Got a new multimeter

[rrrr]

A couple of months ago, I dropped my Fluke 87 and killed it. It's one of their more capable multimeters. I thought about sending it to Fluke for repairs, but I've owned it for twenty years. They would probably end up replacing capacitors and other stuff that ages out, which would be expensive. I decided to look for a replacement instead.

Today I went by the pawn shop that's been making deals with me on some really nice stuff over the last couple of years. They had this Fluke 179 priced at $299, it's about $400 new. The 179 has many of the same features of the 87 that I really need, like Min/Max capture. It's also CAT III rated for 1,000 volts and CAT IV for 600 volts. It had been calibrated and recertified 3½ years ago.

I offered them $100 for the meter, and we agreed on $125. I didn't know they had the case for it and the original Fluke test leads, which were brought out from the back room. That's a nice plus.

 

[ChrisV]

That’s a come up

 

[Maw]

I still use my Fluke 77 daily, it's got to be at least 40 years old now. I trust what it's telling me more than the crappy Chinese DVMs my sons gets from Amazon.

 

[TimeBandit]

I bought a Fluke 15B+

Most of the features you find on a $400 fluke meter for 1/3 the price.

Fluke 15B+ Digital Multimeter | Fluke

The Fluke 15B+ digital multimeter is a compact, easy to use tool that delivers safe, reliable measurements

www.fluke.com

 

[Boat 405]

Legit!

 

[Xring01]

My fluke/ government waste story…

Decades ago, when I was a Electronic Tech in the Navy. We had to get parts from a shop on the USS McKee on Pt Loma, which was the Submarine tender for Squadron 11…

Go into one the shops/labs that was supposed to repair electronic equipment to get the parts…
As we walk in, on top of the garbage can, was an old school Fluke 77 on top…

We get our parts and on the way out of the shop, my LPO (Lead Petty Officer) who was with me, grabs the Fluke out of the garbage can…

Once we get 20-30 ft away, I asked him why…

He stated, those stupid surface pukes ETs, have no idea the Fluke has a 9 volt battery in it. So when it dies, they throw it away and order another one… I called bullshit…

Got back to the sub, grabbed phillips, and sure enough… new battery, and it worked like new.. LOOL

A few months later… I got us a brand new Techtronics O Scope… yep… the fuse was blown… and it was in the garbage.. LOL..

 

[Sleek-Jet]

My old Fluke 79 is still plugging away, needs a battery about every 2 years... It is 30+ years old. I no longer use it daily but it never fails to turn on and do what it was designed for.

 

[bilz]

We used model 8060A in our labs. In retirement I acquired a Tenma.

 

[rrrr]

My Fluke 8060A finally died a few years ago. I bought it in 1989. The 8060A was one of the first DMMs that had four decimal place accuracy.

That accuracy was needed to perform the painstaking setup work on the transistor-transistor logic (TTL) electronics that ran the first generations of digital/analog computing. In my area of work, TTL ran the big double conversion UPS systems of the day.

These machines had both delta and wye input transformers, with the 30° phase shift between the outputs powering a twelve pulse rectifier. The rectifier connected to the inverter system, with the battery in between them. When the power failed, the battery ran the inverter.

All of this was controlled by a few thousand logic gates in integrated circuit chips, along with thousands more capacitors and resistors on a dozen or more circuit boards. The control and logic voltages that made all of that operate correctly had to be adjusted to two or three decimal points, and that's where the 8060A was critical.

A 500 kVA UPS system of this vintage was about 12' long, 3½' deep, and weighed around 15,000 lbs.

 

[spectras only]

I've had a Fluke 87V/E2 for years. One day, my son asked if he could borrow it because his company unit stopped working.
Reluctantly, let him have it for a few days while his company would get him a new one. He shared the company service van with others, and forgot the damn thing in there. One of the fuckers knew what it was and borrow it [ like stole it ] and noone fessed up. Son bought a effing 80 dollar one to replace it, I'll never forgive him for that!

 

[TPC]

The kids borrow mine and it never comes back.
So:
I find it and make a trade:

Harbor Freight $5:

$19:

 

[RitcheyRch]

A couple of months ago, I dropped my Fluke 87 and killed it. It's one of their more capable multimeters. I thought about sending it to Fluke for repairs, but I've owned it for twenty years. They would probably end up replacing capacitors and other stuff that ages out, which would be expensive. I decided to look for a replacement instead.

Today I went by the pawn shop that's been making deals with me on some really nice stuff over the last couple of years. They had this Fluke 179 priced at $299, it's about $400 new. The 179 has many of the same features of the 87 that I really need, like Min/Max capture. It's also CAT III rated for 1,000 volts and CAT IV for 600 volts. It had been calibrated and recertified 3½ years ago.

I offered them $100 for the meter, and we agreed on $125. I didn't know they had the case for it and the original Fluke test leads, which were brought out from the back room. That's a nice plus.

View attachment 1482991

Great deal and looks like it has never been used,

 

[bilz]

Those little harbor freights are more than most would need. I had ten of them for use with Scouts on the Electrical and Electronics Merit Badges. I was able to bring components from work to demo but not the c 8060A. Funny, but I could bring a scope.

 

[Sharky]

Still have my 87. Have always wanted a 189 / 289 . New they are ~$900. Used that are going for $300+ with no case , leads, manual, etc.

The 189 is one that will do 4 decimal places which is why I wanted it. Doing work on GM Global A vehicles, it's a must with the newer HS LAN.

Month ago found a connection to a person selling her husbands old stuff. Scored a 189 for $100. Case, leads, manuals.

Still have my 87.

 

[coolchange]

 

[steamin rice]

My Fluke 77 is still going strong after around 30 years.

 

[TimeBandit]

The kids borrow mine and it never comes back.
So:
I find it and make a trade:

Harbor Freight $5:

$19:

I collected three or four of those red ones when they were a freebie from harbor freight.

I gave one to a friend at nacimiento after doing some troubleshooting on his trailer lights. I keep one in my desk and one of the upstairs dresser they come in handy diagnosing remote control battery problems.

But they all use up a 9-volt battery sooner or later

 

[rivermobster]

A couple of months ago, I dropped my Fluke 87 and killed it. It's one of their more capable multimeters. I thought about sending it to Fluke for repairs, but I've owned it for twenty years. They would probably end up replacing capacitors and other stuff that ages out, which would be expensive. I decided to look for a replacement instead.

Today I went by the pawn shop that's been making deals with me on some really nice stuff over the last couple of years. They had this Fluke 179 priced at $299, it's about $400 new. The 179 has many of the same features of the 87 that I really need, like Min/Max capture. It's also CAT III rated for 1,000 volts and CAT IV for 600 volts. It had been calibrated and recertified 3½ years ago.

I offered them $100 for the meter, and we agreed on $125. I didn't know they had the case for it and the original Fluke test leads, which were brought out from the back room. That's a nice plus.

View attachment 1482991

I think that's the same one I have. Freaking score!!!

 

[Maw]

For the geezers out there , this is my Heathkit VTVM (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter) I built in high school circa 1973. It worked the last time it was plugged in (120Vac input power) about 10 years ago. Who needs stinkin batteries.

 

[Taboma]

Still have my now aging Fluke 787, but 90% of the time I just grab one of my five or six cheapo Harbor Freight "Red" meters since I have them well distributed and within easy reach.

 

[OLDRAAT]

That VTVM brings back memories from H.S. electronics classes. We used the Simson 260's at the time (early '70's).

 

[coolchange]

For the geezers out there , this is my Heathkit VTVM (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter) I built in high school circa 1973. It worked the last time it was plugged in (120Vac input power) about 10 years ago. Who needs stinkin batteries.

View attachment 1483155

A lot of ways I prefer an analog meter

 

[spectras only]

For the geezers out there , this is my Heathkit VTVM (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter) I built in high school circa 1973. It worked the last time it was plugged in (120Vac input power) about 10 years ago. Who needs stinkin batteries.

View attachment 1483155

I'm sure my Armaco analogue meter is as old as yours [ had it for at least 50yrs ] and for shits and giggles, I opened it up, and found the old batteries still have 1.5 volts and no corrosion on the tips. Never seen that before. Can't even remember the HW, [ High Watts batteries on shelves at stores,lol
I will clean the slight corrosion on the contact and screws though, since I've got the unit open!,

 

[rrrr]

Still have my now aging Fluke 787, but 90% of the time I just grab one of my five or six cheapo Harbor Freight "Red" meters since I have them well distributed and within easy reach.

I have a few of those disposable DMMs too. I mostly use the Fluke for checking the health of capacitors and temperature readings. I have a Fluke compatible thermocouple that plugs into the volt/ohms and common jacks on the 179. The meter provides a direct temp value in degrees Farenheit and Celsius.

 

[rrrr]

View attachment 1483143

I have one of these. It's handy for quick measurements, and the slide on amperage coil is nice for tight spots where a clamp on is difficult to manage.

 

[Taboma]

I have a few of those disposable DMMs too. I mostly use the Fluke for checking the health of capacitors and temperature readings. I have a Fluke compatible thermocouple that plugs into the volt/ohms and common jacks on the 179. The meter provides a direct temp value in degrees Farenheit and Celsius.

I have one of those temp sensors and a few other attachments I haven't needed in many years since retiring. I gave my son my vintage Triplett VTVM and my trusty old Simpson burned in the fire. I had an old tube tester and a few shelves of tubes, some of which were matched pairs I'd kept for my Hammond B3, but lost them along with the B3, so I no longer have a need for tubes or the tester.

 

[regor]

We're big fans of Fluke meters!! Keysight's are good also.

 

[rrrr]

I had an old tube tester and a few shelves of tubes, some of which were matched pairs I'd kept for my Hammond B3, but lost them along with the B3, so I no longer have a need for tubes or the tester.

All hail the Mighty B3!

 

[Taboma]

All hail the Mighty B3!

Of course sharing that lofty pedestal of musical marvel, and equally responsible for it's fame, is Lauren Hammond's #1 irritant and lifelong reminder of a bad business decision, Mr. Don Leslie.
It was that acoustical match made in heaven of the Leslie Model 122, with the B3 back in the early 40's, that makes both still a sought after commodity to this day.
No electronic whiz bang marvels have been able to duplicate what both those men accomplished with tone wheel generators and rotating speakers.

It was also that combo with it's tubes and measly 40 watts of amp power, that enabled this writer the ability to render my neighbors wall pictures crooked three houses down if I got carried away with the loud pedal

 

[rrrr]

Of course sharing that lofty pedestal of musical marvel, and equally responsible for it's fame, is Lauren Hammond's #1 irritant and lifelong reminder of a bad business decision, Mr. Don Leslie.
It was that acoustical match made in heaven of the Leslie Model 122, with the B3 back in the early 40's, that makes both still a sought after commodity to this day.
No electronic whiz bang marvels have been able to duplicate what both those men accomplished with tone wheel generators and rotating speakers.

It was also that combo with it's tubes and measly 40 watts of amp power, that enabled this writer the ability to render my neighbors wall pictures crooked three houses down if I got carried away with the loud pedal

My first organ teacher had a B3 and a Leslie. I was eight years old, didn't appreciate being able to play it at the time.

 

[Taboma]

My first organ teacher had a B3 and a Leslie. I was eight years old, didn't appreciate being able to play it at the time.

I didn't truly appreciate it either until I changed teachers from a "smack yer knuckles for improvising" nun-wanta-be classical to an orange haired gay mulatto guy who was a club organist. Problem was, dad wouldn't leave the room with him there
Eventually dad grew weary of chaperoning and once again I found myself with a new instructor who in his youth had played to entertain silent film movie-goers.
Obviously, my music education covered many styles, but none had prepared my father for my announcement when I was 16, that I'd joined a Rock Band.
This announcement was exacerbated by the fact that my father had only recently lost his mind watching those "Spawns of the Devil" The Beatles from England, play on the Ed Sullivan show, after which he'd proclaimed this would end life on earth as we knew it.

 

[Willie B]

$

The kids borrow mine and it never comes back.
So:
I find it and make a trade:

Harbor Freight $5:

$19:

…I’ll bet that I’ve had a dozen of those little red harbor freight deals… When they were on sale, they used to be like $2.99 or $3.99 …Only a couple of them did not read correctly… I would bet I
have only changed a couple of 9 V batteries… It was just easier to go snag another one…

… Wasn’t checking for any capacitance values… Mostly looking for DC voltage and sometimes ohms/resistance… occasionally AC voltage… had a Fluke , but it got toasted in the Lake Oroville fire…

 

[PRORACER7474]

Most Flukes are lifetime warrantied if you send them in

 

[rrrr]

Most Flukes are lifetime warrantied if you send them in

Gotta have the purchase receipt and register as an owner if I recall correctly. Me, being extremely disorganized in such things, had done neither on the ones that quit.

But it's a great policy, especially in these throwaway days.