Fluke 187 Fading Display - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2021, 12:13:29 am
content: Hi everyone,We (Company I work for) got several Fluke Meters, most of them are 87V, some are 187/189.We let them calibrate every year external and one of the fluke 187 came back with an "error".So it was sorted out and now it´s mine...It´s failure?"Only" fading display as I know it from the old Fluke 87 ones.But cleaning the solder pads won´t make it better.What else could I clean ?The zebra stripes ? The display itself or should I better buy new zebrastripes for it ?Thanks in advance!Martin

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2021, 02:39:52 am
content: Try cleaning the zebra strips and pcb pads that touch it. Seehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-187/for pictures. Use generous 99% IPA and clean as perhttp://mrmodemhead.com/blog/fluke-8x-faded-lcd/

author: ac_dc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 07:58:29 pm
content: Hello! I also have a problem with missing segments on a Fluke 189. I would also want to mount the rotary knob on the front panel. Does anyone know how to dismantle it?

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 09:38:31 pm
content: The knob snaps into place, once the PCB removed give a good straight push on the end of the axis.

author: ac_dc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 10:14:30 am
content: On the middle white plastic axis?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 02:11:56 pm
content: Quote from: ac_dc on August 02, 2021, 10:14:30 amYes. Use something to push that (push hard!)

author: ac_dc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 09:13:33 pm
content: OK ... thanks for the hint and I will report!

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 11:08:38 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on January 04, 2021, 12:13:29 amAnd the bad thing is Fluke doesn't want to fix the 189 (although it has a lifetime warranty). They told me to buy the 289 when I sent one in for repair.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2021, 12:59:38 am
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on August 02, 2021, 11:08:38 pmThey haven't manufactured a 189 for a long time now, maybe they have no parts.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2021, 02:21:28 am
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on August 02, 2021, 11:08:38 pmRead the definition of lifetime fromhttps://dam-assets.fluke.com/s3fs-public/187_189_umeng0200.pdf

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2021, 01:35:26 pm
content: My 189 does not have fading, but bleeding. When something is displayed, some adjacent segments are slightly lit. I suspect the zebra strip degraded and has become slightly conductive.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2021, 02:38:46 pm
content: My 189 is OK but because I used it very little. Perhaps less than 100 hours since I had it in 2004. I hope it won't have the problem. I think I would use it more when I retire as i would be working more on my own project and not company work which I use company's meters.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2021, 10:20:19 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on August 04, 2021, 02:38:46 pmIf you have alkaline AA's take them out. So many pictures of leaked AAs inside meters. I use lsd nimh Eneloops in my 187.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2021, 03:22:53 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on August 04, 2021, 10:20:19 pmEspecially in the 187 and 189 which don't fully power off because they have an internal clock and use about 70uA when they're "off".The 189 also has a supercapacitor which can leak. Check it out and if there's any leakage you need to remove it before it wrecks the PCB.

author: Trader
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2022, 08:16:05 pm
content: Do you have any updates?Quote from: Martin72 on January 04, 2021, 12:13:29 am

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2022, 08:32:47 pm
content: Hi,Sorry, forget it....Yes, I´ve cleaned the stripes and the "contacts" again, in this time with isopropanol, reassembled it...and it works.(I had bought the isopropanol at the pharmacy. The pharmacist asked me what I wanted to use it for and as I answer for cleaning electrical contacts he said it´s ok for this(it was diluted with 30% water))