The AM Forum

My trusty Fluke 26-III has bit the dust. Fluke pronounced it as non repairable due to onobtanioum parts. I really liked the meter and am sorry to see it go.

They offered me a "deal" on a new Fluke 179
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/specifications.htm?cs_id=29983(FlukeProducts)&category=HMA(FlukeProducts) (http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/specifications.htm?cs_id=29983(FlukeProducts)&category=HMA(FlukeProducts))

Anybody have any experience with this meter or recommendations on other LCD meters that might be better suited for BA work?.
(http://www.tequipment.net/ProductImages/Fluke/175_DigitalMultimeter_large.jpg)

Thanks

Carl
/KPD

Techs here have them here at work . They like them

Been using that model or its predecessor for years. Works FB. Seems pretty robust. Get a HV probe and you are good to go on any BA project.

Is there any particular reason you want the Fluke brand?  There are several out there that perform just as well for as long for less money.  I suggest you look about and do some comparisons before you buy unless the name means a lot where you are going to use it.

Fluke=quality

Hey I scored a brand new Fluke 85III complete with 2 pouches, a holster and 3 sets of probes for $150 off of evilbay. I also picked up the matching RF probe and 6KV HV probe from the same place. The deal are out there.

The RF probe is quite useful but watch the voltage rating.

I crapped out my first Fluke when I accidentally tried to measure 2 kv with the milliamp setting.  Same story, about 10 years old and Fluke said it was unrepairable because parts were no longer available.

Same old story.  Something a few years old craps out, but replacement parts are "discontinued" just when the device was getting enough age on it for some of the parts to need replacement.

The planned-obsolescence racket.

I will be getting the old standby the 260 simpson when I can afford it. yo just cant beat a good analog meter for BA work. I love my Micronta becuase of he LCD bar graph which shows peaks and dips well but nothing beats a 260/270 for that IMO.

That's a great meter Carl. If their offering a decent discount to upgrade, you can't go wrong. The one's I use and my personal favorite's: at home, it's a Fluke 87V. For work, I need both a DVM, and a meggar for checking motors. The fluke 1587 fill's that need.

Even tho some or most of Flukes lineup is imported, quality it still top's.

73

They did make an attractive upgrade offer which I took.
Thanks for all the input.

Carl
/KPD

Does anyone know if the Fluke DVM's read true RMS voltage on the a.c. scales?

Yes.

Like Tektronix for scopes and HP for spectrum analyzers, you'll never go wrong buying a Fluke.

I still have the Fluke 77 I was issued when I started my present job over 20 years ago, and I've changed the battery only twice in that time and it still works like new despite being banged around all around the world in the bottom of a toolbox.

I have one of those that every time I have it turned on near a strong 160 meter signal, it blows the input protection resistor (5 times in 6 years).  Hate the thing.  Fluke is no different than any reputable manufacturer, they have their problems and their successes

I shan't deride anyone's preference or purchase, but...

Fluke is a division of Danaher Corporation, having been purchased by them some years ago.  I'm employed in another sector of the company.  I'll be kind and say that, if Fluke's current management and QC are anywhere on a par with that which I've seen, I'd be very concerned. :-\

Just my humble opinion.

Got a bunch of 179s at work.   They work good.

I had an old Fluke 75.  My first DMM.  Got it back in the 80's.  Worked FB until last year working on the 813 rig, zorch it.  Totally disappointed.  So off to Epay and picked up 3 Fluke 77s for $60.00.

I kept the Fluke 8060A that I had at work when I retired in '93. It finally went kaput this year after 25 years service. I found a used 'as is' one on Ebay and took the two and made one good working RMS voltmeter/ammeter/ohm meter. Great meter that doesn't blow if accidentally connected to B+ on the ohms scale which I in my old age am prone to do. :)

I still actively use my Fluke 8020 and 8050 digital meters. I think I got them in the 70's.

Depends... Normally, yes... But, for a complex waveform, say from a halfwave rectifier with a resistive load, they will NOT read correctly because of the DC component.

Pete

I always managed to do that even when I was a little JN.  Probably have blown a dozen or more VOM's over the years, including a couple of Simpson 260's.  I have a real knack for accidentally f###'ing things up.

But one thing the fluke won't take is the full HV from the transmitter plate supply.  I blew my first one up after taking some resistance measurements and then forgetting to disconnect the meter before throwing the switch.

That's why I am getting a new one for Christmas!