I just learned why you don't use a cheap multimeter on a live 240v circuit

So I was swapping out an oven outlet at my buddy's rental in Austin last week. Figured I'd be smart and use this $8 Harbor Freight multimeter I had in my truck to check my work. Well, I accidentally touched the leads while the breaker was still on and the thing just exploded in my hand. Little puff of smoke and the plastic melted. Scared the crap out of me. Picked up a Fluke T6-600 the next day and now I get why the old timers always said not to cheap out on test gear. You guys ever have a tool fail in a scary way like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

noahs8210d ago

Man that harbor freight meter is straight up dangerous. I had one of those cheapies spark on me testing a dryer outlet and the lead tip literally vaporized. Makes you realize your life is worth more than saving 50 bucks. My buddy still uses his old Fluke 77 from the 90s and that thing is bulletproof. Never again.

johnson.lee10d agoTop Commenter

Honestly, when you said the lead tip "literally vaporized" - that's not really what happened, is it? Tbh, it probably just melted or burned off, but vaporized makes it sound like it turned into mist or something. I get what you're saying though, those cheap meters are scary. Ngl, I've seen a few that couldn't handle a basic 120V test without acting up. But yeah, your point stands - saving 50 bucks isn't worth ending up in the ER.