I used to think those cheap multimeters from Harbor Freight were junk, but one saved a job for me

I was working on a dryer in a tight apartment kitchen and my good Fluke was in the truck. All I had was a $7 multimeter I got for free with a coupon. The homeowner was watching, and I figured I'd look dumb when it gave a bad reading. I checked the thermal fuse and it showed continuity, but then I tested a known good 120v outlet and it read 118v, which was right. Ended up finding a broken wire in the door switch harness with it. Has anyone else had a tool they wrote off actually come through in a pinch?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_charlie29d ago

A thermal fuse showing continuity is usually blown, that's how they fail. Are you sure your good meter would have given a different reading on that part? That detail has me scratching my head. Still, finding that broken wire with a freebie meter is a solid win. I keep a similar cheap one as a backup for exactly those tight spots where I don't want to risk my main tool.

the_parker29d ago

Wait, so you're saying a blown thermal fuse should still show continuity? That's the opposite of every other fuse I've ever checked... are they designed to fail closed instead of open? I need to go look this up now.

mitchell.val20d ago

Yeah thermal fuses definitely fail open, not closed.