Are Fluke Multimeters Worth The Substantial Extra Money?

[GlennSullivan]

Retired IT Guy, have always used Fluke equipment in the IT world. Generally they were way more advanced and tougher than the competition, but the IT world is an always moving target, where state of the art today is throw away 8 years from now.

Im now looking to upgrade my 10 year old home digital multi-meter. I do general, automotive and appliance troubleshooting and repair. In my mind, this world has not / does not change much.

How do the below listed units compare in performance and reliability? Is the Fluke worth the 6-8 times the price over the others? If you have a better suggestion than these, what do you own or would buy today?

Fluke 116 or 117
or
Astro AI TRMS 6000
or
Kaiweets 6000

 

[theoldwizard1]

For a DIYer, they are NOT worth the money ! The exception might be if they provide a function that no other meter does.

The reason Fluke meters cost so much is that they can be calibrated to a known standard and they can be repaired.

Buy a cheaper meter and a second one that is a clamp style AC/DC ammeter.

 

[honcho]

I have a couple of fluke meters (87 and 115) and a handful of other meters but for my limited uses, I probably wouldn't be hampered by an old free harbor freight analog VOM. Save your money and buy the inexpensive non-fluke meter that has the functions you think you need.

 

[zendriver]

Those Flukes are $125 not a budget breaker, IMO I have one that still works solid after 35 yrs, still accurate? maybe

Would I spend that now days? not really.

 

[bcradio]

I have a Fluke 87v and a Fluke 376 and while they are very nice, I would say not worth it to buy. You should get a good rated AC/DC clamp meter in the $50-$100 range and that will serve all your needs.

 

[SlotlessMan]

I have a Fluke 77 from tech school in 1988. It's a bench queen and used very little.

For what I need in a meter these days I have a couple cheaper, smaller and lighter Gardners. They work fine.

 

[no704]

Not worth it, I have a couple. Many DOD and other three letter agencies have SOP instructions defined to use a calibrated fluke *** meter. That’s how they keep their high end market.
Not that they aren’t great meters.

 

[Steve_P]

I have two Flukes for home use and would also say to look at other brands, unless you really want a Fluke. In January I bought the AstroAI 6000 for a cheap kitchen drawer meter and for the $ it's fantastic. I was actually shocked how nice it is, especially for the price, and it came with a thermocouple. edit- the leads for the Astro are totally functional but also pretty crappy if you're used to nice silicone leads- but those can be purchased separately. If you want quality leads, Probemasters are really nice, made in USA, worth the $. You'll appreciate them every time you use the meter.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I could not justify one, so I bought a TPI unit. I'm confident they supplied, or currently still do supply, snap on with meters. Not that snap on is the king of meters, but its.not going to be junk.

My logic was I'm mostly using a lab scope or my zeus as a volt meter, so why buy a fluke.

 

[Odd-job]

Buy one that at least takes 9v's. 9v's leak less. Don't ask me how I learned the hard way.

 

[GlennSullivan]

Thanks Everyone, good Info! 2ndGearRubber, what model TPI?

 

[GlennSullivan]

Those Flukes are $125 not a budget breaker, IMO I have one that still works solid after 35 yrs, still accurate? maybe

Would I spend that now days? not really.

New Fluke 116 = $178.00. If you know where I can buy new for $125 please PM me the vendor Info.

 

[zendriver]

New Fluke 116 = $178.00. If you know where I can buy new for $125 please PM me the vendor Info.

Looks like it was one of those "enter email to see price" so probably bait-and-switch, from what originally advertised.

Your price looks more realistic.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Yes

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thanks Everyone, good Info! 2ndGearRubber, what model TPI?

183A IIRC. Leads were decent out of the box. Lots of features, I don't use much on it but ohms and looking for voltage drops.

 

[CS454]

No they're not. However, throw a fuse holder in your leads (or buy fused leads) and you're good to go. I'd also say Fluke Backprobes have held up far better than others I've used.

 

[VolvoRyan]

20 years ago Fluke was worth it. Now, not so much. I've a hand-me-down Fluke 78 in the shop. Wonderful instrument.

I actually have one or two Astro AI TRMS 6000 for homeowner stuff.... and their AC clamp meter. The thermocouple lead is kinda junk, but the meters are surprisingly good.

-Ryan

 

[MKSJ]

One feature that I have used on my Fluke is the LoZ for eliminating phantom AC readings, haven't seen that on the other multi-meters listed. Temperature probe is too inaccurate for air-conditioner work. If you do not need the LoZ then might look at the AstroAI Digital Multimeter 10000, at $39, all the other functions and a nice bright display. I have a Fluke 289 that I bought year ago, I needed the accuracy, but they all have become over priced these days if you do not need the reliability and known accuracy. The displays on the lower priced Flukes are antiquated and hard to read.

 

[Blueshound_GJ]

I was gifted a BK Precision 2709B and it works great. I love the lighted display and magnetic hanger.

B&K Precision Corporation

If it ever breaks, however, I will buy a Fluke.

 

[ronkz650]

They may not be worth it for some guys if you don't use a meter very often, and also I have zero knowledge of the lower line Flukes as to how good they work and last.
The high end Flukes though are top notch and tough as steel for all day use. Back in 1979 I worked as a TV tech and we got 2 new Fluke 8020A, the first digital multimeter. $400 each in 1979. In the shop we used those meters all day for 23yrs, being dropped, hooked up to AC while in resistance mode ect. Nothing fazed those meters. I still keep one in my truck in case I need a meter on the road, and the other in the garage. Both never missed a beat and still work.
In 2002 we got 4 new Fluke 189 high end meters for around $400 each. They work fabulous and are beat to the ground and have also not missed a beat.
They are a tough meter that works and lasts, but you do pay a premium. Depends what you use it for I suppose, like any other tool as to whether it's worth it.

 

[smackey05]

I use a fluke 107 and have been happy with it. It's definitely a step up from the cheap Craftsman I had. For $100 it was worth it to me. Honestly, just having the magnetic clip on it has been great when working on the car.

 

[jonesg]

Worth relates to whether you are in the trade and rely on quality tools, not cheap copies.

 

[G-ManBart]

I guess I'm spoiled. I do a fair amount of electrical work/troubleshooting at work, and I was given a Fluke 177 as part of my truck tool kit. That ruined me for cheap multimeters and I'm also doing what I can to buy stuff made in the U.S. The fact they last so long makes it an easier decision for me as well. All of the cheap multimeters I've had eventually died and there's always a nagging feeling that I don't trust them.

I liked the 177 so much I watched eBay for a long time and jumped on a super clean used 177 to keep in my shop building. Deals can be found if you aren't in a hurry. Then I picked up a minty, older model 77 at an estate sale for something ridiculous like $25 and that one stays in my basement shop. I picked up another 177 at a garage sale or estate sale for $50 or so one other time as well. I like that I can drop them, they won't break, and if it does it can be fixed.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I think FLUKE are worth the extra money. I bought a damaged not working Fluke at a secondhand store. I paid $20. I called Fluke and gave them the serial number and colour of the bridge. Two days later I had replacement parts. The Fluke person told me, "Fluke do not break." The parts were free.
I got a really good deal on the OTC.

 

[ItsNemo]

I use a fluke 107 and have been happy with it. It's definitely a step up from the cheap Craftsman I had. For $100 it was worth it to me. Honestly, just having the magnetic clip on it has been great when working on the car.

I've been waiting for a 107 to get cheap enough (have seen them as low as $100 up here in Canada) to snag one.

I have a 287 big honkin thing I got for a steal (like half price), 325 ac/dc clamp, t5-600, a non contact tester, a bunch of lead sets, and a fluke bag that I got for $30 (retail $200ish)...would I have paid full price for all this stuff? No way, but I've lucked into some deals that made it worth it.

Ultimately they are really nice pieces of equipment, better built than any other $50ish or less meter, but most people would be fine with a 107 or 117 at home at most, no need for a 179 or 87v or 289 or other higher end models.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I like Fluke and find them reliable and accurate over the long term. For home and car use thought I buy them used for not a lot of dollars.

I find the military surplus Fluke 27/fm a great meter for the price. It is built like a tank (explosive environment rated) and true RMS. The min/max voltage capture is nice when diagnosing battery issues. Watch Ebay or the internet to find one in the $50 range.

 

[GlennSullivan]

Thank You Everyone, Great Information!!!

 

[turner66]

If you have a requirement to do things like data logging, remote live monitoring, sharing measurements among multiple people, tracking intermittent problems, graphing and reporting, and other more complex functions, there are very few alternatives... Also, if you are involved in writing procedures that involve measurements done by these devices, you learn to appreciate the consistency of Fluke to avoid time consuming and expensive updating of this documentation every time something changes. For most of this kind of thing I have a Fluke 289/ir3000. But honestly, I can get by with a simple inexpensive UNI-T UT210E or other inexpensive meter and get perfectly acceptable results for most auto and residential electrical needs (and they are lighter and more compact). Whether a Fluke is "worth it" very much depends on what you need to do...

 

[Vintage Veloce]

I'm a retired EE. I have two of these purchased in 2008 and 2009 and they have been fine for occasional use:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVYGZA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[klassenl]

Yes and no. I have a Fluke that I purchased for its DC clamp. It's very nice. But the one I use the most is a relatively inexpensive Greenlee.

 

[BrandonV]

Fluke is overrated IMO. Too many people repeat "buy a Fluke" because someone told them to buy one at some point. Good meters for physical durability if that is your #1 concern but you can buy a ton of other meters for light use and save $.

Bryman/Greenlee is pretty decent quality. I like Hioki & AEMC as well.

 

[ItsNemo]

Fluke is overrated IMO. Too many people repeat "buy a Fluke" because someone told them to buy one at some point. Good meters for physical durability if that is your #1 concern but you can buy a ton of other meters for light use and save $.

Bryman/Greenlee is pretty decent quality. I like Hioki & AEMC as well.

Fluke is the Snap On of the multi-meter world lol

 

[BrandonV]

Fluke is the Snap On of the multi-meter world lol

The old adage of "Nobody Gets Fired For Buying IBM" seems to apply.

Dave Jones has a great video on why Fluke still dominates.

 

[F-22]

The no-name chinese ones work generally fine for home needs...

What about the Fluke 101? Those are ~50$, nice and compact and have the functionality the majority of people need from a multimeter at home.

 

[BrandonV]

The no-name chinese ones work generally fine for home needs...

What about the Fluke 101? Those are ~50$, nice and compact and have the functionality the majority of people need from a multimeter at home.

I have a Fluke 101 in my car for emergencies. Great value if you find them on eBay from a good seller.

Adam Savage uses a 101 as his primary meter.

 

[jayemm]

Those Flukes are $125 not a budget breaker, IMO I have one that still works solid after 35 yrs, still accurate? maybe

Would I spend that now days? not really.

$125? That would be a bargain. Have you seen the prices of these Flukes in the last few years.

 

[metaldad]

i kinda like fluke

 

[Citation]

Here is another EEVlog video about Fluke vs Brymen (a very good brand)

As for is Fluke worth it over a generic Chinese meter? Well that 100% depends. In terms of confidence and safety Fluke is second to none. That doesn't mean it will always have the highest CAT rating or highest accuracy. Rather that you can be confident it absolutely meets/exceeds it's claims.

There are a few other things that Fluke generally does very well. Their continuity testing is typically very fast and latching (ie once it decides to beep it keeps the tone on long enough that it sounds like a real beep vs a scratch sound).

Is it worth it? That really depends on your needs. If you are doing simple checks on a lawnmower or car or seeing if that outlet has 120V on it, then probably not. The Chinese meters can be quite decent. They often fall down on absolute safety but if you never test anything more powerful than a wall outlet the extra protection of the Fluke is excessive for your needs.

I would also argue that for most hobby/DIY uses some of the other good meters (ie those designed by Brymen and sold as Greenlee, Amprobe, Extech, Matco and others, or Keysight/Agilent) are really strong alternatives and probably a better value even when safety and accuracy is considered. Fluke 87-3 and 87-5 meters are just about my all time favorites and my 187 and 27FMs are also great. However, at retail price I could never justify them. If I lost all my meters today I would probably look to replace my handheld with a used Matco 257. That is a Brymen made meter that is the size of the Fluke 117 but, in my view, a better all around meter and one that can often be had for under $100 in good, used condition. I would also get another UT210e clamp meter. The 210e has been discussed a number of times here. Great low cost, DC clamp meter.

 

[GlennSullivan]

The no-name chinese ones work generally fine for home needs...

What about the Fluke 101? Those are ~50$, nice and compact and have the functionality the majority of people need from a multimeter at home.

I'm looking for more features and better screen than the Fluke 100 series provides. If I went Fluke, I've narrowed it down to 116 or 117 (really 117) which is over $225. Hard to justify $225 when I can get everything except the ability to beat on it for $30-$50.

BTW, it appears that all of the Fluke models I'm considering are now made in China, which takes away another justification for spending 4X the money on Fluke.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Fluke brand and in our IT Services company (sold in 2019) we had over $50,000 of Fluke diagnostic and test equipment and it is all still in use today. But those days are over and I'm looking for a reliable multimeter to do work around the house and garage.

 

[aggiegrads]

I recently purchased a Uni-T clamp meter and highly recommend for leave in the car/tool kit. I have a Fluke 89IV that stays on the bench but us the UNI-T way more for random tasks. It is a clamp meter (AC/DC) as well as AC/DC voltage, diode check, non-contact voltage, and continuity check with beep.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BBR6JRK5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also got the EEV blog Brymen for my son (engineering student) and really like it, especially for the continuity check with backlight (backlight comes on when continuity is established). I was really surprised how much I like that feature.