Showerthought: I swore those $8 clamp meters from the hardware store were junk until one saved me on a Frigidaire

Holly Cooper · 2026-09-29T14:45:04.317355+00:00

Back when I started fixing appliances in Dayton, I laughed at the cheap clamp meters sitting in the bargain bin. I figured anything under $100 would drift and give me bad amp readings on compressors. Then about 6 months ago I was stuck on a Frigidaire fridge that kept tripping the breaker, and my good meter was at the shop. I grabbed the $8 one from my truck, and it read 11.4 amps on a compressor rated for 9. Same number my fancy meter showed the next day. Now I keep two of them in the truck, so what cheap tool surprised you guys after you wrote it off?

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Showerthought: I swore those $8 clamp meters from the hardware store were junk until one saved me on a Frigidaire | Appliance Repairers - Talk Freely