Fluke 190 Series II - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Barryg41
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2012, 10:41:00 pm
content: I am a noob, is there any reason for a noob to not buy this item? I just wonder if it will do me justice.Is it something to have or not?Is it too much for a person just getting into electronics.Should I just settle with a bench model instead?Should I buy a bench model first before a small handheld model? Does it it matter?Should I buy a cheaper model to learn with. And I mean learn!!Does it matter if it is cheap or not? I am willing to learn, its just that I dont want to learn with surprises.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2012, 10:58:28 pm
content: For the same money you can buy a good DSO and a multimeter.......and a few other toys as well.Regards

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2012, 11:19:37 pm
content: If you are a millionaire who spends $500 on dinner for two without batting an eyelid, and for whom $3000 is a drop in the bucket, then sure, go ahead.However, if $3000 is a significant purchase, then no, it is not advised for a noob. It is far too much money.You can buy a very nice entry level scope for under $500 and two multimeters for about $50 each and have lots of money left over for other important tools and components.

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2012, 11:28:12 pm
content: This looks to be quite an expensive unit for a beginner hobbyist... not that there is anything wrong with it if you have the means to buy one, but I would personally recommend spending that money on a seperate DSO (like the Rigol DS1102E) and benchtop multimeter (Rigol DM3068 or possibly an Agilent 34410A). Fluke makes devices for an industrial environment, and if you need a portable device that will withstand being thrown around in a toolbox, dropped, rained on, connected to a high voltage line by mistake etc. then they will have something to offer you, but if you're just looking for something to measure signals coming out of an arduino and crap like that, then I'd stick with a different set of brands/devices.I am a big Rigol fanboy since they produce devices with specs typically found in devices five times their price, but companies like GW Instek, B&K Precision, Protek et cetera all have a lineup of products that are quite capable yet more modestly priced than the Fluke equivilents.

author: Barryg41
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2012, 12:41:01 am
content: Quote from: olsenn on February 11, 2012, 11:28:12 pmAfter reading just a couple of the responses, I have made a big mistake in looking at the Fluke oscope. I compared the price of a 87-5 meter. Apologies please!I still need direction for a scope in the range of $500 to $1000. Again apologies. Olsenn has provided good sources so far.Sorry to mislead so many...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2012, 02:49:14 am
content: Quote from: Barryg41 on February 12, 2012, 12:41:01 amYou're spoiled for choice, but the Rigol DS1102E is a proven performer:http://www.saelig.com/PSBE100/PSPC017.htmI can vouch for it as a happy owner. I count myself as an advanced beginner, and it does everything a student of electronics needs to learn about oscilloscopes and study basic circuits. More expensive oscilloscopes are more powerful, but to use that power you would have to be working with more advanced circuits that are most likely beyond the skills of a newcomer.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2012, 03:01:29 am
content: Within your budget i would go for the following.Rigol DS1102E DSO - i own one of these and stand by it.Rigol DG1022 Function gen - I have one of these, i don't use it much but it is worth its weight in gold when you need it.Fluke 87-v its well known in the industry for its accuracy, safety, and for being robust.And option would be a frequency counter of some sort, these are cheap and easy to find on ebay for around the $150 mark.Some sort of power supply - again, there is long list of these available, but anything that gives you 0-15v at 5A will be a good start.You can get all this for well under $5kHope this helps.