Fluke 87 IV - repair log - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 09:18:22 am
content: I have locally bought (for 50€) Fluke 87 IV that wouldn't power on.It looks like it was used a A LOT.On first inspection i noticed heavily corroded battery terminals (and one broken) which I took out for cleaning.Dumped in vinegar for an hour:I will solder a thin layer over contacts to prevent future corrosion. And also need to fix one broken tab.For the first test of DMM I quickly soldered wires directly to PCB and It seems to work just fine...Full resolution:While trying to pry out dial knob, the screen plexiglass cracked, so there is more work to do...

author: Phil Smith
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 06:39:19 pm
content: Hey frenky,Hah, looks like this meter has seen better days...or a lot of torture tests))Anyway, as far as I can see, the PCB is in a nice conditionKeep up good work, looking forward to your log)Regards,Phil.

author: Bushougoma
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 06:47:48 pm
content: This is the reason why I try to avoid meters that take AA or AAA batteries and prefer 9 volt cell models. 9 volt cells are actually multiple AAAA cells inside a metal case which contains the crud when they leak I've yet to see an old 9 volt cell leak. Bulge sure but not leak.I'd highly recommend only using AA primary lithium cells like Energizer Ultimate Lithium if you intend to store the meter long term with batteries inside.I made the same mistake with my Fluke clamp meter and the original alkaline cells luckily I caught it early and the contact damage was minimal.Just curious what's that super cap for near the flat flex connector it's usually to preserve something like SRAM for a short time while you replace the batteries does this meter have a data logging function?The 87-V sure doesn't.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 07:57:47 pm
content: ... or use NiMH AA;AAA LSD cells as required, they rarely leak. 9V rarely leak too, but with increasing poor manufacturing by made in China you never know. LSD cannot be made too poorly else the recharging and self discharging qualities would disappear. A good charger would recognize the bad battery and reject it before it went too far bad.Only 9V ruptures I've seen are occasional reports on the net. Typically it pictures a failure of the 9v subcells to vent discharge byproduct gasses gently, leading to a subcell rupture, then a rupture of the 9v jacket. If the subcells leaked without rapid gas discharge it often does so into the outer jacket and contains it from contaminating your powered device.

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 08:03:07 pm
content: @Phil:I was really happy to see that pcb is completely clean and that contact corrosion did not affect it.@Bushougoma:From what I have read online model 87 IV is completely different from other 87-? models. "87 IV" was later re-branded into Fluke 187.87IV should have logging capability and also IR for safe serial communication with PC.Super cap is Panasonic GC5.5V0.10F:Full resolution:

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2017, 08:29:00 pm
content: Modemhead has a Fluke 189 clean up blog athttp://mrmodemhead.com/blog/gallery/fluke-189-clean-up/I purchased a Fluke 187 with corroded battery terminals as well.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/fluke-187-corroded-battery-terminals-how-to-clean/I use Eneloops in my 187. Alkaline will never be used. Lithium is too expensive for me.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 11:04:24 am
content: Quote from: Bushougoma on March 23, 2017, 06:47:48 pmSome use six AAAA cells, others use six flat rectangular cells in a stack.

author: mzacharias
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 11:19:43 am
content: Quote from: Bushougoma on March 23, 2017, 06:47:48 pmI have seen 9-volt types leak to the outside world, but I agree, not often. And not all 9-volt types uses AAAA's. I have seen some that use non-standard square, flat cells in series.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2017, 11:45:27 am
content: Apparently they are not really AAAA. The cells are slightly shorter, by some 3.5mm.

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 26, 2017, 09:59:37 am
content: Well that looks much better.Before:After:The white smudges on gray plastics are probably scratches because there is no way to clean it...

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 26, 2017, 10:27:48 am
content: This will be the cleanest 87IV out there:

author: pelule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2017, 11:20:05 pm
content: How did you get the rupper case such clean again?Have a Fluke 87, which likes to have the same.../PeLuLe

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2017, 05:43:21 am
content: First I tried with dish washing soap and it did not work.Then I tried vinegar and baking soda and it also did not work.Then I used sponge + hand cleaning paste for mechanics (from Aldi/Hofer) + brute force and got most of the dirt off.After that I did another pass with isopropanol and now its very clean.

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2017, 04:31:27 pm
content: I had to finish up this one quickly so here are some photos:

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2017, 04:33:30 pm
content: And some measurements:

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2017, 11:44:23 pm
content: Congratulation for giving a second life to this, previously abused, Fluke 87 IV.

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2017, 07:13:50 am
content: Tnx.I have also bought two different 2mm polycarbonate sheets for new screen protector which is broken.One is "LEXAN CLEAR EXELL D" and the other is "LEXAN CLEAR 9030". Ebay:http://www.ebay.com/itm/2MM-LEXAN-POLYCARBONATE-SHEET-A5-SIZE-210MM-X-148MM-/121002572741Replacing this broken plexi in front of lcd will be tricky because it's embedded into housing and sandwiched between two layers of plastics.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2017, 09:24:46 pm
content: Quote from: frenky on April 04, 2017, 07:13:50 amAre you planning to replace the clear plastic lens that is over the LCD display?If this lens is fused to the front housing, I suspect that it could be difficult to remove and replace it.I see that the lens is cracked in the upper right corner. If it was me, I would polish the clear plastic lens to improve it (if required), and for the crack; I would just live with it.Mr. ModemHead, who is also active on the forum, is covering this on his own website:http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/dirty-multimeter-clean-up

author: Dr.Trinity
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 04, 2017, 09:52:05 pm
content: very nice repairUsually we throw meters away when they don't work anymore

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2017, 09:57:17 pm
content: Quote from: Dr.Trinity on April 04, 2017, 09:52:05 pmIf you were in Canada, I would have you send me all the ones that don't work anymore especially if they are yellow or orange colored.Like your post below ...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-933-keysight-u1272a-emc-issue/msg1178756/#msg1178756

author: pelule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2017, 11:38:44 pm
content: How did you get the rupper case such clean?I have a similar looking Fluke 87./PeLuLe

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 05, 2017, 05:48:01 am
content: Quote from: SkyMaster on April 04, 2017, 09:24:46 pmI was.The plan was to drill a few holes into the lens and then try to wiggle out separate parts of the plexi.And use hot-air to loosen any glue that might hold it.But for now I'll just live with it.I might still polish the lens with baking soda mixed with water...

author: Smith
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2017, 08:12:37 pm
content: The rubber case can be cleaned with IPA, very fast and easy. Never had any side effects, still shines like new.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2017, 11:18:55 pm
content: If it's just a crack in the screen, as it appears, you could seal it again with a solvent welding 'adhesive' for acrylic/polycarbonate judiciously applied through a fine, blunt hypodermic needle. You will need a tiny, tiny amount - one drop is often all it takes. That 'adhesive' (solvent really) will happily pull itself into that kind of crack by capillary action. Leave it to dry for as long as you can bear waiting, I'd suggest at least 48 hours. Might need a bit of polishing afterwards as it often spreads a little and hazes the area next to where it is applied.

author: psykok
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 11:55:16 am
content: Quote from: pelule on April 04, 2017, 11:38:44 pmA good way to clean this cases is to use WD-40.Looks strange but trust me it's working.Alex

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 12:15:08 pm
content: Quote from: Dr.Trinity on April 04, 2017, 09:52:05 pmReally? I'm sure there are many loving homes to be found here.

author: psykok
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 12:44:01 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on January 19, 2019, 12:15:08 pmIndeed

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 04:09:07 pm
content: Quote from: psykok on January 19, 2019, 11:55:16 amI would not use any petroleum or sillicone based solvent not wd40, gigaloo etc ... it may attack the yellow plastic surface in time.

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 10:57:18 pm
content: Nice restoration!I find it very odd that you should have the Panasonic backup capacitor in there. The 87 IV isn't meant to have data logging the 89 IV is the variant that does.I have a 187 (same as the 87 IV) that was in the normal situation, not having the backup cap, and that I have converted by adding the missing components to change it to a 189.Did you by any chance remove the LCD during your clean? I'm curious to knowing if there was a SRAM IC under there and if there was what reference it was.My topic on the conversion:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-187-dmm-upgrade-to-189/msg1390658/#msg1390658

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2019, 06:56:07 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on January 19, 2019, 04:09:07 pmFlukes are made for industrial use (in the serious sense, not marketing wank). If they were susceptible to any common solvents, it would be widely known. I think any household solvent is going to be totally okay.