Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I had this meter for a couple of years. Pretty accurate reading of voltage, resistance and frequency. Auto ranging for resistance is quite slow and annoying. And for the capacitance measurement-you should use rel function. Frequency measurement-that what make this meter unique. After first battery replacement(in about a year) meter started to develop some sluggishness and inconsistent readings and finally stop reading voltage and resistance.It never been used for over 50V readings, did not fall or been connected inproperly.

Good for the price but next time I woud buy Fluke.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Radio Shack should really do a re-call for these units and give us replacements. I bought this meter, and within a week or so it went bad. It wont sense voltage, resistance or anything. It beeps wildly out of control, the only thing that works is the continuity test. I guess they were using some sort of microcontroller or microprocessor that is extremely prone to fault, as I have seen others post the same problem with this meter.

I am NEVER buying a Radio Shack meter ever again.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Good rugged meter with a wide range of uses. Make sure to buy extra fuses so that you always have spares (it only comes with one spare). Also test clips are a handy accessory too, if you need to clip the leads to something instead of holding them still yourself. All in all, probably my favorite Radioshack purchase over the years, as it has stood up to a ton of tests and it's still ticking. Battery life is a plus too - it turns itself off after it sits idle for a while.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

This is a very good meter, especially for the price. While much of the stuff at Radio Shack is questionable, for the last 10 years or so their top-of-the-range meter has always been quite good.

I find it to be quite accurate and very useful. I think the people who are having trouble with it probably don't know how to properly use it.

Also they may have blown the internal fuse (very easy to replace) from improper use.

Cons: The continuity beep is a little slow to respond. If you're doing a lot of continuity checks, this could get annoying. Also I find it slow to auto-range and read out resistor values.

Otherwise, I couldn't be happier with it.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Two died within a year. Most functions were DOA on the first one I purchased. Radio shack replaced it FOC and the second one worked for about a year (only used it a couple of times on low voltage DC) before refusing to read DC voltage or resistance. Cheap junk, I'll buy a Fluke next time.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Had this meter less than a year,I touch anything thats metel with one probe and it shows a short.
I would invest a little more money and get a better meter.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

- After reading some 20 odd reviews, I went to the store armed with a "known to be reliable" signal source and some test resistors. It passed.
- I have a Fluke 8012A true RMS meter, but it has a sample cycle of 30Hz. The specs say it looses it's 0.1% accuracy below 45Hz.
- I also have a Sperry DSA-400 meter for >50v and >1a. My intended use for this meter is limited.
- I am measuring drivers for their Thiele-Small parameters which requires repeatable, but not accurate, readings below 10Hz.
- This meter tracks the 8012A down to 50Hz with a 0.5% error. The meter is stable down to 8Hz. It's voltage linearity (100mv to 800mv) at 20Hz is +/- 1.5% and reads about 2% low.
- I have a 10.00 ohm calibration resistor (0.1%), this meter reads it as 10.2 ohms. Well within spec.
- The display? I use a flashlight. I actually read the manual (in PDF form) before purchasing and have had no difficulty with the controls.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I purchased this DMM in a because I had to. I needed a DMM that day and could not wait for a fluke to be shipped to me. I tested it with a 12VDC 4A regulated power supply to get a reading of 00.00V and then directly into a wall outlet of 110VAC only to get a ready of 0.013mVAC on auto ranging. I am unable to returnt his item because the receipt had been lost. i'm very disappoint in my lost $50 some odd dollars.Everytime an item I purchase besides soldier and soldier braid is horrible

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

easy to hold , not easy to see selections.
did not give same readings twice when new and two months later not at all. no trouble shooting assistance with product.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

This is a great multimeter for the price. I bought it 2 years ago and its still working perfectly. I use it all the time for hobby electronics and it does almost everything I want. The only things I wish I could change would be a lower minimum capacitance (it cuts out at about 100pf) and a higher maximum frequency (4MHz max). But it was only [$]so thats fine.Unlike some of the other people here I have never blown a fuse on it. And the ones who get erratic behavior have probably fried the meter through improper use. Remember, measure current in series and voltage in parallel. NEVER THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Also, you want to remove the probes (leads) from the circuit being tested when you switch functions, because as you pass over the intermediate functions they activate briefly and might fry the meter or the test circuit.Oh, and after 2 years of almost daily use I am only on my second battery for it.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

This meter only lasted 7 months until it would not read volts. Called Radioshack to see how much to get it fixed, $50 ,they said.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I bought this product when it just came out and was amazed at all the features it has. The readings are all much better than the specifications and were tested at my work location with a Fluke 8508a Reference Multimeter. The readings are much steader than most i've seen for digital instuments. All the functions work fine and am really happy with this meter.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

This product is terrible! I chose to ignore the reviews and went ahead and bought this item since it had so many features for such a low price, but it is the WORST multimeter I have ever used!

Volt function: Measures -50 - 4.5 mV when the leads are attached to NOTHING, this is NOT EF mode, it is volt mode. When attached to a battery, it couldn't give me a steady reading, when I set the range manually, it gave me an approximation, but not anywhere near accurate (1.3V for a BRAND NEW alkaline AA)

Resistance function: Works fine

Continuity: Works fine, nice loud piezo

Capacitance: This mode made me want to vomit. I'd be better off having a dead animal tell me capacitance. A 56nF capacitor registered at 2nF, a 50uF capacitor registered at around 14nF.

Random: No temperature, no PC interface, and every time you turn the dial it beeps, not a friendly "Oh, hey, you turned the dial" beep, but a nasty "Auggh! I hate you and will beep at you" beep. Oh and it does not include a spare fuse like it claims.

This is all with a brand new, 9V battery

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I have been using my meter for a few months now at work. I use it to measure 115VAC, 230VAC, 24VAC, 12VDC, 24VDC, Frequency, Resistance and Diodes. It works fine for me.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I bought 3 of these meters for use in my Physics lab course. Students being beginers make a lot of mistakes, but so far nothing worse than fuses. They work reasonably well, although readings are a little unsteady and auto ranging is slow. For student use these are pretty good and the price is very competitive with (or much better than) other meters I investigated. On the other hand, I don't like auto ranging at all, for repeated readings it really slows down the process. My students and I actually like the older model meters I bought in '98 that these replaced in the Radio Shack lineup much better. If these have anything close to the lifetime (6 of 7 still working perfectly) those seem to I will be very happy.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I first bought this meter for use in my Electrical Engineering lab because it's price tag was very inviting to a poor college student like myself. But now I use this meter all around because it proved to be a solid piece of equipment. Sure it doesn't boast the features that FLUKE meters do, but at this price I am not complaining. Come on,[$]you get an AC/DC Voltmeter, Ammeter, Ohmmeter, AND you can measure capacitance and EF.After reading some of the reviews here and it looks like the meter is not the problem, but the user. To anyone who actually tries to measure current across a battery, please step away, you will get yourself killed.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I used this thing for several months and I never got a proper reading from it. It is horrible and just plain doesn't work.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I've been using one of these in the shop for two years with no problems, except for one that was my fault. No, it is NOT a professional DVM, but it doesn't cost $200+ either!
Notes for future purchasers: If you don't know what the universal symbol for AC voltage (the "tilde" somebody else mentioned) is, you don't know enough about electricity to buy any meter at all; you'll just experience frustration and possibly damage your equipment or even yourself. Seek professional help. Also, if the display fluctuates a lot, there's nothing wrong... you just blew the fuse in the meter. They thoughtfully included a spare fuse inside, just replace it and you'll be good to go again.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

THIS UNIT JUST BLEW OUT MY PowerSentry power strip! I was simply testing an AC house voltage across the black and red test leads and it actually blew out my PowerSentry power strip!

This unit stopped working after 1st use (long before the above situation occurred). Determined it was a bad fuse. Replaced the fuse and blew it out again (testing AC voltage circuit). Re-read the manual about testing voltage and current. NOTE: You MUST read the manual to use this (unlike other measuring devices that are better designed and are more intuitive for professional users).

In the manual's "Measuring DC/AC Current" topic, the first paragraph states "To measure AC or DC current, you must break the circuit and connect the test leads to two circuit connection points. The connection must be in series with the circuit under test." Then, the first Caution under this paragraph states "Never connect the test leads across a voltage source. Doing so can damage the meter or the circuit under test." What does this mean? Are they saying not to attempt a parallel connection? If so, then they need to be much more specific!
The poor design that I mentioned is because instead of having a separate selector for AC versus DC voltage and current, they have a single selector that supposedly can handle AC and DC voltage--BUT YOU MUST HIT THE SELECT BUTTON TO CHANGE IT TO READING AC VOLTAGE/AMPERAGE. AND THE SCREEN DOESN'T SHOW AC OR DC. INSTEAD, IT SIMPLY DISPLAYS A "TILDE" (WAVY LINE) IF IN AC MODE. THIS IS VERY NON-INTUITIVE!
ANOTHER MADE-IN-CHINA DISAPPOINTMENT!

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I only used this item two or three times and it quit working. I DO NOT recomend anyone buy it.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Tried all functions and none of them worked correctly.[...]should be ashamed of selling such a product. I did not take the advice of the comments before mine and found out the hard way. Unless you like looking at a bunch of random numbers being displayed, do not buy this.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Broke down after a few uses, [*]

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

When I went to see how accurate this meter would be I found a total lack of technical data other than the ranges. So when making a measurement you have no idea what you really have.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Unreliable. Several times I've checked for household current. . . the meter showed none but insuing sparks and recheck with analog meter proved otherwise.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I've had this meter for quite a while, and love it. It works as it always has, is fairly accurate and easy to use. Also has a nice price tag. EF detection works great and can detect EF fields from my CRT tv from over 15 feet away (without electrodes attached). I've even been able to detect where wires are inside the walls in my home with it (if you hold it like a stud finder). I've blown the fuses a few times and even accidentally melted both electrodes completely, and none of that killed mine. I just wish I had bought the model that linked to PC when they had it.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Readings not reliable. Autorange is completely useless. Ground terminal broke off after minimal use.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Piece of junk. Most functions stopped working after minor use. Could be dangerous if you are using to detect AC voltage.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

I've had two so far. I double checked the voltage reading with a lower cost analog meter and a 9 volt battery. The voltage reading on both units quite reading correctly within a week of using. Don't waste your money

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

Unit quit working after about 1 year.

Comments about RadioShack 42-Range Digital Multimeter with Electric Field Detection:

works well with automotice and electrical.