Not putting an HF meter on anything above 12 VDC is a bit extreme. If the HF multi-meter or any non CAT IV meter is prone to explosions due to arc flash, we'd have heard about it on the web already. If you use it for everday use for home or car and follow the manufacturers instructions, you should be fine. Should you use it on 480V and above? Of course not! It is not rated for it

One of the leads fell off as I was sticking the probes in the wall outlet. Hey Mom it didn't explode! Arc flash is only a problem at high voltages (much higher than what the HF meter is rated at AND when you use the meter incorrectly by using the 10A input to measure high voltages. Maybe just for kicks I'll sacrifice and video a test of the HF and see it it arc flashes and explode on 120 V AC.

Jay bob, James Dean, TOPGUN , want to bet $5? If it explodes, I owe each of you $5. If it does not, each of you owe me $5. Paypal only.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

No one here said anything about arc flash in general or at 120V. I was just saying that was what our training was about and that is what we deal with here at work.

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Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

OK so no bet with you. Jay bob and TOPGUN Vstech?

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

The HF probe ends do not come apart so you cannot re-solder them once they fall off. I am not even sure if they are soldered from the factory since they fall off so easily. The next (free) one I get I will add some hot glue to strain relief it and see if that keeps them from falling off.

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I think I've had one of my HF meter leads break. I ended up soldering it to a broken Aglient lead and throwing some heatshrink over it. Works well enough for low voltage DC work.

I ended up buying a few of these sets. I liked the interchangeability. Granted it makes it easier to lose the pieces. lol.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012VWUI6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

__________________
Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

If the probe ends of a multimeter fall off, it seems pretty clear that it isn't a safe device to use at high voltages. This is a helpful thread because it is a good reminder of the built in danger associated with 120V+ electricity. It is easy to get complacent since we all encounter it so frequently.

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

Would you like to reverse the bet, and let us put your meter through the various scenarios that are possible on a household 120V line in a laboratory with you in the explosion case with the meter?

Will the meter fail under normal circumstances? Not likely.

Are there ANY safeguards in that free meter to protect you under abnormal circumstances? Nope...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

You are making no sense. Why would I want to be in the explosion case with the meter? You seem to know a lot about the HF meter. Tell us more about what safeguards are missing.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Ive used several of these meters on:
120VAC
220VAC
180VDC
Various VDC from 90 to 180VDC
Many current tests under an 1 amp
Multitude of resistance checks.

None of these were rocket science ...but.. nor is ANYTHING we have in our MB's.

Use your HF meter (the cheeepie one) correctly and safely and it will give you
great service.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

My dad a Harbor Freight multimeter wire explode on him when testing 120V AC but that was because he put the probe connector into the wrong port on the multimeter itself. I don't own any nice ones and wish I did but my Radio Shack unit is my favorite though I had a huge spark when working with wiring in my house that melted the tip of one of the probes, there was a short in a circuit that had 120 V going through the earth wire.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.