Fluke 27/FM

[teslafan]

Wanted: a 'lil help finding a download link for a fluke 27/fm operator's manual. I couldn't find it at fluke.com or by google/yahoo/bing searches, thanks much.

[SkyMaster]

It seems that the Fluke 27/FM multimeter Operator's Manual is P/N 828558.

This Operator's Manual is written in a military style and format, which is not surprising since the Fluke 27/FM was a military device.

I am not aware of any PDF of this document.

Except from the fact that the 27/FM is a true RMS multimeter, the "regular" Fluke 27 Operator's Manual is applicable (the "regular" Fluke 27 is not true RMS).

[Lightages]

I have a 27/FM, the yellow latest version that is not TRMS. There are versions with TRMS in grey and versions in grey without TRMS. Which version do you have?

I can provide a scan of my manual and I think I have some PDFs of some versions.

[SkyMaster]

I think that the only true RMS Fluke 27 are the one that are labeled "Fluke 27/FM" on the front, just above the display.

Fluke had a "civilian" grey multimeter, the model 8025B, its basic dc accuracy is 0.2% while the 27/FM is 0.1%, but from the outside they look similar.

 

[teslafan]

Lightages

I have a 27/FM, the yellow latest version that is not TRMS. There are versions with TRMS in grey and versions in grey without TRMS. Which version do you have?

I HAVE GREY TRMS VRS W/27/FM ON TOP FRONT. I'VE DOWNLOADED FLUKE MODEL 27 USERS MANUAL, THEN WHILE LOOKING FOR THE MANUAL ON EBAY I SAW THAT THERE IS A 27/FM VRS. I'D APPRECIATE WHATEVER YOU CAN HELP WITH DOCUMENTS WISE, THANKS!

[teslafan]

 SkyMaster

I think that the only true RMS Fluke 27 are the one that are labeled "Fluke 27/FM" on the front, just above the display. TRUE.

Fluke had a "civilian" grey multimeter, the model 8025B, its basic dc accuracy is 0.2% while the 27/FM is 0.1%, but from the outside they look similar. TRUE AGAIN. THE 8025B WAS NON TRMS, RIGHT? THANKS. 

[SkyMaster]

  THE 8025B WAS NON TRMS, RIGHT? THANKS. 

According to the Fluke 1992 catalogue, the 8025B is "average sensing, calibrated to read rms value of a sinewave"; this is an elegant way to say that it is not true RMS.

But make no mistake; Fluke 27/FM, 27, 8025B were all high end multimeter when they were created and they still hold their ground today.

 

[Lightages]

Unfortunately I cannot help with any documentation for the TRMS model. You already have the user manual I could have provided.

[KGB]

Wanted: a 'lil help finding a download link for a fluke 27/fm operator's manual. I couldn't find it at fluke.com or by google/yahoo/bing searches, thanks much.

In the military records called this AN/PSM-45A.

http://radionerds.com/images/5/58/TM_11-6625-3199-14.PDF

Cheers.

[alank2]

There is some confusion about which are which.  There are some new Fluke 27's on eBay that have the display marked "27" only but the sticker on the back says 27/FM.  I guess I've always assumed the FM model is RMS and the non FM model is not...

[teslafan]

Wanted: a 'lil help finding a download link for a fluke 27/fm operator's manual. I couldn't find it at fluke.com or by google/yahoo/bing searches, thanks much.

In the military records called this AN/PSM-45A.

http://radionerds.com/images/5/58/TM_11-6625-3199-14.PDF

Cheers.

Thanks soo much.

[teslafan]

There is some confusion about which are which.  There are some new Fluke 27's on eBay that have the display marked "27" only but the sticker on the back says 27/FM.  I guess I've always assumed the FM model is RMS and the non FM model is not...

Nope, other way around. 27/FM = trms, 27 =non trms = rms only.

[alank2]

Nope, other way around. 27/FM = trms, 27 =non trms = rms only.

I guess I've always assumed the FM model is RMS and the non FM model is not...

Yes, exactly.

27/FM=RMS (aka True RMS)

27=Average Responding

[001]

Hi

is fluke 27fm still good for 2018?

[Specmaster]

Hi

is fluke 27fm still good for 2018?

Yes of course it is, I still have 2 of the original 27's and are still bang on spec for a 3.5 digit meter. Most of myetets meters are now 5.5 but have the ability to operate in 3.5 digit mode which is perfectly acceptable for most uses.

[001]

Well

What about  27/FM vs 115?

[kkritsilas]

Fluke 115 doesn’t have uA range, but has one more digit in the display, backlight, and a bargraph, capacitance, and frequency measurements, and a diode test that can test LEDs

Fluke 27/FM is more rugged physically, and does have the uA range, as well as a very long battery life.

The 27/FM is the only DMM that I have ever read about as having a +/- 1 count in the accuracy specification.

How much importance these differences make is up to the individual user. You may or may not need the bar graph, the frequency and capacitance measurements, or may need to test LEDs, in which case the 115 is for you. If you need a uA ramge, or have need of a very rugged meter, then the 27/FM would be the choice. All depends on what you find to be of importance, and what you can comfortably give up.

Also, the 27/FM is really cheap, averaging below $US50 on eBay (obviously used). The 115 costs more than that, used, and even more new.

[PaulAm]

+1 on the 27/fm.  At one point someone on ebay was selling them for $15, so I picked up 3.  I ended up spending almost as much on test leads.

It's not perfect, there's no backlight for one, but it's nearly indestructible and if you can find it cheap it's hard to go wrong.

[MLNL Laboratory]

Hi

is fluke 27fm still good for 2018?

The Fluke 8020A I bought brand new in 1983 hasn't gone stale yet   The 27/FM is built like a brick and is just about indestructible.  It's not a feature-packed modern DMM, but for basic needs it's perfect.  The US military got a long service life out of the model and most of these will probably last decades more. 

-MLNL-

[Specmaster]

Hi

is fluke 27fm still good for 2018?

The Fluke 8020A I bought brand new in 1983 hasn't gone stale yet   The 27/FM is built like a brick and is just about indestructible.  It's not a feature-packed modern DMM, but for basic needs it's perfect.  The US military got a long service life out of the model and most of these will probably last decades more. 

-MLNL-

Something gone a bit wrong here, I never quoted that at all 

[CJay]

+1 on the 27/fm.  At one point someone on ebay was selling them for $15, so I picked up 3.  I ended up spending almost as much on test leads.

It's not perfect, there's no backlight for one, but it's nearly indestructible and if you can find it cheap it's hard to go wrong.

Only in the last two years have I bought a handheld meter with a backlight, do you find it useful only I haven't used it at all apart from 'ooh it's got a backlight'?

[rsjsouza]

+1 on the 27/fm.  At one point someone on ebay was selling them for $15, so I picked up 3.  I ended up spending almost as much on test leads.

It's not perfect, there's no backlight for one, but it's nearly indestructible and if you can find it cheap it's hard to go wrong.

Only in the last two years have I bought a handheld meter with a backlight, do you find it useful only I haven't used it at all apart from 'ooh it's got a backlight'?

I rarely use a backlight and, in the times I had the need, I could have used anything else to illuminate the screen.

I also have a brown/grey 27/FM bought on the cheap and it is a war tank.

[Fungus]

Only in the last two years have I bought a handheld meter with a backlight, do you find it useful only I haven't used it at all apart from 'ooh it's got a backlight'?

Definitely not an essential item.

a) Most of them time out so you can't leave it on for long enough to work in the dark.
b) Do you really work in the dark? How do you see where to put the probes?
c) Pocket flashlight in the mouth/headlight.

[PaulAm]

For bench work the backlight isn't important.  When I find myself troubleshooting some equipment in place, the light is typically bad and the backlight can help.  Mostly it annoys me when it times out.

[Specmaster]

I have 3 multimeters that have a backlight feature and I have never had the need to use the feature. As Fungus has already mentioned, if you need to use a backlight, then it is certainly dark enough to add in some other lighting in order to adequately see where and what it is that you're prodding.