Fluke meter's, 115 vs 88

[plinker]

I'm looking to upgrade meter's from a Craftsman I got about 6-7 years ago to a Fluke.

Mainly looking at a 115 as I think it should cover all the basic's that the Craftsman does currently and then some. http://www.jbtoolsales.com/fluke-115-digital-multimeter-true-rms/

I also looked at the 88v & 88-5 models, not sure the difference is between those two (other then price).

http://www.jbtoolsales.com/fluke-88v-stand-alone-automotive-multimeter/
http://www.jbtoolsales.com/fluke-88-5-88v-automotive-multimeter/

I like the idea of the 88's lifetime warranty, I dont really think I'd have any issues though. At work, I dont think I'd use the entire potential of either the 88 or the 115. I mainly check light/12v wiring problems and test "basic" wiring add-on's on semi truck builds I work on. I do tend to work on my own vehicles, So testing sensors would be a possible use I would have.

What would be the benifit's of buying an 88 over a 115? The temp and RPM probes I dont think I'd have a use for.

I also plan on buying a clamp meter for checking amp's and a power probe 3 later on as well.

 

[Old Engineer]

The Fluke 88-5 and 88V are the same model. When Fluke "upgrades" their meters, they go up in the last number. Some sites list that last number as a Roman Numeral, and some as just a number. For example, when the Fluke 88 first launched, it was just a Fluke 88. The next generation was a 88-II, then 88-III (or 3), then 88-IV, and now they are up to an 88-V.

As far as deciding between a 88 and a 117, the 88 is an automotive meter. That is why it has things like RPM, logging and timing functions. If you do automotive work, and could appreciate those functions, then that is the meter to get. If you are just doing voltage measurements, you only need the 117.

Other differences are that the 117 is made in China, and the 88 is USA made. Fluke only gives a 2 or 3 year warranty to the China stuff, and LIMITED Lifetime on the USA. I say limited, because if you look at the website, things like the LCD are not Lifetime. Also, the Lifetime warranty is good only as long as they sell that model. If they move to a new model number, they only honor the warranty for 7 years after they discontinue making the model.

 

[Schurkey]

I've been pleased with my Mac-branded 88. I bought it sometime around 1992, best I can remember.

I had to clean the LCD display contacts with a pencil eraser. Some crystals had gone dim, but that brought them "back to life".

I had problems with it for awhile when it wouldn't settle on a reading--it was constantly searching for the true ohms or volts. This turned out to be defective leads, so ~$30 in a new lead set took care of that issue, but it took me awhile to figure out.

The fuse that protects the meter is very expensive.

Beyond that, it's been a fine, trustworthy tool.

 

[Hootbro]

FLUKE 117 is gear towards an industrial electrician working mains and HVAC. While it will do 95% of what most will need a meter for, the FLUKE 88 or 87 has more flexibility for "electronic" than the 117 will.

 

[zkling]

Get an 87, it will give you the most versatility. Benefits of the 88 are for automotive guys (or gals) that need direct reading of specific parameters common to automotive applications.