Fluke 87 V with USB/bluetooth output - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Rickkap
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 05:49:34 pm
content: Hi AllThis is my first post on here and i would like to ask if it would be possible in some way to add either USB or bluetooth output to the Fluke 87v? If so how what would you need? etc.I'm now stuck behind the bench and find that most of the time I can't get to see the display and would be nice to have the values shown on the PC monitor.I have had a look at bench DMM but i really do like the functions of the 87v.Thanks

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 07:26:02 pm
content: The 189 can have usb. (so is the 289 and 287 but these are quite different from the 87v). Or the new 283 which has WiFI I think with Fluke Connect.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 07:52:36 pm
content: Quote from: Rickkap on November 05, 2024, 05:49:34 pmNo, it isn't possible.I recommend a Brymen meter, you'll get a better meter for less than half the price and most of them have serial output option.https://brymen.eu/product-category/multimeters/It's what EEVBLOG members would buy.

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 10:25:40 pm
content: Brymen is OK, but they do have their faults. Specifically for bench use, the battery life isn't so great, batteries may be annoying to change frequently, they overcharge for the IR dongle, and their Windows software is a bit ancient. (Do look here for the list of models supported by Test Controller:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/)So for bench use, still try for a bench DMM. Most would have smaller displays than even the Fluke, so you will want a serial or USB interface to connect to the computer.What functions do you need the DMM to do?Could also aim a webcam at the Fluke display...

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 02:41:07 pm
content: I wanted a bench top DMM, but their prices are a bit over my budget, so I decided to buy a BM869s, and I made my own adapter based on the code from:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/brymen-bc-86p-usb-adapter-firmware-with-usbtmc-scpi/msg5377229By adding a microcontroller he made is SCPI compatible. Natively the Brymen meters have a weird protocol that sends the LCD segments of the data channel, and by adding a microcontroller, you can of course change it into any format you like.The webcam options is also plausible. 7-segment displays are quite easy for OCR. I think I've seen several of such projects on Hackaday where a webcam is used to analyze the displays of electricity meters and such.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 03:04:41 pm
content: yep there was projects to hard decode the display at columns and row levels / segments etc .... and send it to wifi ...some where done for small volts / amps panels meters ..... and othersor if by chance some rx tx pins on mcus are enabled and do send measurements stuff

author: whitepawn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 09, 2025, 07:39:33 pm
content: I'm looking for something similiar.According to service manual there are test points for serial port.TP23 and TP24.Did anyone connected a usb to 3.3v serial adapter and tried to read serial port?Maybe some character or byte should sent to device?

author: adam4521
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2025, 10:03:11 pm
content: I bought a Fluke 45 recently. These are old, but it was a late example in prime condition with a bright display so I couldn't pass on it. It has a serial interface ready to go, really easy plain text commands to read and control with a USB/RS232 cable, that you can build on to do what you want, without needing any special libraries. Doesn't have all of the functions and range of an 87v, but covers the basics well enough. Lots of them available, but many are worn or beaten up so you'll want to wait for a good one.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 12:18:06 am
content: it will depend if the firmware does communicate somethingyou can have the RX TX pins but, if you have nothing in the FW to make them work, they will not be configured as such, depends if Fluke have tought about that and disabled it / make it non functional ?the hard way will be to snif out the communications of the display driver ic / interface, decode it, and send it out ?many flukes are software calibrable, meaning you do need communications ?https://elektrotanya.com/fluke_87v_service_manual.pdf/download.html#dlcan someone confirm the parts are indeed there ? DS1 DS2 ir leds, Q10 Q11 Q12 are there too ?teardownhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-87v-(2021)-teardown/you do see many parts missing for the optical tx rx .... red circled

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 12:44:06 am
content: BLE can sometimes be a nice low-cost option if your needs are not too critical.The attached photo shows a low-end 65 GBP / 80 USD multimeter which has accuracy not too far removed from the 87V, and has BLE built-in, and comes with Android and iPhone apps (or you can use my cross-platform app, which will work on all smartphones/desktops/laptops).My cross-platform app is a simple prototype, I didn't spend a lot of time on it, but it's open source, written in simple JavaScript, and should be very easy for anyone to run with to improve if they wish. Please share any improvements, to help others.To run the app, simply set the meter into Bluetooth mode (by holding down the Bluetooth button on it for two seconds) thenclick here, then click on the green "Meter Select" button.Three-minute video demo here:

author: whitepawn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 12, 2025, 04:34:16 pm
content: Many thanks for all your reply.@adam4521I know that Fluke 45 can communicate over RS232 and i love it but even second hand ones are very expensive and its a bench multimeter.There are two reasons for me that Fluke 87 would be a better option:I have in my mind while measuing something at site or outdoors i want to display values on some kind of hud display glass. So multimeter should be portable.I am not a content creator but i want to be one some dayso i just want to embed mesured values on video.(Of course i can film multimeter screen but there are elegant solutions) It could be useful for logging measurement values and storing. This can be achieved with Fluke 45 of course.@coromonadalixYes it has TX and RX pins however as you said Fluke may disabled this feature it can be just a flotaing gpio pin. But I found this (https://www.pewa.de/DATENBLATT/DBL_FL_FL187-9-89IV_BEFEHLSSATZ_ENGLISCH.PDF) document for Fluke 87IV which says QM(Query Measurement) command can spit out measurement values and such. I tought 87IV can be similiar with 87V who knows.I didn't connected to these TX and RX pins and sent any commands to them however I am on holiday and I will try when i go home.Will post results."the hard way will be to snif out the communications of the display driver ic / interface, decode it, and send it out ?" I am actually working on this for Fluke 87(1st gen, original version, Mine is 1992 model). I designed an FPC interposer (which can be fitted in original case) with pin maps and such. I know it's an older model but i love my original 87. It was came to me with broken screen and i replaced it. (Screen was expensive) As far as i know many original 87 models have display issues.(Youtube have these fix videos also) It inspired me that some people have same issues so maybe this FPC interposer fixes also. While looking on internet i came across excellent video and blog post for a calculuator.(https://trochilidae.blogspot.com/2020/02/bus-sniffing-replacement-display-for.html)He used bluepill, i chosed STM32F103VCT6 which have many GPIO pins. Today i wrote to him about some details and he surprisingly replied.Here are my FPC interposer photos for who is curious:I can provide better details if someone asks but i don't want to go tangent from topic."can someone confirm the parts are indeed there ? DS1 DS2 ir leds, Q10 Q11 Q12 are there too ?" yes those parts are missing on my 87V but TX-RX lines and test points are connected so i think usb to serial adapter can be connected.(Without galvanic isolation this is a big issue i know, but just for testing stuff it will be fine i guess.)@shabazNice interface."BLE can sometimes be a nice low-cost option if your needs are not too critical." my needs are not critical but where is all the funMany thanks for your replies again.