recommend me new DVOM

[Mr.Nutcase]

My fluke 87 broke when I closed my tool box the leads caught the box.

I checked the DVOM using a resistance check, i am not getting continunity unless i press on leads
, and I am retiring my meter I used for about 10 years, The jack broke, I have source another jack. I am keeping as back up now.
Any recommendation on brands?

 

[kbeefy]

I have a fluke 77 and a 233. Both do what I need..... interested to see what other recommendations there are.

Coincidentally, I did just buy a vintage analog meter just for those pesky quick signals that are hard to catch on a DMM.

 

[Jim greengo]

And action:

 

[ronkz650]

Fluke 87 is a great meter. I would just buy another new 87.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

My last purchase was a korean made TPI 183A. I have been very happy with it. I am confident they were who who snap on rebranded a few years ago. The equivalent model of the 183A is not longer sold on their site.

 

[General Geoff]

My fluke 87 broke when I closed my tool box the leads caught the box.

I checked the DVOM using a resistance check, i am not getting continunity unless i press on leads
, and I am retiring my meter I used for about 10 years, The jack broke, I have source another jack. I am keeping as back up now.
Any recommendation on brands?

@Shoreline_ has a used 87V up in the classifieds section. Very good price.

 

[richfinn]

Depends what your using it for, my vote is fix the 87 and use it until you die

1. The Fluke 87 is the benchmark multimeter

2. You already own the best multimeter

3. How long are you planning on being alive??

 

[cgrutt]

Give Fluke a call they just might replace it believe it's all lifetime guarantee. Pretty sure mine is an 87 too.

 

[uncwstudent]

Check out Brymen. You can find used Matco meters on Ebay (which are just rebranded Brymen). They are spectacular meters. I preferred my Brymen over my Fluke 117.

 

[pooterguy]

After my trusty Fluke 87 somehow escaped a few years ago, I adapted to a Fluke 117 with minimal gray matter stress.

But I really, really miss my ole PSM-6. RIP (sob)

 

[Carguy99]

I’ve used a lot of meters. Fluke 87-88 are fine meters. Buy used and make sure the display is good. But it’s an easy cheap fix if it doesn’t
honestly, almost any meter in the 35$ And up price range is accurate enough for most stuff. Buy better test leads Makes any meter more usable . As my mentor used to say bad connections give you bad result.

 

[ItsNemo]

Going to be another Fluke vote from me, I have a 287, 325, T5-600, 1AC-A1-II (non contact voltage tester), TLK281 (lead kit), C195 (bag). I'd like to add a 107, 117, or some other lower end regular meter to the collection as the 287 is sometimes a bit much to fire up for a quick probe but is awesome for logging and accuracy. The 325 is an AC/DC clamp, highly recommend a DC capable clamp, I use it more than for AC. The T5-600 is handy for just straight electrical work and like the ability to attach a probe to the body for easier use when there's nowhere to set it down.

 

[redwrench60]

If I broke my Fluke 87V I use at work , I’d be buying another right away. It has the features, durability and reliability I depend on.

 

[lugnut71]

I have a fluke 88 that i bought new in '98, great meter, however if i was buying new today i would get the new big screen like snap on has now.

 

[lugnut71]

 

[richfinn]

I have a fluke 88 that i bought new in '98, great meter, however if i was buying new today i would get the new big screen like snap on has now.

How much are they?

 

[lugnut71]

there is like 3 versions, snap on had them on sale month or so ago

 

[ecotec]

The multimeter you had was the top of the line multimeter.

I have the 117, and it does everything that I need from it. If you do not want to spend the money to replace the 87, the 117 is a good multimeter.

I also have a t5-1000 voltmeter and a 323 clampmeter.

The 87 is a much more sturdy multimeter than the 117.

I would google Fluke repair and service. I would at least see if it can be repaired.

 

[richfinn]

there is like 3 versions, snap on had them on sale month or so ago

There might be better options if you just want a bigger screen.

Snap-On aren't really known for producing high quality meters (last time I looked at one it was a rebadged UEi made in South Korea and could be had for a lot less $$)

 

[f121]

I was about to suggest this, or the Bluetooth version.

Arguably the build quality isn’t as nice as a fluke 87, but use ability is much better, particularly the ability to read the screen at a distance when the multimeter is in an engine bay or footwell.

 

[dave*99]

What do you want to measure? Volts ohms Amps?
Transients?
Continuity?
Frequency?
Harmonics?
Fluke (and others) have tons of options. Some are even catered to specific trades.
I’ve had good luck with Fluke having owned the 8020B , 75,77,87,187,345 and a scope meter.

 

[ecotec]

I would also suggest two upgrades. The TPAK, or whatever they call it now, and the grey upgrade leads with the silicone.

 

[richfinn]

I was about to suggest this, or the Bluetooth version.

Arguably the build quality isn’t as nice as a fluke 87, but use ability is much better, particularly the ability to read the screen at a distance when the multimeter is in an engine bay or footwell.

£523!!!!

You can buy a brand new Fluke 87v MAX for that price or a 2 channel picoscope (and have whatever size screen you like)

 

[f121]

£523!!!!

You can buy a brand new Fluke 87v MAX for that price or a 2 channel picoscope (and have whatever size screen you like)

Yeh, I paid £200 off marketplace. Retail is just nuts.

It’s really nice being able to graph it on your phone thou!

 

[pooterguy]

Buy used and make sure the display is good. But it’s an easy cheap fix if it doesn’t

Please provide details re the easy cheap fix.

 

[Citation]

Check out Brymen. You can find used Matco meters on Ebay (which are just rebranded Brymen). They are spectacular meters. I preferred my Brymen over my Fluke 117.

This is my suggestion as well. High end Flukes are great. I've had a few 87s and currently have a 187. The various rebadged Brymens are great. The only thing they really miss vs the better Flukes (not the 11x series} is a good touch hold function. That's a feature the other guys should copy.
Note that not all Matco, Greenlee or Amprobe meters are from Brymen but many are.

 

[richfinn]

Yeh, I paid £200 off marketplace. Retail is just nuts.

It’s really nice being able to graph it on your phone thou!

Do you know what I do when I want to monitor a meter reading remotely?

 

[engineer2]

Pictures? What exactly broke?

 

[BarrelRoll]

The multimeter you had was the top of the line multimeter.

I have the 117, and it does everything that I need from it. If you do not want to spend the money to replace the 87, the 117 is a good multimeter.

I also have a t5-1000 voltmeter and a 323 clampmeter.

The 87 is a much more sturdy multimeter than the 117.

I would google Fluke repair and service. I would at least see if it can be repaired.

I was holding out for an 87 when I was working with one of the best heavy equipment mechanics in our area. He uses a 117 and a stand alone amp clamp that reads DC voltage (I can't remember the number).

I picked up this kit off Amazon, I don't do much DC stuff so the AC amp clamp will be handy on occasion. The AC amp clamp is basically free when you consider what the 117 and magnet go for.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTSLWRA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dave*99]

The clamp on types are bulky and don’t fit well in my tool bag. I do keep one in the tool box. It’s a dedicated Fluke clamp on digital ammeter. My old Fluke 77 is compact and travels well. Give some thought to your needs and choose accordingly.

 

[hans109h]

I like my Greenlee DM-210, it does everything I need it to at a fraction of the cost of a Fluke. Whatever you buy, be cautious of knockoffs.



Hans

 

[Citation]

I like my Greenlee DM-210, it does everything I need it to at a fraction of the cost of a Fluke. Whatever you buy, be cautious of knockoffs.



Hans

This is one of the Brymen made meters. It's a very good meter.

 

[zmotorsports]

I've been and still continue to be a Fluke fan and have several 87 models between Jeep and home shop as well as the one from work that I gave to my son. They are awesome meters and the Fluke leads are the best on the market.

That being said, I recently purchased a lightly used Snap-on EEDM525 for my home shop and LOVE it. Same one @lugnut71 posted above and it is a great meter. I didn't need the Bluetooth version but this does everything my Fluke will do but what I really like is the horizontal format and the screen is so much better being backlit and with the larger display.

I love everything about it EXCEPT the leads. Come on Snap-on, get your **** together and make some better leads. I ended up swapping the leads for my Fluke leads for the perfect combination but the Snap-on leads flat ****.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

 

[hans109h]

I've been and still continue to be a Fluke fan and have several 87 models between Jeep and home shop as well as the one from work that I gave to my son. They are awesome meters and the Fluke leads are the best on the market.

That being said, I recently purchased a lightly used Snap-on EEDM525 for my home shop and LOVE it. Same one @lugnut71 posted above and it is a great meter. I didn't need the Bluetooth version but this does everything my Fluke will do but what I really like is the horizontal format and the screen is so much better being backlit and with the larger display.

I love everything about it EXCEPT the leads. Come on Snap-on, get your **** together and make some better leads. I ended up swapping the leads for my Fluke leads for the perfect combination but the Snap-on leads flat ****.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

Out of curiousity, what makes the Fluke leads so good? The only experience I have with leads are: an old Craftsman analog meter (terrible), the Harbor Freight freebie meter leads (even worse), and those on my DM-210 (no complaints). Just wondering what makes a good lead great?

Hans

 

[zmotorsports]

Out of curiousity, what makes the Fluke leads so good? The only experience I have with leads are: an old Craftsman analog meter (terrible), the Harbor Freight freebie meter leads (even worse), and those on my DM-210 (no complaints). Just wondering what makes a good lead great?

Hans

In one word, "flexibility". The Fluke leads are so flexible and then there's the probes and clamps. The tips don't bend if you look at them wrong like some on the market and the clamp style ends grip well without marring what they're clamped to. It's unbelievable to me that as high of quality that Snap-on produces that they can't even come close to copying the Fluke leads in terms of flexibility and quality.

 

[ItsNemo]

Out of curiousity, what makes the Fluke leads so good? The only experience I have with leads are: an old Craftsman analog meter (terrible), the Harbor Freight freebie meter leads (even worse), and those on my DM-210 (no complaints). Just wondering what makes a good lead great?

Hans

You don't feel the leads tugging at you AT ALL with the good Fluke ones, zero memory. Any high quality silicone lead would be like this though, not just Fluke.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Out of curiousity, what makes the Fluke leads so good? The only experience I have with leads are: an old Craftsman analog meter (terrible), the Harbor Freight freebie meter leads (even worse), and those on my DM-210 (no complaints). Just wondering what makes a good lead great?

Hans

If the leads on your 210 are made by Brymen, they're better than Fluke leads.

The only leads better than Brymen are Probe Master.

 

[65ranchero]

Please provide details re the easy cheap fix.

By experience I know Fluke 87 LCD would have a problem with the numbers would not show very clearly .
All that had to be done is take the top cover off remove the LCD screen and lightly rub the contacts with a pencil eraser ..
Works every time.

 

[cgrutt]

Just curious if anybody has a Fluke 88V for automotive work and what do you think of it? Been considering one for a while. Checked my old Fluke and it's not an 87... it's a 77 lol. Time is flying by...

 

[richfinn]

Just curious if anybody has a Fluke 88V for automotive work and what do you think of it? Been considering one for a while. Checked my old Fluke and it's not an 87... it's a 77 lol. Time is flying by...

I've never had an 88 but I believe they aren't true RMS like the 87.

It does have millisecond measurements though for fuel injector on time etc. and you can use an RPM probe with it.

Probably nice features to have 25 years ago, but pretty redundant on modern coil on plug. If you have a decent scan tool or a scope it's not going to offer you anything extra IMHO.

I think the 87v MAX is a better meter for automotive as they are very rugged and waterproof