[RE-wrenches] traveling with digital meters

[Dan Fink]

The weirder and more complicated and more expensive the equipment looks,
the more likely you will be hassled in my experience. Cases in point:
~ New DMM almost yanked at US customs in Vancouver because it looked "new."
Tried to explain currency exchange rate. Package of dessicant burst in DMM
hard case. Looked like crack cocaine. Solution: smear with mud, get Global
Entry card.
~ Really nice guarded ceramic 3-pole knife switches at Sinsa hardware in
Managua, Nicaragua, perfect for wind turbine stop switches.
Bought 2 dozen to bring home at $3 each. Colleague held at gunpoint by the
Nica army on the tarmac under the plane for 20 minutes while trying to
explain what they were with no knowledge of Spanish. Solution: order by
mail, don't fly with weird looking stuff, ship it DHS in advance and ship
back home  post-job..
~ Bear banger flares required 24/7 on PV install job in northern BC. Had to
use a couple. Every tool bag, all luggage, half my clothes. all
contaminated with explosive residue from using the flares on the jobsite.
Set off every explosive detector from Smithers to Vanc to Sea-Tac to,
finally, Denver. Checked bags of tools arrived in approx 2 weeks.
Within the USA, I have not had many problems, but in foreign countries, all
bets are off.

Best regards;



Dan Fink
Adjunct Professor, Ecotech Institute
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
Executive Director, Buckville Energy
NABCEP Accredited Continuing Education Providers™
970.672.4342



On Tue, Nov 10, 2015 at 8:53 AM, Rebekah Hren <rebekah.hren at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I agree, check probes, carry meters, TSA is too inconsistent to figure out
> if it's always going to be let through. However, I just barely squeaked
> through entrance customs last week, there was a $2000 limit for bringing
> equipment into country. Check and make sure that you won't have to pay
> customs taxes or get your meters yanked at customs!
> Rebekah
>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2015 at 7:40 PM, Dan Fink <danbob88 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Jay - I was busted for the probes in Canada. Too sharp. Fortunately it
>> was a tiny airport and my checked bags were right outside on the tarmac, so
>> the nice Air Canada lady went out and put the probes in.
>> So now I check the probes, and carry on the meter.
>>
>> Dan Fink
>> Adjunct Professor, Ecotech Institute
>> IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
>> ~ PV Installation Professional
>> ~ Small Wind Installer
>> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
>> NABCEP Accredited Continuing Education Providers™
>> 970.672.4342
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 9, 2015 at 4:49 PM, jay <jay.peltz at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>> I believe this was talked about in the past, but I can’t find it.
>>>
>>> I’m going to be traveling out of the country with a clamp on w/probes
>>>
>>> And curious if I should/can check this or carry it on?
>>>
>>> thanks
>>>
>>> jay
>>>
>>>
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>
> --
> Tel: 336.266.8800
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ 091209-85
> NC Licensed Electrical Contractor
>
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