New Fluke 1507 "Assembled in China"  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 04:20:32 am
content: Fluke 1508 china only model with 19 FIFO memory slots discussed here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-1508-insulation-resistance-tester-210-usd-anyone-with-experience/It looks like global market 1507 are all made in China. Possibly USA market ones are made in China too - the "Assembled in China" case embossing implies some US import credit for some USA made parts - eg the TI M430 mixed signal microcontroller.https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/msp430f427.pdf?ts=1593836355801&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.ti.com%252Fsitesearch%252Fdocs%252Funiversalsearch.tsp%253FsearchTerm%253Dm430f427

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 04:23:31 am
content: This one is Rev 010.Burning Tantalum posted Rev 008 pics bought UK 2003 (mentioned in another thread which shall remain secret).https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fluke-1503-to-1507-conversion/msg651130/#msg651130,didn't mention country of origin.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 07:25:12 am
content: A quick compare shows some of the updates:1. new C17 to left of the TI M4302. new E4 below/left of rotary switch - ?gas discharge surge suppressor

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 07:26:59 am
content: PCB front

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 07:31:36 am
content: Factory must have poor dust control. Lots of dust under the screen protector plastic.SW version 1.02.Open circuit voltage with new as supplied/installed Duracell OEM Alkaline made in China is 0.1V.Open circuit voltage with Panasonic Eneloops is 0.0V. Calibration/Adjustment manual says to adjust using 5V lab supply for powering UUT. So looks like accuracy will be better with Eneloops.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 07:47:57 am
content: Supplied test leads seem pretty ordinary quality.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 08:06:47 am
content: Interestingly, the Fluke Warranty policy says Fluke will honor the warranty of products purchased anywhere on earth at a reasonable global price.The stated exception is that country-specific parts which are not normally available in the local market where the claim is being made will incur shipping charges.My 1507 cost UKP280 + shipping, compared to local rrp of AUD1144. Fluke is making plenty of profit selling China-made meters.The 1507 design is getting a bit old. Hioki insulation testers are based on a similar but updated TI mixed signal processor with an extra A/D converter for the bar graph. Hioki prices are similarish. Ex-Japan Hioki models are cheaper. Hioki usability is probably better for daily use by sparkies, with hands free neck strap and large reliable test button.switch. But the Fluke has calibration and adjustment information available, which tipped the scales for me in the end as a long-term prospect.Great Hioki review (and other insulation tester reviews) athttps://www.element14.com/community/groups/test-and-measurement/blog/2020/03/24/hioki-ir4058-insulation-tester-review

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 09:58:32 am
content: Quote from: bluey on July 04, 2020, 04:20:32 amOh, the humanity!

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 11:09:33 am
content: The 1507 can be found for a similar price here in the US. For our market they still appear to be "assembled" in the US.I contemplated Fluke's lineup and almost bought the 1587 FC, but ultimately ended up with an Agilent U1461A from the Keysight eBay store. Everything appeared to be completely new, and it was a great deal especially considering all the included accessories.The factory calibration date was 6/6/2014 and tests show it is still spot on. The DC accuracy of 0.09% seems bad at first glance, but if you run the numbers it is actually quite good since it is plus only 1 digit. The accuracy probably suffers at the temperature extremes it is rated for. I should toss it in the freezer and see.Some notables: you can't turn off the beeper without turning off the continuity beep; the output voltage can be set from 10V-1100V in 1V increments and is quite accurate; has auto AC/DC V, mV and uA/mA modes and optional AC+DC on the secondary display; min/max plus average with timer display; does NOT have jack detection, it simply alerts when changing modes; capacitance setting shows cable length; the OLED display burn-in is a thing, but running the display power-on test for a few minutes mostly "fixes" it.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 12:15:35 pm
content: Can someone post a recent “made in usa” 1507 pic?Keysight U1452A is closer to but superior (260G ohms) to 1507, US700, maybe made in Malaysia? (Saw listing for U1451A made in Malaysia.)

author: Gandalf_Sr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 01:55:31 pm
content: If anybody is interested, there's a "used"Keysight U1452A listed on their eBay storeright now, they are asking $509 but would likely take $475 as an offer.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 06:58:52 pm
content: Saw that Keysight one. Looks new. But there is no clear description of why it is used, excepting that the webstore sells refurbs and used and only has 30 day warranty. No specific mention of country of origin on the Keysight listing.Tequipment lists country of origin, but they no longer sell Agilent/Keysight. Wonder why? Plenty of Gossen Metrawatt models made in Germany.https://www.tequipment.net/Gossen-Metrawatt/M550P/Megohmmeter-/-Insulation-Resistance-Testers/?v=7226#description

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 10:15:18 pm
content: The photos of new 1507s that I saw while shopping had "Assembled in USA" printed on the box:https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qYkAAOSw1Hpe~mfP/s-l1600.jpghttps://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NJcAAOSwJLde6OPb/s-l1600.jpgPerhaps someone can decode the serial numbers to see if they are really old stock?The U1461A that I purchased was made in Malaysia. Much of Keysight's manufacturing is there, so most of the products they have listed in their store are made in Malaysia.Here is the data sheet on the Keysight insulation testers:https://www.keysight.com/us/en/assets/7018-04371/data-sheets/5991-4290.pdfIf you flip to page 6 you will see that only the U1453A and U1461A have the 66,000 count mode and adjustable insulation test voltages. The U1461A has a few other goodies as well.https://www.ebay.com/itm/Keysight-Used-U1461A-Insulation-multimeter-OLED-display-50V-to-1kV-Agilent/174232433224For basically the same price, I don't see why you wouldn't get it unless you hated OLED.With the OLED display you get such a nice menu system for changing settings. I really like it. I also did like the idea of being able to use the meter in extreme cold.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2020, 11:55:49 pm
content: The 2015-2016 box assembled in usa also lists Fluke Europe address, suggesting it was a global market model, possibly with china made pcb, case??Well made LCD has longevity for decades (drtaylor described how in the old fluke meters thread). Multiplexer zero volts preventing indium plating.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/old-fluke-multimeters/msg686470/#msg686470

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2020, 12:38:20 am
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on July 04, 2020, 08:47:44 pmNot sure which bit the facepalm is about.... Tequipment dropping Agilent/Keysight???

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2020, 01:10:13 am
content: PCB rear changes marked.1. Addition of C15 - left of MSP2. Addition of C17 - below/right from MSP3. Addition of E4 - below left of rotary switch - ?gas discharge surge suppressor4. component color/spec changes of various resistors and capacitors - ?beancounting or improvement5. quality of probe socket forming has gone downGlobal market price of 1507 is closer to US350-400 - what I paid for mine.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 12:07:16 pm
content: My gut says the 15xx series suffers from lower quality design:1. Rubber holster color tends towards orange, when high quality designers would carefully specify the “corporate/trademarked” yellow color.2. Orange dial labels on brown are a bit lower contrast than should be for visibility.3. Not bothering with the white paint on the rotary switch indicator is a cheap, but easily fixed with a spot of paint.4. Orange “test” button could easily be fluke yellow along with dial labels and holster.5. Leaving out a bar graph on the LCD is cheap when all the better insulation testers have it to emulate analog functionality and it’s not like fluke doesn’t understand the value of this since the 1988 Fluke 87-I has a bar graph.I suspect the whole series is not designed in USA.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 12:50:13 pm
content: Quote from: bluey on July 09, 2020, 12:07:16 pmYou are completely wrong. It is like that EXACTLY because it was designed like that in USA. By business majors that are running the company now.Fluke used to be something else 20 years ago. That management and those engineers have left the building. Welcome to the brave new world.It's a shame really..

author: Mecanix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 12:55:10 pm
content: What's going on, I'm lost. Have the unit failed tests/calibration on arrival? Can't boot up or damaged?Looks like a decent test unit from the pictures/assemblies and sold at a reasonable priceWhat went wrong?

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 01:19:13 pm
content: Quote from: Mecanix on July 09, 2020, 12:55:10 pmMostly Sinophobia vulgaris...

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2020, 01:44:59 pm
content: I have to agree with 2N3055.It has nothing to do with the "Made in China". It is all because it was designed in the USA for a particular gross profit margin.I've sat in countless design reviews for decades. It used to be that those design reviews would be very oriented towards performance and serviceability. Nowadays, the question one always hears is: "Could you remove that? Doing so will increase the gross margin".Oh, and by the way: "start of production MUST ABSOLUTELY start by this date. We can always roll a software revision if something needs to change".