Annoyed with the Fluke 289

[Amazing]

The 289 is the top-of-the-line Fluke meter, but I find it so annoying!

The LCD display is low contrast and hard to see. 

Using the backlight is required pretty much at all times.  Maybe outside in the sunlight it wouldn't be needed.

The backlight is always turning itself off -- a necessity given the battery life.

The kickstand is plastic, weak, and unstable.  The meter will fall over sideways with the slightest bump.  The kickstand hinge mechanism is just barely strong enough to hold up the meter -- bump it slightly and it pops off and the meter falls flat.  Plus it's a plastic bump and slot arrangement that holds the kickstand on, and every time it pops off it gets chewed up and less able to hold the meter up.

Continuity is a menu-enabled option, which means that it forgets it was in continuity mode when it powers off and you have to set it each time.  Continuity should be a primary function on the rotary switch.

Other than those convenience problems though, it is an awesome meter.   But I wish I'd gotten the 87V instead.  I only bought the 289 because I had a project that required logging.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[Muxr]

I agree. 289 is no substitute for the simplicity and efficiency in design of the 87V (I got 3 of them.. well the 3rd one is a 83V but very similar meter).

[BravoV]

Yep, agree, own 287 and 87V, but you have to understand the truth and fact that 28x uses graphic LCD.

Every character/symbol displayed is made of tiny dots, while at non graphical customized lcd segments, every single segment like in the 7 segments basically are solid area, no contest here.

Its like reading printout from dot matrix printer vs laser jet. 

[Amazing]

Yep, agree, own 287 and 87V, but you have to understand the truth and fact that 28x uses graphic LCD.

Every character/symbol displayed is made of tiny dots, while at non graphical customized lcd segments, every single segment like in the 7 segments basically are solid area, no contest here.

Its like reading printout from dot matrix printer vs laser jet. 

Good point, I hadn't thought of it like that.  Also the numbers on the 289 are actually smaller than the 87V, despite the larger screen.

[P90]

I've always considered the 289 a loser.
That display is hard to read and chews batteries.

[agdr]

The 289 is the top-of-the-line Fluke meter, but I find it so annoying!

Yep, agree with all!  I have two 289s.  They are also fairly slow responding.  I still use my 30 year old Fluke 77 if I need fast response for something.

The 289 has been out quite a while now.  I keep expecting Fluke to come out with something new that will fix all this stuff.

[BravoV]

The kickstand is plastic, weak, and unstable.  The meter will fall over sideways with the slightest bump.  The kickstand hinge mechanism is just barely strong enough to hold up the meter -- bump it slightly and it pops off and the meter falls flat.  Plus it's a plastic bump and slot arrangement that holds the kickstand on, and every time it pops off it gets chewed up and less able to hold the meter up.

The 87V also has the the same problem like at the hinge too, also imo, sideways is always the weak point of this kind of handheld meters as they're tall and thin. 

Only big wide form like handheld oscilloscope doesn't have this flimsy sideways problem.

The side by side comparison of my 287 and 87V, the 87V kickstand hinge is not much different than your 289, so cheer up.

Other than those convenience problems though, it is an awesome meter.   But I wish I'd gotten the 87V instead.  I only bought the 289 because I had a project that required logging.

Anyone else feel the same way?

87V is not the same league as your 289.

Personally, I called my 87V a multimeter, while the 287 is sort of low frequency, but ultra high resolution handheld oscilloscope.  As it's logging feature is quite powerful especially when you need it.

An example few years ago when I needed to verify whether my newly installed air condition unit is working regulating the room temperature, using the standard thermal probe that came with the meter, logged the room temperature and left it for 8 hours. Below pictures of the DMM screen showing the recording chart of full span 8 hours temperature fluctuations, and zoomed down to 2 minutes resolution,  and this is the real power of 28x meter. No hassle like needing to use separate pc/laptop/tablet to view the recorded data.

 -> (Fluke 287 screen on the recorded temperature chart for 8 hours)

Personally, for day to day use like doing a quick measurement of voltage/resistance etc, I don't use my 287, as I find the boot time is quite annoying. 

[BravoV]

I've always considered the 289 a loser.
That display is hard to read and chews batteries.

There is a possibility that the ultracap in your 289 is rotting, since it is sucking the battery power even its turned "OFF". 

Check this thread -> Fluke 189 with leaking surface mount supercap (also Fluke 287, Fluke 289)

[P90]

I've always considered the 289 a loser.
That display is hard to read and chews batteries.

There is a possibility that the ultracap in your 289 is rotting, since it is sucking the battery power even its turned "OFF". 

Check this thread -> Fluke 189 with leaking surface mount supercap (also Fluke 287, Fluke 289)

It's not my 289 anymore...  LOL

[Amazing]

BravoV,

Thanks for posting the side-by-side pics. 

I might just pull out the Fluke 116 I got for free when I bought the 289, and make that be my everyday meter...

[BravoV]

BravoV,

Thanks for posting the side-by-side pics. 

I might just pull out the Fluke 116 I got for free when I bought the 289, and make that be my everyday meter...

My pleasure.

Yeah, that 116 is definitely much better for instantaneous/brief/simple measurements. 

Hope this thread serves to others that is considering to buy Fluke 287/289 as everyday meter, its way too overkill. Also imo the boot time, is unfavorable compared to ordinary DMMs. Unless its going to be used intensively for logging purposes.

Besides, as above photos, its big, feels like holding a long thick fat brick. 

[LaurentR]

I really liked the 87V and bought a 289 as a "desktop" DMM  to get the dual mode and logging and very much regretted it. I ended up selling it a couple of months later. Bulky, hard to read, slow to start, menu driven, bad PC software. Not worth the trouble.

For my "desktop" needs, I am now very happy with a U1273A. It has a beautifully readable screen (OLED) - no need to squint or fiddle with the backlight, it does dual mode well (and the OLED is good at displaying it and showing what it is doing), has very functional logging and a nice PC/mobile interface through Bluetooth. And it is not too big. It basically does everything I wanted the 289 to do, but it does it a whole lot better.
It has its quirks and for a simple, reliable meter, I'd still pick a 87-V, but as a more feature-rich desktop meter, the U1273A checks all the right boxes.

[daflory]

I'm glad to have found this thread.
I was toying with the idea of getting a 289 because the logging and high accuracy looked appealing, and I'm glad to get solid confirmation of its downsides compared to the 87V.
Sounds a bit like the HP 48GX (vs. the 32SII)--amazing specs, but sluggish, awkward to use, and with a display that leaves a lot to be desired.

(I think I'm going to look into used Agilent bench meters.)

[IanB]

The 289 has been out quite a while now.  I keep expecting Fluke to come out with something new that will fix all this stuff.

I think they did...wasn't it the 189?   

[Daruosha]

Well, I have 2 289's and despite all the design issues (especially low contrast screen), I'm supper happy with them. The only equivalents (or clone) of this meter are UNI-T 181A which sucks in input protection department (check @joeqsmith videos) and CEM 9989 which sucks in each and every dept.

I admit battery consumption is somewhat unacceptable and some other issues could be managed a lot better, but when you need a data-logging multimeter with on-site graphs and etc..., nothing comes even close to 289.

[PTR_1275]

I bought a 289 for $200. I knew about the boot up time and the display contrast issues, but it's still a hell of a meter and I wasn't going to go past it at the price I paid. I think the bloke sold it so cheap because it chewed batteries and wouldn't hold memory like the time when the batteries were changed. I relaxed the supercap and it's good as gold now.

I have a lot of multimeters and each was bought for a specific purpose / use, of which the 289 has its definite uses for quick logging. I really like the max / min display of the 289 showing times of events too.

However my goto meter for quick simple measurements is the U1252B, I've just ordered a Bluetooth adaptor for it so I'll see how well that goes. I've heard good things about the mobile app for logging and monitoring.

[james_s]

I like the stand on my 87-III much better than the newer rigid plastic stands. It's rubberized with bendy metal inside so I can form it around and object to hang the meter. Works really well when I'm up on a ladder or inside a big piece of equipment.

[BravoV]

I have a lot of multimeters and each was bought for a specific purpose / use, of which the 289 has its definite uses for quick logging. I really like the max / min display of the 289 showing times of events too.

Yeah, agree, Fluke 28x meter is serious meter packed with features that can't be ignored just like that, imo, they're quite respectable. Its just for 1st DMM or the only DMM, its not the best choice.

Those min/max display is really good, I like them too, also the feature on displaying AC + DC or AC over DC or DC over AC combination views, they're quite handy, used it frequently and love those big displayed numbers.

[serggio]

This discussion are little bit strange. Not possible to compare 280 series with 87V and even with 87-III. This is different meters, they offer different levels of measurement. While all try to compare physical size, no one try to compare accuracy each other, especially for AC.
280 series is much more powerful, it can measure AC+DC simultaneously, it much more useful for min/max/peak measurement and etc..

As for display - I do not see any problem with contrast on my Fluke 287, I don't have any problem with battery and backlight itself do not consume significant amount of power (probably 30 mA consumed with backlight, don't remember exactly).
I use lithium batteries and used my meters for many days of logging, and batteries still working like are new ones.

[KrzysztofB]

Well. The only anoying thing for me is powerup time.
O m g. So anoying. That is why i prefer to use 189. And never ever user any function that is beneficial from graphic display.
Contrast, i agree without light is not so clear.
I wqs thinking to buy one, but after some.usage at work.... No no.

[PushUp]

...
For my "desktop" needs, I am now very happy with a U1273A.
...
It has its quirks and for a simple, reliable meter, I'd still pick a 87-V, but as a more feature-rich desktop meter, the U1273A checks all the right boxes.

I think about buying a used Keysight U1273A for a nice price instead of a Fluke 289. Although I am a Fluke Fan-Boy (113, 117, 179, 87V), I need a handy datalogging DMM with low Ohm capability.

What do you mean with "It has its quirks"? Do you also have the BT-Adapter and the newest FW for the U1273A?

Thank you very much for sharing your experience! 

[Dwaine]

Has anyone found and figured out how to replace the screen with something better?

[P90]

Has anyone found and figured out how to replace the screen with something better?

buy a Uni-T... they seem to know how to make a brilliant LCD display...

[Electro Detective]

Besides the unresolved supercRapacitor leakage ANNOYANCE   

that Fluke SHOULD FIX FOR FREE -UNCONDITIONALLY- FOR ANY OWNER,

the 289 does a lot of useful stuff 

It won't do much of anything if impatient users don't spend some time getting familiar with such a feature packed meter,
that may be low on visual eye candy appeal for some,
but a killa meter for those that don't gas about looks and curves on ...TEST GEAR (?!!)    

[P90]

this gentleman has some detailed reviews...