For a long time Harbor Freight has had a very limited selection of multimeters and what they did have left a lot to be desired. As has been the recent trend, Harbor Freight is overhauling many of their in house brands and introducing plenty of new ones. Their new line of electrical meters falls under the brand name Ames. So far the new meters are getting mostly positive reviews on Harbor Freight’s website and they even surprised AVE in terms of accuracy, which is hard to do with a Harbor Freight product. So far there are 8 meters in the line up including a 600 amp AC clamp meter, 200 amp fork style clamp meter, 600 amp T-RMS AC/DC clamp meter, 1000A T-RMS AC/DC Clamp Meter, Electrician’s HVAC contractor TRMS multimeter, 400 amp AC clamp meter, compact multimeter, and lastly a pocket sized digital multimeter.
My thoughts: I’ve used several of the $9 multimeters from harbor freight in the past before stepping up to the $24 Centech model (which in my opinion is a good unit for the money). However until now Harbor Freight had not really offered anything close to a full line of pro-grade multimeters. This line should be appealing to anyone who needs a good meter on a budget.
All the meters feature a minimum of a CAT III safety rating, hold function, and use common batteries so you don’t have to worry about running out of juice and not having cheap replacements on hand. Aside from the compact multimeter and the pocket multimeter, all the other meters also feature non contact voltage detection. Time will tell how this new line holds up but so far it looks like a good start for the Ames brand.
600 amp AC clamp meter
Features and specifications:
- AC Current 600A, Jaw Opening: Φ28mm/1.1 in.
- AC/DC Voltage: 600V
- Resistance: 40MΩ, Capacitance: 100µF, Frequency: 10 KHz
- Display: 4000 Counts, Autoranging, Auto Power Off, Diode Test
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- Built in worklight
- Built in non-contact voltage measurement
- Safety Rating: CAT III 600V
- Accuracy: DC Voltage: ±(0.8%+3), AC Voltage: ±(1.0%+5), AC Current: ±(2.5%+5), Resistance: ±(2.0%+5), Capacitance: ±(3.0%+3), Frequency: ±(1.0%+5), Temperature: ±(3.0%+3), Duty Cycle : ±2.0%
- Batteries included: yes
- Batteries required: 3 AAA
- AC V: 400mV/4/40/400/600V
- Temperature range: -20° C ~ 1000° C / 4° F ~ 1832° F
- Height: 1 ½”
- Length: 7 51/64”
- Width 3 7/64”
- Weight: 0.60 pounds
- Accessories included: Test leads, temperature probe, batteries, carrying case and user manual
- Price at the time of writing: $49.99
200 amp fork style clamp meter
Features and specifications:
- AC Current 200A, Jaw Opening: Φ12mm/0.5 in.
- AC/DC Voltage: 600V
- LoZ low impedance, helps prevent false readings due to ghost voltage
- Resistance: 60MΩ, Capacitance: 60mF, Frequency: 60 MHz
- Display: 6000 Counts, Autoranging, Auto Power Off, Diode Test
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- Built in worklight
- Built in non-contact voltage detection
- Safety Rating: CAT III 600V
- Accuracy: DC Voltage: ±(0.7%+3), AC Voltage: ±(0.8%+3), LoZ (DCV/ACV) ±(2.0%+3), DC Current: ±(1.0%+4), AC Current: ±(3.0%+3),Resistance: ±(1.2%+3), Capacitance ±(4.0%+5), Frequency ±(0.3%+5), Duty Cycle ±0.3%, Temperature ±(2.0%+2)
- Batteries included: yes
- Batteries required: (1) 9v battery
- AC volts: 6V/60V/600V
- Temperature range: -20° C~400° C/ -4° F~752° F
- Height: 1 11/16”
- Length: 7 29/32”
- Width: 2 9/16”
- Weight: 0.94 pounds
- Accessories included: Test leads, temperature probe, batteries, carry case and user manual
- Price at the time of writing: $59.99
600 amp T-RMS AC/DC clamp meter
Features:
- AC/DC Current 600A, Jaw Opening: Φ26mm/1.0 in.
- AC/DC Voltage: 600V
- DC Amps zero function ability – simply push the select button prior to making the measurement
- Resistance: 66MΩ, Capacitance: 66mF, Frequency: 10 KHz
- Display: 6600 Counts, Autoranging, Auto Power Off, Diode Test
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- Built in worklight
- Inrush measurement (Motor starting current)
- Safety Rating: CAT III 600V
- Accuracy: DC Voltage: ±(1.0%+5), AC Voltage: ±(1.5%+10), AC Current: ±(3.0%+10), DC Current: ±(3.0%+10), Resistance: ±(2.0%+5), Capacitance ±(4.0%+3), Frequency From Clamp ±(1.5%+5) over 1kHz reference only, Frequency From Meter sockets ±(1.5%+5) over 10kHz reference only, Duty Cycle±3.0%
- Battery type: alkaline
- Batteries included: yes
- Batteries required: 3 AAA
- AC volts: 660mV/6.6V/66V/660V
- Height: 1.3”
- Length: 8.1”
- Width: 3”
- Weight: 1.25 pounds
- Accessories included: Test leads, batteries, carrying case and user’s manual
- Price at the time of writing: $89.99
1000A T-RMS AC/DC Clamp Meter
Features and specifications:
- AC/DC Current 1000A, Jaw Opening: Φ40mm/1.6 in.
- DC Voltage: 1000V, AC Voltage 750V
- Resistance: 60MΩ, Capacitance: 99.99mF, Frequency: 10 KHz
- Display: 6000 Counts, Autoranging, Auto Power Off, Diode Test
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- Relative measurement
- True-RMS
- Built in worklight
- Inrush measurement (Motor starting current)
- Built in non-contact voltage measurement
- Accuracy: DC Voltage: ±(0.8%+4), AC Voltage: ±(0.8+4), AC Current: ± (2.0+8),DC Current: ± (2.0+8),Resistance: ± (2.0%+5),Capacitance ± (3.0%+5), Frequency ± (1.5%+5)
- Display resolution: 6000 counts
- AC volts: 60mV/600mV/6V/60V/600V; 750V
- Jaw opening: Φ40mm/1.6″
- Height: 1.97”
- Length: 9.4”
- Width: 3.63”
- Weight: 1.55 pounds
- Accessories included: Test leads, batteries, carrying case and user manual
- Price at the time of writing: $119.99
Electrician’s HVAC contractor TRMS multimeter
Features and specifications:
- AC and DC voltage Measurements up to 1000V
- Resistance range: 66MΩ
- AC/DC Current: 10A
- Build in non-contact voltage measurement
- Auto-Hold captures the first stable displayed value
- Display: 6000 Counts, True RMS
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- LoZ low input impedance: helps prevent false readings due to ghost voltage
- Auto ranging, diode test, bright display / back light, and auto power off
- Accuracy: DC Voltage: ±(0.8%+3)AC Voltage: ±(1.0%+3) DC Current: ±(2.0%+5) AC Current: ±(3.0%+5) Resistance: ±(1.5%+5)Temperature: ±(1.0%+3) Capacitance: ±(4.0%+5) Frequency V Position: ±(1.5%+5) Frequency Hz Position: ±(1.5%+5) Duty Cycle: ±2%
- Battery type: alkaline
- Battery included: yes
- Battery required: (1) 9v
- Temperature range: 0° C~1000° C/ -32° F~1832° F
- Height: 2.1”
- Length: 6.9”
- Width: 3.35”
- Weight: 1.65 pounds
- Accessories included: Test leads, temperature probe, magnetic hanging strap, multifunction test socket, carry case
- Price at the time of writing: $69.99
400 amp AC clamp meter
Features and specifications:
- AC Current 400A, Jaw Opening: Φ30mm/1.18″
- AC/DC Voltage: 600V
- Resistance: 40MΩ, Capacitance: 100µF, Frequency: 1 MHz
- Display: 4000 Counts, Autoranging, Auto Power Off, Diode Test
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- Built in worklight
- Built in non-contact voltage measurement
- Safety Rating: CAT III 600V
- Accuracy: DC Voltage: ±( 0.8%+1), AC Voltage: ±(1.2%+5), AC Current: ±(1.8%+9), Resistance: ±(1.0%+2), Capacitance: ±(4.0%+5), Frequency: ±(0.1%+4)
- Battery type: alkaline
- Batteries included: yes
- Batteries required: 3 AAA
- Display resolution: 4,000 counts
- AC volts: 4V / 40V / 400V / 600V
- Duty cycle: 0.1%~99.9%
- Frequency: 10Hz – 1MHz
- Jaw opening: Φ30mm/1.8 in.
- Height: 15.2”
- Length: 19.1”
- Width: 12.6”
- Weight: 1.2 pounds
- Accessories included: Test leads, batteries, carrying case and user manual
- Price at the time of writing: $39.99
Compact multi meter:
Features and specifications:
- AC and DC voltage Measurements up to 600V
- Resistance range: 20MΩ
- AC/DC Current: 10A
- Auto-Hold captures the first stable displayed value
- Auto ranging
- Display: 2000 Counts, Autoranging, Auto Power Off, Diode Test
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- Other features include bright display / back light, low battery indicator and auto power off
- Test leads and batteries included
- Safety Rating: CAT III 600V
- Accuracy: DC Voltage: +-(0.8%+3); AC Voltage: +-(1.0%+5); AC Current: +-(1.0%+10); DC Current: +-(1.5%+10); Resistance: +-(1.0%+4); Temperature: +-(1.0%+2); Battery Test: +-(3.0%+5)
- Batteries included: yes
- AC voltage: 2V/20V/200V/600V
- Temperature range: -20° C~1000° C/ -4° F~1832° F
- Height: 1.9”
- Length: 5.8”
- Width: 2.9”
- Weight: 1.15 lbs
- Accessories included: Test leads, temperature probe, batteries, carry case and user manual.
- Price at the time of writing: $39.99 at Harbor Freight
Pocket sized digital multimeter
Features and specifications:
- AC/DC Voltage: 300V, AC/DC Current: 400mA
- Resistance: 40MΩ, Capacitance: 100µF, Frequency: 100kHz
- Display: 2000 Counts, Autoranging, Auto Power Off, Diode Test
- Audible Continuity, Data Hold, Low Battery Indicator
- Safety Rating: CAT III 300V
- Accuracy: DC Voltage +-(0.5%+3), +-(0.8%+3); AC Voltage +-(0.8%+4); DC Current +-(2.0%+3); AC Current +-(3.0%+4); Resistance +-(1.0%+3), +-(2.0%+4);Capacitance +-(2.0%+4); Frequency +-(0.5%+3)
- Batteries included: yes
- AC volts: 4V/40V/400V/300V
- Frequency: 0~100kHz
- Height: 0.7”
- Length: 4.7”
- Width: 2.7
- Weight: 0.24 pounds
- Accessories included: Test leads, batteries, carrying case and user manual.
- Price at the time of writing: $24.99
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