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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: grips03 on February 25, 2014, 04:01:30 am

Title: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: grips03 on February 25, 2014, 04:01:30 am
Fluke 179 or 87-V. 87-V is about $80 more, but is it worth it?

Are both made in the USA?
Does on have much better features than the other

Will be used for home electronic type use.

thanks
Title: Re: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: echen1024 on February 25, 2014, 04:16:56 am
87-V for electronics. Has uA.
Title: Re: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: gaijin on February 25, 2014, 04:31:24 am
The 179 lacks relative mode, which can make it annoying to use.
Title: Re: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: AG6QR on February 25, 2014, 05:25:20 am
Both are made in USA, both have "lifetime" warranty (which really means until the product is discontinued plus a few years -- forgot the exact details, but look them up).  Both have quality input protection, fast autoranging, fast latching continuity beep, bar graph.  Both are rugged meters which will perform to specifications very well, even after being dropped and subject to mishandling.

87-V has up to 20000 counts, vs 6000 for 179, but download the manual and look at it for how the 20000 count option works -- it's not always on.  87-V also has a bit better basic DC accuracy.  87-V has the low pass filter for motor drive applications.  87-V has microamps.  It also has duty cycle.  87-V has conductance, which is the inverse of resistance.  With the 179, you can measure resistance, put it into a calculator, and hit the 1/x button.

Most of the time, both meters will do the job equally well, but there are definitely some extra features in the 87-V.  Worthwhile?  Maybe.  I can't think of anything the 179 does better than the 87-V.

I have the 179, and am very happy with it, but if I were doing it over, I just might spring for the 87-V.
Title: Re: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: retiredcaps on February 25, 2014, 07:44:40 am
Fluke 179 or 87-V. 87-V is about $80 more, but is it worth it?
If you are looking at Fluke, have you considered the Fluke 28 II that Dave reviewed?  I'm not sure what kind of pricing you will get though.
Title: Re: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: grips03 on February 25, 2014, 04:47:23 pm
Ordered the 87-V today, the 28 II looks nice, but its a bit too much money for me.

I really like my Fluke 115, but its missing some features, hence the upgrade to the 87-V. Hopefully this is the last meter I need to buy.
Title: Re: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: echen1024 on February 25, 2014, 05:04:07 pm
Ordered the 87-V today, the 28 II looks nice, but its a bit too much money for me.

I really like my Fluke 115, but its missing some features, hence the upgrade to the 87-V. Hopefully this is the last meter I need to buy.
The 28-II is only necessary if you're going to seriously abuse your meter.
Title: Re: Fluke 179 or 87-V?
Post by: Fsck on February 25, 2014, 05:23:25 pm
Fluke 179 or 87-V. 87-V is about $80 more, but is it worth it?
If you are looking at Fluke, have you considered the Fluke 28 II that Dave reviewed?  I'm not sure what kind of pricing you will get though.

A Fluke 28-II is basically a super rugged version of the 87-V. if I remember correctly, they have almost identical specs.