Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Diggin It]

My 'local hardware and tools' store who is also the Husqy repair shop goes to HFand buys a quantity of some stuff to stock his shelves at a considerably higher price than HF. Not the branded power tools, but things like the magnetic pickup tools and hardware assortment kits.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Has anyone bought and used the HF Circuit Breaker Detective? Seems like a deal, for $20, if it actually works?

Circuit Breaker Detective

 

[jeeptchr]

Has anyone bought and used the HF Circuit Breaker Detective? Seems like a deal, for $20, if it actually works?

Circuit Breaker Detective

I’ve got one I bought to trace circuits in the house we just bought and the barn/shop. It worked better than expected. Was worth the money to thave in my electrical toolbox

 

[California]

Has anyone bought and used the HF Circuit Breaker Detective? Seems like a deal, for $20, if it actually works?

Circuit Breaker Detective

My experience wasn't as good as jeeptchr. This early 1900's farmhouse was apparently wired years after it was built then around 1960 upgraded to 200 amp panel with more outlets plus power out to the barn. But the upgrade was done by amateurs (likely the initial wiring too) and there are missing or broken grounds, reversed polarity problems, patterns on a 3-led tester that don't exist on its chart.

I tried tracing circuits with that HF device and it's better than nothing but not by much. I don't think a more expensive tester would be any better here.

I suggest buy the tester, at a minimum it can help suggest which circuits to verify by shutting them off one by one. And its returnable.

 

[4570Man]

Has anyone bought and used the HF Circuit Breaker Detective? Seems like a deal, for $20, if it actually works?

Circuit Breaker Detective

Doesn’t that maybe do the same thing I’ve always used a light bulb or radio for? I’ve got multiple higher tech instruments to verify but they can’t be used from across a house while you’re flipping breakers off and on.

 

[aczlan]

Has anyone bought and used the HF Circuit Breaker Detective? Seems like a deal, for $20, if it actually works?

Circuit Breaker Detective

I have one, it chirps 3 times when you find the right wire. Don't use it very often, but when I need it, it's a great tool to have.

Aaron Z

 

[lostcreekranch]

Thanks to all for your input on the Circuit Breaker Detective. Seems it's worth a try.

Maybe they'll let me use a 20% coupon for it?

I've done the radio and light bulb trick before but, I've got circuits going all over the ranch, some a very long way from the power panels.

 

[Diggin It]

Maybe they'll let me use a 20% coupon for it?

It's an unbranded/off-brand item, so the coupons should work.

 

[lostcreekranch]

It's an unbranded/off-brand item, so the coupons should work.

Thank you.

 

[3Ts]

. . .
But I live in a rural area and local businesses are usually a 30 mile trip for me.
. . .
We had a Menards open up about 2 years ago. I have always been a fan of them.
I had a recent electrical project to do and decided to price it at the local store, then at Menards.
What I needed cost about $94 at Menards.
The local hardware store (True Value) came to about $145.
It seems to me that if they want local loyalty they will do a little price research and make an attempt to be competitive.

For me the local hardware store is 5 miles and 15 minutes farther than the big box store (which is ~30 miles for me too). So I go there only if the box store doesn't have it.

As for Menards (and other stores) they buy in quantities of thousands or tens of thousands so they can get things cheaper than the local store that buys in tens or in hundreds.

 

[hunt4570]

Well not a tool per say but the Braun LED lights are great shop lights, listed at 5000 lumens and I believe it, very bright. I tried 2 of them to start and I think I now have 7 (30x40 building). outstanding lights.

4 Ft. LED Hanging Shop Light (oh, and listed here at $29.99 on sale all the time at $19.95)

Oh and thanks for the heads up on that circuit tester above, its on my to buy list!

 

[Oaktree]

Has anyone bought and used the HF Circuit Breaker Detective? Seems like a deal, for $20, if it actually works?

I've got one of those testers (not an HF one), and they work OK a lot of the time. Good for situations where you can't just randomly shut off breakers to find which one goes where. Don't always identify the correct one though.

I've used mine a few times, wasn't that expensive. I presume the HF one is more or less the same thing.

I think its great to support the local business....but if it costs me more money to do it then how is that a good thing?
We had a Menards open up about 2 years ago. I have always been a fan of them.
I had a recent electrical project to do and decided to price it at the local store, then at Menards.
What I needed cost about $94 at Menards.
The local hardware store (True Value) came to about $145.
It seems to me that if they want local loyalty they will do a little price research and make an attempt to be competitive.

My town used to have 2 hardware stores until the community quit shopping there, just to save a buck at the big box store 25 miles away. It's frustrating to have to drive that far for a household repair part on a Saturday afternoon.

Of course, that's assuming the "local" business is open when you need something. Most of them aren't open in the evening, generally close early on Sat. and may or may not be open Sunday...the very times DIYers need them the most.
And, as Willie noted, prices are generally much higher than one of the chains. Of course if all you need is one more elbow to finish a project it's not a big deal, but it gets expensive fast if you're buying for an entire project.

Around here Aubuchon bought up a bunch of local mom & pop hardware stores, closed most of them and consolidated what was left a few years ago. To be fair, the business hours are better than what the original ones were and more than once they've surprised me by having items that Lowes or HD didn't.

 

[Oaktree]

Well not a tool per say but the Braun LED lights are great shop lights, listed at 5000 lumens and I believe it, very bright. I tried 2 of them to start and I think I now have 7 (30x40 building). outstanding lights.

4 Ft. LED Hanging Shop Light (oh, and listed here at $29.99 on sale all the time at $19.95)

I've picked up a couple of them...OK lights, about par with everyone else's cheap shop lights. I think the lumen rating is somewhat exaggerated though.
We'll see how they stand up over time.

 

[hunt4570]

I've picked up a couple of them...OK lights, about par with everyone else's cheap shop lights. I think the lumen rating is somewhat exaggerated though.
We'll see how they stand up over time.

Compared to the ratings of other lights I have out there I think these are about right. Got 3 from amazon rated at 3900 lumens ea, and one from lowes rated at 4000, and these... wait for it... outshine them both!!

And I agree about how well they stand up, my oldest are about 6 months and doing fine so far though.

 

[Threepoint]

Has anyone bought and used the HF Circuit Breaker Detective? Seems like a deal, for $20, if it actually works?

Circuit Breaker Detective

Doesn't that maybe do the same thing that I've always used a light bulb or radio for? I致e got multiple higher tech instruments to verify but they can't be used from across a house while you're flipping breakers off and on.

That's a great price, especially with a coupon. I first saw a tone generator similar to that several years ago, watching a technician trace a circuit back to the breaker panel. The service entrance was in a remote basement room, too far away to see a light bulb or hear a radio or a helper. Very nice for that!

Only shortcoming I see is that it won't help when you're trying to find the breaker for some remote ceiling lighting, and you can't first locate a wall receptacle on the same circuit that you can plug the generator module into. I had to do that last week. Can't very well plug into a wall switch. :laughing: Still need a helper and a cell phone or walkie talkie.

 

[bcp]

Only shortcoming I see is that it won't help when you're trying to find the breaker for some remote ceiling lighting, and you can't first locate a wall receptacle on the same circuit that you can plug the generator module into. I had to do that last week. Can't very well plug into a wall switch. :laughing: Still need a helper and a cell phone or walkie talkie.

A new invention for you.




Bruce

 

[hunt4570]

That's a great price, especially with a coupon. I first saw a tone generator similar to that several years ago, watching a technician trace a circuit back to the breaker panel. The service entrance was in a remote basement room, too far away to see a light bulb or hear a radio or a helper. Very nice for that!

Only shortcoming I see is that it won't help when you're trying to find the breaker for some remote ceiling lighting, and you can't first locate a wall receptacle on the same circuit that you can plug the generator module into. I had to do that last week. Can't very well plug into a wall switch. :laughing: Still need a helper and a cell phone or walkie talkie.

Yeah, lights and outlets should be on a different circuit anyway..

 

[MoArk Willy]

Something to mention about the circuit breaker testers. The only work on live circuits. A tone generator, sometimes called "tic" tracers, was mentioned in this thread
They are designed to work on unenergized circuits or low power circuits such as telephone or speaker lines.
Hooking a tone generator up to AC can very easily destroy it and the person holding it...especially if you hold it by the ears.
If you don't have an outlet and you are electrically "savvy" you can use alligator clips wired to a receptacle to find circuits.
Someone posted a picture of a screw in outlet for bulb sockets. Those work great as well when looking for a light circuit.
Back in the day, before I knew about these tracers I would use a long extension cord with a lamp to trace breakers. If I couldn't get it close enough to see I would use a drill or even a plug in radio.
They all work, just have different ways of letting you know you found the circuit.

 

[Handloader109]

still trying to decide on new air compressor. is McGraw brand decently quiet? I know that the fortress are really quiet, but more expensive by far per cfm.
I just don't want to buy a McGraw and it is as loud as the cheaper model.
comments?

 

[hunt4570]

still trying to decide on new air compressor. is McGraw brand decently quiet? I know that the fortress are really quiet, but more expensive by far per cfm.
I just don't want to buy a McGraw and it is as loud as the cheaper model.
comments?

What are you using it for? General stuff, or nail guns/tools? stationary or mobile?