Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

[smason]

This recall involves a 19 position digital multimeter that is identified by item number 700249 or number DT830D. The unit is black in colour with a PowerFist logo on the front of the unit. The multimeter includes two test leads.

Sold here in Canada at Princess Auto, it's obviously a cheap crappy meter.
I have a similar model DT838 I use at work, and would never measure anything over 50v with it. I consider the CE CAT II rating on the label a work of fiction

http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/re...16553r-eng.php

[retiredcaps]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

What I'm shocked (pun)!!

To be fair, even the big boys have problems.

http://search.cpsc.gov/query.html?qt...set=iso-8859-1

[smason]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

What I'm shocked (pun)!!

To be fair, even the big boys have problems.

http://search.cpsc.gov/query.html?qt...set=iso-8859-1

LOL.

From the WTF? department:
Noncontact Electrical Tester Recalled by Fluke Due to Shock or Burn Hazard

http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml10/10164.html


Non-contact intrument is a shock hazard?? That's messed up!

Edit: after reading the description I get it. "Hazard: The testers can fail to give an indication of live voltage, resulting in the operator falsely believing the electrical power is off, posing a risk of serious injury or death from electrical shock or thermal burns."
Duh.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

I have a couple of multimeters with built in non contact voltage indicators. While they are from name brand reputable companies, I always test the NCV feature on a known working circuit first before I test the unknown one.

[bluto]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

It looks shockingly similar to the one sold at HazardFreight...

[retiredcaps]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

Since my post almost 3 years ago, I have completely changed my outlook on multimeters.

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...4&postcount=25

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...9&postcount=30

I'm glad it didn't work because once I looked inside it and realized I'm sticking this into mains or 170V DC, I decided to spend a bit more.

Thanks to smason's post

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18105

I have spent a lot of time on ebay in 2012 buying multimeters. So far, no problems with Canada customs.

[smason]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

Thanks to smason's post

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18105

I have spent a lot of time on ebay in 2012 buying multimeters. So far, no problems with Canada customs.

Glad to hear it. I've been doing pretty well on Ebay myself lately.
In fact just received a package of 3 Dell DC power jacks from Michigan.
I swore I'd never do another, but I get to replace the jack on a Latitude D820 this weekend.

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

Some one should congratulate the real manufactorer.
He got such fame in Canada LOL .




http://www.jtw123.com/product_disp.p...d=268&weblan=e

Scroll all the way down, the web designer in an amateur one.

[ben7]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

This is why I only use Fluke multi-meters

[smason]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

Scroll all the way down, the web designer in an amateur one.

You're right, that's some seriously bad web design.
wonder how much a carton of 80 costs? I clicked on buy, and the result was a bunch of errors.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

This is why I only use Fluke multi-meters

I'm not disagreeing, but I would like to point out that

1) reputable name brand multimeters are not perfect as I pointed out in post #2

2) I bought an used Fluke locally. I did my usual fuse check by putting the red probe into the A and mA jack. The A read 0.2 ohms and the mA was 0L.

When I got home and opened up the multimeter, the 10A fuse was a metal drill bit. Needless to say, I was pissed!

Had I not checked and decided to use this multimeter in a high current situation, the multimeter and my hand might have went

If I lend out my multimeter, I will only lend out ones that have no current measurement capabilities.

3) Reputable name brand multimeters are not a substitute for working safely and using common sense.

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

When I got home and opened up the multimeter, the 10A fuse was a metal drill bit. Needless to say, I was pissed!

This is a great story, and the one who did it deserves an Oscar award.
The most commonly similar story is the dead fuse rapped up with aluminum foil.

[kc8adu]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

better yet are the many foil wrapped fuses that are not blown.
or the air drier i saw with 3 short sections of 1/2" copper pipe in the fusebox.
and +1000 on the statement to be careful with the cheap meters on high voltage.our shop help kid toasted one measuring vs on a plasma.it was supposed to be 205v and he left the hazard fraught freebie on the 200v range.
it went with a very loud bang.i think he needed to check his pants!
i had to tell him that while that was a mistake on his part it should have simply read overrange rather than blowing up.
and even funnier is if you google these meters and switch to images look at how many on alibaba are shown with missing segments.
never thought i would see the day when a quality 9v battery can cost more than a meter!

This is a great story, and the one who did it deserves an Oscar award.
The most commonly similar story is the dead fuse rapped up with aluminum foil.

[smason]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

2) I bought an used Fluke locally. I did my usual fuse check by putting the red probe into the A and mA jack. The A read 0.2 ohms and the mA was 0L.

When I got home and opened up the multimeter, the 10A fuse was a metal drill bit.

!!
Wow! Good thinking. It would not have occurred to me to check, but now tha you mention it... Will check my 87 when I get home.

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

!!
Wow! Good thinking. It would not have occurred to me to check, but now tha you mention it... Will check my 87 when I get home.

Hey only the lucky people are getting a meter with a drill bit as gift.
I bet a dollar that you will find just a fuse .. LOL

[MDOC]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

When I got home and opened up the multimeter, the 10A fuse was a metal drill bit.

Was it a whole length drill bit?

[retiredcaps]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

Was it a whole length drill bit?

Picture attached. The fuse shown is the blown mA for size reference. As you can see the 10A "fuse" is a bit longer.

What pisses me off is that the metal drill bit is heavy. If I had dropped the multimeter, the fuse could have moved every so slightly and made contact with the components on the pcb.

If I tried to make a current measurement, it could have went

[retiredcaps]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

Will check my 87 when I get home.

If you got yours from realpcola on ebay, I think he is a good seller although I have no first hand knowledge.

He claims to install all brand new fuses in the multimeters he refurbishes.

[smason]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

If you got yours from realpcola on ebay, I think he is a good seller although I have no first hand knowledge.

He claims to install all brand new fuses in the multimeters he refurbishes.

Yep, it was from him. Wow, you really know your Ebay Flukes!

[opamp]

Re: Recall notice - PowerFist Multimeter

Hey only the lucky people are getting a meter with a drill bit as gift.
I bet a dollar that you will find just a fuse .. LOL

I guess retiredcaps isn't that lucky after all. That's not even a drill bit it's a bolt cut in half