Fluke product cycle (Fluke 289)  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: John80
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2011, 01:21:24 pm
content: Hello forum members! This is my first post here! The forum is amazing and the videos that David made are amazing too!I have a few questions about the Fluke 289 multimeter, as I am interested on buying one of those in the near future (probably in the next 6-8 months). It seems that the multimeter is in the market for more than 2 years now. If this is true then probably Fluke will change it with the new version. Have we got any clue about the life cycle of the Fluke models? Are we expecting a new model (in this category) soon?What is happening when I want to upgrade the firmware of the multimeter? Do I need only the USB to IR cable or I must have and the Fluke View Software? If the firmwares upgrade process demands the Fluke View Software then the FVF kit is a must as the price is much better.Thanks for your time! I am looking forwarded for your answers.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2011, 01:58:59 pm
content: Welcome, and enjoy.Buy what you need, even if the product is discontinued, any Fluke is so reliable you can work with it for the rest of your life; the real issue is getting the best bang for buck.The Fluke 80 series, now the 87V and 83V, have been around over 20 years, its been upgraded 5x, but it looks like the 1988 design and has only slight changes in functionality; buying one of these literally lasts a lifetime.Fluke 187 then 189 series ran for about 5+ years before replaced with the 289, all have battery life < 100 hours. While newer low self discharge NiMH can mitigate the cost of buying batteries, having to change them several times a year has to be considered over your need for datalogging & PC connectivity. With the 87V series I use, I changed batteries between 1-2 years, and can go for weeks working when the low bat sign appears.In the late 1990s, a Fluke 87IV appeared that looked like the 189 series, and it too used up batteries; it survived 3 years to return to the old 1988 look of the original Fluke 87 reappearing as the 87V in 2006??. Its still a good working and looking model, but that battery life over the larger screen size and ergonomics wasn't a good trade off, IMHO [electrically, it had the same specs].

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2011, 02:02:57 pm
content: Quote1 ) In the 2010 , I got an 2010 made (portable multimeter ) Fluke model , and three Fluke (bench type multimeter) made back at 1980 ..About functionality, all meters are good to top ..2 ) Even the current 87V (2004), or even the latest 28II (2010) has firmware on chip.Not upgradable by the user.3) All this months in this forum, I had never read nags from users about the Fluke 289.Those are my experiences , lets hope that it would help you in some way.

author: John80
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2011, 02:46:18 pm
content: First of all thanks for your answers!I know that the Fluke products are so reliable and I don’t have to worry about it but if for example Fluke is going to upgrade the 289 soon, then it is better to wait a little bit longer.Again I will have a reliable multimeter but I will have also the latest one!

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2011, 02:55:06 pm
content: Yes, you can wait if you have no immediate need for it. The longer you wait, usually better things happen, but what will you use in the meantime?The first new models tend to have bugs, while older models are mature and mostly bug free, a benefit of waiting. Consider the new detachable display Fluke 233, there is a eevblog thread where a user found the power-off battery consumption very high, I recall 1mA, it uses 9V, which are typically 500mAH.Quote from: John80 on January 13, 2011, 02:46:18 pm

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2011, 05:05:57 pm
content: Quote from: John80 on January 13, 2011, 02:46:18 pmAs long there is no new announcements , about an new multimeter in production...The waiting could be very long.And by the way , if you think that your selection are not that " complete " ,move on , on a better one .By waiting at the current status , you have no gain.And very correctly@saturationpointed out, that by waiting for the "dream machine" you are loosing in productivity.At the end, you will choose, what maters the most to you.

author: ColinA
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2011, 05:16:25 pm
content: Fluke equipment is expensive but worth every dollar spent. I was given a well used 77 in 1993 and still use it today. Like stated above, don't wait for the next best thing.

author: BrickBoiler
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2011, 01:24:43 pm
content: You do need the cable to upgrade the firmware but you don't need FukeView Forms.They used to give the cable away for free if you asked, but now it's 40 bucks for the cable sans software.