FLUKE soft cases & Parts ...

[Kiriakos-GR]

1) Does those  Fluke soft cases worth the cash  ?

I am looking one for the 87V (5)  ..

Looks that some Fluke cases , works for many models ..

Do you have any experience or favor , any specific bag model ?



2) In order to use my own K type external probe , on the Fluke 87V .
Looks that there is one dual banana adapter...
Found it to be priced at extremely crazy prices ...
Found an equal , from China , just for few $$$  ( 4 EUR ) and got it ..



I think that I acted smart ...   If you have different opinion .. speak freely ..  
  
 

[alm]

I own Fluke C12A and C125 soft cases. I got the C12A in a set with a 112 DMM and some other stuff. It's a little bit tight for the 112, I wouldn't have bought it myself. I got the C125 used for €17.50, I think it's worth the price. It's mainly designed for Scopemeters, so it's a bit large for my 189, but I do like the large pouch on the front for test leads and accessories. A separate, zippered pouch for accessories would be an important feature for me, otherwise I'd lose those use little accessories like crocodile clips.

The quality is fine, but I didn't abuse them either. If you're buying retail, there are probably plenty other cases for half that price that work just as well, without the Fluke logo. I'd look in the direction of portable electronics cases (eg. external hard drive cases), these often have space for cables and accessories. The Fluke logo probably does make it more vulnerable to theft.

I don't see why a thermocouple plug adapter should cost €30 or so either, I bought the original for about €10 on Ebay. A generic one could work just as well, if designed properly. The issue with thermocouples is that every junction between two metals forms a thermocouple, and adds to the error. A combination like nickel-copper-nickel should have a net voltage of zero, as long as both junctions have the same temperature. The OEM one does probably have something other than nickel-plated copper for the contacts, and probably a low thermal resistance between the parts to minimize temperature gradients. No clue about the cheap clones, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was built with standard banana plugs. The accuracy of the thermometer in most DMM's isn't that good (even in expensive meters), so this effect might not be large enough to make a difference. If you're mainly doing relative measurements and the temperature of the meter is fairly constant, it probably won't matter.

For typical electronics use, I usually just want to know if the temperature is increasing (didn't reach an equilibrium yet), and if it's close to the max. It's not like I'd run semiconductors with a max. operating temp of 125C at 124C, so a few degrees offset is insignificant.

[Kiriakos-GR]

Hello alm ..

I was looking for the C90 and the C50 .
The C90 its like " store it when not in use"  
The C50 its what I call as " flip flap"  , like an open book .

Both are impractical , as you have always to pay attention , on the instrument and the soft case,
so to not loosing it .
But the C50 looks less " impractical "  it has some inner belt , that keeps the meter in place.

I will use it mostly in my shop , on my bench , still my needs are to be covered ,
with something , that will protect the display mostly , from little accidents ,
like accidental small impacts , and dust .  

An mixed case design, with  having at front, a clear soft nylon , with openings for the selector and plugs , and as rear cover ,  black padded material , would be the one that I would buy , no matter the cost.

I agree , the yellow Fluke logo , its an eye catcher     and  it can become an target for stealing.

So far , only the flip-flap  C50 looks to come close , but not enough , in what I am seeking.
If I do not find anything better , I will probably get it.

Soft cases from other brands ... Yes  if I found what I am looking for , why not .

And about the K probe ,  I totally agree that K Probes are good enough for generic use .
So, there is no reason to worry about the highest accuracy .

The Fluke K probe , looks alike with any K probe that costs no more than 3$ .
Just a wire with a round end .

I was not aware if the Fluke plug ( dual bananas ) haves anything in it , other than the plug it self ,
like a hidden component.

If not ... its a straight forward task , to add any K probe to it .    

    
    

[Simon]

are those temperature probes for use with a specific meter/setting or are they general purpose that turn say a volts DC range into a thermometer ?

I have the VC99 meter but the temp sensinf has an error of +5 C ! hopefully it is a consistent error

[Kiriakos-GR]

I like to believe that is an industry standard , and probably very very old ... ( K type Thermocouple )  

My basic multimeter even at 1992 that I got it , has an build in temperature sensor, and in the box was the external K type one too .

As you can see in picture ... I can have knowledge of what happens , just by comparing the inner with the external sensor .
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2895/probetest.jpg

When ever my Fluke arrives, I will do similar test .
When ever my adapter arrives , I will check it with both meters .    

[Kiriakos-GR]

Back to the FLUKE parts ..

So noticed,  that now I have to become collector , of special made by Bussman Fuses ,
called as " Fast acting " BUSS FUSE ...

The 87 V  looks to use the : DMM-11A  ( 11A)  & DMM- 44/100A ( 400mA )

So what do you know about them ?  Can we find similar or at low prices ,
looks that some young ones on ebay , they try to take advantage of the Fluke owners,
and the prices are flying ..

Found so far , that American suppliers , offer them at the price of 8$ per fuse.

Personally ,  I only care to get a pair as spares, In all my life so far , never burned a fuse , at any multimeter that I own . ( the last 25 years )

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[Kiriakos-GR]

In the last 7 days, I found my answers in all my questions...  

Today received the K-probe adapter from China, and it works great...

What amazed me most , was the update speed - fast response, of the Fluke 87-V with the K-probe on.
I had this K-probe for years, as it was an accessory  of my older DMM.

With the Fluke, the same probe ,  needs just 30 seconds to drop from ( my body temperature 36C ) to the room temp as 18-19C ..

In every temperature measurement , it takes about 6 seconds , to get accuracy as 95% ,
and in another 10 seconds stabilizes in to 100%.    

About DMM case , I ordered and received one original C25, as portable protection.
Also ordered a mini hard aluminum case , as an extra storage option.  

At this point I like to thanks all the members of this forum, who had helped me, up to a point,
with their tips. 

Picture:
 

[Kiriakos-GR]

Father I have sin ... 

Just got the TPAK belt - strap  , it was the only worthy gadget from all .
With it , even for indoor use  on the bench, its best to see the DMM flying over of all the other tools,
by hanging from a higher spot , than be at the same level with the everything else , like tools or devices.

Plus the second strap has the magnet , handy if you do works next to metallic cabinets.
Or even with out straps at all , I can use any pin or nail to hang it over.

I got it almost "cheaply" from eBay as new with out the carton box ,  22 EUR total ( shipped from UK ).
30 EUR local price direct from the major Fluke source , retail price on the shelf could be as 35-42 EUR.    

My last EURO to Fluke ...     

   

[Kiriakos-GR]

My last EURO to Fluke ...    
  

Hmm not exactly ..   Got the Fluke crocks AC72 ( with out them you cannot use the same leads with crocks)

And  got also as spare the " Premium "  Leads   TL71, so to be able to use any accessory of the standard leads TL75 (comes with the multimeter).
Plus specialized to measure millivolts with sharp needle point tips,
adjustable to desired length from 0 to 76 mm.  

Luckily my DMM came with one set of the long TP88 Rigid Back Probe Pins,
that extends the  needle point,  good for PCB 's  with heavily and awkward populated design .

With all those, the pack are considered as complete, But at an extra cost !!

Useful local links for you ..
    
I need to know the History of FLUKE 87 ( 1998 - 2010 )    
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=354.0  

    
Multi meters cables & options - Market News
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=448.0

    
FLUKE 87-5 DMM Accessory..Made In Greece - Greek Patent !!
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=455.0

[switcher]

I think the Fluke cases are an over-priced rip-off!

[Kiriakos-GR]

I think the Fluke cases are an over-priced rip-off!

I will agree mostly because they are not practical to use , the quality of the soft ones are good enough as material .

But the hard cases ... are made by nylon , lots of it , they are very heavy , they are bigger than what you need as storage for the DMM it self, and are only good and safe for the traveling technicians , so to keep the meter safe on the transport ... not to use them , to move the meter locally.

The 87-5 with the soft case , and just the leads in it,  its about 625 Grams , its a heavy DMM ,
If you add another one kilo ( for the hard case )  you will look like an convict strapped with metal ball.

The soft case are more useful , its compact, and just offers some protection against scratches,
and small impacts.
     
Even the soft ones, It is an over-priced rip-off, but at the end you surrender and getting one,
because you have to protect the over-priced DMM , thats how it works.