Fluke Replacements?

[sweet victory]

After watching AVE's two videos on Fluke's new multi meter, I was thinking about alternative manufactures. I've been using Fluke as my go to trusted meter, but I guess as long as it's got a calibration sticker (All of my work requires our QC dept. to have calibration stickers) it should be fine. Do you guys have suggestions? Needs to handle everything from delicate lab use to being stuffed in my tool bag that sees regular TSA/Air Plane handling.



For context:

Part 1:

Part 2:

 

[sweet victory]

We're all human.

 

[6PTsocket]

Are you locked into a fork style multimeter? There are plenty of clamp types without issues. The one you are looking at won't do DC Amps. I notice that YniT's fork meter will. DC Amps function is a lot easier to find in a clamp meter. AvE is a bright guy but he is not infallible. I caught some questionable electronic theory when he was describing a Wheatstone Bridge. His ranting and quirky expressions seem to be taking over his reviews as time goes on. I thought the rust buster tests were pretty useless.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[todd_fuller]

Depends on what you’re looking for. EEVblog forums have some very good information to help choose. A DMM is more than just features or measurement accuracy too.

 

[BMack37]

I've tried other meters, always come back to Fluke.

This T6 is new technology, the last days of old technology will always be better than the first days of new technology.

 

[ToolRoom]

I would look into some of the Brymen meters, they are the OEM for several other manufacturers including Amprobe, Metrel, Greenlee.

I have their 079 clamp and 257S DMM. Decent quality, good range of features and affordable pricing, their leads are also nice. Can't really say about longevity yet but I tend to look after my tools so they should hopefully last a while.

Fluke's advantage is they have traditionally survived very well in the harsh fleet/subby market and that is what their name is built on. There are plenty of alternatives which pack more features at a lower price

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

While that model looks like a fail, unless they redesigned their other meters, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I doubt they went through and cost cut all their existing products to the point they are no longer safe or accurate.

 

[General Geoff]

I would look into some of the Brymen meters, they are the OEM for several other manufacturers including Amprobe, Metrel, Greenlee.

Highly recommend the Brymen BM869s.
https://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm869/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm869s/

Won't find any meter with the same features and precision for that price.

 

[electroman187]

Highly recommend the Brymen BM869s.
https://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm869/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm869s/

Won't find any meter with the same features and precision for that price.

I have two of these meters in the Greenlee brand. DM-860A. They are awesome. I am a master electrician and electrical engineer. Serves well for both purposes. The precision, accuracy and features are VERY hard to beat. Not to mention they are CAT IV 1000V rated. Fluke doesn't even a single meter with that rating! Oh yeah, can't go wrong with most Flukes either

 

[Wamsutta]

What's in the video that says Fluke is no longer a quality meter? Do I have to watch the video?

.

 

[7echo]

What's in the video that says Fluke in no longer a quality meter? Do I have to watch the video?

That particular meter requires a very specific location for the wire in the fork. There was also some concern about getting shocked. Then a bit of time looking into the corporate back ground to understand why the Fluke quality may be going down hill.

 

[Fbmoose48]

One youtube video is not a reason to stop relying on Fluke meters.

 

[Wamsutta]

I made it to 3-1/2 minutes before I couldn't stand it no more. That guy has a foul mouth and a miserable personality.

 

[6PTsocket]

I made it to 3-1/2 minutes before I couldn't stand it no more. That guy has a foul mouth and a miserable personality.

AvE is an aquired taste. He used to be better but with fame he has become a charicature of himself. More hokey expressions, more cursing and less good info. I can ignore the other stuff or even laugh at it but if I come away not feeling better informed, it is a waste of time.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[5ktq]

I like to have a nice bench meter, 4.5 or more digit, prefer the hp or fluke, old (late 70's) ones with LED displays, or newer ones with VFD displays if you have more cash. Most the 80s meters perform as well, but have not lit LCD displays... not as nice to read.

But for working on cars, wiring house, etc.. I use $5 HF specials most of the time. If I need the precision (almost never) I lug out a bench meter.

I suppose maybe I should get a nice handheld some day, but if I've made it this far...


So anyway I guess my answer is nice bench meter, and something affordable to bring with you on the road. Doesn't have to be $5 HF special, but $50 second tier brand is probably fine. I guess it depends what you're working on.

 

[Fbmoose48]

Can we all agree nothing from HF is ever a replacement for anything made by Fluke, not even their ballpoint pens?

 

[Tallpilot]

AvE is a polarizing figure but his analysis that Fluke’s current controllers (not owners, that would be the shareholders who have no control at all and will end up the bag holders in the restructuring) are engaging in value engineering. This does not stretch credulity because all firms engage in it.

The good news is the Fluke meters are so good it will take several revisions before they become a bad purchase. In every industry the leader is almost always eventually knocked down by competition.

One interesting thing is that seems to take longer in the tool industry than others I am familiar with. Some theorizing on why that would be might be interesting.

 

[WWheeler]

Haven't watched it all, and full disclosure, didn't understand much of what I did, but stumbled across this guy's vids which seem to be a 'poke-holes-in-it' type response of sorts to AvE's Fluke T6 vids (though I don't think he mentions him by name). Like I said, I don't even understand the half of it but just from the bit of a gist I got I suspect AvE might have been wrong about this one and perhaps the Fluke T6 isn't a dud. Please correct me if I'm wrong as I like AvE and generally respect his findings, but think he may have screwed the pooch on this one.

This one also has a part 1 and part 2 (which should automatically follow). He seems to side-track a few times there but comes back around. There's even clips from AvE's vid in this one, and it came out shortly afterward, which is what makes me think he's going right at his testing methodology and results...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k8hhtTtWfVc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

edit: originally posted wrong vid (oops)

 

[lestat]

Haven't watched it all, and full disclosure, didn't understand much of what I did, but stumbled across this guy's vids which seem to be a 'poke-holes-in-it' type response of sorts to AvE's Fluke T6 vids (though I don't think he mentions him by name). Like I said, I don't even understand the half of it but just from the bit of a gist I got I suspect AvE might have been wrong about this one and perhaps the Fluke T6 isn't a dud. Please correct me if I'm wrong as I like AvE and generally respect his findings, but think he may have screwed the pooch on this one.

This one also has a part 1 and part 2 (which should automatically follow). He seems to side-track a few times there but comes back around. There's even clips from AvE's vid in this one, and it came out shortly afterward, which is what makes me think he's going right at his testing methodology and results...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k8hhtTtWfVc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

edit: originally posted wrong vid (oops)

Yeah, that man is well known for torturing multimeters to death and is equally feared by your cheapo HF as well as the high end ones. He basically zaps them with increasingly high voltages to see where they break down, and how severe the fault is. It is a very good indicator to the built quality and overall engineering of the meters.

I remember a specific test about selector switch life cycles, he compared a cheap one with a fluke (can't remember the model). An electric actuator would take the switch through all the ranges and back, and that would count as a cycle. Point is, the cheap one turned to mush after 3000 cycles, fluke would be almost like new after 60.000 cycles. It really puts things into perspective.

 

[scooby074]

Nothing wrong with Fluke (mostly).

The T6 is a gadget not ready for primetime. But, Id have no problem with most of their products. I use Fluke products daily. Still the brand I trust the most.

The 87V is still a bulletproof workhorse.

 

[BMack37]

I like to have a nice bench meter, 4.5 or more digit, prefer the hp or fluke, old (late 70's) ones with LED displays, or newer ones with VFD displays if you have more cash. Most the 80s meters perform as well, but have not lit LCD displays... not as nice to read.

But for working on cars, wiring house, etc.. I use $5 HF specials most of the time. If I need the precision (almost never) I lug out a bench meter.

I suppose maybe I should get a nice handheld some day, but if I've made it this far...


So anyway I guess my answer is nice bench meter, and something affordable to bring with you on the road. Doesn't have to be $5 HF special, but $50 second tier brand is probably fine. I guess it depends what you're working on.

These meters are fine for most stuff, for a homeowner that knows how to use a DMM, they're fine. Those meters are surprisingly accurate for the cost. BUT anyone using them regularly or testing current is better served with a reputable, safe, brand.

I like Fluke for several reasons, they're durable, they're fast, a solid stand and 9V battery(in their DMMs, minus the display in the remote display units) so no leaking batteries. A super fast continuity beeper is very important to me to check for shorts on chips or connectors...you even get a fast beeper on a Fluke 11* series made in China.

Brymen(Greenlee, Matco), terrible stand that leans too far. The model I have takes several button presses to cycle through diode check, resistance, continuity and capacitance...whotf decided to put that on one selector setting is an idiot.

Fluke is also the only manufacturer that I know of who has one quick beep for diode check. This is soo useful when you're checking in tight spaces and can't see the screen.

 

[rlitman]

I have two of these meters in the Greenlee brand. DM-860A. They are awesome. I am a master electrician and electrical engineer. Serves well for both purposes. The precision, accuracy and features are VERY hard to beat. Not to mention they are CAT IV 1000V rated. Fluke doesn't even a single meter with that rating! Oh yeah, can't go wrong with most Flukes either

I'm trying to wrap my head around the Cat IV 1000V rating. It seems damned near impossible to find any specs for this online. UL does not support Cat IV, and most of what I can find on Cat IV from IEC is only for clamp meters. The only thing I can find is that 28mm clearance is required for it.

But here's a question, when will you ever encounter a situation where the service voltage (Cat IV) is between 600V and 1000V? I've never heard of such a thing, and in my world of 480V service, Cat IV 1000V brings nothing to the party beyond the normal Cat III 1000V / Cat IV 600V rating.

 

[redmondjp]

I'm trying to wrap my head around the Cat IV 1000V rating. It seems damned near impossible to find any specs for this online. UL does not support Cat IV, and most of what I can find on Cat IV from IEC is only for clamp meters. The only thing I can find is that 28mm clearance is required for it.

But here's a question, when will you ever encounter a situation where the service voltage (Cat IV) is between 600V and 1000V? I've never heard of such a thing, and in my world of 480V service, Cat IV 1000V brings nothing to the party beyond the normal Cat III 1000V / Cat IV 600V rating.

Cat IV is primarily on the utility side or at very large industrial power systems, where you could potentially see higher voltage transients. This document explains it pretty well:

http://content.fluke.com/promotions...dmm/fluke_dmm-chfr/files/safetyguidelines.pdf

 

[rlitman]

Cat IV is primarily on the utility side or at very large industrial power systems, where you could potentially see higher voltage transients...

I get THAT part. What I don't get is where you'd ever see a utility BETWEEN 600V and 1000V where the Cat IV 1000V rating would be beneficial.

It's like saying that you designed an ABS system that accepts speed inputs from 5 wheels.

 

[electroman187]

I get THAT part. What I don't get is where you'd ever see a utility BETWEEN 600V and 1000V where the Cat IV 1000V rating would be beneficial.

It's like saying that you designed an ABS system that accepts speed inputs from 5 wheels.

Rlitman, I get what you're saying but I think you misunderstand the standard.

Read this http://testmeterpro.com/cat-iv-multimeter/

Do you realize the benchmark Fluke 87V is a 1000V meter? It is CAT III-1000V and CAT IV-600V rated. It is NOT CAT IV-1000V rated because it wasn't designed for it and doesn't have the required input protection, test leads, etc..

CAT IV-1000V is definitely better. It may be overkill for most applications, but I'm not going to say it's pointless and I'm definitely not going to hold it against an outstanding meter.

 

[metaldad]

whatever.
just picked up a 381 to go with my 233.