Billvert
Elite Member
I purchased two Cen-Tech Pin pointers from Harbor Freight one online and one I picked up at the local store. The first one worked great for about a month before the switch became intermittent. After about a week of intermittent operation the switch failed completely. At that time I took my back up unit out of the box and took it on it's first outing. Within two hours the switch on the second unit failed completely.
I removed the four screws and took the backs off of both units, I immediately noticed one of the wires had become detached from The terminal on the older unit. I removed the shrink wrap from both terminals and was amazed to find no solder on one switch terminal and a very poor cold solder joint on the other.
I re-soldered both wires to the switch and much to my dismay but not surprise the switch was back to its intermittent condition. The problem was obviously internal to the switch, which visually and mechanically seemed to be of very poor quality.
I then went to Radio Shack and purchased a push button SPST (single pole single throw) switch. I chose one that locked in the one position, with a second push of the button realeaseing it to the off position. Although the switch is larger (and much sturdier) I was just barely able to squeeze it into the pinpointer.
The part number for the switch is 275-1565 and the cost was $2.79 + Tax.
BTW the new switch works great and the larger size is much easier to use with my heavy winter gloves.
I hope this is helpful to anyone experiencing similar problems with the Cen-Tech Harbor Freight Pinpointer.
Excuse the mud in the pictures here in the northwest we run our gear hard and put it away wet.
Pic 1: The new switch installed, old switch removed and sitting to the left on the back cover.
Pic 2: Side view of one unit repaired the other with original broken switch.
pic 3. Switch comparison repaired unit shown from back side.
Note larger physical size of new switch. It will be a tight fit and the cover will be a little tough to get back on but it does fit without modification to the switch or pinpointer case.
I removed the four screws and took the backs off of both units, I immediately noticed one of the wires had become detached from The terminal on the older unit. I removed the shrink wrap from both terminals and was amazed to find no solder on one switch terminal and a very poor cold solder joint on the other.
I re-soldered both wires to the switch and much to my dismay but not surprise the switch was back to its intermittent condition. The problem was obviously internal to the switch, which visually and mechanically seemed to be of very poor quality.
I then went to Radio Shack and purchased a push button SPST (single pole single throw) switch. I chose one that locked in the one position, with a second push of the button realeaseing it to the off position. Although the switch is larger (and much sturdier) I was just barely able to squeeze it into the pinpointer.
The part number for the switch is 275-1565 and the cost was $2.79 + Tax.
BTW the new switch works great and the larger size is much easier to use with my heavy winter gloves.
I hope this is helpful to anyone experiencing similar problems with the Cen-Tech Harbor Freight Pinpointer.
Excuse the mud in the pictures here in the northwest we run our gear hard and put it away wet.
Pic 1: The new switch installed, old switch removed and sitting to the left on the back cover.
Pic 2: Side view of one unit repaired the other with original broken switch.
pic 3. Switch comparison repaired unit shown from back side.
Note larger physical size of new switch. It will be a tight fit and the cover will be a little tough to get back on but it does fit without modification to the switch or pinpointer case.
