[Solved] Fluke 87-I Repair help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Gluteniz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 04:03:30 pm
content: Hi,Bought a used Fluke 87 first generation it was sold as "Fully tested and working 100%" but that was not the case.So first find was a blown 15A 600v fuse I replaced it with a new one but there is still something wrong,the meter is unable to measure capacitance, without anything attached in capacitance mode it shows 00.33nF and testing with a capacitor it only shows 0.Ltested the same capacitor with a Fluke 112 and got a result directly.Here is someone with the same problem:http://www.edaboard.com/thread230578.htmlMy meter also has the "ghost" readings in all AC modes as noted on the above link not sure if this is normal?Any ideas what could have gone bad?or what to test?

author: giosif
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 05:05:24 pm
content: How about opening the meter and inspecting / posting pictures with the internals?

author: Johnny10
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 05:52:04 pm
content: I have two 87 iii meters which is the next version from the 87.Your meter is functioning normally.In capacitance mode , no probes attached, my meters reads .33 to .35nF.This meter is not easy to use for capacitance testing as per the manual and my experience.Page 19 and 20 of the manual. The meter only reads to 5uF after that you must set the range and count the seconds to charge capacitor and then compare to chart.https://physics.ucsd.edu/neurophysics/Manuals/Fluke/Fluke83.pdfThe AC random number display is simply noise.I really like my Fluke 87's but I believe for capacitance the V series may be easier to use.

author: Gluteniz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 10:35:32 pm
content: Quote from: giosif on March 02, 2016, 05:05:24 pmQuote from: Johnny10 on March 02, 2016, 05:52:04 pmHi and thank you both for the replies!What a relief to hear that this is normal.Everything inside looked good to my eyes.Here are some Internal pictures:http://imgur.com/a/PXI6POnce again Thank you!

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2016, 11:30:46 pm
content: Quote from: Gluteniz on March 02, 2016, 04:03:30 pmBeen there and done that as well.QuoteAbout 1/2 of the meters I bought as 100% working had blown fuses. I would say 90% of ebay sellers don't know what they are saying when they say 100% working wrt to multimeters. They insist that the fuse is working otherwise the meter won't boot up or work. Of course, they are totally incorrect and don't understand that the fuse is only used to protect the current ranges/jacks.Even some people here on eevblog, asking for repair help, say the fuse is okay on handheld battery operated multimeters, when they wonder why their voltage or resistance readings are off.QuoteThe Fluke 80 series I and III measure up to 5uF. The Fluke 112 measures up to 9999uF.

author: Gluteniz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 03, 2016, 01:40:36 am
content: QuoteThat's where I made the mistake, I somehow thought that the Fluke 87-I also could measure the 100uF cap just like the Fluke 112,probably because it got stuck in my head looking at the wrong model manual "87-V" which can measure up to 9999uF like the 112.

author: raphy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 21, 2022, 08:42:30 pm
content: Thank you @Johnny10!I bought my 87-III on craigslist and didn't realize the range for reading caps was that low.Many thanks for linking the manual!