Author Topic: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant  (Read 57673 times)

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Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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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
Use the hashtag #FlukeKit
Or ask on their Facebook page:
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
Flukes Trade Commission Exclusion Order: 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.

 

Offline juanfermed

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2014, 03:25:57 am »
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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Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2014, 03:36:37 am »
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!
 

Offline ablacon64

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2014, 03:48:19 am »
ahhhh... Being I'm in Brazil, no way I'm gonna get one of those! :(
But I'm saving money to buy an UT71D!  :-+
 

Offline hikariuk

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2014, 03:49:45 am »
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).
I write software.  I'd far rather be doing something else.
 

Offline pickle9000

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2014, 03:50:54 am »
Very smart marketing. Way better than a full page ad in some trade magazine.
 

Offline TVman

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2014, 04:02:06 am »
I have A shit $10 Multimeter that barely works.
It is very,very bad.  :--   :-DMM  :-BROKE  :palm:  :-(
« Last Edit: March 31, 2014, 04:10:46 am by TVman »
Yeah, I play Minecraft!
But I'm on here more because I learn more. :D
 

Offline ConKbot

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2014, 04:04:16 am »
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. 
 

Offline adrian

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2014, 04:11:23 am »
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!
 

Offline pickle9000

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2014, 04:12:32 am »
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.
 

Offline liquibyte

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2014, 04:24:30 am »
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.
 

Offline SeanB

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2014, 04:37:09 am »
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?
 

Offline Refrigerator

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2014, 04:42:17 am »
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.
I have a blog at http://brimmingideas.blogspot.com/ . Now less empty than ever before !
An expert of making MOSFETs explode.
 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2014, 04:55:54 am »
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!
 

Offline nowlan

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #14 on: March 31, 2014, 04:58:48 am »
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
PC20TK

My local Tafe used to have students assemble the crummy $15 multimeter kits as part of the basic electronics course.
example

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?  ^-^
 

Offline ratdude747

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #15 on: March 31, 2014, 05:27:49 am »
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...
 

Offline Merls

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #16 on: March 31, 2014, 06:03:48 am »
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?
 

Offline calexanian

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #17 on: March 31, 2014, 06:10:29 am »
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!
Charles Alexanian
Alex-Tronix Control Systems
 

Offline calexanian

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #18 on: March 31, 2014, 06:12:33 am »
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
Charles Alexanian
Alex-Tronix Control Systems
 

Offline Nermash

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #19 on: March 31, 2014, 06:57:09 am »
Wow, that was fast! I tweeted Fluke 2 hours ago and I just received my order confirmation with shipping details! Thanks Dave!
 

Offline Kirigozo

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #20 on: March 31, 2014, 07:04:17 am »
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
 

Offline Ketturi

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #21 on: March 31, 2014, 07:18:32 am »
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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Offline MrAureliusR

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #22 on: March 31, 2014, 07:32:42 am »
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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Offline han

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #23 on: March 31, 2014, 07:45:41 am »
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


i will buy one if it's have $50 price tag in my country  :-DMM
« Last Edit: March 31, 2014, 08:15:39 am by han »
 

Offline Kico

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Re: EEVblog #597 - Fluke 114 Kit Multimeter + Sparkfun/Fluke Rant
« Reply #24 on: March 31, 2014, 07:52:54 am »
I should have it because i don`t have money to buy it!
 


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