Fluke 27/FM - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: teslafan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 12:58:52 am
content: Wanted: a 'lil help finding a download link for a fluke 27/fm operator's manual. I couldn't find it at fluke.com or by google/yahoo/bing searches, thanks much.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 06:05:03 am
content: It seems that the Fluke 27/FM multimeter Operator's Manual is P/N 828558.This Operator's Manual is written in a military style and format, which is not surprising since the Fluke 27/FM was a military device.I am not aware of any PDF of this document.Except from the fact that the 27/FM is a true RMS multimeter, the "regular" Fluke 27 Operator's Manual is applicable (the "regular" Fluke 27 is not true RMS).

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 06:14:43 am
content: I have a 27/FM, the yellow latest version that is not TRMS. There are versions with TRMS in grey and versions in grey without TRMS. Which version do you have?I can provide a scan of my manual and I think I have some PDFs of some versions.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 06:43:36 am
content: I think that the only true RMS Fluke 27 are the one that are labeled "Fluke 27/FM" on the front, just above the display.Fluke had a "civilian" grey multimeter, the model 8025B, its basic dc accuracy is 0.2% while the 27/FM is 0.1%, but from the outside they look similar.

author: teslafan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 08:45:46 am
content: LightagesI have a 27/FM, the yellow latest version that is not TRMS. There are versions with TRMS in grey and versions in grey without TRMS. Which version do you have?I HAVE GREY TRMS VRS W/27/FM ON TOP FRONT. I'VE DOWNLOADED FLUKE MODEL 27 USERS MANUAL, THEN WHILE LOOKING FOR THE MANUAL ON EBAY I SAW THAT THERE IS A 27/FM VRS. I'D APPRECIATE WHATEVER YOU CAN HELP WITH DOCUMENTS WISE, THANKS!

author: teslafan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 08:48:50 am
content: SkyMasterI think that the only true RMS Fluke 27 are the one that are labeled "Fluke 27/FM" on the front, just above the display. TRUE.Fluke had a "civilian" grey multimeter, the model 8025B, its basic dc accuracy is 0.2% while the 27/FM is 0.1%, but from the outside they look similar. TRUE AGAIN. THE 8025B WAS NON TRMS, RIGHT? THANKS.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 03:43:42 pm
content: Quote from: teslafan on January 18, 2015, 08:48:50 amAccording to the Fluke 1992 catalogue, the 8025B is "average sensing, calibrated to read rms value of a sinewave"; this is an elegant way to say that it is not true RMS.But make no mistake; Fluke 27/FM, 27, 8025B were all high end multimeter when they were created and they still hold their ground today.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 06:27:35 pm
content: Unfortunately I cannot help with any documentation for the TRMS model. You already have the user manual I could have provided.

author: KGB
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2015, 09:27:29 pm
content: Quote from: teslafan on January 18, 2015, 12:58:52 amIn the military records called this AN/PSM-45A.http://radionerds.com/images/5/58/TM_11-6625-3199-14.PDFCheers.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2015, 12:11:31 am
content: There is some confusion about which are which. There are some new Fluke 27's on eBay that have the display marked "27" only but the sticker on the back says 27/FM. I guess I've always assumed the FM model is RMS and the non FM model is not...

author: teslafan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2015, 12:19:21 am
content: Quote from: KGB on January 18, 2015, 09:27:29 pmThanks soo much.

author: teslafan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2015, 12:22:27 am
content: Quote from: alank2 on January 19, 2015, 12:11:31 amNope, other way around. 27/FM = trms, 27 =non trms = rms only.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2015, 12:44:30 am
content: Quote from: teslafan on January 19, 2015, 12:22:27 amQuote from: alank2 on January 19, 2015, 12:11:31 amYes, exactly.27/FM=RMS (aka True RMS)27=Average Responding

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 07:41:56 am
content: Hiis fluke 27fm still good for 2018?

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 07:54:04 am
content: Quote from: 001 on September 07, 2018, 07:41:56 amYes of course it is, I still have 2 of the original 27's and are still bang on spec for a 3.5 digit meter. Most ofmyetetsmeters are now 5.5 but have the ability to operate in 3.5 digit mode which is perfectly acceptable for most uses.

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 08:03:50 am
content: WellWhat about 27/FM vs 115?

author: kkritsilas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2018, 08:16:59 pm
content: Fluke 115 doesn’t have uA range, but has one more digit in the display, backlight, and a bargraph, capacitance, and frequency measurements, and a diode test that can test LEDsFluke 27/FM is more rugged physically, and does have the uA range, as well as a very long battery life.The 27/FM is the only DMM that I have ever read about as having a +/- 1 count in the accuracy specification.How much importance these differences make is up to the individual user. You may or may not need the bar graph, the frequency and capacitance measurements, or may need to test LEDs, in which case the 115 is for you. If you need a uA ramge, or have need of a very rugged meter, then the 27/FM would be the choice. All depends on what you find to be of importance, and what you can comfortably give up.Also, the 27/FM is really cheap, averaging below $US50 on eBay (obviously used). The 115 costs more than that, used, and even more new.

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2018, 09:56:08 pm
content: +1 on the 27/fm. At one point someone on ebay was selling them for $15, so I picked up 3. I ended up spending almost as much on test leads.It's not perfect, there's no backlight for one, but it's nearly indestructible and if you can find it cheap it's hard to go wrong.

author: MLNL Laboratory
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 03:41:57 pm
content: Quote from: Specmaster on September 07, 2018, 07:54:04 am

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2018, 08:40:50 pm
content: Quote from: MLNL Laboratory on November 06, 2018, 03:41:57 pm

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 11:29:42 am
content: Quote from: PaulAm on November 05, 2018, 09:56:08 pmOnly in the last two years have I bought a handheld meter with a backlight, do you find it useful only I haven't used it at all apart from 'ooh it's got a backlight'?

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 11:33:54 am
content: Quote from: CJay on November 07, 2018, 11:29:42 amI rarely use a backlight and, in the times I had the need, I could have used anything else to illuminate the screen.I also have a brown/grey 27/FM bought on the cheap and it is a war tank.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 11:35:46 am
content: Quote from: CJay on November 07, 2018, 11:29:42 amDefinitely not an essential item.a) Most of them time out so you can't leave it on for long enough to work in the dark.b) Do you really work in the dark? How do you see where to put the probes?c) Pocket flashlight in the mouth/headlight.

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 01:40:23 pm
content: For bench work the backlight isn't important. When I find myself troubleshooting some equipment in place, the light is typically bad and the backlight can help. Mostly it annoys me when it times out.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 06:10:13 pm
content: I have 3 multimeters that have a backlight feature and I have never had the need to use the feature. As Fungus has already mentioned, if you need to use a backlight, then it is certainly dark enough to add in some other lighting in order to adequately see where and what it is that you're prodding.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 11:02:39 am
content: Quote from: PaulAm on November 07, 2018, 01:40:23 pmYeah, I can see how it might be useful if I was working in racks of equipment where the only safe place to sit the meter is in shadow, if the equipment itself is that poorly lit I'd want some extra lighting before I'd touch it.Fortunately for me I worked in data centres where the lighting was always good and there was always a well lit, safe place to sit the meter.Quote from: Specmaster on November 07, 2018, 06:10:13 pmNot necessarily, it might be possible the only safe place for the meter is in a darker part of the equipment where a backlight would be useful, but that'd be a rare occurrence for me.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 04:28:34 pm
content: Quote from: CJay on November 08, 2018, 11:02:39 amSure, but: They all seem to turn the backlight off after an annoyingly short time. You'll spend more time cursing at the meter than you'll spend taking measurements.I think there's a couple of Fluke models that allow you to hold buttons down at startup to disable the timeout but the vast majority do not.If you work on that sort of job you'll probably carry a mini flashlight anyway. Hold it in your teeth, use favorite multimeter, job done!

author: drussell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 05:13:47 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on November 08, 2018, 04:28:34 pmAlternatively, get aPetzl