Re-Badged Multimeter at Harbor Freight..

[wildstar87]

So I fried the 10A circuit on my older DMM from Radio Shack, and was looking around for a new one. When I was looking at the Harbor Freight site, I saw this DMM.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98674

I thought, wow this has everything I want, including a light meter. So I started looking for reviews to see if anyone had anything to say on it. Nothing.. But I did find this DMM here...

http://www.protektest.com/Prodinfo.asp?prodid=6300

This DMM sells for at least $60 if not more, not including shipping. Anyone see a similarity here?

Unfortunately, my Harbor Freight didn't carry this DMM in the store, so I had to order it online, and shipping was a bit much at around $8-10, so not the screaming deal that I was hoping for, but still quite a bit less than I could have gotten the Protek 6300 DMM for.

I just got it today, and it looks exactly like the pictures on the Harbor Freight site. I'm pretty convinced that this is just a rebadged, different color version of the Protek 6300. Very nice, high quality DMM, great deal.

It's pretty cool, the lead holes even light up to tell you which holes to put the leads in for what selection you have on the meter.

Just thought you guys might want to know about this. It seems like a pretty awesome deal, especially if you can get it at your local Harbor Freight.

 

[mikel81]

Good find!:twothumbs Any thoughts on the light meter?

 

[Thujone]

Yes... Details! Please! Do you need accessories to make the light meter function? Does it come with a thermocouple? Details!!!

 

[Thujone]

Well i went and bought it. It is ok. Lots of features but I question the accuracy. The minumum lux with the sensor blocked is 6lux. weird. I will have to use it for relative readings. Will probably make a milk jug type light box for simple output comparisons.

 

[wildstar87]

I have nothing to compare as far as the lightmeter is concerned, I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't the most accurate light meter, but I was basically looking for ballparks, and relative measurements. The sensor is built into the top of the DMM, so you just switch it to the metering mode, and point the light at the top. The other DMM stuff seems pretty good, it comes with an ambient temp, in the DMM, as well as a connection for a thermocouple. Also has a soundmeter built in as well. I'm sure it isn't Fluke accurate, but the few reviews I've found on the Protek 6300 seem to indicate it is more than accurate enough for most people.

The readings I have gotten from it so far have seemed pretty much what I was expecting, having gotten similar readings from my other DMMs, as far as voltage and amp load go.

I still think it's a very good deal for the money, and I'm positive this is just a rebadged Protek 6300 after checking all the specs, and looking at all the pictures.

Hey at least they had one at the store you have in your area, so you didn't have to pay shipping charges.

 

[Northern Lights]

two more threads about it.
Could this be the best DMM for Modding?
and
Rebadged Protek 6300 DMM at Harbor Freight - $39

I think it was made by Mastech ms8229

tp://www.p-mastech.com/products/04_dm/ms8229.html

 

[wildstar87]

Huh... Yeah that's the same color, I wonder who's the actual maker then, because I'm pretty sure the Protek 6300 is the same meter as well.

If you do a search on Protek 6300 on the forum, there is someone who made a light box for it.

I'm going to be using it for relative measurements, not absolutes, so I guess I'm not as picky as others would be, the meter rocks though!!

 

[Northern Lights]

Huh... Yeah that's the same color, I wonder who's the actual maker then, because I'm pretty sure the Protek 6300 is the same meter as well.

If you do a search on Protek 6300 on the forum, there is someone who made a light box for it.

I'm going to be using it for relative measurements, not absolutes, so I guess I'm not as picky as others would be, the meter rocks though!!

I just started to use it abotu 30 minutes ago. Very good. I like the part where there is a back light and the correct sockets are illumninated for the selector choices to match.