I searched for a Fluke 8508A but could not find one.Today I wrote to Fluke if there is a chance to still get one.
here is the link I used
http://www.fluke.eu/comx/sales.aspx?locale=dede&product=CAL&pid=32946To my surprise I got the answer from the suggested Fluke Seller (just hit "Suchen" in the link) that the Fluke-8508A is still produced and can be offered.
Can anyone confirm this?
I bet no-one has seen these meters on here before....
These are UK military type 'Multimeter Electronic CT471' from the mid-1960's. These are tranistorised and work from 3 x 1.5V 'D' cells and can take voltage measurements at frequencies up to 1000 MHz. The one on the right (or the middle meter) is the CT471C with a centre zero facility. I've stuck an AVO meter in for scale but for those unfamiliar with that meter, the CT471 stands about 10 inches high. There's a lid that clips on front that holds the leads and four RF probes - one of which is in the photo.
Inside these are of a bygone age really, all point to point wired and laced cabling. Must have cost a fortune. Lovely.
I should add they weigh about 11 pounds (or just under 5kg) each.
Andrewausfa: They are very nice.
I have a new one too. Also army:
Lovely! Another piece of no expense spared kit! AVO built a meter to the same contract as the CT471 but I've not seen one in good enough condition to warrant buying it. I do like working with (and on) these older meters. I work with old valve (tube) radios where most of the measurements in the service sheets were taken by AVOs etc so absolute precision in a meter is not needed. That said these are remarkably good for something as old as me.
... I never opened it but...
Isn't that against EEVBlog rules?
Yep, but my rules are more important
the little portable scope includes a DMM
greetings
Martin
Nice meters guys, I'd love get something precision as you have there
Now these three aren't mine, just what I can use at work:
New Agilent U1232A, almost year old Brymen BM867 and about 4 year old Fluke 117. The BM867 still remains the only one who can accurately measure mA currents, which is ultimately the reason my employer bought it, although I really wanted it for the 500 000 count mode but we don't really need such precision around here.
The new U1232A brings some interesting features, currently I love the tone option of low resistance beeper, it works on diode range too. What it does is it beeps at various frequencies depending on the resistance value or voltage drop of diode. When you try shorting the probes and opening quickly it generates sounds like some old 8-bit game console
edit: I forgot to add a bit about the probes. Those which came with the Fluke aren't really durable for daily use. We have 4 of them here and all of them sooner or later started to break up, I think all in the same place which is at top of the probe as the wire goes out. I guess the strain relief is not really working. You can just chop them off and use the cable for something else like small hooks for example, because the cable itself is good and has silicone coating. Few weeks ago we were shopping for some better replacement and found the convertibles TL175. They are really good, hopefully they will last longer. I think they're worth the higher price. Don't forget to get the version with screw on bannanas, for my work they are essential. BM867 came with some cheaply looking altough 1 kV CAT IV rated probes. I don't like them much so I rather got some generic UNI-T which you can see in the photo. U1232A came with more stiff probes, end is similar to the Brymen's, I guess that's for the CAT IV rating. Nice thing is they come with rubber protections ends for both sides. They also have isolation inside for the jack to multimeter so accidental unplugging from meter when still measuring something live should be a bit safer. I rate them above the UNI-T's but not as good as any of the Fluke's.
How do you like the U1232A? I was thinking about buying one before, since I lost one of my cheaper meters
and I'm down to 3.
Four at this Point, but I'm probably gonna get one more, so i can throw the voltcraft cheapy away and still have four.
Left to right:
voltcraft vc110
ELV DM9199
Agilent U1241B
Fluke 87V, which i bought used without the holster
http://www.pa4tim.nl/?p=4159 picture backside
My new 6 digit voltmeter.
Is there someone who knows more about is. It has not a moving coil meter ( i do not know the englisch term, it is sort of thermic, there ia a coil or resistancewire, I think this heats the circulair formed strip and the shaft is connected to the end of that iron strip, if the strip heats it expands and moves the shaft ( in Dutch weekijzeren kern meter or 1:1 translated weak-ironcore meter)
It draws about 300 mA at 6V.
I think they are used automotive to test batteries. I think it is from the 1920's. There is no brandname on it. The back opens if you push the top and the test wire is spooled on a reel in there to store it.
Resistance wire and test wire is cotton isolated, no rubber or so.
My grandfather had something very similar. I don't know if it works, but I found it the other day and it intrigued me. Not sure how it works exactly either.
Thermal meter that uses a bimetallic strip, back when magnets were difficult to make repeatable and in a small space.
That's a hot wire meter, the wire is tensioned by a spring and when a current passes though it the wire expands and moves the needle. I had one once but I knocked it and the wire broke due to embrittlement from age and heating.
http://www.pa4tim.nl/?p=4159 picture backside
My new 6 digit voltmeter.
Is there someone who knows more about is. It has not a moving coil meter ( i do not know the englisch term, it is sort of thermic, there ia a coil or resistancewire, I think this heats the circulair formed strip and the shaft is connected to the end of that iron strip, if the strip heats it expands and moves the shaft ( in Dutch weekijzeren kern meter or 1:1 translated weak-ironcore meter)
It draws about 300 mA at 6V.
I think they are used automotive to test batteries. I think it is from the 1920's. There is no brandname on it. The back opens if you push the top and the test wire is spooled on a reel in there to store it.
Resistance wire and test wire is cotton isolated, no rubber or so.
That is beautiful! I don't know why but I really like it, maybe because it reminds me of an old pocket watch.
It is made from the case from one. In that era they were very common and quite appropriate for small instruments that would be often kept in a pocket for use. Clothes had a pocket or two that took them.
Here is my multimeters. METEX 3650 my first one DMM bought in 1992, SOAR 3250 bought in 1995 , UNI-T UT601 ohm/capacitance meter bought in 2008 and UNI-T UT61 bought in 2010. My next target is to buy a true rms high quality meter, perhaps it will be FLUKE 87 or 179.
If you want a high quality meter go for an Agilent U1272A
My next target is to buy a true rms high quality meter, perhaps it will be FLUKE 87 or 179.
I have a 179 and can speak for its ruggedness and real attention to detail - check
this teardown and reviews. My biggest concern about the U1272 is the prominent rotary switch, which reduces its ruggedness when compared to the Flukes you mentioned.
I've got this noname branded freebie they were going away for free at jaycar. very high quality for price!
But in all reality I've got a Fluke 1587
I just got a HP 3457A, and it's bang-on.
Dave.