EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: ticktock3t on October 26, 2012, 04:12:46 am
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I'm an EE student looking for a very good multimeter. I really wanted a Fluke 87 but a guy on craigslist is wanting only $100 for the FLUKE 175. Do you think this multimeter would be good for Electrical Engineering tasks? There are also people selling FLUKE 77 for around $50. I'm tight on money and would definitely like to same some. If both of these FLUKEs are no good for Engineering work, which FLUKE type is?
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It depends on your needs. If you need microamps current support, do not get the Fluke 175 or 77. The Fluke 80 series supports microamp measurements. The 170 and 70 series only measures milliamps.
Do you need a backlight? The 175 doesn't have a backlight.
As for prices, I have noticed one seller listing brand new in box Fluke 175s for $75 Buy It Now. Obviously, you won't get any warranty from Fluke since you are not buying from an authorized dealer, but it is new in box.
I would not recommend a 77 series since it does not support True RMS. I have a 77 II myself, but I don't need a backlight, microamp and True RMS in this multimeter.
For $100, you can easily get an used original Fluke 87 and/or maybe a Fluke 87 III off ebay.
Obviously there are other choices, but I only give opinions on multimeters that I have actually used or own.
PS. If you end up hating EE, you can easily resell your Fluke on ebay or craigslist and probably recoup 100% of your investment.
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There are also people selling FLUKE 77 for around $50.
On second thought, sometimes a project or assignment might require you to measure current and voltage at the same time. If you can get a working Fluke 70 series (with operational fuses) for $25 or less, it might be a good investment?
The nice thing about the older 70 series is that Fluke has provided schematics, detailed documentation, etc so it is a good learning opportunity for you.
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I have one that I use for field work. In that role, it works fine. In fact I really like it a lot. Tough, safe, Fluke AutoHOLD, fluke continuity, fluke accuracy.
It's a little anaemic for electronics work as retiredcaps said. Capacitance range only goes down to 1nF if that's important to you. Ohms down to 0.1. Hz on AC, DC and current ranges (and I've seen some weird properties here relating to frequency measurements working only on AC or DC, and the voltage range mattering before switching to Hz!). But it does go down to 0.01Hz. No REL button.
The 177 gets the backlight and better accuracy, and the 179 gets the thermocouple (a DMM feature I quietly think as Dave called these extraneous features. But he seems to like thermo on his DMM :) )
Interestingly, though the 175 firmware identifies up on bootup, the unpopulated backlight button produces a BEEP when shorted. I've thought about populating it out, drilling out the case (they just plugged the mold so you can see where it goes), and picking up a 177 keypad. However I haven't once needed the backlight, so I may never.
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I'd also add that as a "second meter" a 27 (8025a, 8025B, 25 or 27) is a good choice - Dave got his for 40 dollars or something. (or was it 20?) These do have a microampere range, but lack capacitance or frequency, and don't have the resoulution of an 87.
I agree with earlier posters - if you have 100 dollars to spend, an 87 or even 87-III is a good choice.
I've seen 77, 77-2 for less than 50 dollars, but the -III and -IV (I think the IV is true RMS, but don't quite me (EDIT: Nope. See below.)
get to be quite a bit more - you're better off with an 87 unless you get lucky.
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It depends on your needs. If you need microamps current support, do not get the Fluke 175 or 77. The Fluke 80 series supports microamp measurements. The 170 and 70 series only measures milliamps.
The Fluke 79-III does not have anything called a microamp function, but it has a 4 mA range with 1 microamp resolution on the DCA function. So, that basically is a (lowish resolution) microamp function. Not sure of other meters in the 70 series can do this. I know the 179 does not.
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I'd also add that as a "second meter" a 27 (8025a, 8025B, 25 or 27) is a good choice - Dave got his for 40 dollars or something. (or was it 20?)
It was $40 BIN. Just be aware that the Fluke 27 is BIG and CHUNKY. There's nothing wrong with that, but it is almost 2x the size/weight of a classic 70 series. The only reason I bring that up is because when I went to University, the weight of all the textbooks, etc, the last thing I want is heavy equipment in my bag.
I've seen 77, 77-2 for less than 50 dollars, but the -III and -IV (I think the IV is true RMS, but don't quite me) get to be quite a bit more - you're better off with an 87 unless you get lucky.
The Fluke 77 III and 77 IV are not True RMS.
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For $100, you can easily get an used original Fluke 87 and/or maybe a Fluke 87 III off ebay.
An example of a Buy It Now auciton that just ended by some "lucky" bidder. Fluke 87 for $60. ;)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321011595898 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/321011595898)