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.