Fluke DMM help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Hlussa
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 27, 2018, 03:32:56 pm
content: Hi!I am looking for a DMM and have an option to buy a "new-in-box" Fluke 187 for $350. I can also get a "new-in-box" 179 for $200 but am more interested in the 187 since it is primarily to be used for electronics and I am also used to that one from work. But isn't that quite a lot money for a meter that is at least 11 years old or should i just go for it?For reference, before finding the other two, I was looking at getting a 115 which costs $275 in my market.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2018, 03:38:07 pm
content: Quote from: Hlussa on December 27, 2018, 03:32:56 pmWell why not take a look at a Brymen BM867?

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2018, 06:50:44 pm
content: you can find very good used 187 189 for less, but it really depends of your needs and precision ?? in my country they dont cost very much to calibrate ...As specmaster wrote Brymen is very good too, lots of features.If youre careful of what brand you use, it will last very long, even my 3x 189's are pretty spot on, not calibrated, checked against an 34401The 34401 are old too and they are still going strong.

author: Hlussa
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 27, 2018, 07:13:24 pm
content: Thanks for chiming in. Don't know anything about the Brymen and Fluke because of... hmmm, I know themTo rephrase the question, should I be hesitating to buy the 187 because it is "old"? I like it better than the 287 (which would cost me 3 times more) with all its menus and slow response. As far as I can see the 187 was discontinued in 2007 (therefore I say at least 11 years old in previous post) and I have also read in here that Fluke supports the product for 7 years after being discontinued, so that period is also passed. But is that any reason in itself? These are pretty good instruments. So I am thinking more of long term reliability, and if the 11 years it presumably already has on its back (laying in the box) is any concern.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2018, 08:45:10 pm
content: Personnally i would not be afraid to buy "old" new in the box items, even old old items, i've bought gossen metrawatt meters too, 11 years old etc... still pretty in specs. You need good pictures and descriptions etc..If you need good warranty buy new stuff only ... For new or old stuff it wiil always be a debate, for myself i never had big problems with old equipments, some rare case parts.As we saw on this forum, even "supposed" good warranty has its limits, IE: FlukeFluke has let down some customers before ... other brands too. Before buying anything, see some teardowns, feedbacks, reviews anything who can help you decide.You can pay 350$ for a meter and never need another one again ??For me ive became an ddm nut volt freak loll its never enough, began at age 14 with 4000 count dmm up to 310000 count dmm, now bought 6.5 digit bench ones, for now its enough loll but in the end i paid lots of $$$$If you're an beginner simply go with brymen and a get good warranty, personally fluke lost it with the 287 289 series, way too complex for nothing, some will love them to death lollI wrote on another threads the 187 and 189 are very practical if a fuse blow, i dont need to teardown of the meter each time like the 83x and 87x series at my job, that was a game changer for the meters ive bought.An 50 k count dmm will show you lots of details, brymen offers 500k counts in few modes ... do you need logging features ?As i wrote, it depends of your personal needs not the other peoples needs loll you will receive conflicting choices ... its a never ending subject here.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2018, 01:36:18 am
content: As Hlussa has not fully completed his user profile correctly we have no idea as to where in the world he is other than that we know that his currency is $ but that could still place him in various locations.I still say to have a look at the Brymen BM867, it is a good match for all of those Flukes he mentions and in some cases even better. I can't be 100% sure because as I said we need to know his location in the world to offer more help, but I really do suspect that the Brymen will not leave him wanting in any areas, and he will be buying new "new" rather than old "new". He would be getting a full warranty with a meter that has a genuine 1000V CAT IV rating, dual display and a 500,000 count, what more could he want, and the killer blow here is that the BM867 can be had for considerably less than the Flukes and comes with a 3 year warranty.https://brymen.eu/shop/bm867s/

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2018, 02:47:57 am
content: If you are concerned with warranty, has your heart set on Fluke and your market sets the price of a Fluke 115 at $275, I would take the 179. It is a great meter that, despite not having a uA range, it is very useful even for electronics.For all other scenarios both the 187 and the Brymen BM867 are great meters. IIRC the 187 has issues with leaking super capacitors.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2018, 07:14:36 am
content: @Hlussa you should complete your profileit would helpThe 187 doesn't have the super cap installed, the 189 does, i have make an mistake in other threads, the 287 and 289 has them, but they dont cost an fortuneI changed mine in my 189 for +/- 2$ usd ?? 0.33 farad at 5.5 volts, not a fortuneNow you have an idea of what you can purchase .... some Brymen have the calibration procedures known too, you should avoid cheaper Uni-t series, if i recall around the UT131, UT171 they began to be better build and have better design quality ?Some Mastech are very good, others dont etc ..... on EEvblog you have an wondeful meter(s) chart, but some of the listed models are a pain to get in certain country.