SC77 Meter Reading Resistance Incorrectly

[MicahWes]

Hi all,

I have a Fieldpiece SC77 meter that I have been using for a couple of years. I noticed today that when set to measure resistance the meter shows between 0.5 and 0.8 ohms with the leads shorted together. I have tried some of my other leads and have the same issue. I mean I know 3/4 of an ohm is not a big thing, but I can put long leads on my meter, or little 5 inch ones and get the same reading.

Is this something I should be worried about? I am probably only worried because a month ago the k-type thermocouple mode was reading a few hundred degrees inside a 40 degree refrigerator. I tried 4 completely different thermocouples and a new battery and nothing changed. A couple of days later it is reading the proper temperatures again.

I guess I am a little skeptical of my meter now.

[71CHOPS]

sounds like it's time for a replacement!

[Joehvac25]

Mine does funky stuff like that with the thermometer, if i turn it off and on or unplug and replug it seems to work.


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[Tiger93rsl]

Make sure you got fresh batteries. There should be a calibration pot on the circuit board if the batteries are good.

[hvac wiz 79]

OP, mine does the same exact thing. I've owned 2 SC77s and both have done it.

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[Birmingham]

mine had dust in it took it apart and cleaned it out working good now. well see how long this lasts.

[slctech]

You know I would post your issue in the public TOOL forum. Both Travis and Russell with Fieldpiece frequent that forum and are more than happy to assist you with anything. Or Drop either or both with a message...Travid is "Ault51", and Russell is "RussellHarju".
They are great guys and probably just replace your meter if they deem it an issue for free...warranty or not, they really look out for us H-Talk guys.

As for the resistance compensation or internal zeroing...I find all my digital testing equipment does some erratic stuff when it is bitter cold or my batteries are giving up their last bit of breathe. I will usually take my DMM apart and clean the internal lead and thermocouple connections, they get gummed up with a film that causes some erratic readings...I do the same on my lead ends with a small round wire brush.
My K-Type thermocouples don't last long, for some reason the wire gets damaged internally, I don't know...It works fine one moment and jiggle the yellow wire and then it starts to fart out some whacked reading...so who knows. Digital instrumentation is a wonderful thing, but sure can get aggravating sometimes, and even plant seeds of doubt only at the times when you need a reliable partner.

[MicahWes]

You know, I have no idea why I didn't post this in the Tool forum! Is it possible just to move the whole thread there?

[slctech]

Hit the triangle exclamation button on bottom of your post and ask moderators to move the thread to the tool section.

[beenthere]

Moved to tools and test equipment forum.

[ga-hvac-tech]

Someone may have mentioned this already: Batteries and the fuse inside the meter... Get the FP fuse, not a generic replacement.