Fluke 28II "batt error" - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: kei-86
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 09:14:52 am
content: My trusty "indestructible" meter decided to give up working last week. As it turns out, one of the original energizer batteries that was supplied from the factory which was still in date had started to leak. Apart from some fractured plastic from the swollen cell, there didn't seem to be any corrosion or ingress of any battery acid. The meter was bought in 2016 and the batteries dated ok until 2025 so I thought it is new enough to have dodged the issues with the 2013 models I have seen on here in another thread.Some missing plastic bits but otherwise clean. (I've got the bits which I can glue back in if needed)What foxes me is why I now see this no matter what new batteries I put in it. Am I doing something wrong or has this killed the meter? Even dafter question is will Fluke warranty this given the battery that leaked was in there from the factory. (this was bought from an authorised supplier by me in May 2016, so I should be ok there)

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 10:28:06 am
content: If the screen displays a message then the batteries are making contact. It's not the broken plastic.If there's no sign of corrosion then something is broken internally and the battery thing is just a coincidence.It's time to find out how good the famous Fluke warranty really is. Send it back without mentioning the batteries, that's just a distraction. Let them look at it and tell you what the deal is.(then report back here)

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 10:39:24 am
content: Have a look atthis threadand the video posted at reply #46, then contact Fluke for a repair or replacement of the meter.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 01:06:55 pm
content: Send it to Fluke. Also take pictures and file a claim with Energizer. Fluke should warranty it for life and Energizer should replace the meter damaged by leakage too. The industry has changed something that all alkaline batteries can leak. I have Duracell, Enegizer and Rayovac all leaked and in their original pack unused and still before expiration date.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 01:16:19 pm
content: ...then get some Eneloops.

author: kei-86
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 01:31:55 pm
content: Well I got curious as I took another look and the crystallisation had returned in the battery compartment even though there were no batteries left in it. Turns out the leak had sneaked into the inside of the meter bypassing the battery contacts J5 & J6 where I could see the PCB, hence why I thought I'd got away unscathed.These were the factory fitted batteries, so I'll have to see what Fluke say about this. I had some eneloops sat ready to go in it once the factory batteries started to go flat.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 01:54:47 pm
content: Quote from: kei-86 on May 06, 2022, 01:31:55 pmI highly doubt they put them in at the factory. Maybe it was the dealer.AFAIK the Fluke warranty only covers manufacturing defects so you're probably out of luck there.Time to look at the energizer warranty.

author: kei-86
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 02:34:28 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on May 06, 2022, 01:54:47 pmThe batteries came in the meter in the original box. I had never opened the back prior to this. I doubt the seller did it, perhaps the importer in the UK? I can see this being an expensive lesson in not using alkaline batteries, ever.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 03:40:13 pm
content: I bought a lot of Fluke meter and recently the 87V Max which is very close to the 28II. It came with Energizer batteries but not installed in the meter.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 03:53:05 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on May 06, 2022, 03:40:13 pmThat sounds much more believable than the factory installing them.Maybe the dealer put the batteries in to make sure they weren't shipping a DOA meter.

author: Black Phoenix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2022, 04:32:19 am
content: Send an email to Fluke and see what they say.If they solve your problem, then get some Panasonic Eneloops for your DMM. Tons of users (including me) use then since we were sick of Energiser and Duracell leaking and damaging our expensive equipment.Or go the Lithium AA route.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2022, 10:10:43 pm
content: Well a Fluke 28II is much more expensive than a Maglite flash light but I got Energizer to pay me $50 for the flashlight that got damaged by their leaked battery. They made me send them a lot of pictures of the flashlight and the batteries. Their code date etc....Also try Fluke.

author: Per Hansson
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 08, 2022, 04:57:10 pm
content: Thanks for posting this, what a carnage! It made me switch from the original Energizer Alkalines to some used Lithium batteries I had on hand instantly!They actually measured a bit odd: one cell was almost 0.1v lower than the others!Looks like this was the failure mode in yours, do the two other cells still measure reasonable?Just a tip for your claim with Energizer: they are going to want the lot production number in a photo too, it is "stamped" on the battery label.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2022, 05:40:25 pm
content: Quote from: kei-86 on May 06, 2022, 01:31:55 pmFluke may have some agreement with Energizer to fix this sort of stuff, since they supply Energizer as OEM. I would contact both Fluke and Energizer, but this should not be your problem. Now I have to go inspect the few remaining things I have that I haven't converted to rechargeable or lithium cells.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2022, 08:14:33 pm
content: Just an update on whether Fluke installed batter in new meter. I just received a Fluke 287 back from Fluke as a warranty replacement for one that has the broken dial. The meter came with the battery installed. There doesn't seem a space in the box to keep the batteries separately. The meter came with a NIST traceable calibration certificate.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2022, 08:53:55 am
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on May 12, 2022, 08:14:33 pmWas the box sealed? Was the date/time correct when you received it?Somebody might be testing warranty replacements before shipping. It doesn't mean they put batteries inat the factory.(nb. I'm not saying they don't but it seems like a silly/expensive thing to do, so ... anecdotes)

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2022, 11:42:19 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on May 13, 2022, 08:53:55 amThe box was not sealed but I found Fluke meter came in unsealed box all the time. The date and time is correct and I know they just calibrated it before shipping it to me because the calibration certificate was dated just before it was shipped. Also it was made recently as I had to wait more than 3 months for them to get me a new one.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2022, 03:06:18 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on May 13, 2022, 11:42:19 amThey probably put them in for the calibration and left them there.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2022, 11:19:30 am
content: Post prompted me also to upgrade - lithium for alkaline - and note state of existing. Have done 3 meters this morning and have a proving unit and milliohmmeter on watch (12 AAs to get for those). The Duracells in the 287 weren't sweaty but they did seem a bit "prickly"?

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2022, 12:16:03 pm
content: I'm on Eneloops for all my expensive gear now. I've seen too many of these threads here to use anything else.Panasonic don't make a 9V Eneloop so I went with an Energizer NiMH for my BM857s. It's only 175mAh instead of about 500mAh for an alkaline so let's see how it goes.

author: bc888
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2022, 02:39:22 pm
content: I've was using Eneloops in 90% of my AA/AAA stuff, however, I had an Energizer Lithium leak in my @$400 Eotech rifle sight. Fortunately only the contacts were destroyed and it was only a $20 or so fix as Eotech makes a replacement part. Now I'm moving closer to 100% Eneloops where they work. (1.2V vs 1.5V)Good luck with the Fluke, man that's hard to stomach seeing and I feel for you.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2022, 04:10:39 pm
content: Either Fluke or Energizer would have to fix the meter for free except that Fluke may void the warranty because the OP took it apart.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2022, 08:09:33 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on May 14, 2022, 04:10:39 pmNope. It's necessary to take these things apart to change fuses and a fuse can be blown by an AA battery.They can't void any warranties for that.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2022, 09:55:00 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on May 14, 2022, 08:09:33 pmThe 87V Max is different from the 87V which requires you to separate the 2 halves to replace the fuses. The 87V Max has a small door in the battery compartment to get access to the fuses. You don't have to separate the meter into halves like the OP did in order to replace the fuses.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2022, 08:53:42 am
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on May 14, 2022, 09:55:00 pmWeird. I was always told it's done deliberately so that big companies can put security stickers over the screws and be able to tell if people had blown fuses in their meters or not. They didn't want people wrapping tinfoil around them.Then again: The "max" version seems aimed at individuals, not corporations.