Get a Fluke DMM

[mpmarino]

Chris,

Sitting in my Boss' office is a ~1 yr old fluke 88 that reads CAL on the display. I currently have a 87 and 88 (both really beat but beautiful on the inside) but wouldn't mind adding another 88 to the mix. Do you think I could get it going without spending anything??

BTW - yes, a beat fluke is better than almost anything else new...

They are more accurate over wider ranges and they make 'faster decisions'.

Sorry for a bit O.T.

[Conrad Hoffman]

I'm a test equipment snob. If it doesn't have 6.5 digits and hold a few ppm for years, I'm not impressed. My "good" meters are old HP 3455As, a HP3478A, and a few others. They cost very little on the used market. My Fluke 77 handheld DVM has been going strong for over a decade, accurate to the last count, and far better than its paper specs. I know because I maintain a bank of standard cells plus a triplet of Fluke voltage standards, cross compared and periodically calibrated. BUT, this is all nonsense for audio work (I have other needs). If you can measure within 5-10% and know your meters bandwidth, you should be able to build or fix just about anything. I don't know of many audio measurements that have to be any closer than that. It won't prevent you from matching resistors to 0.01% if you know the tricks for doing so. The truth of the matter is that when you're a newbie, you need reliable test equipment. You certainly need a reliable scope, no matter how slow. The more you know about what you're doing, the less you need and the more anomalies you can compensate for. When you know enough, you won't need any test equipment at all! There are certainly tools I craved in my early audio days, to reveal circuit mysteries. Today I have that stuff, but rarely need it. Remember that in the very early days of radio they didn't have any scopes at all, yet still managed to design and use HF circuits.

[anatech]

Hi mpmarino,
I'm not familiar with the 88, but I do now that the later Fluke meters were closed case calibration (yahoo!) because the proximity of the case affected the higher frequency AC cal. I had built a jig for 87's for that reason. Not perfect, but much closer than an open optimization. I sent all my jigs to the Transcat Rochester lab when I left. So some $$ is required as they need to access it with their cal program. What happened to it? Also, it should be withing the warranty period (1 year).

Hi Conrad,

BUT, this is all nonsense for audio work (I have other needs).

I do to (have other uses for them), but I also disagree with you. The better your gear is, the faster you get answers you can depend on. I still want to find an HP3585A and a few other pieces that I can afford.

Yes, you can do with less the more you know, but it's much faster to directly measure the quantity in question. I'm too busy for tricks.

Do you know that in 1920 they had oscillographs of waveforms? They must have had some way of doing this.

-Chris

[mpmarino]

What happened to it?

I can't imagine? -it wasn't mine. I've put my meters thru the mill and never saw one fail *except* for one that the terminals broke internally when it got smooshed in the field.

[anatech]

Hi mpmarino,

I can't imagine? -it wasn't mine.

And the guy that did it will never tell the truth.

Send it in for warranty. The worst thing that can happen is denial and not worth repair. You may get a "new" 88 for free, or a very reasonable price.

-Chris

[mpmarino]

Originally posted by anatech
Hi mpmarino,

And the guy that did it will never tell the truth.

Send it in for warranty. The worst thing that can happen is denial and not worth repair. You may get a "new" 88 for free, or a very reasonable price.

-Chris

Advice taken - I'll give it a try. I just gotta figure out how to get my grubbies on it first

[coolmaster]

Here in Asia, SANWA meters from Japan are well represented here, easily available since the 1960's and very competitively priced for anyone to afford. If you guys fancy Japanese instruments.. Sanwa has the required quality, good build and cheaper than Fluke, Its because of the currency exchange rate here Fluke is outrageously priced. Its like I'm quoting you the Fluke 111 costs 500 bucks.

Official site here:
http://www.sanwa-meter.co.jp/overseas/index-e.html

[Juergen Knoop]

Fluke is outrageously expensive for most of us here.

here too!

[anatech]

The deal is this. I don't particularly like Fluke equipment (larger stuff) and I grudgingly accept that they make the best hand held multimeter going. Possibly the best multifunction calibrators too.

Why are they so darn good?

1. They were very well made, the older 87 I think was better for defect rate.
2. They use an extremely stable, accurate attenuator coupled with good PCB layout.
3. They have very good frequency bandwidth.
4. Great features.
5. Generally they are repairable for reasonable cost.
6. Case on calibration.
7. They use a four wire terminal (!) for accuracy.
8. They are well sealed to prevent contamination.
9. Intelligent flexible plastic holder / accessory - they have been widely copied.
10. Good protection for the meter.

Many copies out these days that even try to look like a Fluke. The problem is the high stability of the Fluke has not been copied. It's always less expensive to come in second.

Fluke is outrageously expensive for most of us here.

Well, how do you figure the price? The Fluke will last years giving you the correct reading. This is not so with almost every other make out there. True, import fees can artificially increase the cost. That only hurts the users if they then must use a lesser meter.

I have grudging respect for Fluke. They are the best hand held I know of. I don't know of any other meter that lasts so long and stays in cal. Sanwa aren't bad, but I think Escort might be better for hand held meters.

-Chris

[astouffer]

Anyone ever use a Beckman HD110 meter? I always wanted to buy one because they can measure >1000vdc.