Zebra strip for Fluke83 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Jester
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 07:56:55 pm
content: I have an old Fluke83, I purchased it about 1992?It's been a great meter, but now the LCD display is weak and sometimes when I turn it off, sometime later it thinks it's still on and does little intermittent beeps and such.Is there an inexpensive source for new zebra strips perhaps Ali?

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 08:05:57 pm
content: not surehttps://www.ebay.com/itm/252384172120?https://www.ebay.com/itm/316542042233?theses specified for 83 85 87https://www.ebay.com/itm/265943886080?https://www.ebay.com/itm/306332823253?

author: benj38
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 08:28:54 pm
content: Put the old strip in boiling water for a minute. Does wonders.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 10:13:49 pm
content: What is boiling water supposed to do? I just clean them with alcohol.

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2025, 03:50:55 pm
content: Seem to remember I had the same LCD problem on a Fluke 83.Used isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to clean the PCB, LCD contacts andboth sides of the zebra strip. The rotary switch may also needsome cleaning.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2025, 05:11:08 pm
content: OP has some other problem if power and the beeper are acting up. I'd be looking at the rotary switch and not the zebra strip?In general, what I've seen happens with multimeter LCD displays, after many years -The zebra strip's silicone rubber deforms. I find a soak in hot water helps that like benj38 advises, or even rotating them.The PC board bends, warps beyond what the zebra strip can accommodate. You can see it or use a straight edge to see how bad it is.

author: benj38
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 09:47:34 am
content: Quote from: edavid on July 08, 2025, 10:13:49 pmI second what @floobydust explained.These strips usually fail not because they get dirty, but because they no longer press uniformly on all the contacts on the circuit board and the LCD. The boiling water dip makes them expand a little bit and restores their original dimensions and springiness.Not wanting to start a war, I would even conjecture to say that, in many cases, the isopropanol cleaning treatment success is attributable mostly to the removal and re-installation of the strips, which may suffice when the problem is not severe enough.I have had strips (namely in Fluke 70 series DMMS) that no removal, cleaning, and re-installation would fix, but the boiling water dip fixed immediately.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 10:06:31 am
content: Quote from: Jester on July 08, 2025, 07:56:55 pmI have serviced many Fluke 83/85/87 with that issue.First off a warning: USE EXTREME CARE when releasing the tabs that hold the display assembly onto the PCB, and even more care when releasing the tabs that hold the LCD retaining frame onto the display assembly. After all these years, that plastic is brittle, and it's easy to break off the tabs. (Ask me how I know...)If in doubt, don't force it. You may use hot air (100C or so) to very slightly warm the plastics to make them more flexible.Once you have the display assembly removed and the LCD frame removed, clean the zebra strip, LCD contacts, and PCB contacts with alcohol, as already described. Use some sticky tape (ideally Kapton or other antistatic tape) to pick up any dust that remains stuck to the contacts on the LCD and PCB, as well as the contact edges of the zebra strip. (Just press the tape down well onto the edge or contacts, then peel off.) For most units, this is sufficient.For units where it doesn't work, especially if any of the plastic latches have broken, you can improve things by adding a bit more solder to the PCB pads for the zebra strip. Since these meters shipped with those pads already coated in solder, it's not a problem. Make sure to use flux to ensure a very smooth surface, and then clean thoroughly.Quote from: Jester on July 08, 2025, 07:56:55 pmThis means you need to clean the rotary switch. Use contact cleaner to clean the contacts (apply, then exercise the switch many times), rinse with clean solvent, then apply protective contact grease.While you have it open, you should also clean all the buttons. Remove the plastic cover on the PCB, carefully as above, to expose the PCB switch pads. Clean them with alcohol or contact cleaner (rinse with alcohol afterwards), and again use tape to remove any dust. Clean the rubber-carbon pads on the underside of the buttons with a bit of cleaner (ideally, alcohol diluted with water, otherwise alcohol, but be quick and gentle). Dry them off and then use tape to remove dust stuck to the rubber-carbon pads. Then reassemble.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 07:49:01 pm
content: Don't forget china is our friend and Aliexpress vendors offer replacement LCD's and zebra strips for Fluke products:https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-fluke-lcd.html?spm=a2g0o.home.search.0

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 09:21:20 pm
content: Quote from: floobydust on July 21, 2025, 07:49:01 pmHave you actually bought any Fluke compatible LCDs or zebra strips there? Please tell us the details.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 09:32:36 pm
content: I'd measure LCD terminal pitch and strip height. Then would buy a generic zebra strip that meets the dimensions / pitch rather pay someone who sells some generic zebra strips for 1000%+ profit for a benefit of buyer being lazy to figure out a suitable part themselves.Quote from: coromonadalix on July 08, 2025, 08:05:57 pm

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 01:26:00 am
content: Quote from: edavid on July 21, 2025, 09:21:20 pmAs I recall, Fortive had only the LCD parts kit. No zebra for you. Fluke 817460 Zebra strip (2 of).I couldn't source zebra strips from Japan. I've bought them off Ali without issue. They are not a high tech part, nor do the dimensions need to be exact. What are you thinking, it's all junk there?You want to hear my screams as the tangs bust off the LCD shield? What a shit design, super fragile.That was my buy fromScopemeter Repair.comHe's got an eBay store "joelfriend" too.Also seen atMultimeter Partsin Texas.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 02:54:06 am
content: Quote from: floobydust on July 22, 2025, 01:26:00 amI'm thinking searching AliExpress is very difficult, so it would be nice to have a specific link to a product that works.QuoteI can't find that part at either place, do they still sell them?

author: JoeMeta
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 01:24:57 pm
content: Iso Alcohol can remove the carbon contacts on rubber buttons, so use it with caution.If you have non-functional buttons, they can be restored with some conductive paint applied to the part that touches the PCB when the button is pressed.https://mgchemicals.com/category/conductive-paint/There are also various DIY conductive paint guides online.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 07:06:20 pm
content: Quote from: JoeMeta on July 22, 2025, 01:24:57 pmYep. That’s why I proactively, explicitly and clearly said to use alcohol diluted with water, and to be “quick and gentle”.Quote from: JoeMeta on July 22, 2025, 01:24:57 pmThat is terrible advice.For one thing it’s unlikely that the paint would adhere well to rubber. But more importantly, even if it initially adheres, it could flake off later, producing conductive flakes floating around inside the meter!! That could short things out, resulting in incorrect measurements, mode malfunctions, meter damage, or worse.There is absolutely no reason to even think of trying this when there exist products specifically for repairing this type of keypad.