[MENDED] Fluke 79 series 2 -'dim segments'

[nfmax]

I have a Fluke 79 series II meter, where some of the digit display segments are 'dim' - they don't turn on properly, so that unless you look at the display from below, it is difficult to read. I vaguely recall this issue being mentioned before, something to do with cleaning the zebra-strip rubber contacts, but I can't find it again. Can anybody enlighten me as to the most successful technique?

Thanks in advance

Max

[Cubdriver]

I have a 77 II that had this issue and found that carefully removing the zebra strips and gently wiping the ends and contacts with an alcohol (denatured) soaked paper towel fixed it nicely.  Replacement strips are sold on eBay but I decided that it was worth trying to clean the existing ones, safe in the knowledge that if I damaged them I could get new ones.  For all I know, simply breaking and remaking the connections may have done it, but cleaned things since it was apart.

Do a YouTube search on cleaning fluke zebra strips or stripes, and you'll find videos showing it.  It is quite simple, and in my case at least, worked perfectly.

-Pat

[nfmax]

Pat - thanks, I thought it was something like that. I'll give it a whirl!

[retiredcaps]

I vaguely recall this issue being mentioned before, something to do with cleaning the zebra-strip rubber contacts, but I can't find it again. Can anybody enlighten me as to the most successful technique?

Common issue on the Fluke 80 original series, but applicable to the 79 II as well.

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/fluke-8x-faded-lcd/

[Cubdriver]

Pat - thanks, I thought it was something like that. I'll give it a whirl!

Cool.  Good luck with it!

-Pat

[alank2]

I fixed up my very old 29 II once by taking it apart and just using some eraser on the pcb pads.  It is still doing great and it has probably been 4 or 5 years.

[nfmax]

I vaguely recall this issue being mentioned before, something to do with cleaning the zebra-strip rubber contacts, but I can't find it again. Can anybody enlighten me as to the most successful technique?

Common issue on the Fluke 80 original series, but applicable to the 79 II as well.

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/fluke-8x-faded-lcd/

That website was invaluable. The 79 has a slightly different LCD support arrangement, but otherwise much the same. IPA and cotton wool buds cleaned up the almost invisible gunge deposits - much less than the pictures above - nicely. Put it all back together again, with a slight detour to repair the limit stop on the switch knob using cyanoacrylate, and replace the 1A fuse, and it's working a treat. 

Max

[retiredcaps]

Put it all back together again, with a slight detour to repair the limit stop on the switch knob using cyanoacrylate, and replace the 1A fuse, and it's working a treat. 

Modemhead also has a blog entry for the Fluke 70 series knob removal.

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/fluke-70-series-knob-removal/

Someone didn't know how to remove it and he was kind enough to photo document the procedure. 

[Cubdriver]

Max -

Glad to hear it's fixed!   

-Pat