Got a free fluke 83 multimeter

[90zcar]

I was at my brother in-laws house tonight and he does a lot of electrical work and I asked him if any of his co-workers ever upgrade their multi-meters to better ones and if they sell their old ones or what.
He told me to hold on a second as he went out to his shed and came back in and said "here ya go"...handed me an older fluke 83. I tried to give him something for it and he just told me to take it!
I popped a new battery in it and she came on.
It only had 2 black leads so I'd like to pick up a red one. Where can I get a new lead/leads for it that are good and how much do they run.
Up until this point I only had a little 5 dollar harbor freight meter I use for basic automotive testing.
Can anyone that has this model tell me anything about it? Is it a good one? Etc..



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[Dustball]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00011Q5QG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[redmondjp]

YOU SCORED!

Enjoy it in good health in 2015.

 

[wild cowboy]

here are the genuine Fluke TL71 test leads for your Fluke 83 for $7 cheaper than amazon

www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-TL71-10A-PREMIUM-DMM-TEST-LEAD-SET-FOR-DIGITAL-MULTIMETER-PROBES-NEW-/231268914703


If I were you, I would put a fresh high quality 9V battery in this, but a normal Duracell or Energizer would be fine as long as it is fresh from a large retailer.

 

[Bruce57]

It's a good meter for general electrical use and troubleshooting. Generally runs over $300 new. Your brother-in-law did you right.

 

[Spinaker01]

My main multimeter is a Fluke 83. Had it for almost 20 years and it is an excellent, accurate and reliable unit. Will measure anything an non-electronics guy would ever need to measure and then some. Great freebie!

 

[Outlander]

This borders on meriting a 'you ****', but since it came from the BIL this might violate some unspoken rule. Enjoy your new meter!

 

[platform389]

If I were you, I would put a fresh high quality 9V battery in this, but a normal Duracell or Energizer would be fine as long as it is fresh from a large retailer.

Here is good advice. Even better, spend a little more, get a lithium 9v for it and reduce the chance for leak damage.

http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-LA522SBP-Lithium-Battery-Detectors/dp/B003VKOEBM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420119601&sr=8-2&keywords=lithium+9+volt+battery

Your test equipment will be instantly available for years to come.

 

[90zcar]

Thanks guys. Guess I did pretty well then. Yes I put a fresh Duracell 9v in it. Just wanna clean up the unit/casing a little bit yet. The actual screen still had the plastic protective film on it. Surprising for how old it is.

Should I stick with actual fluke leads like pointed above or could I go with these shown below for 7 bux. I don't think they are fluke ones



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[404]

Most anything Fluke is great. The inexpensive leads will get you started. Later when the plating on the tips becomes less conductive and annoying or the wire inside breaks you can upgrade.

When checking that a circuit is off for safety, and want to be **** about it, first switch to ohms range with probes together to make sure there is continuity. Switch to volts and test, then do the ohms check again to make sure leads are still good.

 

[Davefr]

Fluke leads are really nice but can be wayboverpriced.

There are some less expensive test leads at this site and they're really decent quality, have good reviews and only cost a few bucks.

http://www.dx.com/s/test+leads

 

[redwrench60]

That's actually a pretty good meter. It's the non true RMS version of a Fluke 87 which is an incredible meter in function, accuracy and safety. Here's my 83-3. Good all around meter.

Since you got nothing in the meter I suggest you get basic Fluke leads since they account for a good portion of the safety of the meter. The basic leads aren't expensive, it's the interchangeable end leads that can be pricey.

You could just mark one of those black leads with red tape at each end and use it as your dedicated + lead.

 

[redwrench60]

Factory Fluke TL75 basic leads are $13 plus shipping on Amazon. That's the way I'd go for that meter. You can always upgrade later or trade

 

[tool_scrounge]

Search ebay for "military test lead". Nice sets with interchangeable tips for $9.40 +shipping.

Example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111192277507

The ones I have purchased are labeled as supplied by Elwyn Industries in Pa, and large numbers were supplied in the 1990s for the Gulf War. They are supplied in hermetically sealed pouches so they look brand new even thought the one I just opened has a 1990 date code on it.

But from what I read, Elwyn Industries does not make electronics. So it is suspected that they purchased the leads from someone else. The test leads look identical to the Keithley 1754 Universal Test Lead Kit, which costs $58.

http://www.keithley.com/products/accessories/testleadsprobes/?mn=1754

alt source of the probes (slightly higher cost):
http://www.davidriddle.com/elwyn.html

 

[Cope]

Should I stick with actual fluke leads like pointed above or could I go with these shown below for 7 bux. I don't think they are fluke ones



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You got the meter free, so invest in the real McCoy. I needed a new set for my 83, so I took the leads from my 87 and put them on the 83, and bought a set of the silicone Fluke leads for the 87.

 

[90zcar]

Everyone is right I should atleast get the actual good fluke leads...I'll have a whopping 15-20 bux invested total.

What's the difference between the tl-71 and tl75 leads?
Here's the TL71


Here's the TL75



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[Cope]

Everyone is right I should atleast get the actual good fluke leads...I'll have a whopping 15-20 bux invested total.

What's the difference between the tl-71 and tl75 leads?
Here's the TL71


Here's the TL75



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TL-71 appears to be a premium set. TL-75 looks like what came with my 83.

 

[90zcar]

I'll get the premium set then...gonna order em up tonight


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[xbeatles4x]

Nice score op. I also scored the same fluke 83 multimeter from a friend. He was leaving Miami to go to Buffalo. He just gave it to me. Replaced all the internal fuses as a preventive measure and new batteries and it is great. I might get new test leads but it is awesome.

If you don't know already go out and watch a few videos on how to use it properly. It can do things that I didn't know I could do.

Also thanks guys. I have been needing some new test leads. Now I have a few that are known to be decent. I once started to look up some but gave up.

 

[sam.coll]

Thats an awesome score you cant go wrong with a Fluke.

Prove - Test - Prove

 

[Onefastgsx]

Should I stick with actual fluke leads like pointed above or could I go with these shown below for 7 bux. I don't think they are fluke ones



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I have some of the offbrand leads from eBay you posted. They are very nice for the money. Im no pro, I just wanted some that would work well and laSt me a while. I'm going on 2 years with these and I use my meter quite a bit

 

[toplessHO]

I bought several sets of those military test leads a few years ago
glad to see they are still around.

 

[90zcar]

I purchased the fluke tl71 set. I figure I'll get good leads....I can always get add on pueces later


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[toplessHO]

good move and nice score

 

[90zcar]

Finally came



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[redwrench60]

Finally came



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So now you got what.......like $15-$20 in a high quality meter? You got it made.

 

[n8n]

your local electrical supply should have the leads, as well as the hanging accessories if they fit that model. Check and make sure that the fuse(s) are the correct ones and get those as well if not. Then enjoy!

 

[ryanedoyle]

Yeah I am jealous. The only thing I get when I go to my brother in-laws house is him asking to borrow money.

Great score!

 

[90zcar]

your local electrical supply should have the leads, as well as the hanging accessories if they fit that model. Check and make sure that the fuse(s) are the correct ones and get those as well if not. Then enjoy!

Yeah I gotta figure out what is gonna benefit me the most as far as cost n whatnot. Would like to atleast get a set of the alligator clips that slide on the end of the probes


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[txdude87]

Finally came



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Awesome! What's the part numbers on those? Think my meter needs an upgrade.

 

[90zcar]

Fluke TL71


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[Steinmetz]

Thats an awesome score you cant go wrong with a Fluke.

Prove - Test - Prove

Yes you can. I had to replace the display in mine several years ago. It had a flaw well-known to Fluke. It was made in Everett, WA, although I think that Fluke is made predominately in China now.

 

[redmondjp]

Yeah I gotta figure out what is gonna benefit me the most as far as cost n whatnot. Would like to atleast get a set of the alligator clips that slide on the end of the probes

Those are very handy - I keep a pair of the clips in a tiny plastic bag in my primary toolbox.

Fluke AC175 is the part number you want - they are $11 on Amazon.

 

[ttpete]

Yes you can. I had to replace the display in mine several years ago. It had a flaw well-known to Fluke. It was made in Everett, WA, although I think that Fluke is made predominately in China now.

Same thing with my 8050A bench top. I also had to replace the battery packs because it won't operate on 120V with bad batteries. Found them on ebay.

 

[Cope]

Yes you can. I had to replace the display in mine several years ago. It had a flaw well-known to Fluke. It was made in Everett, WA, although I think that Fluke is made predominately in China now.

I cleaned the contacts on mine but the problem kept recurring. I bought a new display from an eBay seller and later found I could have gotten it cheaper straight from Fluke. My 87V and 52II are made in USA, but my i410 ammeter clamp is made in Thailand. This may be a byproduct of the sale to Danaher years ago.

 

[90zcar]

Those are very handy - I keep a pair of the clips in a tiny plastic bag in my primary toolbox.



Fluke AC175 is the part number you want - they are $11 on Amazon.

Thanks! Those are the ones I have been looking at. They should be able to open up wide enough to go around the clamp on car battery terminals right?


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[redmondjp]

Thanks! Those are the ones I have been looking at. They should be able to open up wide enough to go around the clamp on car battery terminals right?

Not over the entire clamp, but over the bolt or nut on the clamp. The jaws open approximately 1/2" or so.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

get the Fluke AC285 Alligator Clips