Bro, I have used the original Fluke 87 for nearly 20 years, and have never had a single issue! With either doing electrical work, or electronics! Nothing but an outstanding meter, either way!
I used the Fluke 87 for 13 years until I lost it. 2 years ago I forgot and left it in an unknown car. I've been looking for him since then. I can buy a new one, but the old one was dear to me.😢
I love my 87v and this has to be most comprehensive video on the meter I've ever seen. I appreciate all the hard work you put into this, thanks for all the info.
i have several Fluke meters, that i used along the years as a service engineer. All the companies that I worked for only bougth Fluke. But a few months ago i´ve worked using a Hioki DT4282, and that multimeter is amazing, is beautiful, accurate, super fast, and intuitive to work to. Try it if you can. Best regards.
Great video. When you send a meter to Fluke or a third party calibration lab, they don't actually calibrate it unless its needed. They test the meter's functions across all ranges to see if its still in specs. If it is, they certify it as calibrated despite not having the calibration procedure done. That's why the meter only has the factory calibrarion recorded in memory but it's got multiple calibration stickers. Every time the meter was checked for accuracy, the factory calibration was still good so they certified it as calibrated and slapped a new sticker on it.
Calibration, strictly speaking involves only the comparison of an item under test to a known standard. It does not involve any adjustment, which, strictly speaking is a maintenance action. So, if during the calibration process, it is found that the item conforms to required specification, when compared to the standard used, the calibrator certifies that item meets the required specifications. If no adjustment is required, the item has still been calibrated. If, during calibration, it is found that maintenance is needed, then it must be calibrated again, after maintenance to ascertain that the item now meets the specification.
You are so right, Eddie...About the test leads that Fluke supplys, with their meters.I buy the heavy duty leads, with the grey parts, next to the contact points!
Thank you! I have found a number of really great test leads that cost as low as $10 USD; Here's a review that I did: th-cam.com/video/i4IvB90jZxs/w-d-xo.html
my first DMM was the Fluke 77 I bought it for our school system in 1986, One day I climbed 2 stores up to the roof of one of my schools and I had tried to clip my meter to my belt only to have it fall to the concrete below which I was sure was the end of it..... I picked up it's poor sturdy body and turned it on and was greeted to a dead meter so I got back to the shop and opened it up and its battery lead had popped off when I reconnected it I fired right up and I have been hooked on Flukes ever since. So my every day driver now is a Fluke 187 which I got for $73 dollars off eBay and I love that meter .
Thanks for the great feedback! I bought my first Fluke which was a 77 about the same time;) There are a number of rugged meters that can take a fall - but a lot of it is the luck in how it lands. Many of the rugged built meters are heavy at the top end so if it isn't tumbling too much it might hit here where most of the thicker rubber is. Many newer rugged meters have the fuses and batteries situated so there are not leads to break and mechanisms to keep them in place. The Klein meter (much lower cost than the Fluke) is made rugged and has a better IP rating than most Flukes, so will keep out dust and water too. The 187 and 189 are two of the best Flukes made IMHO, but these are 20 year old meters so buyer beware. I had to replace the terminals in my 189. Also the coin cell battery should be removed or replaced before it leaks and damages the meter. Here's a link to the Klein which also comes with a bag, temp probe, and better leads - and is safety certified. amzn.to/40mQWt3
Thank you, great video. A couple corrections , The 88, like the 83, is also not true RMS. And, The original 87 didn't replace the 8060. Fluke still made the 8060 and 8062 up until about 1997-ish. The last years of the 8060 even had a CAT rating on them. Fluke dropped them about the time the 87iii and the redesigned 70 series was released.
Thanks for all the great feedback! You are correct, the 87 never did replace the 8060 - in functionality, e.g. reading dBs for instance, but it did replace it as their high end multimeter. I still can't believe the cost of the 88 and 83 for an averaging meter...no common sense tech or engineer would ever bu that meter - IMHO.
An 87V & Brymen 869s are my daily drivers! They complement each other extremely well. One cleaning tip... for skanky meter boots; remove from the meter, remove the tilt stand (or anything else 'catchy) & run in the washing machine along with a couple loads of work clothes. They won't come out perfect, but will leave a smile on your face. As always, use common sense & good judgment. YMMV. New subscriber, thumbs up, Thanks!
Is the yellow button on Flukes purely to filter out noise to stabilize readings? Further, how would you rate a bench meter versus these pocket types for accuracy?
It is a great question! I think there are different meters that offer different methods. The best are the ones that you can set the frequency roll off. Here is an amazing meter: amzn.to/45dtKy5
Great content & info.Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge with the rest of us. I am a long time 88 owner and looked to go to the 87V Max. I hope this meter will serve me as well as my loyal 88 has done. I appreciate your insights and tips & tricks. Stay safe.
Thanks for your great feedback! I'd like to show you a couple of multimeters that are more advanced IMHO than the old 87 (of 20plus years), and are a bit lower in cost. The max just adds a good IP rating, but this one has the same IP rating with an oscilloscope option as well as 50k counts: amzn.to/3qrQYSD Here's one that incorporates an IR camera: amzn.to/3s4OWbD You can see there are some great advancements and have equal robustness.
I have been a long-time Fluke 87 user. I really enjoyed this video. I had forgotten some of these hidden features. I recently discovered your channel. Keep up the good work. Because of you, I have discovered Kiaweets. I would love to know what country they are from.
I agree with you on so many points! Great tips! Bottom line, give me a 189…. I was very lucky finding a “New, old stock” 189 in 2014. The 189 has everything the 87-V has plus rudimentary logging, AC+DC, dbs, etc., and better resolution AND a “Left/minus-center zero- Right/Plus bar graph. Still has the convenience of the rotary dial, much easier and quicker to operate than the 287 or 289. I know, I’ve used them ALL over the years, starting with the 77 in 1982. Prior to that, it was the trusty Simpson 360.. I still have at least one of 77, 78-V, 28ii, 189, 289, and so on. I’ve tried others, including 3 Brymens, a couple of Uni-Ts, etc.. Not bad meters, but definitely NOT a Fluke 189! Two major missing features in the 189 is lack of dual temp probe inputs and 9v battery power source. Well, nothing’s perfect…❤
Thanks - I agree - the 189 beats the 87 in every way - except the kickstand :( Here is a meter that rivals the 189 at a much lower cost: th-cam.com/video/UjXzIUyoQVM/w-d-xo.html
My 87 was stolen some years ago and I replaced it with a 189. Great meter and I've used most all of the functions on it, but I'm still waiting for the day I need to measure millisiemens. 😆 Great review, thanks for the tip on the zebra strips.
Thank you for your feedback. Yes you are right - kind of. Both meters have many of the same measurements, but the 289 is a new meter so it does have a higher count, but the main difference is the logging. But there are so many options that can log in a better way at that price, so what makes this meter useful is what the 87 does - with higher counts and data logging. My issue is that there is around 27 different multimeters and that just seems crazy when a guy wants do go out and buy a meter. IMHO I think it is to meet many price points vs purposes. The 189 was an amazing meter that would have replaced the 87 at about the same size but at more the performance of the 289 and even had logging - not as much as the 289 but I've yet to see anyone use the 289 for logging (I'm sure it happens), but anyone that can afford $700 for a multimeter will have better logging meters. Sorry, for the long note, but I had drank the lemonade and was a true believer - but since doing this channel I see so many better meters at much lower costs;)
I have the 8060A, great meter, the 8060A does however have some "auto ranging" functions but only when measuring resistance. But I do plan on getting a 87V to replace this aging meter that has served me well over the 25+ years I have had this meter.
I have the 8060A as well and was disappointed that the 87 didn't have all the same features, e.g. the dB function. The 87 is long in the tooth now as well IMHO. I think there are a number of better high end meters out there - that actually cost less too. Here's a link to one that I recently reviewed: amzn.to/4aY5AvC
Super Video. I have the original Fluke 87 and other than the zebra-strips is still going strong. I'll look into the replacements that you spoke of but for now a strategically-placed Q-Tip is working great! I too would be interested in a video for the high-end, as I'd like to get another meter comparable to the Fluke 87. Also thanks for pointing out the 289, I nearly bought one but everyone is complaining about the batteries--so nix that idea!
Thanks for the great feedback! I'll do the high-end multimeter review here very soon. Thanks for the suggestion! I am not a fan of the 289! Batteries are a pain in the butt and there's a bunch of them! It's just a big and bulky meter that actually takes more button pushes (menu driven) to do something that is easier with better meters. And it costs as much as an oscilloscope!
I have the 88V automotive meter and the 123 scopemeter. I've used both for years, excellent meters. The 87V looks like the same quality. I like your channel.
I too have a big klunkie fluke with four AA Batteries and I hate that. Not only does the meter burn through them fast (Even during short storage) but those Batteries Always leak at the end and screw up the meter. In 60 plus years I have never seen a 9 Volt leak (Rust maybe) and I love my other Fluke meters with 9 Volt Batteries. Thanks for the great tips as I wait for the delivery of my next meter, the 87V.
Hello my friend, I will watch and enjoy all your videos, even though they are long, to the end. Please play the full video of Fluke 179 with full description and test the details of the device.
Hello, which multimeter is better in terms of reliability fluke 87v max or brymen bm869s? Because the brymen bm869s plate does not make very qualitatively made looks. Will there be no problems with her to acquire the future for her?
Great question. I'd say that they are arguably about the same, so for near half price of the 85V - I'd go with the BM89s for the better functionality. IMHO;)
I got mine back in December 2016, Because I use it so much the labels have faded and the case now has small cracks but other than that it has never failed me. Is there a way I could have it refurbished?
Eddy, you missed my fluke 27. I bought one new, back when it came out. it was cutting edge and a brute. still use it every day. it too has a hidden feature in the ohms range, it can read leakage in the giga ohms.
I don't know why YT does this, but they delete comments, and I only see them in my email. There is one troll that they do this to and I'm fine with that, buy there is a very good friend of the channel that has helped me a lot with his informative feedback and here is his post to this video that was deleted for some reason. I'll check with YT now, but here it is: Fried Mule You simply nailed it in this video, great editing, fluent without too many repeats and greatly recorded! :-) But sorry, the Fluke is becoming seriously bad, IP30, plastic leads and no calibration, not even the measurement for change over time, even only 1 meter drop and only plastic to hold the screw. You can easily get a lot better for way cheaper.
Thanks for the great question. No, sadly it is too old school for this. The 189 did do this thought! I think the 189 was put out of production because it might have been taking a dent out of 87 sales...
I totally agree with you Ruterman, I only did this out of pressure from others commenting that I should have an 87 to do comparison review. I think the 87 will make other meters look awesome;) There are a couple of things that the 87 does nicely, but not worth the money - IMHO:)
Thanks for asking. What tolerance/resolution do you need? That is 10 mA, is 1% ok for instance? Why does it need to be Fluke? You can get that with a much lower cost multimeter.
I knew the 87V was legendary when i bought mine but i didn't know it had all the features demonstrated in this video! This video is far and away the best and most comprehensive I've ever seen! This guy obviously knows his stuff and his passion is evident. 👍 I will save this for future reference. Thank you sir! You've earned a subscriber. 🫡
Thanks for asking. To enable these operations - you start with the meter turned off, then hold the button down. For your example; hold the Hz button down - and then power the meter on while holding the button down. Does that make sense?
My meter has a problem with no the red strip ( female input connector) I contacted Fluke and bluntly told me we don’t support this model (87-3) that the 87-5 has the same part! So my meter in Flukes eyes is a paper wait. They need to up there support
Thanks for your feedback. People do not understand the 'limited' lifetime warranty. I have Fluke meters too that are not under warranty anymore:( Here's a video that I did to repair my 189: th-cam.com/video/PwYGuFa736c/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video, very informative! Quick question: what do think about the Fluke 77 first, 2nd and 3rd generation? I have seen them for sale on eBay.
That's a great question! It is an easy answer - it would be hands down the Fluke 189 - no question! It is about the same size of the 87V but has many more functions and better frequency range as well as more digits for better accuracy. The display is also better. I can't think of one thing that the 87V does better... The 289 is a joke IMHO. It is too large and goes through batteries like crazy, and the pull down menus are a pain. I don't mind the pull down menus for setup and extra capabilities and functions - but too many basic functions take extra buttons to push than the 189 or any other meter. The logging function is old school and can be better done with bluetooth with many other meters - at a much lower cost. I can have the 189 and a logging meter for less than the price of the 289.
@@KissAnalog Totally agree, I had a 289 and there are really aspects that I didn't like, such as screen that is very slow and updates values slowly too, the power-on that takes a long time (it is what I hate the most), the size and weight that are enormous. On the other hand, I'm with an 87V, the multimeter is great, I think my doubt against the 189 is that it has the option of Hi-res (300M Ohm) , smoothing option, and that it has a removable cover, and that its input jack is more robust than the 189 (which always requires constant cleaning and care). For the rest the 189 is an excellent multimeter, it is a pity that they have discontinued it.
I agree - my theory is that they discontinued the 189 because it was beginning to encroach on the 87 sales that they get automatically from all the large companies that purchase so many every year just because they are seen as disposable (low cost). I know the labs I worked in were full of them - many more than what was ever used (I saw stacks of them in tool bins). Once you get approval to buy a piece of equipment because of some rational that had to be submitted - it is a pain to go thru that process again, so you keep buying what is on the approval list. That's just my theory;)
Hi Ed, nice video. Still prefer my HIOKIs. BTW, Fluke got taken out of the Danaher company in 2016. Looks like they didn’t fit into the high-growth life-science strategy. The holding company that owns Fluke now is called Fortive, a ‘diversified industrial technology conglomerate’.
Thanks Chris for the great feedback! Yes, I didn't want to go thru all the history, but I suppose I should cover that in a video. Danaher did spin off Fortive as yo say in 2016, and Fluke still has Amprobe and Pomona Electronics (the test lead people) under their umbrella, so really that portion of Danaher is just a name change to Fortive. Kind of like HP spinning off Agilent that is now Keysight... Who knows big business - not me;)
Gonna have to try out the Fluke twist probes, where you twist them for more or less tip exposure. The Hioki meter I received last week came with a set of their twist probe leads.
I have a fantastic option that is as robust or even more robust. Also, this meter has 3rd part safety test certification, and a better display. Here's a link;) amzn.to/3JA0RSC
Es la primera vez que veo algo de su contenido, la verdad! ¡Muy bueno!. En mi colección tengo el Fluke 87 V, no lo cambio por nada del mundo, su presicion y características lo hacen único, sale mucha guita pero vale la pena la inversión. Es un multimetro a perpetuidad y de notaciones perfectas, precisas. En mi colección también tengo el Fluke 177, el Fluke 1507 (Es una bestia).Pinzas, etc Fluke. Fluke es sinónimo de perfección, ni hablar de calidad! Hace algunos meses que vengo viendo algunos Uni-T como el 195m, los Chinos están invirtiendo en mejoras importantes. ¡Saludos desde Argentina!
That's interesting Steven! Do they adjust the price up as they do here in the states if you want those leads. Crazy thing is, they jack up the price the cost of the TL-175 (no discount) but then you don't get the cheep TL75 that you actually still paid for;)
Flukes unique selling point is their calibration programme. Every lab can calibrate a fluke meter, fluke makes cslibrators themselves and they even have automated calibration software to interface with the calibrator and the meters. Obviously companies that buy 100k calibrators for their calibration labs dont really look at the price of the meters, they look for service and a complete packeage. But for a private person there are better alternatives imho.
Thanks GuidoK for this great feedback! Years ago when I had a company named 'The Audio Doctor' I had a Fluke rep offer to sell me a calibration machine that only took a module to make it work for any series of hand held meters. I was told I could make a killing on the money I'd take with this. Maybe if I was smarter I'd have done this...;)
For the price of the Fluke 87v, consider a Bryman 869s, and check the calibration yourself with precision voltage/current/resistance boxes you should already have.
@@NeverTalkToCops1 I have a bm869s. However corporations usually look for calibrations according to national standards. I use my bm869s professionally and have it calibrated to national standards anually, but most labs cant/wont do this dmm.
Hi Eddie, I really look forward to reading Fried Mule comments, he is very knowledgeable. I hope you find out why YT deletes his comments. I will repeat a little bit what he said, Eddie you simply nailed it in the video, great editing. Thank you Eddie.
Thanks so much! I don't know why this happens. I have not blocked anyone. I have had comments blocked but I can accept them, but I don't see his in my blocked list either. There are very few that go to that list - a troll or two;)
At 34:18, when ALL LCD segments are illuminated, there's an RPM function displayed. Whats this used for and how to enable it??? Great video btw. Subscribed now.
Thanks for the great question! You have a great eye;) This meter is also called a 88 for the automotive market (which I do not recommend;), but I think the display is showing the RPM for that version of this meter;) I'm going to review a much lower cost meter that I think is far better;)
My 117 just died, it can't power up even with new battery and 9V DC supply. It consumes 10mA when turned on but there is nothing. I opened up and don't see anything burnt or broken, can't do any probing because that was my only multimeter. Looking for help and came upon your video. Wow you have a vast collection of flukes.
Hi Eddie. Great video! I really like the review on the leads. May I ask you a question abou the fluke 289? Did you ever have the tilt stand come off while using it? It happens all the time with mine but I'm wondering if its because its used (bought it used) and no longer attaching properly. I am considering buying the back cover to replace but wanted to know if that is a known issue or its just mine that has it. Thank you.
Yeah, like @MrDoneboy said .. the 87 is for electrical work and not electronics work. Some hints are a) the 87 have probe slots, so you only have to place one hand in panels (e.g. for HV work), b) it defaults to AC mode (e.g. for checking process equipment, motors, HVAC, etc) rather than DC for electronics (almost everything fixed component wise, is done post-PSU unless somethings wrong at your source level), c) the magnet on the holster is designed to be easily mountable on machinery -- so if you're checking windings on a motor or whatever, you put the backlight on, slam the meter where you can see it, hit the disconnect and check phase-to-phase and neutrals. Interestingly enough, the 189 is a favorite amongst myself and my enginerding friends, but boy are they scarce I'm not hating on the 87 mind you. It's a pretty good "one-hat-fits-all". It's crazy safe, and historically had a culture of "you pay that premium but we issue recalls/replacements for even the smallest issues, because we value your life". However, if you're purely in electronics, there are way better, cheaper (since you don't have to fabricate a full VLSI ASIC anymore from scratch, writing your own analog a2d/sample&hold cell circuitry--you can just buy the intellectual property of the core components you need, throw them into Cadence and build your product up almost like a SoC. Hell, TrueRMS chips like the AD636 are discrete but aviation quality. If you're only sampling at 20k counts, and you're designing fighter jet's control system or some shit at 24bits, you're still at literally less than half a mbps--everything is super cheap now!). The Bryman 869s is an EEVblog favorite, until someone straight up clones a 189, that's what we've mostly all got
Thanks for the great feedback! Fluke calls the 87 the best for Industrial Electronics. But as you say - it is a one hat fits all. But it is long in the tooth. I think the 87V version has been around for about 20 years. I never heard of them doing a recall on anything. If you buy them used there is no warranty. And if you bought a 189 new the 'life time' warranty is expired. The 87 had a bad zebra stripe connector for the display that they redesigned but you have to buy one and install it yourself or pay an arm and leg for them to. IMHO there are many meters that are better today, e.g., the Hioki DT4282. I did a video on the Fluke 189: th-cam.com/video/YvivwYCxrBo/w-d-xo.html
Many thanks for the video. The TwistGuard test leads unfortunately are garbage too. They develop high resistance by just laying around. I have the original Fluke 87, no V-s, no MAX-es. Interestingly the original model could measure capacitance only up to 5 uF which makes this function pretty much useless. Just something worth be mindful of when buying a second-hand Fluke 87.
@@KissAnalog me and my 40 year old 87 mk 3 have a few stories to tell. my dearest posession. still both working strong. you covered literally every detail i thought it vwas me missed a secondor two.👍
Thanks for your feedback! When you get used to an old tool that does what you want - it doesn't matter how old it is - it just works. But today - I'd never buy another one;) Too many better options at a fraction of the price;) That's the benefit of doing this channel is that I get to try new stuff.
I love my 87V, but it guzzles batteries, basically to the point where I only use it when absolutely necessary. 9V batteries are not cheap. I always seem to forget to switch it completely off and man, it irritates the crap out of me that the sleep mode wastes so much power! I wish there was a to reduce that. A 9V Duracell every month is too much. I have a UNi-T meter that uses 2 AAA's that I haven't changed in over a year, and it's still going strong!
That's a great point Aruthur. Why after making the same meter for so many years that, by this time, the meter doesn't have a better battery save feature! My Hioki will go into sleep mode but after some time in sleep mode it actually shuts itself off. Also, the 87 is so expensive - why isn't it featured with rechargeable batteries?!!
I always wanted the 87V but as a hobbyist just couldn’t justify it. I’m now hooked on getting a Bremen, probably 869s. Way more meter than I need but I’m crazy for the high resolution! (500,000 count) I have found them for $228. Ever used one or have an opinion?
If you don't want to spend big $$ for Fluke meter cases, go to HD and get some Klein meter cases for about $10. Make sure your meter fits, as they are a bit slim. Definitely won't fit a 287! It fits my 87V just fine.
It is just a very expensive automotive meter, and there’s others probably better at much lower cost. A lot of labs buy the 87 just because they always have, and I think that’s why it hasn’t changed in so many years - and why it is so expensive! That’s my opinion of course but it seems like the only reason it has lasted without an update!
The 87 and 87V are general purpose industrail DMMs that can be used in many industires and for a lot of jobs. The 88 is a specialized automotive meter that is marketed and geared to automotive technitians and mechanics. Its a niche market so it doesn't get as much exposure as the more general purpose models.
Thanks a lot for video. Could you mention what's not overpriced DMM comparable to 87 and 179 true end models? As much as I love Fluke but I also think they're all overpriced for us techs who don't make tons of money 😅
Thank you! You can search my channel (kissanalog multimeters). Here's a video for a meter with safety rating tested by 3rd party - just like Fluke but is a much better price and has great features: th-cam.com/video/-TvD0p17tLA/w-d-xo.html Here is a link to the Klein MM700 at a great price: amzn.to/3wEnMr7 This Extech meter looks awesome as well. I want to get it to review it. I have a different model that I really like. Also safety tested: amzn.to/3wDgK5V
I have an 87III, which I got at a big discount as "new old stock," some years ago. I really like it. But alas, these "secret operations" don't work with the series III...I was hoping to learn about some hidden tricks my meter could do, but.... :(
These 87s can also have issues with the connection to the display. This rubber type material with connections needs to be cleaned at times to make good connections to the display.
Great question! That meter has been built for about 20 years so it would be hard to say how old that meter is. Also, it is big and IMHO there's nothing really special about it. I suppose it might be that I have used them for most my career and I'm bored of that meter. Here is a great meter at a much better price, and it has a better IP rating and is also 3rd party safety certified. amzn.to/3L1hDKE
Fluke 76 was the first True RMS meter in the 70 series. I've got it back in the mid 90s. And Fluke 79 then was not TRMS. Also model 87 had not replaced 8060. The later was produced for many more years after introduction of 87. First, second and (I believe) third generations of the 80 series had three models: 83, 85 and 87.
@@KissAnalog Yes, I believe all Fluke meters are way too expensive these days. As I recall I have paid for my Fluke 76 about $175 + about $12 for Fluke alligator clips (with machined gold plated bushings and berrilium cooper springs). A few years later I kind of got lucky and have bought on sale in MCM Electronics Fluke 85 III (with TRMS but without 20000 counts mode of 87 III) for just $159. What's interesting they also had Fluke 83 III on sale for $179 at the same time. I guess someone there could just mix prices for those two models.
@@KissAnalog Regarding the 83 V model. There might be not whole a lot of diference inside between 87 and 83 models. Dave from EEVblog channel showed that Fluke 77 and 177 are practically the same meter and the difference is only one 33 uF capacitor. However, in the comments to that video someone mentioned that both meters are sold for something like $385 and $382. And TRMS 177 with capacitor costs less than 77 without it. The conclusion was that some people might still need those averaging meters to continue their standard procedures without any changes to documentation and/or pesonnel training.
Yeah I think it is crazy the cost of Fluke. The only reason that they can charge so much is the large companies that buy them without consideration of the cost - IMHO
Thanks for your feedback! Klein offers a lot of meters at a fraction of the cost and are fantastic! IMHO even the Flukes made overseas are just too expensive - especially with the crummy leads that they come with and the lack of thermal probes or cases.
I get what you're saying Eddie, lots of Fluke fanboys(reputation maybe). I have an original Fluke Model 87, bought new in 1988, old, well used but looks new. Only problem I ever had was the display grew dim, Fluke sent me some new zebra strips for free that took care of the problem. I use this Fluke 87 regularly and really like it even though I have many newer high end (expensive) meters like Hioki, Bryman and Sanwa.. But to be fair, my experience may not be the norm. Thanks for the video.
Wow you have some nice meters. The 87 was nice in its day... I'm really curious how you got warranty service. You bought it in 1988 so I'm surprised that they took care of you 10 years past that date. I'm sure that they knew that there was a problem with the original zebra strips as I see the newer ones are a different color and are found on ebay for all the unfortunates. I wonder how the changed the material? I clean my old ones and they seem to work. But I should just swap them out but all parts for this thing are expensive.
@@KissAnalog I know right.. I called and talked to a girl in support and she took my info and just sent the zebra strips(grey not pink)no cost. I thought that was incredible as on eBay they're like $25. Maybe she was just being nice because my meter is so old like me😉 Happy New Year to you and family.
I was given a Fluke 87 a few years back for doing a residential job. I gave the guy a break since he was going through a rough patch and he gave me the meter before i left. If my memory recalls this meter has two different fuses. Some of the functions of the meter did not work and it turned out to be a blown fuse. I will say this meter is built like a tank. It’s never let me down. Great comment!
As you mentioned, the original Fluke 87 had power on shortcuts on the back of the meter. They also came with a quick reference card with additional shortcuts. I still keep the card tucked away behind the meter in the case. The company I work for supplied me with an 87V. I have other meters, but those are my go-to meters.
Hi, I purchased my 87 (not a IIV or V) about 33 Years ago when I was just starting out as an automotive mechanic and have never really needed any other meter however recently checking my home HVAC capacitor was really getting me frustrated until I herded you mention the old gal only test to 5uA. Thanks, you and your video are awesome!
@@KissAnalog In the video description near the top: Amprobe vs Fluke:studio.th-cam.com/users/videoeXpO... Hioki vs Fluke: studio.th-cam.com/users/videoYviv... Fluke Rant video: studio.th-cam.com/users/videoJSD9... Fluke magnetic holder video: studio.th-cam.com/users/videoWPn-... Any of those that show studio.youtube.com are going to your side, which works for you because you're likely logged in. But we can't log into your account so they don't work for us on this end.
Great question - and thank you for that! I wanted to review meters for those that are not sure how to select what they want. It has cost me a lot - even with the free meters that I get and then give most away. I will be slowing down a lot after I catch up over the next weeks;) Do you like them or is it too much?
Started out with analog and hold it dear in my heart, but you can't beat the numbers game. Matter of fact my analog meters outnumber my digital. Old and worthless now, I like the digital as I don't need to squint as the numbers are right there. With the digital you get the high impedance needed for electronic testing. 10 meg ohm is the norm but not always. Meters that have 2 meg max range often don't have the 10 meg impedance. Low z should also be an option on a good meter imho.
Thanks Joe! I agree, digital is just so much easier. I think any digital meter should be 10 M at least which is one of the advantages over the old analog;) Also, I agree I like the Low Z as well.
Eddie Fluke 89-IV aka 189 are the best Fluke DMMs. They represented a jump in measurement capability and in features, the 287/289 are just too big, too power hungry with hard to read displays, slow to start and not innovative at all. Considering the price of 289 I expected to have fully customizable dual or triple reading display, additional signal processing functions Vpp, CF, etc. I am not looking forward to the successors of this line when the rest of the universe are now including NCV measurements, LoZ, phase rotation, blue tooth connectivity, etc...
Thank you! I agree with you. Blue tooth with free apps - not connectors and apps you have to pay monthly for! The 189 came from the Tektronix multimeters after they had to stop competing with their new sister company (after Danaher purchased them both). It is sad, but they yellow meter is on its way out of competition IMHO.
@@KissAnalog Those blue Tek DMMs where really nice. Shortly after that they killed the Tekteonix portable oscilloscopes. I wasn't aware that the 89/189 was based on Tektronix design, but it makes sense since the interface and feature set were so different from Flukes lineup back then.
Yes, I think that is also why they killed the Tek scope (that I have on my bench). It was too close to the Fluke portables. Too bad the owner of these 2 companies killed the Tek technology - especially when it seems to me that Fluke has given up. I guess they don't think they have to try since so many people buy their meters without consideration of the better options by competitors...well at least IMHO;)
Bro, I have used the original Fluke 87 for nearly 20 years, and have never had a single issue! With either doing electrical work, or electronics! Nothing but an outstanding meter, either way!
I agree! I’ve put many hours on the 87;). Thanks for your great feedback!
@@KissAnalogHey. Mine Fluke 87V have problem. On "Diode mode" I hear buzzer when connect both cables. Is this normal?
I used the Fluke 87 for 13 years until I lost it. 2 years ago I forgot and left it in an unknown car. I've been looking for him since then. I can buy a new one, but the old one was dear to me.😢
I love my 87v and this has to be most comprehensive video on the meter I've ever seen. I appreciate all the hard work you put into this, thanks for all the info.
Thanks so much! I appreciate you!
i have several Fluke meters, that i used along the years as a service engineer. All the companies that I worked for only bougth Fluke. But a few months ago i´ve worked using a Hioki DT4282, and that multimeter is amazing, is beautiful, accurate, super fast, and intuitive to work to. Try it if you can.
Best regards.
Great video. When you send a meter to Fluke or a third party calibration lab, they don't actually calibrate it unless its needed. They test the meter's functions across all ranges to see if its still in specs. If it is, they certify it as calibrated despite not having the calibration procedure done.
That's why the meter only has the factory calibrarion recorded in memory but it's got multiple calibration stickers. Every time the meter was checked for accuracy, the factory calibration was still good so they certified it as calibrated and slapped a new sticker on it.
Thank you Julio - I did not know this! I appreciate you!
Calibration, strictly speaking involves only the comparison of an item under test to a known standard. It does not involve any adjustment, which, strictly speaking is a maintenance action. So, if during the calibration process, it is found that the item conforms to required specification, when compared to the standard used, the calibrator certifies that item meets the required specifications. If no adjustment is required, the item has still been calibrated. If, during calibration, it is found that maintenance is needed, then it must be calibrated again, after maintenance to ascertain that the item now meets the specification.
Yup, that's how I did it as a metrology tech back in the 1970s.
2:50 Correct, on the 87 III the alternative functions are printed right on the battery cover.
Thanks! I wish all meters did this;)
This was a nice multimeter from Fluke, and I still have mine working and the leads that came with it are still fine. Great video.
Awesome video and WOW one of the best explanation of the Fluke Meter I have seen
Thanks so much!
You are so right, Eddie...About the test leads that Fluke supplys, with their meters.I buy the heavy duty leads, with the grey parts, next to the contact points!
Thank you! I have found a number of really great test leads that cost as low as $10 USD; Here's a review that I did: th-cam.com/video/i4IvB90jZxs/w-d-xo.html
my first DMM was the Fluke 77 I bought it for our school system in 1986, One day I climbed 2 stores up to the roof of one of my schools and I had tried to clip my meter to my belt only to have it fall to the concrete below which I was sure was the end of it..... I picked up it's poor sturdy body and turned it on and was greeted to a dead meter so I got back to the shop and opened it up and its battery lead had popped off when I reconnected it I fired right up and I have been hooked on Flukes ever since. So my every day driver now is a Fluke 187 which I got for $73 dollars off eBay and I love that meter .
Thanks for the great feedback! I bought my first Fluke which was a 77 about the same time;) There are a number of rugged meters that can take a fall - but a lot of it is the luck in how it lands. Many of the rugged built meters are heavy at the top end so if it isn't tumbling too much it might hit here where most of the thicker rubber is. Many newer rugged meters have the fuses and batteries situated so there are not leads to break and mechanisms to keep them in place. The Klein meter (much lower cost than the Fluke) is made rugged and has a better IP rating than most Flukes, so will keep out dust and water too. The 187 and 189 are two of the best Flukes made IMHO, but these are 20 year old meters so buyer beware. I had to replace the terminals in my 189. Also the coin cell battery should be removed or replaced before it leaks and damages the meter. Here's a link to the Klein which also comes with a bag, temp probe, and better leads - and is safety certified. amzn.to/40mQWt3
Thank you, great video.
A couple corrections ,
The 88, like the 83, is also not true RMS.
And, The original 87 didn't replace the 8060. Fluke still made the 8060 and 8062 up until about 1997-ish. The last years of the 8060 even had a CAT rating on them. Fluke dropped them about the time the 87iii and the redesigned 70 series was released.
Thanks for all the great feedback! You are correct, the 87 never did replace the 8060 - in functionality, e.g. reading dBs for instance, but it did replace it as their high end multimeter. I still can't believe the cost of the 88 and 83 for an averaging meter...no common sense tech or engineer would ever bu that meter - IMHO.
An 87V & Brymen 869s are my daily drivers! They complement each other extremely well.
One cleaning tip... for skanky meter boots; remove from the meter, remove the tilt stand (or anything else 'catchy) & run in the washing machine along with a couple loads of work clothes. They won't come out perfect, but will leave a smile on your face.
As always, use common sense & good judgment. YMMV.
New subscriber, thumbs up, Thanks!
Thanks for this great tip!! Welcome and happy to have you!
Is the yellow button on Flukes purely to filter out noise to stabilize readings? Further, how would you rate a bench meter versus these pocket types for accuracy?
It is a great question! I think there are different meters that offer different methods. The best are the ones that you can set the frequency roll off. Here is an amazing meter: amzn.to/45dtKy5
Cool meters and gadgets. Looks like you have a new toy for almost every day of the year.
Merry Christmas.
🎅🎄❤
Yes I do;) Thanks Robin! Merry Christmas!
I heave multimeter 112 old series also have a Fluke T2WR tester, it is old but still serves me well and never lets me down at work 😊
Thanks for your feedback! I also have some old Flukes as well as some Radio Shack meters - all still work;)
Fluke most precious calibrated Industrial grade measuring instrument!
Thank you for sharing expensive experience 💖💝
Thanks so much! I appreciate you!
@@KissAnalog you are always welcome dear
Good evening Eddie , perfect video. I want to ask you , which is the Fluke insulation metter looks like 1503/07/08 but in red case
Thanks for asking! Did you see me use this? I have to do a video on this and one vs the Extech.
@@KissAnalog which model is this ?
Great content & info.Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge with the rest of us. I am a long time 88 owner and looked to go to the 87V Max. I hope this meter will serve me as well as my loyal 88 has done. I appreciate your insights and tips & tricks. Stay safe.
Thanks for your great feedback! I'd like to show you a couple of multimeters that are more advanced IMHO than the old 87 (of 20plus years), and are a bit lower in cost. The max just adds a good IP rating, but this one has the same IP rating with an oscilloscope option as well as 50k counts: amzn.to/3qrQYSD
Here's one that incorporates an IR camera: amzn.to/3s4OWbD
You can see there are some great advancements and have equal robustness.
The standard issue meter at my work. Thanks for the demo of the special features.
Thanks for the great feedback!
Excellent! Thank you so much. I will your posts and continue to learn.
Thanks so much!
I have been a long-time Fluke 87 user. I really enjoyed this video. I had forgotten some of these hidden features.
I recently discovered your channel. Keep up the good work. Because of you, I have discovered Kiaweets. I would love to know what country they are from.
Thanks for your feedback! Kaiweets is Chinese I believe. They seem to be doing a great job.
I agree with you on so many points! Great tips! Bottom line, give me a 189…. I was very lucky finding a “New, old stock” 189 in 2014. The 189 has everything the 87-V has plus rudimentary logging, AC+DC, dbs, etc., and better resolution AND a “Left/minus-center zero- Right/Plus bar graph. Still has the convenience of the rotary dial, much easier and quicker to operate than the 287 or 289. I know, I’ve used them ALL over the years, starting with the 77 in 1982. Prior to that, it was the trusty Simpson 360.. I still have at least one of 77, 78-V, 28ii, 189, 289, and so on. I’ve tried others, including 3 Brymens, a couple of Uni-Ts, etc.. Not bad meters, but definitely NOT a Fluke 189! Two major missing features in the 189 is lack of dual temp probe inputs and 9v battery power source. Well, nothing’s perfect…❤
Thanks - I agree - the 189 beats the 87 in every way - except the kickstand :( Here is a meter that rivals the 189 at a much lower cost: th-cam.com/video/UjXzIUyoQVM/w-d-xo.html
Great collection of yellow holster Kiss...regards from Italy.
Wow - great to hear from our friends in Italy!!
My 87 was stolen some years ago and I replaced it with a 189. Great meter and I've used most all of the functions on it, but I'm still waiting for the day I need to measure millisiemens. 😆
Great review, thanks for the tip on the zebra strips.
That's awesome;) I love the 189.
Yeh. I’m going to make sure my next meter can measure furlongs per fortnights…🤣😜 Oh wait a minute… My Rigol MSO5354 can do that already. 🤪
I have Fluke 87V and 289. Both meters are amazing. Please do not forget both have a different purpose
Thank you for your feedback. Yes you are right - kind of. Both meters have many of the same measurements, but the 289 is a new meter so it does have a higher count, but the main difference is the logging. But there are so many options that can log in a better way at that price, so what makes this meter useful is what the 87 does - with higher counts and data logging. My issue is that there is around 27 different multimeters and that just seems crazy when a guy wants do go out and buy a meter. IMHO I think it is to meet many price points vs purposes. The 189 was an amazing meter that would have replaced the 87 at about the same size but at more the performance of the 289 and even had logging - not as much as the 289 but I've yet to see anyone use the 289 for logging (I'm sure it happens), but anyone that can afford $700 for a multimeter will have better logging meters. Sorry, for the long note, but I had drank the lemonade and was a true believer - but since doing this channel I see so many better meters at much lower costs;)
I have the 8060A, great meter, the 8060A does however have some "auto ranging" functions but only when measuring resistance. But I do plan on getting a 87V to replace this aging meter that has served me well over the 25+ years I have had this meter.
I have the 8060A as well and was disappointed that the 87 didn't have all the same features, e.g. the dB function. The 87 is long in the tooth now as well IMHO. I think there are a number of better high end meters out there - that actually cost less too. Here's a link to one that I recently reviewed: amzn.to/4aY5AvC
Super Video. I have the original Fluke 87 and other than the zebra-strips is still going strong. I'll look into the replacements that you spoke of but for now a strategically-placed Q-Tip is working great!
I too would be interested in a video for the high-end, as I'd like to get another meter comparable to the Fluke 87.
Also thanks for pointing out the 289, I nearly bought one but everyone is complaining about the batteries--so nix that idea!
Thanks for the great feedback! I'll do the high-end multimeter review here very soon. Thanks for the suggestion!
I am not a fan of the 289! Batteries are a pain in the butt and there's a bunch of them! It's just a big and bulky meter that actually takes more button pushes (menu driven) to do something that is easier with better meters. And it costs as much as an oscilloscope!
I also have a Fluke 177 True RMS meter, that works very well!
I enjoyed your critique it was very entertaining and informative.
Thank you! I appreciate you!
I have the 88V automotive meter and the 123 scopemeter. I've used both for years, excellent meters. The 87V looks like the same quality. I like your channel.
Thanks for your great feedback!!
I too have a big klunkie fluke with four AA Batteries and I hate that. Not only does the meter burn through them fast (Even during short storage) but those Batteries Always leak at the end and screw up the meter. In 60 plus years I have never seen a 9 Volt leak (Rust maybe)
and I love my other Fluke meters with 9 Volt Batteries. Thanks for the great tips as I wait for the delivery of my next meter, the 87V.
Thanks so much for your feedback! There are so many fantastic meters today...it is hard for me to think of buying a 20 year old meter;)
Thanks sir for your genuine review!!
are you a tv repair man? can u use that meter to diagnose why my tv keeps showing the same guy on every channel?
LOL thanks but I am working on that;)
Hello my friend, I will watch and enjoy all your videos, even though they are long, to the end. Please play the full video of Fluke 179 with full description and test the details of the device.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you!!
@@KissAnalog me to
Freaking outstanding. 87v the defacto industrial tool
You are so right! Thank you!
GREAT INFO. Super informative. Thanks.
Thanks so much! I appreciate you!
Hello, which multimeter is better in terms of reliability fluke 87v max or brymen bm869s? Because the brymen bm869s plate does not make very qualitatively made looks. Will there be no problems with her to acquire the future for her?
Great question. I'd say that they are arguably about the same, so for near half price of the 85V - I'd go with the BM89s for the better functionality. IMHO;)
I got mine back in December 2016, Because I use it so much the labels have faded and the case now has small cracks but other than that it has never failed me. Is there a way I could have it refurbished?
If you bought it new - it might still be covered in their 'limited lifetime warranty'. I bought this one used so I have to go to EBAY to find parts.
@@KissAnalog yes I got it brand new and thanks for your reply👍🏾
Eddy, you missed my fluke 27. I bought one new, back when it came out. it was cutting edge and a brute. still use it every day. it too has a hidden feature in the ohms range, it can read leakage in the giga ohms.
Thank you David for this great feedback! I appreciate you! Did you see my Fluke 27 video? th-cam.com/video/dHa9wx-Kgtk/w-d-xo.html
@@KissAnalogI actually do remember watching that one
Awesome - thanks David!!
I don't know why YT does this, but they delete comments, and I only see them in my email. There is one troll that they do this to and I'm fine with that, buy there is a very good friend of the channel that has helped me a lot with his informative feedback and here is his post to this video that was deleted for some reason. I'll check with YT now, but here it is: Fried Mule
You simply nailed it in this video, great editing, fluent without too many repeats and greatly recorded! :-) But sorry, the Fluke is becoming seriously bad, IP30, plastic leads and no calibration, not even the measurement for change over time, even only 1 meter drop and only plastic to hold the screw. You can easily get a lot better for way cheaper.
Is this multimeter fluke 87v mesurement TRU RMS (AC+DC)
Thanks for the great question. No, sadly it is too old school for this. The 189 did do this thought! I think the 189 was put out of production because it might have been taking a dent out of 87 sales...
hi can you tech us how to set the multimeter to factory settigs
Yes - thanks for the suggestion!
It's not the best multimeter, not even the best price-quality item but is a great choice for your security. Nice video, as usual.
I totally agree with you Ruterman, I only did this out of pressure from others commenting that I should have an 87 to do comparison review. I think the 87 will make other meters look awesome;) There are a couple of things that the 87 does nicely, but not worth the money - IMHO:)
@@KissAnalog Definitely you know what you are talking about. Great channel.
Excellent video and keep it up
Thank you!
Hi, can you make compare video 87V vs 189? Why you think 189 is better? For example it doesn't has short beep for diode test like 179 or 87V.
I have an 87, need to use it with a clamp 801-600. How do you use that clamp on a 87, to measure the current of 100 Amp breaker ?
Which Fluke should i use to meassure 0,01 A DC ?
Thanks for asking. What tolerance/resolution do you need? That is 10 mA, is 1% ok for instance? Why does it need to be Fluke? You can get that with a much lower cost multimeter.
I knew the 87V was legendary when i bought mine but i didn't know it had all the features demonstrated in this video! This video is far and away the best and most comprehensive I've ever seen! This guy obviously knows his stuff and his passion is evident. 👍
I will save this for future reference.
Thank you sir! You've earned a subscriber. 🫡
Thanks so much! I appreciate you!
Hi dr.i am not understood power ON + Hz key mode Hi 2 mode how to do it?
Thanks for asking. To enable these operations - you start with the meter turned off, then hold the button down. For your example; hold the Hz button down - and then power the meter on while holding the button down. Does that make sense?
My meter has a problem with no the red strip ( female input connector) I contacted Fluke and bluntly told me we don’t support this model (87-3) that the 87-5 has the same part! So my meter in Flukes eyes is a paper wait. They need to up there support
Thanks for your feedback. People do not understand the 'limited' lifetime warranty. I have Fluke meters too that are not under warranty anymore:( Here's a video that I did to repair my 189: th-cam.com/video/PwYGuFa736c/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video, very informative! Quick question: what do think about the Fluke 77 first, 2nd and 3rd generation? I have seen them for sale on eBay.
If you'll be buying the first reneration try to find Fluke 76. I've got mine in the mid 90s and it still works like new.
Que coleção linda. Parabéns, saudações do Brasil.
Eu tenho 2 flukes 233 1 fluke 381 e 1 fluke 62max
Thank you! Great to hear from friends in Brazil!
Thanks for the video! If you could only keep one Fluke multimeter, what would it be and why?
That's a great question! It is an easy answer - it would be hands down the Fluke 189 - no question! It is about the same size of the 87V but has many more functions and better frequency range as well as more digits for better accuracy. The display is also better. I can't think of one thing that the 87V does better... The 289 is a joke IMHO. It is too large and goes through batteries like crazy, and the pull down menus are a pain. I don't mind the pull down menus for setup and extra capabilities and functions - but too many basic functions take extra buttons to push than the 189 or any other meter. The logging function is old school and can be better done with bluetooth with many other meters - at a much lower cost. I can have the 189 and a logging meter for less than the price of the 289.
@@KissAnalog Totally agree, I had a 289 and there are really aspects that I didn't like, such as screen that is very slow and updates values slowly too, the power-on that takes a long time (it is what I hate the most), the size and weight that are enormous. On the other hand, I'm with an 87V, the multimeter is great, I think my doubt against the 189 is that it has the option of Hi-res (300M Ohm) , smoothing option, and that it has a removable cover, and that its input jack is more robust than the 189 (which always requires constant cleaning and care). For the rest the 189 is an excellent multimeter, it is a pity that they have discontinued it.
I agree - my theory is that they discontinued the 189 because it was beginning to encroach on the 87 sales that they get automatically from all the large companies that purchase so many every year just because they are seen as disposable (low cost). I know the labs I worked in were full of them - many more than what was ever used (I saw stacks of them in tool bins). Once you get approval to buy a piece of equipment because of some rational that had to be submitted - it is a pain to go thru that process again, so you keep buying what is on the approval list. That's just my theory;)
Hi Ed, nice video. Still prefer my HIOKIs.
BTW, Fluke got taken out of the Danaher company in 2016. Looks like they didn’t fit into the high-growth life-science strategy.
The holding company that owns Fluke now is called Fortive, a ‘diversified industrial technology conglomerate’.
Thanks Chris for the great feedback! Yes, I didn't want to go thru all the history, but I suppose I should cover that in a video. Danaher did spin off Fortive as yo say in 2016, and Fluke still has Amprobe and Pomona Electronics (the test lead people) under their umbrella, so really that portion of Danaher is just a name change to Fortive. Kind of like HP spinning off Agilent that is now Keysight... Who knows big business - not me;)
Gonna have to try out the Fluke twist probes, where you twist them for more or less tip exposure. The Hioki meter I received last week came with a set of their twist probe leads.
That's great! I don't have the twist type with my Hioki. My Hioki is now my favorite meter for sure!!!
I have a question is this the best multimeter for an electrician if no which one you recommend?
I have a fantastic option that is as robust or even more robust. Also, this meter has 3rd part safety test certification, and a better display. Here's a link;) amzn.to/3JA0RSC
Es la primera vez que veo algo de su contenido, la verdad! ¡Muy bueno!. En mi colección tengo el Fluke 87 V, no lo cambio por nada del mundo, su presicion y características lo hacen único, sale mucha guita pero vale la pena la inversión. Es un multimetro a perpetuidad y de notaciones perfectas, precisas. En mi colección también tengo el Fluke 177, el Fluke 1507 (Es una bestia).Pinzas, etc Fluke. Fluke es sinónimo de perfección, ni hablar de calidad! Hace algunos meses que vengo viendo algunos Uni-T como el 195m, los Chinos están invirtiendo en mejoras importantes. ¡Saludos desde Argentina!
Interestingly, Fluke package the TL-175 leads with the 87 destined for the European market (with a "/EUR" SKU postfix).
That's interesting Steven! Do they adjust the price up as they do here in the states if you want those leads. Crazy thing is, they jack up the price the cost of the TL-175 (no discount) but then you don't get the cheep TL75 that you actually still paid for;)
Flukes unique selling point is their calibration programme.
Every lab can calibrate a fluke meter, fluke makes cslibrators themselves and they even have automated calibration software to interface with the calibrator and the meters.
Obviously companies that buy 100k calibrators for their calibration labs dont really look at the price of the meters, they look for service and a complete packeage.
But for a private person there are better alternatives imho.
Thanks GuidoK for this great feedback! Years ago when I had a company named 'The Audio Doctor' I had a Fluke rep offer to sell me a calibration machine that only took a module to make it work for any series of hand held meters. I was told I could make a killing on the money I'd take with this. Maybe if I was smarter I'd have done this...;)
For the price of the Fluke 87v, consider a Bryman 869s, and check the calibration yourself with precision voltage/current/resistance boxes you should already have.
@@NeverTalkToCops1 I have a bm869s.
However corporations usually look for calibrations according to national standards.
I use my bm869s professionally and have it calibrated to national standards anually, but most labs cant/wont do this dmm.
Oh, great, now I want another meter!! 🤩
LOL Thanks so much!
You can never have enough meters. There's always room for one more. :)
Hi Eddie, I really look forward to reading Fried Mule comments, he is very knowledgeable. I hope you find out why YT deletes his comments. I will repeat a little bit what he said, Eddie you simply nailed it in the video, great editing. Thank you Eddie.
Thanks so much! I don't know why this happens. I have not blocked anyone. I have had comments blocked but I can accept them, but I don't see his in my blocked list either. There are very few that go to that list - a troll or two;)
At 34:18, when ALL LCD segments are illuminated, there's an RPM function displayed. Whats this used for and how to enable it???
Great video btw. Subscribed now.
Thanks for the great question! You have a great eye;) This meter is also called a 88 for the automotive market (which I do not recommend;), but I think the display is showing the RPM for that version of this meter;) I'm going to review a much lower cost meter that I think is far better;)
I'd like use fluke 189 that's the best tool eddy
Thank you! I agree the 189 is the best Fluke made. Have you seen this video: th-cam.com/video/PwYGuFa736c/w-d-xo.html
My 117 just died, it can't power up even with new battery and 9V DC supply. It consumes 10mA when turned on but there is nothing. I opened up and don't see anything burnt or broken, can't do any probing because that was my only multimeter. Looking for help and came upon your video. Wow you have a vast collection of flukes.
Hi Eddie. Great video! I really like the review on the leads. May I ask you a question abou the fluke 289? Did you ever have the tilt stand come off while using it? It happens all the time with mine but I'm wondering if its because its used (bought it used) and no longer attaching properly. I am considering buying the back cover to replace but wanted to know if that is a known issue or its just mine that has it. Thank you.
Yeah, like @MrDoneboy said .. the 87 is for electrical work and not electronics work. Some hints are a) the 87 have probe slots, so you only have to place one hand in panels (e.g. for HV work), b) it defaults to AC mode (e.g. for checking process equipment, motors, HVAC, etc) rather than DC for electronics (almost everything fixed component wise, is done post-PSU unless somethings wrong at your source level), c) the magnet on the holster is designed to be easily mountable on machinery -- so if you're checking windings on a motor or whatever, you put the backlight on, slam the meter where you can see it, hit the disconnect and check phase-to-phase and neutrals. Interestingly enough, the 189 is a favorite amongst myself and my enginerding friends, but boy are they scarce
I'm not hating on the 87 mind you. It's a pretty good "one-hat-fits-all". It's crazy safe, and historically had a culture of "you pay that premium but we issue recalls/replacements for even the smallest issues, because we value your life". However, if you're purely in electronics, there are way better, cheaper (since you don't have to fabricate a full VLSI ASIC anymore from scratch, writing your own analog a2d/sample&hold cell circuitry--you can just buy the intellectual property of the core components you need, throw them into Cadence and build your product up almost like a SoC. Hell, TrueRMS chips like the AD636 are discrete but aviation quality. If you're only sampling at 20k counts, and you're designing fighter jet's control system or some shit at 24bits, you're still at literally less than half a mbps--everything is super cheap now!). The Bryman 869s is an EEVblog favorite, until someone straight up clones a 189, that's what we've mostly all got
Thanks for the great feedback!
Fluke calls the 87 the best for Industrial Electronics. But as you say - it is a one hat fits all. But it is long in the tooth. I think the 87V version has been around for about 20 years. I never heard of them doing a recall on anything. If you buy them used there is no warranty. And if you bought a 189 new the 'life time' warranty is expired. The 87 had a bad zebra stripe connector for the display that they redesigned but you have to buy one and install it yourself or pay an arm and leg for them to.
IMHO there are many meters that are better today, e.g., the Hioki DT4282. I did a video on the Fluke 189: th-cam.com/video/YvivwYCxrBo/w-d-xo.html
Many thanks for the video. The TwistGuard test leads unfortunately are garbage too. They develop high resistance by just laying around. I have the original Fluke 87, no V-s, no MAX-es. Interestingly the original model could measure capacitance only up to 5 uF which makes this function pretty much useless. Just something worth be mindful of when buying a second-hand Fluke 87.
Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. I did not realize that the original 87 was limited to 5 uF. I actually had one for years;)
Thanks for review is this multimeter 20000 count or 22000 count?
Thanks for the question. It defaults to 6000 count but can be switched to 19,999 counts. So we would refer to this as 20,000 count meter.
hello Kiss Analog .can you make a vedio about the best multimeters you have ? like Top 10 multimeters you have and what you will prefer?
That’s a great idea!! Thank you!!
I wish they would go back to the old boot with the bendable kickstand.
I agree Andrew! That was my favorite. Some of the new kickstands that they have now are pure garbage!
did you mention internal fuse test function. sorry if i missed that part. enjoyed the video
Thanks - I should have demonstrated this.
@@KissAnalog me and my 40 year old 87 mk 3 have a few stories to tell. my dearest posession. still both working strong. you covered literally every detail i thought it vwas me missed a secondor two.👍
Crazy how old this technology is;) No wonder the competition has passed them by;)
My fav meter! will never get rid of it! it does the do! everything I ask of it. I work in telecommunication... it is a work horse.
Thanks for your feedback! When you get used to an old tool that does what you want - it doesn't matter how old it is - it just works. But today - I'd never buy another one;) Too many better options at a fraction of the price;) That's the benefit of doing this channel is that I get to try new stuff.
What an amazing lab sir🤣🤣🤣🤣
LOL - thanks!
I love my 87V, but it guzzles batteries, basically to the point where I only use it when absolutely necessary. 9V batteries are not cheap. I always seem to forget to switch it completely off and man, it irritates the crap out of me that the sleep mode wastes so much power! I wish there was a to reduce that. A 9V Duracell every month is too much. I have a UNi-T meter that uses 2 AAA's that I haven't changed in over a year, and it's still going strong!
That's a great point Aruthur. Why after making the same meter for so many years that, by this time, the meter doesn't have a better battery save feature! My Hioki will go into sleep mode but after some time in sleep mode it actually shuts itself off. Also, the 87 is so expensive - why isn't it featured with rechargeable batteries?!!
I always wanted the 87V but as a hobbyist just couldn’t justify it. I’m now hooked on getting a Bremen, probably 869s. Way more meter than I need but I’m crazy for the high resolution! (500,000 count) I have found them for $228. Ever used one or have an opinion?
I have one. You will probably never need it, but it is fun to watch. 🙃
@@migsvensurfing6310 I definitely don’t need that much resolution, but it looks super cool! Lol
Thanks Jay!! The Brymen is a great meter! Solid choice!
A few years ago I've got one mint 87V on eBay for a friend for just $150 delivered. I guess we just got lucky.
How to repair the dark spot on the LCD
If you don't want to spend big $$ for Fluke meter cases, go to HD and get some Klein meter cases for about $10. Make sure your meter fits, as they are a bit slim. Definitely won't fit a 287! It fits my 87V just fine.
Thanks for the great feedback!!
I know the 87v is a great meter but just wondering why the 88v is never mentioned or reviewed
It is just a very expensive automotive meter, and there’s others probably better at much lower cost. A lot of labs buy the 87 just because they always have, and I think that’s why it hasn’t changed in so many years - and why it is so expensive! That’s my opinion of course but it seems like the only reason it has lasted without an update!
The 87 and 87V are general purpose industrail DMMs that can be used in many industires and for a lot of jobs. The 88 is a specialized automotive meter that is marketed and geared to automotive technitians and mechanics. Its a niche market so it doesn't get as much exposure as the more general purpose models.
Thanks a lot for video.
Could you mention what's not overpriced DMM comparable to 87 and 179 true end models? As much as I love Fluke but I also think they're all overpriced for us techs who don't make tons of money 😅
Thank you! You can search my channel (kissanalog multimeters). Here's a video for a meter with safety rating tested by 3rd party - just like Fluke but is a much better price and has great features: th-cam.com/video/-TvD0p17tLA/w-d-xo.html
Here is a link to the Klein MM700 at a great price: amzn.to/3wEnMr7
This Extech meter looks awesome as well. I want to get it to review it. I have a different model that I really like. Also safety tested: amzn.to/3wDgK5V
@@KissAnalog Thank you sir for responding and all the links . I appreciate it 👍
I have an 87III, which I got at a big discount as "new old stock," some years ago. I really like it. But alas, these "secret operations" don't work with the series III...I was hoping to learn about some hidden tricks my meter could do, but.... :(
my fluck 87 not powering off atomatic and when on multimeter showing s----
Sorry to hear that. Can you use one of these 'secret' operations to correct that?
@@KissAnalogthanks for replying my fluck multimeter stuck on s---- only this digit on multimeter
These 87s can also have issues with the connection to the display. This rubber type material with connections needs to be cleaned at times to make good connections to the display.
@@KissAnalogOK thanks sir
Is the fluke 87v a good deal for $200?
Great question! That meter has been built for about 20 years so it would be hard to say how old that meter is. Also, it is big and IMHO there's nothing really special about it. I suppose it might be that I have used them for most my career and I'm bored of that meter. Here is a great meter at a much better price, and it has a better IP rating and is also 3rd party safety certified. amzn.to/3L1hDKE
I strongly recommend buying the Fluke. Look at the fusing and high voltage protection built in as well as their calibration accuracy over time.
Fluke 76 was the first True RMS meter in the 70 series. I've got it back in the mid 90s. And Fluke 79 then was not TRMS. Also model 87 had not replaced 8060. The later was produced for many more years after introduction of 87. First, second and (I believe) third generations of the 80 series had three models: 83, 85 and 87.
Thanks for this great feedback! It is crazy that the 83 is so expensive but is only an averaging meter (not TRMS).
@@KissAnalog Yes, I believe all Fluke meters are way too expensive these days. As I recall I have paid for my Fluke 76 about $175 + about $12 for Fluke alligator clips (with machined gold plated bushings and berrilium cooper springs). A few years later I kind of got lucky and have bought on sale in MCM Electronics Fluke 85 III (with TRMS but without 20000 counts mode of 87 III) for just $159. What's interesting they also had Fluke 83 III on sale for $179 at the same time. I guess someone there could just mix prices for those two models.
@@KissAnalog Regarding the 83 V model. There might be not whole a lot of diference inside between 87 and 83 models. Dave from EEVblog channel showed that Fluke 77 and 177 are practically the same meter and the difference is only one 33 uF capacitor. However, in the comments to that video someone mentioned that both meters are sold for something like $385 and $382. And TRMS 177 with capacitor costs less than 77 without it. The conclusion was that some people might still need those averaging meters to continue their standard procedures without any changes to documentation and/or pesonnel training.
Yeah I think it is crazy the cost of Fluke. The only reason that they can charge so much is the large companies that buy them without consideration of the cost - IMHO
i have the 8060 too and its beautiful
I agree - thanks!
Just about every field service job I have ever had a Fluke 87 was provided to me. Decent meters but I prefer a smaller meter.
Thanks Tron! I’ve used the 87 for most of my career. It’s crazy how long it’s been around. Simple and solid. Maybe showings it’s age today;)
THe Fluke 12E+ and other similar Chinese made Flukes are almost the same but cost just 1/4 as much!
Thanks for your feedback! Klein offers a lot of meters at a fraction of the cost and are fantastic! IMHO even the Flukes made overseas are just too expensive - especially with the crummy leads that they come with and the lack of thermal probes or cases.
I get what you're saying Eddie, lots of Fluke fanboys(reputation maybe). I have an original Fluke Model 87, bought new in 1988, old, well used but looks new. Only problem I ever had was the display grew dim, Fluke sent me some new zebra strips for free that took care of the problem. I use this Fluke 87 regularly and really like it even though I have many newer high end (expensive) meters like Hioki, Bryman and Sanwa.. But to be fair, my experience may not be the norm. Thanks for the video.
Wow you have some nice meters. The 87 was nice in its day... I'm really curious how you got warranty service. You bought it in 1988 so I'm surprised that they took care of you 10 years past that date. I'm sure that they knew that there was a problem with the original zebra strips as I see the newer ones are a different color and are found on ebay for all the unfortunates. I wonder how the changed the material? I clean my old ones and they seem to work. But I should just swap them out but all parts for this thing are expensive.
@@KissAnalog I know right.. I called and talked to a girl in support and she took my info and just sent the zebra strips(grey not pink)no cost. I thought that was incredible as on eBay they're like $25. Maybe she was just being nice because my meter is so old like me😉 Happy New Year to you and family.
I think you forgot about fuse feature. You can check if your fuse is broken also.
I sure did and I had planned to show that! Thanks for reminding me!
I was given a Fluke 87 a few years back for doing a residential job. I gave the guy a break since he was going through a rough patch and he gave me the meter before i left. If my memory recalls this meter has two different fuses. Some of the functions of the meter did not work and it turned out to be a blown fuse. I will say this meter is built like a tank. It’s never let me down. Great comment!
TÜV is THE German Technical Supervision Assoziation 🤙🏽
Thanks so much! Back in the day I had to design to the different country standards - and the TUV is a strict one;)
As you mentioned, the original Fluke 87 had power on shortcuts on the back of the meter. They also came with a quick reference card with additional shortcuts. I still keep the card tucked away behind the meter in the case. The company I work for supplied me with an 87V. I have other meters, but those are my go-to meters.
I love those cards that fit in the meter bag;) Thanks for the great feedback!!
Hi, I purchased my 87 (not a IIV or V) about 33 Years ago when I was just starting out as an automotive mechanic and have never really needed any other meter however recently checking my home HVAC capacitor was really getting me frustrated until I herded you mention the old gal only test to 5uA. Thanks, you and your video are awesome!
This Canadian Friend like this video ! YES YES !!
U Da MAN!! I appreciate you!!
I see that yellow calibration sticker.....hmmm
LOL that might be a few years out of date;) But I bet it is still in cal…thanks to modern electronics;)
I heard you came out of the factory without a call cert Eddie.... lol
LOL Joey!
Wrong links to videos - to TH-cam Studio, not videos itself :)
Thanks for this feedback! I appreciate you! Can you tell me which link? I tried a few and they seem to work...
@@KissAnalog In the video description near the top:
Amprobe vs Fluke:studio.th-cam.com/users/videoeXpO...
Hioki vs Fluke: studio.th-cam.com/users/videoYviv...
Fluke Rant video: studio.th-cam.com/users/videoJSD9...
Fluke magnetic holder video: studio.th-cam.com/users/videoWPn-...
Any of those that show studio.youtube.com are going to your side, which works for you because you're likely logged in. But we can't log into your account so they don't work for us on this end.
Thanks so much!! I think that should be corrected now;)
Fluke always special
Thank you!
Hey brother I sent you a message on patreon that's kinda time sensitive. It's about a meter for sale. It's a quick question
Thanks Joey! Great timing, I was just checking my mail before hitting the sack! long day;)
@@KissAnalog thanks. I've been eyeing that meter but there are not many reviews for it. Thank you
Why you are buying lot of multimeters...?
Great question - and thank you for that! I wanted to review meters for those that are not sure how to select what they want. It has cost me a lot - even with the free meters that I get and then give most away. I will be slowing down a lot after I catch up over the next weeks;)
Do you like them or is it too much?
Started out with analog and hold it dear in my heart, but you can't beat the numbers game. Matter of fact my analog meters outnumber my digital. Old and worthless now, I like the digital as I don't need to squint as the numbers are right there. With the digital you get the high impedance needed for electronic testing. 10 meg ohm is the norm but not always. Meters that have 2 meg max range often don't have the 10 meg impedance. Low z should also be an option on a good meter imho.
Thanks Joe! I agree, digital is just so much easier. I think any digital meter should be 10 M at least which is one of the advantages over the old analog;) Also, I agree I like the Low Z as well.
i also like the 233.
Thanks for your feedback!
Do you have a multimeter I can take off your hands buy of course I’m a new I &C Tech
You bet! Where do you live?
Eddie Fluke 89-IV aka 189 are the best Fluke DMMs. They represented a jump in measurement capability and in features, the 287/289 are just too big, too power hungry with hard to read displays, slow to start and not innovative at all. Considering the price of 289 I expected to have fully customizable dual or triple reading display, additional signal processing functions Vpp, CF, etc. I am not looking forward to the successors of this line when the rest of the universe are now including NCV measurements, LoZ, phase rotation, blue tooth connectivity, etc...
Thank you! I agree with you. Blue tooth with free apps - not connectors and apps you have to pay monthly for! The 189 came from the Tektronix multimeters after they had to stop competing with their new sister company (after Danaher purchased them both). It is sad, but they yellow meter is on its way out of competition IMHO.
@@KissAnalog Those blue Tek DMMs where really nice. Shortly after that they killed the Tekteonix portable oscilloscopes.
I wasn't aware that the 89/189 was based on Tektronix design, but it makes sense since the interface and feature set were so different from Flukes lineup back then.
Yes, I think that is also why they killed the Tek scope (that I have on my bench). It was too close to the Fluke portables. Too bad the owner of these 2 companies killed the Tek technology - especially when it seems to me that Fluke has given up. I guess they don't think they have to try since so many people buy their meters without consideration of the better options by competitors...well at least IMHO;)