Is a Fluke multimeter overkill?

[GH85Carrera]

30 or 35 years ago or so I bought a Fluke. We had hired an electrician to modify one of our Italian made processors chemical heater for the tanks. I asked him about a meter and he said Fluke is all he ever used.

He said he really liked the accuracy of the ohms readings when working on equipment. Mine has been flawless for decades.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I prefer to have professionals deal with 600VAC.

We had very strict rules for voltages greater then 500 VAC, gloves, floor matts, gowns. Took all the fun out of it.

I had some close calls when I was younger...I prefer not to think about how close I came.

The meter was never the problem, it was the operator...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

30 or 35 years ago or so I bought a Fluke. We had hired an electrician to modify one of our Italian made processors chemical heater for the tanks. I asked him about a meter and he said Fluke is all he ever used.

He said he really liked the accuracy of the ohms readings when working on equipment. Mine has been flawless for decades.

As always you get what you pay for.

[sc_rufctr]

Did anyone else have a classic GI Joe doll? I always wanted this set... lol

[1990C4S]

Buy the $20 Amazon meter and put the savings towards a new fishing rod...you know you want to.

[908/930]

Yes I called it overkill, Vash is using it to check low voltage DC. I picked up mine for use with 600VAC, where I would not use a $30 meter.

[RWebb]

anybody know the best way to clean the yellow 'protector' on a grimy Fluke?

[908/930]

For cleaning try Vim, works well for grimy boat fenders.

[aschen]

I have a fluke 17b+ which is a genuine high quality fluke, but it is built for lower cost markets. Around 125$ on ebay or another gray market importer.

Tons of youtube videos and positive reviews online

25$ meter would be fine for me but I like nice tools. Cap meter really useful for ac use and has a thermocouple probe as well

[pwd72s]

For Vash, one of the best battery testing videos I've seen, describing the 3 methods of testing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVPLUzGyaDk

Now, in response...if all Vash does is test DC voltage? No need to buy a Fluke brand.
However, if he can afford it, why not? Great for status, right? Actually, I have an old Craftsman autoranging multimeter. When Ron in LB was here on one of his big rides, we compared it's reading with readings from his fluke over a variety of tests. Got the same readouts from either. The fluke obviously put together better, but for occasional use? No problems with my Sears unit.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by RWebb

anybody know the best way to clean the yellow 'protector' on a grimy Fluke?

I killed my older fluke by cleaning it. I wiped it down with some gp cleaner, and it cleaned up really nice, but never turned on again . I did not soak it or anything either, not quite sure exactly what happened, but I will never do that again
Be careful whatever it is you end up using

[pwd72s]

Vash is a discerning gentleman who appreciates having only the best. Therefore, he should give Fluke a ring and order this while keeping the suggested add ons in mind:

https://www.fluke-direct.com/product/fluke_88v_a_automotive_multimeter_combo_kit

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Vash is a discerning gentleman who appreciates having only the best. Therefore, he should give Fluke a ring and order this while keeping the suggested add ons in mind:

https://www.fluke-direct.com/product/fluke_88v_a_automotive_multimeter_combo_kit

cheaper than a pool table

[gtc]

Overkill for the hobbyist on a budget, but they sure are a lot nicer to use.

[dw1]

I'm a big believer in buying quality tools. The Fluke meters are well designed and have good inter fusing for the inevitable oops.

I have several fluke DMM's (77 & 87), a Fluke 105 Scopemeter, a Fluke Wire tracer, and a Fluke ethernet tracer, and a variety of accessories (e.g. clamp-on current probe) most of which were obtained lightly used.

I have non-Fluke electronics tools (including my old Heathkit tube tester!) but I trust Fluke more than any other brand.

Having said all of this, it really comes down to what you need the tool to do, and how often you will be using it. Unless you are a pro, Fluke full-price new tools are probably overkill.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

I've used Fluke since my Beckman meter given to me by A. Beckman finally died.
I have also recently consulted on an Fluke E-Maint CMMS implementation.
They are heavily into PdM & CBM on the asset management side.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RWebb

cheaper than a pool table

Definitely, especially in light of the cost of adding a game room in order to have one.

But then I could have many fun hours with a pool table. 9' Diamond professional with 4.5" pockets and simonis cloth please.

Never did consider using a multimeter fun...

Still, Vash just deserves nothing but the best, right?

[RWebb]

give him your wood stove

[pwd72s]

Wood stove stays. It's seen us through many days long power outages...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by RWebb

anybody know the best way to clean the yellow 'protector' on a grimy Fluke?

The yellow bump cushion on the older Flukes can be removed.

I'd take it off the meter and then use wax and grease remover to get it clean. Never use lacquer thinners or anything like that on older plastics. And Fluke supply them as spare parts. (Or they did a few years ago)