toolandequipmentsupplement-april2023 - 10

DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS
TOOL REVIEW
Mac Tools Digital Multimeter, No. EM710
This oldie-but-goodie was reviewed by Chris Johnson,
a Ryder technician out of Delta, British Columbia, Canada,
who also was named 2022 Ryder Top Tech.
Q: How long have you used the Mac
Tools' Digital Multimeter, No. EM710?
A: I have used it for probably about
six to seven years now. I have had to
change the test leads a couple times, but
the meter itself is still running strong.
Q: What is your favorite feature?
A: I do appreciate that it is an auto-ranging
meter, although it has the
ability to go into manual mode, which
can sometimes be helpful to hold it
in a specific range. It doesn't really do
anything different than other meters
out there, but the most common
feature I use is the resistance setting,
closely followed by the voltage setting.
Q: What are some typical reasons
you'll use this multimeter?
A: The most common thing I use it on
TOOL REVIEW
Cal-Van Wi-Fi Borescope
Reviewed by Matt Fanslow, diagnostic technician/shop
manager at Riverside Automotive in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Q: How did the tool function as far as
saving you time?
A: Borescopes in general save you lots
of time because it saves you from performing
teardown to visually inspect
components, be they engine mechanical,
heater cores, evaporators, or just
to peer into a dark enclosed area to see
what socket or Torx bit to use.
Q: What kind of setup was involved
before using the product?
A: Downloading and installing an app
and reading and following directions.
The directions are very easy to follow
and the manual is online as well
Q: How was its packaging? Did it
come with any accessories?
A: The kit comes with the borescope,
10 Tools & Shop Equipment * April 2023
mirror, and a hook and a
magnet. You usually don't
think to use a borescope to
actually retrieve something,
but now you can! It came in really
handy a couple of times with dropped
sockets under an intake plenum.
Q: What features did you like?
A: The ability to use Wi-Fi to connect it
to any tablet, the same ones we use for
DVI, or the tech's phones. That honestly
is what made it very popular in the shop.
Q: What types of jobs did you use this
tool for?
A: Usually, you wouldn't think of a
borescope on the repair side of service,
more the inspection, but this tool
allows both.
Q: Is there any way you could
think to improve or add to
this tool?
A: The borescope has no
articulation. When
you have a couple
of borescopes
that are articulating, you
kind of get spoiled. It's probably
asking a lot for this price point, but
some sort of articulation would be nice.
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would
you rate this tool overall? Why?
A: At first, I probably would have just
given it an 8 for the price versus capability.
It has a nice, clear picture, good
lighting, and accessories. But, after a
few weeks in the shop, and seeing the
techs gravitate towards it more and
more, then I'd have to bump it up to
a nine. If it had some articulation, I'd
give it a 10.
This product was given to the reviewer free of charge by
the manufacturer.
is for circuit diagnosis, from engine
faults and data links to lighting
circuits and ABS faults. There is a
wide range of situations that I use
it in, too. Measuring resistance of a
circuit and watching the resistance
while wiggling harnesses is one thing.
Measuring voltage of circuits or doing
voltage drops sometimes, even using
in combination with a headlamp bulb
to put a circuit under load and using
the meter to watch the voltage as I
manipulate a harness.
Q: How long does the battery last?
A: It can probably get about six to
nine months of use before having to
change the battery. I have seen guys
with a newer meter with a color display
and they seem to chew through
batteries.
Ryder
Q: This tool has been discontinued.
If you were to upgrade, do you have
another multimeter in mind?
A: Yes, a few of the guys in the shop
have the Mac EM721. I think I would
look at that or the EM823 if I were to
replace/upgrade the meter. I like the
idea of the USB connection and/or
Bluetooth, and would like to give that a
try. The EM823 has a lot more features
that will be useful in today's ever-changing
and advancing technology
on trucks. Maybe I'll even look to see if
there is one with a lab scope function
at a reasonable price. But unfortunately,
those are pretty expensive.
toolandequipmentsupplement-april2023

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