Fluke 87  Series 1 or 2 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: TorqueRanger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2013, 09:53:30 pm
content: The other day I won a Fluke 87 for $51 with leads but no rubber case and not sure if I need it .. My question is, are the original version worth using for electronics and How many still have the original and still use itThanksP.SAlso need to sell my Fluke 333 AC clamp meter in order to keep the fluke 87 lol got to love my old lady..

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2013, 10:53:53 pm
content: Quote from: TorqueRanger on December 10, 2013, 09:53:30 pmThat is a good price if the fuses are HRC and good. I purchased used/abused meters with blown fuses or glass fuses installed which adds about $15 to $20 to the overall cost.QuoteThe original (I) has no CAT rating. The 87 II has a CAT rating imprinted near the volt input jack. Seehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/show-your-multimeter!/msg333457/#msg333457Modemhead upgraded his I with an upgraded lcd which provides bigger digits. You can see the difference between the I and II.The 87 I, II and III all default to DC current when you switch to mA/uA. The 87 V defaults to AC current.If you look through modemhead's blog, you will see he uses the 87 quite extensively.For $50, you won't find a new meter that can match the input protection, accuracy, reliability, features found in a 87.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2013, 10:55:33 pm
content: PS. Modemhead also has a 189 which is the same as the 89IV or 187/87IV without logging. So he has the entire 87 collection.

author: ModemHead
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2013, 12:06:39 am
content: Volts, amps, and ohms are still the same as they were 25 years ago. You bet I'm still using it. They'll probably have to pry it outta my cold dead hands one day.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2013, 08:04:50 am
content: I should mention that if your job requires a certain CAT rating, then obviously the original 87 is likely not able to meet the modern standards.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2013, 12:59:35 pm
content: I own the first series 85, and others including the 87V. Overall, I prefer the older series for home lab use because they are more user serviceable, including calibration, so if you get it used and its off cal, you can DIY with the right standards. But as retiredcaps says, in the USA you cannot use it for professional work due it absence of CAT rating. Despite that, the 80s series is the goto industrial meter for safety even before CAT ratings came into being. I've not had to cal any 80s series DMMs > 20 years since I bought them. The only one that is actually slightly off today is the 87V but its still in spec, while the older pot adjust ones are spot on.

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2013, 01:38:24 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on December 11, 2013, 08:04:50 amThe original 87 ("series 1") is not rated at all, the unofficial "series 2" is Cat III rated. (The only difference is the "cat III" indication next to the positive jack - these weren't labeled "series 2") If it's important for your work, it would be good to check which "original 87" the meter is before buying. I've not noticed a price difference between the two.The 87-3 is also cat III rated. I'm not sure about the 87-IV, (180 series) and the 87-V is cat IV rated.

author: TorqueRanger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2013, 01:52:50 pm
content: My choice was between a Uni-T 61E or Fluke 87... Now i cant wait to get my fluke 87but now I have to learn all the functions it can do since I am use to simpler meters...

author: Frenchie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2013, 01:09:05 am
content: I love my 87-3 but I would like to get an 87V to go with it.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2013, 06:18:29 am
content: Quote from: Excavatoree on December 12, 2013, 01:38:24 pmThere are two versions of the original 87 service manual. One is marked revision 5 and doesn't say anything about CAT ratings. The other one clearly says on the front page 1000V CAT III IEC1010.I haven't looked that thoroughly at the BOM list, but R1 sticks out as the major change. In the I, it is a 1kohm 2W fusible resistor. In the II, it is a WW 3.5kohm 5W resistor. I know nothing about CAT ratings and don't know if this one change was done to meet CAT ratings or not?

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2013, 06:22:42 am
content: Quote from: TorqueRanger on December 12, 2013, 01:52:50 pmI took another look at your auction. Since the pictures shows a red lighting bolt, you have the original series I.The 87 is easy to use, however, as modemhead pointed out in another forum, it likes to take itself out of autorange mode. Seehttp://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpost.php?p=387382&postcount=5

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2013, 01:53:03 pm
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on December 13, 2013, 06:18:29 amI haven't looked at any circuit differences, but there is an added physical sheild and perhaps some slotting on the Cat III version of the 87.I'll try to get some pictures.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 05:52:39 am
content: Quote from: TorqueRanger on December 10, 2013, 09:53:30 pmW2aew, a member here and has his own channel, is also a 87 user. Seehttps://www.youtube.com/user/w2aew/videosMike uses the 87 III. His channelhttps://www.youtube.com/user/mikeselectricstuff/videos