Need some quick advice on whether to buy a fluke scopemeter 99b series 2 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: skysurf76
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2011, 08:19:52 am
content: I am an electrical engineering student, and I tinker around with microcontrollers and I have a few projects going on, and after watching Dave's videos I have the compulsion to buy equipment. On craigslist in my area I found a fluke scopemeter 99b series 2 for sale. The guy wanted 300 but I offered 225 and he accepted and gave me his cell phone number. I was wanting to go out on Sunday and see it and most likely buy it, then I became terrified when I realized I have no idea really about what I'm buying and realized I need some knowledgeable advice.I currently only have a 30 dollar sears el' cheapo multimeter and I had my eye on a fluke 87 V because I want a "real" multimeter, and I figured with a fluke scopemeter, even if it is old, I would be getting a reliable fluke multimeter at least as good as an 87V with logging capabilities with an oscope to boot.Buy, don't buy, what questions to ask when I get to the guys house, what to check on the meter, bad price, good price?Thanks so much in advance to anyone taking the time to answer.P.S. He said it was calibrated in March. Should I ask for documentation?

author: Richard W.
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2011, 10:46:55 am
content: Calibration is worthless without documentation!If you calibrate a scope or a multimeter you only make a normative-actual value comparison on the calibraion document. A calibration doesn't change anything on your device!calibration =|= alignmentYou should check all buttons and the display. Maybe there are some dead pixels or dead columns/row

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2011, 01:57:27 pm
content: The 99b has a real time sampling rate of 25MS/s, so its usable frequency is 2.5 MHz, single shot.Its basic DC accuracy is 0.5% and 2-3% in AC to about 20kHz; the 87V is 0.05% and 1% respectively.It cannot measure amps without the optional probe, and even then its limited to the probe's capacity.It is not CAT rated.For $200 I'd buy a used 87V as it will last you a lifetime and its a modern instrument. 2.5MHz is fairly limited even if fairly low cost.

author: qno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2011, 03:50:55 pm
content: A scopemeter is far more versatile than a DMM.If you get the accessories like the probes and power supply I go for the scopemeter.

author: skysurf76
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2011, 10:23:56 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on July 16, 2011, 01:57:27 pmThanks a lot Saturation, that did it for me. I decided to pass on the scopemeter. After reading your post I did some more research and sure enough they just about had me with the 5 gigasample per second claim. Thanks for pointing out the true bandwidth. Additionally I had no idea the accuracy of the 87V was so much better. I think I'll just keep looking for an 87V.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2011, 10:22:13 am
content: Good luck!On eBay, buy it now 87V typically about $230, if you bid the lows are in the $160 and high in the $250.http://cgi.ebay.com/FLUKE-87V-TRUE-RMS-MULTIMETER-/220814619419?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336993b31b