Problems with IBM 5150 Power

[Chris M]

--- On Fri, 7/31/09, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:

> > > $2.99 at Harborfreight
> > > Good price if there are no critical lethal issues
> requiring
> > > accuracy.
> > 
> >    I find it unfathomable that people would
> actually use "tools" like     
> > this.
> 
> And that includes the battery.

 incidentally that gets drained crackly dry in all of about 12 minutes upon powering up. Same w/their digital calipers.
 
> It depends--I've got a couple of these that I'll toss into
> a toolbox 
> if I'm looking for a quick reading or continuity
> test.  If it gets 
> dropped or eaten by a dog, no biggie.  

 Ick. That pooch you have be real scary.

The Fluke stays
> home.

WONDERFUL. Where the dog has free access!
 
> If someone needed only to take a few readings and didn't
> have a meter 
> of any kind, I'd have no problem with him using one of
> these, 

 I do. I most certainly do. You can get a decent meter for 20$. 

> On the other hand, if a reliable bench tool was needed for
> frequent 
> use, the $3 DVM is clearly not up to the job.

 The one I bought, to my eternal shame, wasn't up to much at all. It flaked out in other ways, besides eating batteries.
 
> After the Fluke, my next favorite DVM didn't cost a dime--I
> received 
> as a promotion with an order.  It's a rubber-sheathed,
> backlit auto-
> off large-display DVM that will measure temperature,
> capacitance and 
> frequency in addition to the usual A-V-O.  I've
> dropped it more than 
> a few times, and it still works fine with perfectly
> acceptable 
> accuracy.  

 There's no moving parts. No reason it shouldn't. I drop my Nextel each and every day. Sit on it. Still works.
 Truth is I had a ball w/the old style unit I use to use, yer know, with the push buttons. Was real scared of that style of meter until I realized how easy it was to *program*. I actually liked having to think a bit before using it, sort of as a primer. Until the day I done just though wrong and mixed up the setting. Oi. Only payed 15$ for it too. It worked exceptionally well.
 
> Personally, I have a bigger problem with people using cheap
> pliers, 
> screwdrivers and soldering irons than with cheap
> DVMs.  It's harder 
> to damage something with a DVM.

 The point is there happens to be impressionable youth listening in on this conversation. They may actually go out and attempt what some are advocating!