I used to think a simple multimeter was enough for every call, but a $80 thermal camera from Harbor Freight showed me a hot compressor relay in 2 seconds flat on a fridge that was tripping the breaker.

Has anyone else found a specific tool that completely changed how you diagnose a common problem?

3 comments

3 Comments

Honestly, that thermal camera is just a fancy toy for most jobs. A good multimeter and knowing how to actually trace a circuit will find that bad relay just as fast, and it costs you nothing extra. People get distracted by new gadgets instead of learning the basics properly. That eighty bucks is better spent on quality hand tools that won't break in a year.

grantw416d ago

Totally disagree with @singh.harper. That thermal camera is a game changer. Lets you see the problem, not just guess at it.

simonk986d ago

Look, I'm with grantw41 on this. Sure, you can find it with a meter if you poke every single part for five minutes. Or you can just look at the bright red blob on the screen. Calling that a "fancy toy" is like saying a flashlight is a distraction from learning to feel your way in the dark. Sometimes the new tool just shows you the answer before the old one even finishes asking the question.