Query:  Fluke 85 value - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 12:34:12 am
content: I've not been big on Flukes past the 8000 series so just wanted to ask y'all Fluke aficionados this question:Would a Fluke 85 in very good condition (without probes) be worth $135 (USD)?

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 12:45:31 am
content: Quote from: BillyO on July 29, 2023, 12:34:12 amIt's market value will likely be about that, but I'm not sure you'd want to buy it as a meter to use--it's a decent 4000 count meter with capacitance but not much more. Maybe if you want to round out your Fluke museum...

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 01:20:46 am
content: Too new for my Fluke museum. My nephew is looking for a good DMM with traceability to use in working on heavy equipment.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 03:09:05 am
content: That sounds like a job for an 87 V Max. If you need a durable (IP67 and 3 meter drop tested) and traceably calibrated meter, it won't be cheap.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 04:56:19 am
content: Quote from: BillyO on July 29, 2023, 01:20:46 amWill that one be traceable? Do you know its complete history with 100% certainty?Surely he can afford a new meter if he's working on heavy equipment.(whatever that means - a lot of "equipment" is heavy)

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 02:09:52 pm
content: I think if you want tracebility you will have to have it calibrated at least once a year with the option of having a tracebility certificate. I think the cost of doing that is more than $135.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 03:10:49 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on July 29, 2023, 04:56:19 amHe's working on things like bulldozers and land graders and the like.You would not need to know the calibration history. Just send it in for calibration to a suitable facility. The item in question was last calibrated by Tektronix in 2017.I wonder why they did not send it in to Fluke?New meters are only new for a short while.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 03:32:15 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on July 29, 2023, 03:10:49 pmAs in repairing and maintaining them? And that requires traceability?QuoteThe warranty on a new one goes on for a while! But yes, the 85 will probably work fine for that and you can send it to any paper-hanging cal lab you want and it should be more than good enough.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 05:17:28 pm
content: Is it an 85, 85 II or 85 III ?

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 05:18:19 pm
content: Quote from: bdunham7 on July 29, 2023, 03:32:15 pmApparently. It seems the liability can be enormous when these machine fail. People die, property gets damaged and multi-million dollar projects get held up.

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 05:20:12 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on July 29, 2023, 05:17:28 pmJust a plain 85. It looks like new though. Except for the Tektronix sticker on it.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 05:29:39 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on July 29, 2023, 05:20:12 pmI'd still want to know the full history of it if there's a lot at stake.Quote from: BillyO on July 29, 2023, 05:18:19 pmAll the more reason not to cut corners. A Fluke 117 would probably do it but you should get something really tough like a new Fluke 87V Max for this sort of job.(and keep the 85 for yourself)

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 06:02:40 pm
content: Okay, I'll tell him to dig deep and get something better. He makes good money (nearly 6 figures) so he really shouldn't cheap out.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 06:36:42 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on July 29, 2023, 05:20:12 pmOf course that won't have a CAT rating, which in theory shouldn't matter but in practice IDK?

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 07:52:23 pm
content: Quote from: BillyO on July 29, 2023, 03:10:49 pmFluke and Tektronix (and Keithley for that matter) are all owned by the same corporate entity now (Fortive), it might have been the closest in-family calibration facility.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2023, 08:59:35 pm
content: My last Fluke repair was done by Tektronix. They actually sent me a new meter.I don't think there is an 85 II. I think there are only the original 85 and the 85 III.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2023, 11:49:05 am
content: As far as the question whether the Fluke 85 in very good condition is worth $136? I think not if you buy it to use but yes if you buy it for your collection. The reason I don't think the 85 was a good buy even back in the late 80's when it was introduced. I think it was better to spend a bit more and get the 87. That is why there are few 85 and thus it would make it worthwhile if you are collector. To use the original series 80 tend to have display problem so I don't think it's a good idea to buy it to use.