EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
EEVblog => EEVblog Specific => Topic started by: EEVblog on March 31, 2014, 03:07:52 am
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Fluke 114/117 Kit Multimeter for hackers, makers, and hobbyists.
Tweet @FlukeCorp if you want to get on the list for one:
http://twitter.com/FlukeCorp (http://twitter.com/FlukeCorp)
Use the hashtag #FlukeKit
Or ask on their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/fluke.corporation (http://www.facebook.com/fluke.corporation)
Dave comments on the Sparkfun/Fluke multimeter customs trademark/trade dress fiasco, and shows off the new low cost Fluke 114/117 Kit Multimeter about to be released.
The Sparkfun blog post: https://www.sparkfun.com/news/1428 (https://www.sparkfun.com/news/1428)
Flukes Trade Commission Exclusion Order: http://www.usitc.gov/publications/337/pub4210.pdf (http://www.usitc.gov/publications/337/pub4210.pdf)
GIVEAWAY: I'll be giving this multimeter away to the most needy - but only if you bothered to read this video description!
So if you want it, leave a comment saying why you should have it.
EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFyEqcVpKLI#ws)
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Because I was stolen my $50 Extech 330 for which I spent saving my money for like 1000 months. Also, for being the first to read the video description :P
Thanks Dave!
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Because I was stolen my $50 Extech 330 for which I spent saving my money for like 1000 months. Also, for being the first to read the video description :P
You're on the short list!
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ahhhh... Being I'm in Brazil, no way I'm gonna get one of those! :(
But I'm saving money to buy an UT71D! :-+
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Ironically Tektronix and Fluke are both part of Danaher Corporation, along with Amprobe and Keithley. I'm guessing the errant Tek multimeter came out before that happened (which appears to be 2007).
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Very smart marketing. Way better than a full page ad in some trade magazine.
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I have A shit $10 Multimeter that barely works.
It is very,very bad. :-- :-DMM :-BROKE :palm: :-(
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Kit seems a bit easy/simple, but considering they probably grab the boards out of the SMD oven, cal them, and throw it in the kit, and let the end user do the though hole work and mechanical assembly, I can see that being a big portion of the cost of the meter. Do the input terminals look hand soldered, or like they might have been pin-in-paste? The only real 'new' thing for them would be kitting the parts.
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Hi Dave!,
I know you don't like giving away things to people who haven't posted on your forum before (sorry!, only been reading). But I'm in a desperate need of a DMM, my old flea marked sourced Keithley 130 multimeter is wearing out and the jacks aren't even insulated sleeves! It's fine for my 9V-battery powered projects. But I've been putting of repair projects because of this, probing around things without a meter I can trust, nope. Not going to do it.
Anyway, thanks for continuing to make videos!, I remember when I watched your video on making an extra table for the old lab, under which the car could park :D
Take care!
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I would say the idea of the kit is to limit sales to a particular group (makers and such) and to prevent the loss of sales on complete higher priced units.
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What's the definition of most needy? The only multimeter I have is a Craftsman 82139 but it gets the job done. I have a scope that I traded one of the members here for (Conar 255) and it doesn't have a probe yet because I haven't gotten around to making one but plan to soon. Having said all that, I don't consider myself needy even though I don't have some of the nice things people here do but then again if I did, I wouldn't most likely even know how to use most of it although I'm sure I'd have fun trying.
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Lovely meter Dave, great that you want to give it away as well, as a special "Dave Assembled" unit as well. Nice kit bag as well, room in there as well for a second Fluke meter as well.
Any body disagree that this one needs to be signed on the case by Dave?
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Yhe only thing my multimeter is good for is continuity ( it has an awesome buzzer ) but anything else sucks big time. I just spent all of my savings on a soldering station and can't afford a new multimeter, but i think there are many people that need it more than i do.
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I remember when I watched your video on making an extra table for the old lab, under which the car could park :D
Can't believe I put up with that cramped smelly, dank, hot (in summer), concrete dusty 2m x 2m lab for so long!
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I saw the huge backlash against fluke for the sparkfun fiasco. What is 30k worth of kit? 100 meters?
Fluke 114 made in China.
I know some companies do final assembly to avoid tariffs.
I wonder if this helps the 114 with the savings as a kit?
Reminds me of the Sanwa kits you can buy. (kind of pricey).
KIT-8D (http://overseas.sanwa-meter.co.jp/items/detail.php?id=85)
PC20TK (http://overseas.sanwa-meter.co.jp/items/detail.php?id=83)
My local Tafe used to have students assemble the crummy $15 multimeter kits as part of the basic electronics course.
example (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=KG9250)
My friends use $5 hobby king multimeter for their RC stuff.
Im still using my VC97 from Dx.com
Did i miss the part where this was up for grabs? ^-^
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I see fluke's concern... kinda. I think the real concern would be resellers buying the sparkfun crap meters and passing them as fluke meters at flea market and sidewalk vendors... When you are a major brand who has an "iconic" appearance and especially your brand is known for something (quality, performance, looks, status,etc.), trade dress does have validity. Just look at the sort of knockoffs presently at sidewalk vendors and flea markets... it's obvious. And lazy IMHO. One should make a profit through invention and innovation, not through deception and trickery. After all, Fluke didn't become Fluke by making multimeter-shaped-objects...
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I posted some of this on youtube as well. Not sure if it was supposed to be here or there. Sorry if it is in error.
I am an I.T guy and I have recently begun acquiring an interest in electronics. I have done a few basic projects recently. I only do these for fun as I am only just learning. (I leaned a lot of stuff about soldering from your videos (many thanks to you)).
I would love to have the fluke DIY multimeter kit. I have been meaning to get a multimeter to expand the repertoire of projects I can attempt. I think it would be a good learning experience to build my own multimeter. So I hope I can win this competition to get this kit. Otherwise I will have to wait till it hits the market to buy one. ?
I was reading about this on one of the tech sites I visit. I'm glad to hear about flukes awesome gesture. That definitely builds a lot of good PR for them. I still think destroying all those multimeters was a waste though. Could they have not made them change to color or something?
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I look at it this way. A real "Company" would not buy a kit for its technicians and "Companies" are flukes core business. This is just a good PR move. Feed some low end meters to students and such getting people used to the quality and feel of the product line and make lifetime customers when they go into the workspace and need a serious meter. I love it when companies do stuff like this. Meanwhile people will get some good meters for what I am going to assume are reasonable prices and they will not endanger their core business. Lets face it. It would be cheaper and easier to just finish the assembly in china rather than bag up the parts. They are making it just enough of a kit to dissuade real customers, but enough of a finished product to ensure it feels and works like a fluke.
Unfortunately without a current meter its practically useless in the maker field. They will learn fast though. I am curious if you populated the parts, took the stop out of the switch, and engaged the switch on those functions if it would come to life on the current settings. I would not be surprised if it did!
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I still think destroying all those multimeters was a waste though. Could they have not made them change to color or something?
A can of pink spray paint and and a embossed stamp on the side in large letters saying "Not A Fluke" should do it. O0
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Wow, that was fast! I tweeted Fluke 2 hours ago and I just received my order confirmation with shipping details! Thanks Dave!
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Well, what do you know.
Looks just like an Agilent U1231A with rearranged buttons and less features that sells for less than $100 at Trio (and it's fully assembled and certified).
Good one Dave; you've done it again. :-DD
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Well I'm not saying that I would need that multimeter giveaway, but my DMM is a "bit" broken... Anyway I think I could afford finally some better after destroying bunch of these cheapo meters (probably would have been less expensive to buy quality one at the begining).
As said that Fluke 114 is bit useless without current ranges but hey, it is one of cheapest genuine meters. And it performs much better on its limited function range than these everything-from-dmm-to-kitchen-sink-in-one meters. You can always add more dedicated equipment later. Good voltage&ohm meter gets you started, and you can always measure current with good voltage meter and precise shunt resistor (or get Daves µCurrent!).
I don't think Sparkfun or any other party would have get away with these VC97/99 multimeters either, they are somewhat flukeish too and are even sold by adding "Fluke" to ebay listing tittle. :D
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I'd absolutely love to have that multimeter! I currently have a not-so-great Uni-T $30 special and the readings are out. I really need a better handheld multimeter... my projects could greatly benefit!
However, I understand that other might be needier :)
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Is the internal 114 PCB is same like Fluke 117?
is the 10A amp is not available just only because no range switch and covered by casing?
I just watch your old 117 review before the video shows up.
i wander what's the retail price of the kit, since the build up one is $113.16 at testequipmentdepot.com
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/fluke/dmm/114.htm (http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/fluke/dmm/114.htm)
i will buy one if it's have $50 price tag in my country :-DMM
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I should have it because i don`t have money to buy it!
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I should have it because i have an cheap Chinese multimeter which is not working properly and i would like to have a decent multimeter when i am working around audio tube which has a high voltage
-Ben
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I would willingly buy a multimeter kit like this if it was a decent price. Even without a current range it would be both useful and fun. :-/O
Now how do you sign up for one if you have neither Twitter nor Facebook accounts? :bullshit:
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i wander what's the retail price of the kit,
I think that got a bit lost in the video. One is supposed to contact @FlukeCorp via Twitter, using the #FlukeKit hashtag to get more details, like availability and price. Or ask Fluke on Facebook.
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i wander what's the retail price of the kit,
I think that got a bit lost in the video. One is supposed to contact @FlukeCorp via Twitter, using the #FlukeKit hashtag to get more details, like availability and price. Or ask Fluke on Facebook.
more easy to ask in EEVBlog :D
since I didn't have twitter, and already leave facebook behind.
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I could really use that multimeter! I was surprised watching some of you videos showing of some of the really bad cheap multimeters that even those looked so much better than the one i have. No continuity tester, no auto-range and the test leads is soldered right onto the pcb, which makes the safety note on the backside of it quite fun :)
Opening it up also showed that they have drilled holes in front of the case which have then later been covered up with tape. I guess the connectors just got too expensive!
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This reminds me of a multimeter I lend about 9 years ago. Im still waiting for it to be returned. |O
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Because I was stolen my $50 Extech 330 for which I spent saving my money for like 1000 months. Also, for being the first to read the video description :P
I should have it because i have an cheap Chinese multimeter which is not working properly and i would like to have a decent multimeter when i am working around audio tube which has a high voltage
I think I should have it because my current multimeter is a Fluke 19 :'(
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v264EMbFT84/UnmcA8lMhFI/AAAAAAAAADM/QZaf96R5u64/s1600/IMG_0109.jpg)
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well,
Why i didn't need a fluke DMM...
This is the best DMM in the world (my home), feature:
1. 10 A NIST calibrated Shunt resistor(and who need a fuse, unfused means you didn't have to replace it)
2. 200mA fuse (don't copy the Technic ...it is patented)
3. Double side SMD resistor(first in the world)
4. Unfiltered input (you can get Cap filtering as Optional)
5. You can overclock this beautiful DMM
6. Exposed Power lead for CE compliance (Cheapest Engginering certification)
7. Unconnected pad (perfect for future development)
8. COLORFUL Battery (forget that boring uncolored 9V battery)
(edit: 4/4/14)
But Seriously...
Why I should have it?
My work is repairing all sort of Test Equipment, and my hobby is make cheap DIY version in my home.
I have make several things: OSA, semi diff probe(1MHz), C&V swithing P/S,industrial USB curent loop, 35kV P/S,..
But for my hobby i didn't have any budget for decent DMM..
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Currently my multimeter is a cheap uni-t and it does not work propely, so i am multimeter less ,I really need onother one, can I have it please? :-DMM
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Dave, I'm going to ask for it on behalf of my kids.
Son and Daughter (twins) are off to Uni this September to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering respectively.
If the Fluke kits appears before then (and I don't win this one ;) ), I'm definitely going to get them one each.
Pete
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Currently my multimeter is a cheap uni-t and it does not work propely,
Can't be. According to the UNI-T fanboys here every UNI-T is perfect.
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Dave, as an early birder for the kit request from Fluke since you announced it earlier at the Supporters Lounge few days ago, got the confirmation today, thanks. From their reply, I have the impression that they're sort of overwhelmed by the requests, and probably have a limited run for the 1st batch. Hurry guys, a limited edition here. :clap:
Please read your PM, have few questions for you regarding the payment, I thought this is for the noble cause in education, why the heck it has this affiliation thing with your web site ? Are you getting commission for this particular deal ? :-\
On the free DMM, hell, why not, here is my reason, at least its damn honest :P , I need that low end one to complete the "Fluke Circle" >:D, my life just feel empty if its not completed. :'(
Lets see, I own Fluke 287 (two) , also a 87V, sort of upper mid level. Its just I don't have this low class type from Fluke, and neither they're available here locally, so please, I think I deserve it to complete this quest.
Anyway, you always agree that one will never have enough DMMs, right ?
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well,
Why i didn't need a fluke DMM...
This is the best DMM in the world (my home), feature:
1. 10 A NIST calibrated Shunt resistor(and who need a fuse, unfused means you didn't have to replace it)
2. 200mA fuse (don't copy the Technic ...it is patented)
3. Double side SMD resistor(first in the world)
4. Unfiltered input (you can get Cap filtering as Optional)
5. You can overclock this beautiful DMM
6. Exposed Power lead for CE compliance (Cheapest Engginering certification)
7. Unconnected pad (perfect for future development)
8. COLORFUL Battery (forget that boring uncolored 9V battery)
I reckon Han should win whatever prize they're all asking for. He is the funniest.
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I'm really looking forward to getting mine, hopefully fluke will be quick with it, I'm very glad they are finally doing something for the hacker maker movement.
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I'll wait for the 117 kit :)
Also, did anyone notice at about 16:20 when Dave snaps the unit on the table, it jumps by about 26mV AC ?? it doesn't do it again after that, and it stays pretty stable at 0.00 for all the remaining knocks on the table.
I think knocking it on the table loosened the bits :) maybe it's broken now :)
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Is the kit for real or an early April fools...
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Is the kit for real or an early April fools...
It did come to my mind when I watched the video and the idea is hilarious enough but Dave wouldn't fool us a day early... surely...
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Is the kit for real or an early April fools...
It did come to my mind when I watched the video and the idea is hilarious enough but Dave wouldn't fool us a day early... surely...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA)
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Let's hope this Kit idea is successful and catches on through the Danaher group: I'm interested in a Keithley 2002 Kit and a Tek MDO4000B Kit ;)
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Smells like April's Fool...
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The makers and students of today are the professionals of tomorrow. Fluke should be smart enough to know this and know that when they do get a professional gig and are able to make recommendations and requests for hardware, they will naturally gravitate to what they "know".
That said, I think if these kits are more than an equivalent spec'ed Extech that is already assembled for example, they aren't going to be much more than a marketing stunt and will miss the point.
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http://www.elenco.com/admin_data/pdffiles/M1007K.pdf (http://www.elenco.com/admin_data/pdffiles/M1007K.pdf)
There's already a multimeter kit in exsistence. It's and elenco and it's boxy and cheap...
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Smells like April's Fool...
It's March today, so it can't possibly be. :-//
"Fluke is really fast with this kit".. Yeah, they say they are going to do it (how many maybe's were in that announcement?), and to show it off they just sneak away a couple of parts from the production line, put it in some nice bags, and send it off to you. :-DD
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Smells like April's Fool...
It's March today, so it can't possibly be. :-//
Exactly what i was thinking. Don't know if Australia is ahead or after GMT, so technically it possible might be april 1 there.
Lets hope it's not because it's a great idea for supporting the young technically interested people.
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Local date and time in Daveland:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=240 (http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=240)
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Smells fishy, everyone's been had
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Absolutely sensational video. Well done. This one even topped my favourite 555 video from a few years ago. :)
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Tried to jump in earlier and call April Fools but the server had crashed :(
The tricky bit with this video is that Fluke would either be in on it or would be getting seriously spammed on facebook.
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It's March today, so it can't possibly be. :-//
31/03/2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWlpqSrabKs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWlpqSrabKs)
31/03/2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q2rnKExMiY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q2rnKExMiY)
31/03/2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ4r8Rc5aus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ4r8Rc5aus)
All April Fool's EEVBlog jokes were released in 31/03...
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Dave actually got me with this one. I've found his previous April Fool's videos amusing but obvious. This one really got me - I even tweeted @FlukeCorp. Sounds like enough people got in touch with Fluke so they had to post something on their Facebook page about it.
Well done Dave. You win this round.
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I used to have a Protek 608 -- actually two of them at one point -- before I converted to Flukes. But I wonder whether they ever had any problem with Fluke or US Customs. Yellow boot, dark gray body:
http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DimLarge/608_image_1.jpg (http://www.tequipment.net/assets/1/26/DimLarge/608_image_1.jpg)
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It's a shame fluke has called it as April Fools joke so early because there are plenty more out there set to be caught by it.
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It's a shame fluke has called it as April Fools joke so early
They could have had fun with the thousands who registered their interest, or done any number of things.
This is more people by an order of magnitude than Fluke have veer had for all their social media campaigns combined I'm sure.
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It's a shame fluke has called it as April Fools joke so early
They could have had fun with the thousands who registered their interest, or done any number of things.
This is more people by an order of magnitude than Fluke have veer had for all their social media campaigns combined I'm sure.
Ok, I admit, you got me, it was completely plausible, but come on, I watched it on March 31 here in NZ, it wasn't April 1 anywhere!
Nicely done anyway
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Hey, just a poor college kid who has no multimeter.
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yay,
you got me
Youtube HD mean a lot, in 360p barely see the solder mark.
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So Dave, how long did it take you to desolder all those components?
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I'd love to have that meter. I've been trying to get into building electronics for years but I never have the investment. I get a couple hundred aside and kids have hockey, football, swimming, dentist, always something. So I decided the only way I'm going to get anything together is make excuses to build stuff for the kids and to get something bit by bit the first tool I got was a $12 soldering iron to fix a broken 42" Plasma TV for the kids room, ended up costing me $17 to fix and that included the iron, the solder and the caps it needed (took a hell of a long time to get the joint to heat with that $12 iron). It was a proud moment for me as I have been reading about electronic since I was 12 but could never afford to get into the hobby, I'm 35 now and still can't....life's funny like that there are always necessities.The next thing I'm looking for is a cheap chineese soldering station and one of those UNI-T multimeters likely will have to wait for chistmas lol. I'm hoping to get the kids into it too by building effects for their guitars.
Great April Fools by the way, you had me all the way to the fluke facebook page looking to sign up. I've watched about 40 to 60 of your videos since i discovered your blog a few months ago. Keep up the great work I've learned more from your blog in the past two months that I have reading about 5 to 10 text books.
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Sorry for just joining for this but I didn't realize how active the forums were, so I figured i would give it a try. Anyways I only have one multi-meter that gets most things even though it only has a 1k resistance test mode but other than that my Gardner Bender GMT-12p works good enough for what I do now xD, it would be nice to have for repairing though but thanks for putting out good content though dave :D keep it up :)
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I'm a stay at home Dad, looking after my disabled Son (Severe Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Robertsonian Translocation of Genes).
I've just started to make some guitar distortion pedals, and I've only got a pretty crappy Jaycar multimeter. Having a better meter would give me more confidence in matching expensive (to me) Germanium transistors and the voltage drop of matched diodes, so as to maintain a superior product.
Love the blog,
All the best
/Loscha from Melbourne.
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Ok, I admit, you got me, it was completely plausible, but come on, I watched it on March 31 here in NZ, it wasn't April 1 anywhere!
I had no choice really. I couldn't release midnight 31st because then I wouldn't be able to watch it and delete all the compulsive April Fools comments which spoil it for everyone if made too early on in the game (and I wanted to give Fluke a chance to figure out what was happening!). And I was busy today and wouldn't be around either, and by then it would have been too late and everyone would have been sanitised to april 1st jokes, so about 2:30pm on the 31st it was, my time. Too bad if you lived in other time zones, not my problem :P
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So Dave, how long did it take you to desolder all those components?
A minute with the solder sucker.
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Awesome acting, two thumbs up!
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I fell for it, good one. Though while I did think it was real, I was questioning how they could wave solder the PCB and plug up the missing fuse holes with solder but miss the kit components.
I think if Fluke were to ever release a kit meter (yeah, I don't see it happening) they'd have to omit the entire wave process and so you'd have to do all the through hole stuff.
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Wow if it wasn't for fluke's FB saying it was april fools.. xD got me
well done :-+ !
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I fell for it, good one. Though while I did think it was real, I was questioning how they could wave solder the PCB and plug up the missing fuse holes with solder but miss the kit components.
That's what peelable soldermask (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjwbwCL6eU) is used for.
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It's a shame fluke has called it as April Fools joke so early
They could have had fun with the thousands who registered their interest, or done any number of things.
This is more people by an order of magnitude than Fluke have veer had for all their social media campaigns combined I'm sure.
Ok, I admit, you got me, it was completely plausible, but come on, I watched it on March 31 here in NZ, it wasn't April 1 anywhere!
Nicely done anyway
Me too - I watched it about 3pm Adelaide time on the 31st. I even tweeted Fluke.
Only when I checked out EEVBlog today to see what Dave's prank for this year would be that the penny dropped!
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Good stuff Dave: I have informed some High School science teachers to keep track of this. I have supported Sparkfun and Fluke by buying their stuff and I will continue to do so. ¡MUY BUENO!
Cheers, Mark
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Every time I say no April Fools joke will get me but dammit Dave if you aren't the only one that consistently fools me.
Nicely done, although I'm a little bummed they aren't doing a cheaper multimeter. Also was this your way of taking a stab at Fluke for the recent SparkFun controversy by inundating them with makers asking for cheap kits, haha.
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:o
Well... That fooled me... Had me 100% convinced for a minute!
Though posting at 9pm MST on MARCH 30 in the US didn't help much- way too early for an April fools! :-DD :phew:
Well, anyways, judging by the response Fluke got, there's a pretty good market for these! Here's to hoping that, somewhere down the line, Fluke would release one of these...
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Played backward, this video could be a great teardown.
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Also was this your way of taking a stab at Fluke for the recent SparkFun controversy by inundating them with makers asking for cheap kits, haha.
I tried a little "social engineering" experiment, it worked, but seems Fluke failed to realise the potential :(
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I must say it: awesome april's fool joke Mr. Chief Teardown Officer at Fluke :D
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Since my old multimeter mysteriously broke down (the values it displays dont make any sense), i have been using an arduino and its ADC as my voltmeter. Sometimes i have to build voltage dividers and other shenanigans to get the thing in to right range. Long story short – i could use a real multimeter.
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I am a kid (i am 12) and my parents dont have money to buy me basic equipment like this and i cant work in Denmark until i am 14. So i really need this and a crappy chinese M-Meter costs like 30$ in DK so they are damn expensive here.
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So Dave, how long did it take you to desolder all those components?
A minute with the solder sucker.
But those were new components weren't they?
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Yesterday: tweeting #FlukeKit
Today: Waitaminute...
Well, congratulation on your new job. You are CTO at Fluke, chief teardown officer :d
"Welcome Dave Jones & the @EEVBlog to the engineering team by helping us pick his title! Chief Teardown Officer? #TeardownPrank #FlukeKit"
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It's March today, so it can't possibly be. :-//
31/03/2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWlpqSrabKs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWlpqSrabKs)
31/03/2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q2rnKExMiY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q2rnKExMiY)
31/03/2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ4r8Rc5aus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ4r8Rc5aus)
All April Fool's EEVBlog jokes were released in 31/03...
I thought the obvious use of the shrugging emoticon would express the sarcasm. :-DD
Great prank Dave. As again, I watched this vid and was like "ok well, we'll see when its released". Then I got on the forums later that day (y-day now), and thought.. "I can't wait to see this years April fools video of the EEVBLOG".... hmm wait a minute. :=\
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But those were new components weren't they?
Of course, I got them from RS and Jaycar. They aren't even the right ones, and I was afraid it would be so obvious! but they were the best I could get at the last minute. I only decided to finally do this on the Friday.
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I've got my kit yesterday and already assembled it - great stuff, O0 :-DD
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my multimeter is an £8 rapitest pocket meter from my local Wilkinson store
so can I have it please :-DMM >:( >:( :( :P
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Also was this your way of taking a stab at Fluke for the recent SparkFun controversy by inundating them with makers asking for cheap kits, haha.
I tried a little "social engineering" experiment, it worked, but seems Fluke failed to realise the potential :(
Yes, showed that that social media crowd is as bad at fact-checking than the traditional media.
And Fluke apparently didn't have an idea what to do with the requests.
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Hi
I hope the giveaway isn't over but in any case the multimeter is really good. I always liked the FLUKE meters but I never got one. I am 18 years old and really into electronics, sometimes I am the one who explains things to the teachers. :) In a few months I will be going to the Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik in Austria not Australia. I think that I am the best student at my school and I have won a lot of 1. places on technical conventions. But because I live in a weird country I can't afford a FLUKE instrument. :(
But they could have put the current measurement on this one. :D
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You completely fooled me ??? grrr >:D.
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Yep, got me too!
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Really got me on that, but if you're still willing to give away the multimeter I'd really like to aply as an EE student in Czech Rep I can't really afford much and having trustworthy multimeter would be great improvement over my 5$ crappy one.
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hahahah... I knew it was something wrong here! kkkkkkkkk
Dave, you should be working for Hollywood! Nice acting! :-+
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I fell for it, good one. Though while I did think it was real, I was questioning how they could wave solder the PCB and plug up the missing fuse holes with solder but miss the kit components.
That's what peelable soldermask (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjwbwCL6eU) is used for.
Looks labour intensive; almost seems like it'd be quicker to hand solder the few parts required.
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Yes, showed that that social media crowd is as bad at fact-checking than the traditional media.
To be fair, I did engineer it that way, saying it hadn't been released yet, and was so new etc, and implied that Fluke would like to garner interest via social media hash tags etc. It's not surprising that people just tagged away and didn't bother asking Fluke first.
I contemplated setting up a dedicated website at the last minute, but that seemed like too much trouble for too little reward.
And Fluke apparently didn't have an idea what to do with the requests.
Yeah, I thought that was sad, so much opportunity to do something creative...
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They just sent you a tweet
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Hi Dave!
If the meter is still available... i´d like to give it to my son. He just got 8 last week and is a hugely into electronics. Taking stuff apart, see how it works, desolder components and resolder them. But when it comes to measuring he has to rely on a terrible cheap meter... not good to start learning with. And of course, he deserves it! He is the best son in the world!
Greetings from northern Germany
Bahne
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Great one, you got me going ! :-DD
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It would be nice if i get it becouse:
Im 16 and im not rich yes a do have multimeter its BM-257 and a cheap ass one if i have 2nd one i can messure voltage and current (or 2 voltages) at the same time
Bm257 is only thing that i can messure with(no scope no LCR meter just nothing)
If somebody needs it more than me, fine give it to them but i kind of need it too
Luckymat
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Well im sitting here with just one cheap mastec and lots of things that need measurements! ... PLEASE?!
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Check this out. a transparent fluke dmm as prize item in china. really cool stuff. here’s the link to it. http://65.fluke.com.cn/ (http://65.fluke.com.cn/)
Good one dave! April Fool’s!
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This reminds me of when Sparkfun took delivery of a reel of fake Atmel 328Ps a few years ago. Sparkfun needs to pay through escrow with these cheap/fraudulent Chinese distributors so if they don't get their product the idiots don't get paid.
https://www.sparkfun.com/news/350 (https://www.sparkfun.com/news/350)
Of course, this second time they didn't get burned like the first time but that was thanks to Fluke's generosity.
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I think there was one mistake - Dave said "the battery is still in there". Apart from that, very clever.
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I thought that a corporation like Fluke would give a kit a different name, like 114K for kit.
Bu that though was gone fast and I fell for it
Good one !
Best April fools 2014
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Dave, I need the multimeter.
Deeply.
Because I believed every word of the crap you told in the video. And I tweeted to Fluke. And I wrote to Fluke on Facebook. Probably they’re still laughing...
:palm:
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I fully believed it when I saw the video first time. Well done. best April 1st blog ever!
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Precisely done on March 31 :-DD :-+
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You are A great actor Dave! :-+ :-+
You did very much fool me! ::) ;)
When I saw all those comments and that picture that's buried in the comments I looked back and saw the solder marks and I started laughing! :-DD :clap: 2 thumbs up Dave! :-+ :-+
You are such A great teacher and A great joker too.
Your the BEST Dave!!!! :) :D ^-^ ;D
Thanks for A great show! ;)
Hunor.
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That was an awesome prank :clap: :-+
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Hi Dave, I would dream of owning a real fluke dmm...
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My favorite youtube prankster is https://www.youtube.com/user/lasersaber (https://www.youtube.com/user/lasersaber) he is awesome on April 1st pranks :)
Dr lirpa sloof :-DD
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I believed the damn video and tweeted Fluke. I have now sent out tweets to Keithley and Tektronix for a 2400 SMU kit and a MDO4000B kit as well. Let's see how that goes.
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Good stuff Dave: I have informed some High School science teachers to keep track of this. I have supported Sparkfun and Fluke by buying their stuff and I will continue to do so. ¡MUY BUENO!
Cheers, Mark
Well OK: I plead ignorance (or just ignorant) as I did not know it was April or for that matter that the day before was in March. I'm retired; beauty!
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Good stuff Dave: I have informed some High School science teachers to keep track of this. I have supported Sparkfun and Fluke by buying their stuff and I will continue to do so. ¡MUY BUENO!
Cheers, Mark
Well OK: I plead ignorance (or just ignorant) as I did not know it was April or for that matter that the day before was in March. I'm retired; beauty!
I believe that part of the video was true and not an April fools joke.
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Back in 1995, I was lucky enough to pick up a Fluke 79 that I had for years and years. I got it because I was in the appliance repair business at the time, and it was one of the few meters out there that could actually read the diode out of a microwave oven. Most others did not have a high enough voltage to do that. I had the meter for several years, and last year, I moved into a new house. Within 2 months, both of my vehicles were broken into and everything was stolen, including my Fluke 79. Of course the cops didn't care. It is gone forever.
Recently, I have been getting more and more into electronics, and I soon missed my Fluke more then anything. I would love to have another one, but wow, they are pricey. It was a toss up between dropping a few hundred for a new meter, or using the money on my son's science fair project. Guess who won. If his project isn't disqualified, he is going to kick ass! If he wins this, I think a Fluke anything would be a great reward.
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Yes, showed that that social media crowd is as bad at fact-checking than the traditional media.
To be fair, I did engineer it that way, saying it hadn't been released yet, and was so new etc, and implied that Fluke would like to garner interest via social media hash tags etc. It's not surprising that people just tagged away and didn't bother asking Fluke first.
I contemplated setting up a dedicated website at the last minute, but that seemed like too much trouble for too little reward.
I suspect people there were quite a few people who knew it was an april fools joke but still contacted fluke, just to add to their (fluke + other social medias) confusion.
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Is the giveaway 1'st April fools too? :(
yeah, anyway the cost of shipment and import tax can be half of the DMM price...
And i'm sure Dave will keep the Fluke 114 "KIT" as April fools trophy ... :-+
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Is the giveaway 1'st April fools too? :(
yeah, anyway the cost of shipment and import tax can be half of the DMM price...
And i'm sure Dave will keep the Fluke 114 "KIT" as April fools trophy ... :-+
Even if it wasn't u wouldn't want that one because it hasn't got the correct input protection
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Simply put no bullshit. I should have the multimeter because Bobs really my uncle. O0
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Is the giveaway 1'st April fools too? :(
yeah, anyway the cost of shipment and import tax can be half of the DMM price...
And i'm sure Dave will keep the Fluke 114 "KIT" as April fools trophy ... :-+
Even if it wasn't u wouldn't want that one because it hasn't got the correct input protection
Better have then nothing, you should see my home DMM.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-597-fluke-114-kit-multimeter-sparkfunfluke-rant-29012/msg416600/#msg416600 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-597-fluke-114-kit-multimeter-sparkfunfluke-rant-29012/msg416600/#msg416600)
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Grr! Every year! I get fooled by Dave's April fool's pranks every year. And every year I tell myself, "he won't get me next year", and of course he does.
Well done Dave! :-+
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I remember the time when he pretended he was starting a partnership with a big company that one was good
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And i'm sure Dave will keep the Fluke 114 "KIT" as April fools trophy ... :-+
No, I'll give it away.
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:palm: Oh noes you got me again.
Quote from Fluke's Facebook "The reaction to Dave’s post and video has been incredible! While we don’t currently have plans to build this kit, we are certainly passing your enthusiasm for it on to our product planning team."
:clap: to you Dave.
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Well done Dave :-+ got me also :palm:
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You got me last year too GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D.
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I'd love to get this meter. I'm only 18 and still a high school student. I'm currently developing an OSHW project - the miniLOG https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/minilog-a-precision-standalone-voltage-logger/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/minilog-a-precision-standalone-voltage-logger/)
Unfortunately I only have an sbsolute POS meter, a Uni-T UT30D. It's just not enough for this work, I need much better accuracy for properly testing this thing. The shit confidence of my meter is actually one of the reasons why I'm struggling with progressing on this project.
What can I say, I'm not rich. I don't own a scope and have an incredibly basic lab. A nice Fluke like this one would be a giant help.
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So if you want it, leave a comment saying why you should have it.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell a moving story to justify why I need the multimeter. I already have a multimeter (though cheap but functional). A friend would sell me a 77 IV in good condition for a reasonable price.
But I would love to present the "kit" in a display case where it can be considered from friends – many of them are professional electronics engineers and also viewers of the EEVblog.
Am I on the list? :D
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A Fluke kit is a first for them, IIRC. Its does suggest Fluke takes the hobby market seriously to devote resources to it.
It likely will generate a following and intro a new generation to their better gear.
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Seriously Dave? hahaah Your video seems so real, I didn´t believed what I read here about aprils fool day, but I just read the post on Flukes webpage saying they are not making the kit and I must admit you got me too again! What?!! Very very good one Dave. :-DD :palm: :clap: |O
Anyway, it seems this served Fluke to notice how the hobbyist would like a product like that one.
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btw and not that I encourage anyone to get those, microcenter in the US still has those sparkfun meters but they are not autoranging so the dress code they chose lies a lot!
Or like my wife will say. It doesn't even measure temperature, what good it does me!
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Or like my wife will say. It doesn't even measure temperature, what good it does me!
SWMBO complained the other night that I didn't have a multimeter in the house that measured temperature.
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Thanks, checked now and it looks like I've been had .. :-DD
A Fluke kit is a first for them, IIRC. Its does suggest Fluke takes the hobby market seriously to devote resources to it.
It likely will generate a following and intro a new generation to their better gear.
Sounds like you need to read a bit more of this thread.
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swmbo
for those who may not know, is short for She Who Must Be Obeyed. From British TV show Rumpole of the Bailey.
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swmbo
for those who may not know, is short for She Who Must Be Obeyed. From British TV show Rumpole of the Bailey.
Ah, now things make sense. Thanks for the explanation! ;D
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I need the 114 because I'm an electronics newb and I'm taking a course in college, and a multimeter is one of the requirements. Also, I'm doing some hobbyist, Arduino stuff for home automation. I've also been using a crap ten-dollar unbranded inaccurate meter, and putting up with it :P
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I have an analogue Velleman AVM360 since 2006, it has a 5x20 glass fuse, x1 ohms range is not working due to the accidental 230V input - burned out resistor with the 500mA fuse and Meterman branded test leads with electrical arc damage from previous owner that barely stay in sockets (the stock ones falled apart). I would like to have at least one decent test equipment, as anything safe/precise is well over from what I can spend from my salary I get for working as a full time skilled electrician in Estonia.
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Dave,
You are absolutely brilliant! You had me hook, line and sinker. I even checked the Fluke web page for info.
Parts bags with parts numbers and bar codes, and parts that weren't desoldered and had full length leads!
Genius.
Well played. Best April Fools ever.
Joe
K5AD
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Or like my wife will say. It doesn't even measure temperature, what good it does me!
SWMBO complained the other night that I didn't have a multimeter in the house that measured temperature.
My Tek DMM916 did a pork roast on Monday. I know you have a few of those.
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My Tek DMM916 did a pork roast on Monday.
If you are interested, I would like to see you start a new thread on possibly repairing/troubleshooting this meter? I might be able to make some suggestions?
PS. As soon as I saw the thermistors, varistors and fusible resistor, I knew it was a very good April Fool's joke. :-+
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It's a very great product. I have to do many projects at school specifically with microcontrollers and custom PCB-s. So yeah...Would be great to have one of these. :)
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I didn't know it was an April Fool's prank until today after listening to the Amp Hour. The funny thing is, I have been carefully scrutinizing every video starting on Apr 1 waiting for a gag. So, I guess I was out-flanked! Last years tricked me too.
Great entertainment on your channel Dave, thanks!
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Im interested in hearing who got the multimeter?
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"Thank you for your message. While we’ve received an overwhelming interest in the 114/117 DIY Fluke Kit featured in EEVblog #597, it was in fact developed by Dave Jones from scratch, for fun, as an April Fool’s joke. We don’t currently have plans to build this kit, but we are certainly passing your enthusiasm for it on to our product planning team. Join us in congratulating Dave on a well-executed prank!
Best,
The Fluke Team"
:D
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"Thank you for your message. While we’ve received an overwhelming interest in the 114/117 DIY Fluke Kit featured in EEVblog #597, it was in fact developed by Dave Jones from scratch, for fun, as an April Fool’s joke. We don’t currently have plans to build this kit, but we are certainly passing your enthusiasm for it on to our product planning team. Join us in congratulating Dave on a well-executed prank!
Best,
The Fluke Team"
:scared: :'( :-//
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swmbo
for those who may not know, is short for She Who Must Be Obeyed. From British TV show Rumpole of the Bailey.
Rather older than that; Mortimer borrows from Rider Haggard's 'She' - Ayesha is know as SWMBO.
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Thanks for that, I will read it. I actually love the old movie King Solomons Mines.
Damn SWMBO knows the book and just gave away the ending. :palm:
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I had a home fire and lost all my equipment. I am slowly replacing, my O-scope, my desoldering station, jumper wires, breadboards, everything, gone. Because I did not list them on my home owners insurance, they will not cover any of it. I had 2 flukes, now I am stuck with a Harbor Freight tools $20 tester. I enjoy projects, this would be the best of both worlds for me. Able to build my own Fluke AND own\use it again.
I hope I am the one!!
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im just getting into electronics, i've got a decent soldering iron, desoldering station, and a few other odds and ends but i don't have a multimeter and i don't want to get a crappy one but money is tight and i cant afford to buy a decent meter
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im just getting into electronics, i've got a decent soldering iron, desoldering station, and a few other odds and ends but i don't have a multimeter and i don't want to get a crappy one but money is tight and i cant afford to buy a decent meter
I would certainly have prioritized the meter prior to a desoldering station. I have an oscilloscope, function generator, very nice multimeter, three quality lab power supplies, hot air station, and I don't even have a desoldering station. I have a desoldering station in a can, it's called desoldering braid and it has never not worked and it costs about six bucks for a good sized roll.
Get a multimeter. Otherwise, any problem is a guessing game. And a $10 cheapo is just fine. Just don't use it on line voltages, DC only.
Cheap, but not too cheap:
www.ebay.com/itm/New-VC97-3999-Auto-range-multimeter-AC-DC-R-C-F-Temp-/290528212784 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-VC97-3999-Auto-range-multimeter-AC-DC-R-C-F-Temp-/290528212784)
Obscenely cheap, not even auto-ranging:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-LCD-Multimeter-XL-830L-Voltmeter-Ammeter-Ohmmeter-OHM-VOLT-Tester-USA-/121321843160 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-LCD-Multimeter-XL-830L-Voltmeter-Ammeter-Ohmmeter-OHM-VOLT-Tester-USA-/121321843160)
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Every day I visit this forum with the anticipation of Dave asking for my address. ;D
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I need to add that i also need a good multimeter so that i can get to space
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Something I dont understand here.
Did Dave say he is giving away the multimeter? If so I didn't hear it.
If he did, it should go to one of the guys who already posted. So we probably dont need any more posts about people wanting a multimeter.
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Something I dont understand here.
Did Dave say he is giving away the multimeter? If so I didn't hear it.
If he did, it should go to one of the guys who already posted. So we probably dont need any more posts about people wanting a multimeter.
He did on this thread on page nine:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-597-fluke-114-kit-multimeter-sparkfunfluke-rant-29012/msg418175/#msg418175 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-597-fluke-114-kit-multimeter-sparkfunfluke-rant-29012/msg418175/#msg418175)
But maybe he forgot so people keep on asking.
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Something I dont understand here.
Did Dave say he is giving away the multimeter? If so I didn't hear it.
If he did, it should go to one of the guys who already posted. So we probably dont need any more posts about people wanting a multimeter.
He did on this thread on page nine:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-597-fluke-114-kit-multimeter-sparkfunfluke-rant-29012/msg418175/#msg418175 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-597-fluke-114-kit-multimeter-sparkfunfluke-rant-29012/msg418175/#msg418175)
But maybe he forgot so people keep on asking.
He actually mentioned it on page one and in the description text of the video:
[...] GIVEAWAY: I'll be giving this multimeter away to the most needy - but only if you bothered to read this video description!
So if you want it, leave a comment saying why you should have it. [...]
:-DMM
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Sure, I stand corrected.
I was just wondering what was going on as it didn't recall him saying that.
Good luck to you guys.
I reiterate Han should win, he is funniest.
well,
Why i didn't need a fluke DMM...
This is the best DMM in the world (my home), feature:
1. 10 A NIST calibrated Shunt resistor(and who need a fuse, unfused means you didn't have to replace it)
2. 200mA fuse (don't copy the Technic ...it is patented)
3. Double side SMD resistor(first in the world)
4. Unfiltered input (you can get Cap filtering as Optional)
5. You can overclock this beautiful DMM
6. Exposed Power lead for CE compliance (Cheapest Engginering certification)
7. Unconnected pad (perfect for future development)
8. COLORFUL Battery (forget that boring uncolored 9V battery)
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I'm pretty sure he mentioned on his twitter feed about the kit, but it was a "oh yah, I totally forgot". It would seem he has forgotten again. :palm:
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In the meantime I have attained the state of moral maturity which allows me to receive the "kit".
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Because I was stolen my $50 Extech 330 for which I spent saving my money for like 1000 months. Also, for being the first to read the video description :P
You were indeed the first, so congrats, the Fluke 117 is all yours. Send me your address.
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Congratulations, juanfermed! Have fun with the Fluke. :)
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My name is Randal, and I truly need and deserve this meter. My health has been in decline for some years now, and I was finally diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis, and my decreased visual field of view makes it so I can no longer use an analog meter.
Please consider my situation.
Thanks!
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My name is Randal, and I truly need and deserve this meter. My health has been in decline for some years now, and I was finally diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis, and my decreased visual field of view makes it so I can no longer use an analog meter.
Please consider my situation.
Thanks!
You probably missed it on the previous page, but I think the meter is gone, and sorry about your ailments, that sucks
Because I was stolen my $50 Extech 330 for which I spent saving my money for like 1000 months. Also, for being the first to read the video description :P
You were indeed the first, so congrats, the Fluke 117 is all yours. Send me your address.
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juanfermed, congrats on the meter. Just keep this one locked up somewhere. :)
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April fool.