Stan Stolarski
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2024
I have ordered several Tekpower analog swing arm meters the past month. While I like the large display as well as the back light feature the pointer arm mechanism is very sensitive. This particular Tekpower TP7244L meter has a glitch where when taking resistance measurements when turning on the back light function it lowers the reading about 5%.. I have also ordered the other Tekpower meters with the transistor tester as well as the one with the center null & returned them as they were both POS garbage. Lousy pointer mechanisms as the "0" adjustment would never hold & simple readings were also inconsistent. This particular version, although not without bugs, I will keep for simple quick diagnostics that don't require some iota of accuracy. I miss my old Simpson which sadly walked away a decade ago. If the Tekpower pointer arm mechanisms weren't so chintzy these would be awesome meters. However it is what it is. Nuff Said.
Doug
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2022
We had purchased previous model (same mfgr) and were very disappointed as 5 of 6 failed to operate properly. Ordered (4) of this model hoping for better luck. Just received and the first 2 we tested acted the same as the previous order. Specifically when sitting idle the indicator needle is in the middle of the scale area instead of at the left side position. Touching the screen also makes the needle position change. Also the Zero adjustment dial for ohms does not work -- We don't feel these can be trusted by our techs so returned. Will order a different brand.
5 Reasons
Reviewed in Canada on January 14, 2021
For serious electronics work, a reliable analog meter is as important to have as a good digital multimeter. The fact that the needle moves in real time to follow any fluctuations in voltage or resistance allows one to detect dead shorts, monitor fluctuations in the power supply supply during powerups, and identify any tapering or intermittency issues when testing such things as variable resistors. A digital meter with a purely digital number display will get "confused" during any of the aforementioned tests as the meter struggles to keep up with rapid changes, drops, or intermittency in measured values. This Tekpower meter is not the best of its type you can buy, but considering its low price it is decently made and, as far as I have seen so far, quite accurate. I mostly keep mine slaved to the variac to monitor powerups of new circuit builds (since the tiny meter on my variac is useless as any sort of indication of the unit's AC output). For this purpose, the Tekpower is compact and reliable. The one thing I did when mine arrived was to chuck the cheapo batteries it came with and install a trio of Duracells (you'll need 2X AA and 1X 9-volt). To change batteries (or fuses, should they blow; there is one 250mA and one 10A), one has to open up the entire unit using two screws on the rear. Be very careful when screwing the unit back together, so as not to misalign the back cover or strip the plastic bushings. Beyond this one annoyance, I am happy with this purchase.
Grampy
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2019
I am old enough that I grew up using analog multimeters. I have had digital multimeters for years. They work well, but I miss the D'Arsonval movement and it's immediate response. Analog meters (like this one) are familiar to folks like me and quite responsive. Since I am retired, I don't have a use for a "work" multimeter and even though a Simpson 260 is likely the "best analog" meter available I just cannot justify the cost. This unit: TP72444L, does everythng I need, seems robust enough and costs a fraction of the cost of a Simpson 260. I am back to the good "ole" days of calibrating out the test lead resistance. The scale is just big enough to read and the mirror behind the needle (a feature found on the best analog meters) can be used to eliminate parralax. Out of the box I took readings on most of the scales, this meters accuracy compares well with my best DMM.An analog meter with it's D'Arsonval meter movement is also a terrific "teaching" aide in understanding electrical theory. These concepts are more difficult to understand when just looking @ a digital display.I always like having a case for my meters. Since this is an analog meter I opted for a "hard case" for a small investment I found one (on Amazon) that fits well (see the photo). On Amazon the case is identified as: "Hermitshell Hard EVA Travel Case Fits DOSS SoundBox Color Portable Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Speakers"
Andy
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2016
Exactly what I was looking for, in specific maintenance applications on my classic vehicle, where a digital meter cannot show informative, slower needle deflections. Hard-to-find analogue VOM with sturdy construction and case. Even probe-tips have removable, protective caps on this high quality product. I did did a few comparison tests with my trusted digit meter and observed matching results.Also, the minimally-extra-cost, back-lit version is perfect for me to use in dark corners too!Please note: although the enclosed operations manual is printed in small font, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is written in complete, proper, grammatical English, putting most shabby guides to considerable shame.I am totally impressed so far.
NJPete61
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2015
There are certain tests for which an analog meter is very useful, digital meters display numbers jump around too quickly for certain tests. For example; testing capacitors, checking for shorts or opens, continuity, etc. This meter seems fairly rugged, and accurate enough for most testing. For under $30 this is a decent meter, and well made.Tip: One thing to note, static can build up on the clear plastic meter cover and can cause the meter needle to go off of zero (this is common with analog meters). Cleaning the clear meter cover face with a little armor-all protectant will help prevent static buildup, and also help prevent scratches on the meter cover. The batteries that come with the meter are OK (they are standard batteries), but you should eventually replace them with quality alkaline batteries because the cheap batteries tend to leak more than the quality alkaline ones (alkaline also last a lot longer).
Lawrence I. Simpkins
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2015
I am a Marine Mechanic and need an analog multi-meter for testing capacitor discharge ignition systems on outboard engines and jet-skis. This meter is perfect for my requirements. The display is large and easily readable and when testing the meter alongside my expensive Fluke digital meter seems fairly accurate. The Led display lighting is a useful feature and the plastic case offers good shock protection for the unit. For the price you can't go wrong buying this meter. Even if you have a modern digital meter it's nice to have an "old school" analog meter in your tool box as well. As other people have said though, change out the cheap 9 volt battery installed in the meter for a good quality battery ASAP.