When I chose my DMM, I balanced accuracy, robustness, and portability for my need. That's how one can choose between so many options from Fluke, or non-Fluke DMM with different features. See attachment.
I bought my Fluke 85 in the early 1990s, its nearly 20 years old now, but I do mostly low power electronics work. I think I paid near $300 then, but as our hero suggests in his vblog, Fluke quality is such its as precise today as it was when new, although it hasn't been calibrated since so I can't say how accurate it is referenced to NIST.
Your 179 should serve you well for a lifetime. If you do need microamps, you can always get another cheaper DMM with the right range and accuracy, if not just an ammeter alone. Many DMM that are ruggedized and with quality overvoltage protection are made to work in environments with harsh physical and electrical conditions, and in such a case there is only one DMM to consider, Fluke. Everyone tries to copy it, they can succeed at a lower price, but you really never know because so many DMM companies have folded or merged. Fluke, OTAH, has expanded and bought many companies to add to their product line, and many of the purchased company products are now being elevated to Fluke's reputation [e.g. Pomona test leads]. So, why bother considering others when your DMM purchase is likely one for a lifetime, and you have the backing of a company with a long standing reputation that has been around for over 30 years. In many circles, Fluke instrumentation and build ethic, is considered a standard all its own internally within the industry.
But, if you're looking for an multipurpose meter for field and bench use, often that's rare. I'm not sure you need uA or even highly accurate under 1% of reading and over 3200 counts. Many low power service needs that need quality measurement have electrically noisy locales, and devices are usually small enough to take to the lab for testing and calibration. For electronics use, the better balance is a high quality bench unit and a rugged service field DMM. Highly accurate meters are best for design work, and if you choose the 87V, that's just a trade off in accuracy, portability and robustness, the best meter is a desktop meter which has no portability or robustness.
What kills a Fluke? Calibration and servicing costs for field damage. Calibration costs about $100 US, that half the price of your DMM. If your meter is damaged by a severe fall or electrical fault that you as an electronics whiz can repair, you still can't be sure it meets CAT III and other regulatory agency safety requirements, and that can only be done best at the factory. Sure, you can have other folks or you service it, but will it be up to factory spec, the specs you bought the meter for in the first place for? If your meter was so damaged, you'll weight the cost of repair over buying a new model, with better features, safety etc., so why repair it?
Further, if dropped hard [ like one of the eevblog videos] the DMM may not be broken, but the variable elements inside the meter may have shifted, and thus the calibration can't be certain.
The two most important feature of a DMM, IMHO is:
Precision over accuracy. If you buy a precise DMM, it will read consistently so you can easily follow trends. Accuracy won't mean anything unless the calibration holds it setting, and that comes from precision.
Robustness: like the eeblog of dropping the meter all over the place, that's important, but I wouldn't abuse your meter on purpose to insure its calibration, which are variable resistors and thus mechanical components that can shift with shock, aren't altered. If a meter is built with high quality, it will unlikely need servicing over its lifetime, and even if the accuracy drifts, it will still be precise.
As for accuracy, you can pay for calibration, I think Fluke DMM is every 2-3 years, but its very expensive, and I think it isn't necessary for nearly all trouble shooting and even design work, because you can always calibrate your design against all your equipment.
As for portability, you can buy no-name DMM that are good enough precise for under $50 that I calibrate against my Fluke. Fluke doesn't make pocket calculator sized DMM that are easy to carry and for its cost, disposable. As my need is low power and mostly DC, there is no safety issue. However, for line voltage work or bad environments, use the Fluke, because if there is a fault somewhere, the elcheapo is unlikely to save your life, but the Fluke will.
Home
Help
Search
Login
Register
