Multimeter
Normally $20, now $15.  The online page (see above link) says that the sale ended on 3 July, but the flyer I just received sorta indicates that it's still on....

I got mine tonight (7/12/04) for $15. The store I went to had hundreds of them.  Thanks again for the tip.  I've always wanted my own but never got around to it. I'd always end up driving back to the office at night to borrow theirs.  

Now I'm off to play with it!

OS

[Cal Price]

Wow these things have realy come down in price,    www.maplin.co.uk    are advertising at four pounds ninty-nine pence. Buy-one-get-one-free.

[cernunos]

Good price on the tools. Lots of people don't realize that a moving beam torque wrench is more accurate and repeatable than other types. Don't ever leave 'em layin' around, they go out easier than other types. Hey Kerry, as an engineer you should know the smaller scale doesn't make the wrench more accurate, merely more readable.  Lovin' the GS500, lovin' this forum and lovin' all you do for it.

C.......

[Kerry]

Hey Kerry, as an engineer you should know the smaller scale doesn't make the wrench more accurate, merely more readable.

Huh?  I must not be the engineer I thought I was.    Care to explain?  Perhaps I'm using the word "accurate" ... inaccurately?  

[cernunos]

You choakin' right? Accuracy is the ability of the measuring instrument to duplicate the measurement. Repeatability is the ability of the instrument to achieve that same measurement over time and/or with different application of measured quantity. Reproducibility is the ability of that instrument to duplicate that same measurement with a different individual using the tool. In other words the torque wrench used may be very readable as to how much torque is being applied, but if it is out of calibration it will have an error of accuracy. The nice thing about moving beam torque wrenches is they are basically a spring. Any spring that is never taken to the elastic limit or the material itself is not taken to the yield point will last almost indefinitely.    By the way Kerry, have I ever told you how much I adore the GS500, this forum and you?

C.......

[Kerry]

Accuracy is the ability of the measuring instrument to duplicate the measurement. Repeatability is [...].  Reproducibility is [...].

Input received!

By "duplicate the measurement" I assume you mean "correctly report the dimension being measured" rather than the alternate reading which sounds more like the definition of repeatability...?

Let's assume that both wrenches are calibrated and "accurate", etc.  What I'm after is a term that  expresses the higher likelihood that a given torque value can be applied by a human using the 3/8-drive tool, because of the fact that the "finer" scale is more "readable".

Is there such a term?  :dunno:

[cernunos]

Precision. Love is applied to my GS500 and equates to how I feel toward this forum.



C.......

[Kerry]

Ah!  The scale on the 3/8"-drive wrench offers greater precision than the one on the 1/2"-drive wrench.

Thanks!

Now all I have to capture is the fact that said "greater precision" is mitigated somewhat by the shorter length of the 3/8"-drive wrench....  :x

Sigh.

[Kerry]

One year later ...

... and the same meter will be on sale shortly for the same price!



Oops - I just noticed the phrase "Member price".  Well, if you don't mind signing up for a free "Craftsman Club" membership, and getting monthly sale flyers, and special deals (and NO hassles ) ... you can still get this price July 27-30.

[starwalt]

One year later ... and the same meter will be on sale shortly....

If you didn't figure it out over the past year... the rubber holster is the "body condom" that surrounds the meter instrument. It takes the hit everywhere except the face when the item is reasonably dropped.

OBTW, the Craftsman Club rules have now changed. They used to give the discount for any Craftsman item during the club sales days. Now it only applies to items in the sale flyer.  :x

It is a great price for a versatile meter. Sears has the most variety of meters of any of the big chains. Really!

[Jeppy]

I have that meter and love it....I think it's been in my tool collection for a year now....no problems at all with it...very durable.

[Roadstergal]

It takes the hit everywhere except the face when the item is reasonably dropped.

Unfortunately, all of my drops are highly unreasonable...

Torque wrench is on my B-day wish list.  I like the kind that click when they hit the preset torque.

[dgyver]

Torque wrench is on my B-day wish list.  I like the kind that click when they hit the preset torque.

This is the torque wrench that I have:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00944596000&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&cs=e1

Sucks that it does not come with a case but there is one available, which I am going to get:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00944027000

Free shipping rebate too!