Fluke 87-V vs Fluke 87 and alike

[jancelot]

Tried to find out what's the difference between Fluke 87 and the others like 87-II, 87-III and 87-IV up to V. I guess there are "major" revisions of the same exact version, but no idea exactly what are the differences and such. Can somebody point me out?

[dfmischler]

The earliest 87 has no IEC category rating.  Otherwise, I think it is identical to the next version, which has a 1000V IEC Category III rating.  This is a 4000 count True-RMS meter with basic DC accuracy of around .1% + 1 count (.2%+2 counts for mA).  Maximum capacitance measurement is 5uF.  Frequency measurement to 200 kHz.  Green backlight.

The 87III is 1000V IEC Category III, 4000 counts.  Basic DC accuracy is .05%+1 count (.1%+1 on mV, .2%+4 on mA).  Has a 20,000 count hi-resolution mode for some functions.  Otherwise very similar to the original 87.

The 87IV is a completely different meter.  More like the 187 than the 87 or 87V.

The 87V is IEC Category III 1000V, and is (mostly) a 6000 count meter with basic DC accuracy of around .05% + 1 count (.1%+1 for mV and .2%+4 for mA, 1%+2 for uA).  Maximum capacitance measurement is 9999uF.  Frequency to 200 kHz.  This meter also has a temperature measurement range, a low pass filter, smoothing feature, hi-resolution mode (20,000 counts in many modes), etc.  White backlight.

The detailed specifications are all in the manuals which can be found online.

[dfmischler]

I guess I should have just pointed you at this earlier thread.

[jancelot]

I guess I should have just pointed you at this earlier thread.

Thank you so much!

[unicornio]

both, fluke 87III and 87V are very similar in accuracy and in performance, although the 87V is more advanced and has some potential that the 87III has not. meanwhile, there are more failures in 87V series production, that in the 87III series, possibly because 87V sold much more, although there are doubts whether it was manufactured outside the U.S....

I have one of each, and the two work very similar, but I really like of the fluke 87III is that it can be calibrated manually, while the fluke 87V have to take it to calibrate to a site that having the so not-cheap fluke 'machine' that automatically calibrates it ...

hope this help

[retiredcaps]

meanwhile, there are more failures in 87V series production, that in the 87III series, possibly because 87V sold much more, although there are doubts whether it was manufactured outside the U.S....

Other than the GSM problem, what concrete problems are you seeing to say there are more failures with the 87V?

All Fluke 80 series are made in the USA.