Fluke 279 FC

[d3javu]

Noticed that search on the forum did not return any result for new fluke 279 fc multimeter. What do you guys think about multimeter with built in thermal imaging? The release date is 9th May 2016.
Weblink: Fluke 279FC

[Martini]

Combining two tools into one is smart if there is some sort of synergy between them. In this case, I'm not convinced it will be the case. How cheaper it is compared to a thermal camera + a DMM ?

[mettlerr]

I think it depends for whom. But I guess the battery life will be awful. 

[d3javu]

Combining two tools into one is smart if there is some sort of synergy between them. In this case, I'm not convinced it will be the case. How cheaper it is compared to a thermal camera + a DMM ?

No proper pricing available yet but quickly look through few websites found the device listed between 999-1.2k usd.

[retiredcaps]

Martin mentioned this meter in his latest "T4D" Tip for the Day ...

[ben_r_]

Wouldnt be of any use to me, but maybe someone out there would like both in one unit. Also depends on the price too I suppose.

[zaoka]

Guess who will be first to copy this idea of IR camera and DMM? I bet Keysight...

What you guys think?

[Muttley Snickers]

It would be handy if it could take a selfie of the dude that picked it up and walked away with it whilst you had your back turned for a second and then send the image to your smartphone, this is always a concern for us on larger sites.

I haven't looked at all the specifications as yet and a decent thermal camera is on my list of things to get but it wont be one of these, indications are a ten hour battery life according to the link below.

Oritech Australia
http://www.oritech.com.au/FLUKE_dash_279FC_dash_IFLEX/Fluke-279FC-Wireless-TRMS-Thermal-Multimeter-With-iFlex-Current-Probe/pd.php

[Fsck]

Wouldnt be of any use to me, but maybe someone out there would like both in one unit. Also depends on the price too I suppose.

without being able to use both at the same time... seems like a useless proposition.
no direct physical current measurement seems like a silly decision as well.

this is probably more like a thermal camera with some dmm features added on.

[blacksheeplogic]

But I guess the battery life will be awful. 

After my experience with the Fluke 233 I've crossed any Fluke product with wireless off my shopping list for that reason. A meter which needs to constantly be feed new batteries is a expensive and a PITA.

[kaz911]

But I guess the battery life will be awful. 

After my experience with the Fluke 233 I've crossed any Fluke product with wireless off my shopping list for that reason. A meter which needs to constantly be feed new batteries is a expensive and a PITA.

Just get a batterizer?  - and to be honest maybe the ONLY application where you would get a real benefit... (Fluke 287/289 does not like rechargeable batteries very much - plug fresh ones in - and right there it thinks it is at 1/2 power)

/rant on
anyway - I think if they put some effort in to Fluke Connect to make up for what Fluke 287/289 can't do - that would be nice. But now Fluke Connect is as useless as a meat freezer on the moon. It might work "fine" for FMS work where you go around and log the occasional value here and there and need to document you did it. But the ADMIN alone to use it is bonkers.

So a 289 is great - but while long term logging - it does not show a graph. The FC would be great for that - if just it could maintain the connection and remember back - and have an AUTOSCALING graph and not only that "ticker tape" view. But neither Fluke or Tektronix are not really good at writing any kind of software that does not run inside their instruments.

So please Fluke... write your Connect Software to MAKE UP for the missing features/possibilities in the instrument

/rant over

[serggio]

anyway - I think if they put some effort in to Fluke Connect to make up for what Fluke 287/289 can't do - that would be nice. But now Fluke Connect is as useless as a meat freezer on the moon. It might work "fine" for FMS work where you go around and log the occasional value here and there and need to document you did it. But the ADMIN alone to use it is bonkers.

So a 289 is great - but while long term logging - it does not show a graph. The FC would be great for that - if just it could maintain the connection and remember back - and have an AUTOSCALING graph and not only that "ticker tape" view. But neither Fluke or Tektronix are not really good at writing any kind of software that does not run inside their instruments.

So please Fluke... write your Connect Software to MAKE UP for the missing features/possibilities in the instrument

I agree with you. They need add some possibilities for logging in Fluke Connect. For now this like meter option in Fluke View Form. But if you need wireless freedom for logging it simple to do with Bluetooth to COM emulation for connect your DMM or other equipment to FLVF. I do not see any practical reason to have logging option in mobile application for long term logging. You need to have your mobile device continuously connected with meter for that and problem of power will be not only for meter.
As for access to stored data while logging process (realtime graph with rewind), that cannot doing 287/289 DMM, I think that this is microprocessor HW limitation that used in this DMMs. DMMs performing very fast measuring for fast changing signals (that can be considered as events) and this measuring need to be stored in memory. If you want to have simultaneously access to memory for read and write you need to have big fast RAM buffer inside microprocessor and high frequency. This will be far away from 20-30 mA consumption during logging. I don't know about  287/289 series, but 189 have buffer for 10 last records that can be FLVF can access during measuring.

[BMack]

FLIR (not shockingly) was first to market with a clamp meter with thermal imaging, the CM174...I believe I saw that they had or will have a multimeter with thermal as well.

[retiredcaps]

Martin's video.

[Per Hansson]

Does anybody know if the sensor used in this is the same as in the CAT S60 smartphone which uses a FLIR Lepton sensor with 80×60 active pixels?