Main differences  company handheld instrumentation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 02:07:56 pm
content: Hi,I just wanted to know the main differences between Fluke and Agilent.. or else handled... what can offer? is worth spending lot of money( from your point of view) ?IMPORTANT: i'm not making a vs, all I want is just a comparison generally speaking

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 02:29:42 pm
content: What type of instrumentation are you considering and for what purpose?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 02:32:45 pm
content: Fluke is well known for its handheld stuff and tough multimeters. They acquired philips and continue to build some handheld scopes. Beyond that they do calibrators and that's it.Agilent on The other hand does everything from simple power supplies to scopes costing half a million dollars. Spectrum or network analyzer ? Logic analyzer ? Gas chromatograph ? Dna sequencer ? They got you covered.....

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 02:41:52 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on September 11, 2012, 02:29:42 pmelectronically speaking, of course, for making up a good laboratory...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 02:46:33 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 11, 2012, 02:32:45 pmLOL... so Agilent produces a lot of stuff compared to fluke. this I didn't know..

author: muvideo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 02:48:29 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 11, 2012, 02:32:45 pmProbably would be better to compare agilent to the whole danaher group (Fluke+Tek+Keithley) ?Or (probably like robrenz suggests) even better pick one instrument category at a time and see what's on the market.Fabio.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 03:06:17 pm
content: I am severely biased here so get other opinions, If you are looking for a all around bench meter and don't need super fast readings per second for automated stuff get a Fluke 8846A. It has more bang for buck than an equivalent price Agilent. Higher accuracy, nicer display, expanded ranges, Trend plot, histograms, statistics.

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 04:36:18 pm
content: As previously stated, Fluke only produces a few types of equipment (multimeters, calibrators, thermal imagers...) and Agilent has a MUCH broader range. However, another thing to keep in mind if what you are looking for is offered by both companies, is that Agilent designs their products to appeal more to a technical market (laboratories, testing against standards etc) and as such they are usually higher accuracy/precision and often offer more in the way of features and functionality. Fluke's main focus is on industrial use, and as a result, their products tend to be bare bones (purposely) and built rugged enough to be dropped 20 meters onto pavement, after being submerged in water and run over by a car! They arguably also offer a higher degree of safety if you are going to be working in a "dangerous" environemnt (high voltage, radiation, etc)They are both high quality (and also expensive), and I would suggest comparing all prodcusts (including those by other companies) against what citeria is important to you.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 04:41:54 pm
content: Quote from: muvideo on September 11, 2012, 02:48:29 pmWould be better pick one instrument category at a time.... like robrenz suggests... I'll modify topic ok?, reading well the whole posts i realized it's a bit confusing... Sorry... We shall start whit DMM, than go to bench multimeters and handled oscilloscopes, for now should be enough...And, it should be considered other company too..

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 05:58:11 pm
content: For a handheld DMM i would rather look at Fluke ( even though i am severely Agilent biased ).Agilent has never made any handhelds. they were rebranded Metrix or Escorts ( now they bought escort ).For bench multimeters... That's a clear win for Agilent with a second for Keithley 2001/2002.I don't like the new Fluke / tektronix meters . They are slow , take a long time to start up and run linux on an FPGA... That stuff simply has NO place in a multimeter. If, as a top notch equipment manufacturer, you have to resort to running linux on an FPGA as opposed to developing a true instrumentation processor , writing and OWNING the code for it, you have lost it. That machine is simply botched together.I use Fluke 179 handhelds. I also have an Agilent meter with the Oled. but i prefer he Fluke's.As for anything else. Agilent only here.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 06:05:08 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 11, 2012, 05:58:11 pmSimply because the OLEDs are pretty power hungry, am i right Sir?

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 06:16:41 pm
content: I love my botched together meter, I would not trade it for any comparably priced meter.

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 06:22:57 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on September 11, 2012, 06:05:08 pmYes I had one, for only a week and sold it, not for field troubleshooting. They go dead from batteries and then you are in a bad situation trying to find batteries or charge them.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 08:40:34 pm
content: interesting model of fluke are:28928783 iii83V177179and the cheapest: fluke 115, but i think it's an electrical meter...models of Agilent:U1253B (seems more for electrical purpose than electronic, but we are here for discuss it)U1272A (seems very fast )**U1252BU1233A (flashlight meter saved my ass one time, but is for electrical purpose)** watch this comparison whit fluke meters:Anyone knows handled like this from other brands such UNI-T LeeCroy ecc ecc?

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 11, 2012, 11:37:16 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 11, 2012, 02:32:45 pmYou aren't even kidding, especially now that Agilent acquired VarianCary, which adds UV-Vis Spectrophotometers, Fluorimeters, IR spectrometers etc. to their lineup.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2012, 06:05:47 pm
content: Quote from: PedroDaGr8 on September 11, 2012, 11:37:16 pmAnd so on ... agilent is getting larger by the second

author: billclay
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2012, 08:44:24 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on September 11, 2012, 08:40:34 pmThe discontinued 187 & 189 are nice too. They were top of the handheld line before the 287 & 289.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2012, 09:25:03 pm
content: I'd have to agree... I bought a 289 for a specific job a few weeks ago (needed mobile data logging capability in a hurry!), and almost straight away picked up a s/h 89-IV off Ebay (which, as far as I can tell, is virtually identical to the 189).The 89-IV power up faster, has a clearer display and is smaller and lighter than the 289, so it's the meter that now lives in the drawer by my bench. The 289 is packed up in its carry case in a cupboard, and I can't honestly see myself using it that much.Shame, really, it's a superb tool in its own right, but a bit redundant when I also have a Keithley 2000 on the bench.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2012, 09:44:44 pm
content: Quote from: billclay on September 18, 2012, 08:44:24 pmtotally agree...I bought a used 189 some times ago and I'm totally happy with it...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 11:23:01 am
content: when I was at school, on lthe EE laboratory they had a fluke 89-IV... it was my favorite meter: i tried to looking for it, but then i forget his name... Thanks for reminding me,WTF? it's off production I think: nothing on the price list, and if you search it on the fluke site, it's obsolete.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 01:03:53 pm
content: The 89-IV became the 189, then got discontinued when the 289 came out.The 289 is a really excellent tool in its own right - I just find the display contrast a bit disappointing. It's a passive dot matrix LCD that I'm guessing they chose for longevity and robustness rather than outright display quality.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 01:24:16 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on September 22, 2012, 01:03:53 pmyes, but as I see, it's out of production, so you can't order a new one.... Anyway, well, I'm seriously making a think to buy it: it's discounted, I hope it's a bit cheaper than the fluke 87-V.....The 289, it's very handy only if you have to test relays, timers, PLC, thermostats and industrial machines...

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 05:12:34 pm
content: ...or do any kind of data logging, which is why I bought mine. It was cheaper to buy the 289/FVF kit than to get a 287 and buy the software separately.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 06:33:40 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on September 22, 2012, 05:12:34 pmof course it was... what's inside the kit?

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 07:14:23 pm
content: Most importantly, the FlukeView Forms software which is needed to download logged data into the PC.http://www.sjelectronics.co.uk/acatalog/287&289.pdfYou also get test leads, crocodile clips, banana plug adapters, magnetic hanger and a case.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 08:22:58 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on September 22, 2012, 01:03:53 pmYou got the order of events wrong. First the 187 and 189 were discontinued because of some critical part was no longer produced. Then they were caught with their pants down and were unable to offer a high-end datalogging handheld DMM for a while. Half a year or so later they introduced the 287/289 to replace it.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2012, 09:18:44 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on September 22, 2012, 07:14:23 pmI'd rather having a current clamp instead of banana plugs: useful if you have to test a busway. Do the Fluke 87V have real time data logging program?

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 09:59:44 am
content: its not a plug its jsut a small 4mm shroud which can be screwed onto the probe to fit 4mm banana sockets five cents worth of stuff, but the rest( case+ir cable+software+hanger) cost more separetly just the software+cable cost more then the difference between the only meter package and the fvf kit.i doubt the 87 series has any logging capability

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 01:41:25 pm
content: I believe the original Fluke 87 featured an undocumented ultrasonic data transmission mode, though no logging. For real logging you need the 180/280 series.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 02:16:07 pm
content: Quote from: alm on September 23, 2012, 01:41:25 pmyes, I see... The fluke 89 IV have the data logging capability: I used it at school: you measure whit the meter plugged to pc... It's a real sin it's out of production...Quote from: M. András on September 23, 2012, 09:59:44 amyes, it's cheaper to buy a kit instead buy separetly, but the quesion is: worth it?( i mean: in the only multimeter kit you have probes anyway, and you save money.)

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 02:28:31 pm
content: if you want to use its logging capability which is faster and infinite connected to pc while the batteries last. yes it does, and for the carry case it protects the thing very well if you want some photos i can do some

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 02:54:46 pm
content: Quote from: M. András on September 23, 2012, 02:28:31 pmyes please... just for making an idea...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 03:58:21 pm
content: What do you mean by "handled instrumentation"? It's been puzzling me since the beginning of this thread. Instrumentation with handles, i.e. benchtop instruments--or something else?

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:41:51 pm
content: Hand held maybe?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:50:27 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on September 23, 2012, 04:41:51 pmyes. Sorry, my mistake

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:55:05 pm
content: You can edit your thread title to correct it.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:56:15 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on September 23, 2012, 04:55:05 pmalready done

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 03:20:36 am
content: I hope no one find this offensive.When I use an Hp (Agilent), I feel like I am a man of science. When I handle a Fluke, I feel like an electrician. Nothing against an electrician...Having used Hp a lot in college and graduate school, when I touch an Hp instrument, I still get the sense of touching a scientific instrument. Each time I use a Fluke (in the last few years), I was borrowing it from the maintenance guy just to check and see if the battery is good or did I break a wire. These two brands are just in different slots in my brain.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 05:08:07 am
content: Quote from: Oracle on September 11, 2012, 08:40:34 pmThe 177 and 179 are also electrical field meters.QuoteArguably much better bang-per-buck than any fluke.QuoteCheap brand, ranging from crap to adequate, depending on the model.Dave.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 05:28:48 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on February 11, 2013, 03:20:36 amtime to adjust the brain ...Fluke is one of the biggest brands , if not THE biggest brand, when it comes to calibration...Even agilent uses Fluke calibrators to verify and adjust their machines. Agilent doesn't even make calibrators...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 06:04:53 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on February 11, 2013, 05:28:48 amOn my recent tour of the Agilent calibration and standards lab (you'll see in coming videos), 95% of the gear was Agilent, only Fluke or some other brand where Agilent didn't have that bit of gear in their lineup.You are right, Agilent don't make calibrators, but it gave me a huge appreciation for the amount of gear Agilent offers.FYI, the Agilent cal lab that can "calibrate the calibrators" (i.e. were you send your Fluke calibrators to get calibrated) uses a Datron 4950.Dave.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 05:57:06 pm
content: U1253B is just a OLED version of the 1252 so it's NOT really meant for electrical service

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2013, 08:31:00 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 11, 2013, 06:04:53 amOf course. I'm sure they get better prices for Agilent equipment and it's good to use your own equipment to gain experience, especially before it's released. Both Agilent and Fluke have some holes. Agilent does not make calibrators, Fluke does not make much high frequency equipment (apart from the occasional scope calibrator) or other lab equipment besides DMMs and calibrators.Quote from: EEVblog on February 11, 2013, 06:04:53 amGuess who owns Datron these days?