Products > Test Equipment
Fluke 189 with leaking surface mount supercap (also Fluke 287, Fluke 289)
sotos:
I agree with retiredcaps. When I tried to change mine it got bricked, I had to send it to the service center and after the repair it was also calibrated, for free.
firehopper:
I'm not the original owner.. I bought it used off ebay. I did register the serial number on flukes website, on fluke's advice. so no idea if I should still send it back, like I said remove batteries and it forgets time and date.
--- Quote from: retiredcaps on June 08, 2015, 06:02:32 pm ---
--- Quote from: firehopper on June 08, 2015, 05:52:33 pm ---replace it myself or send it in..
--- End quote ---
If you are the original owner and bought it from an authorized Fluke dealer, I suggest sending it in for the following reasons:
1) you might get a complete new pcb with the latest modifications and firmware
2) you are likely to have the 289 (either repaired or new pcb) with its calibration checked for "free"
3) shipping within the USA even with a tracking number should be a reasonable $10 to Fluke
The calibration check normally costs between $50 to $100 and you get it back knowing it is within its accuracy specifications across all ranges.
--- End quote ---
retiredcaps:
If you are not the original owner, then Fluke, technically, has no obligation to fix it under warranty for you.
Here are the options that I see.
1) If the date and time setting are not required, just ignore the problem and leave the capacitor as is. Alternatively, you can remove the capacitor and the unit will function fine. Note, I can't remember if it is in this thread or this model, but at least one person who removed the capacitor couldn't get the meter to power on again. So there is a non zero chance of screwing something up if you are not careful (lift a solder pad, short something out, zap components/pcb with ESD, etc).
2) Fluke built its service reputation in the past, as reported here and in other forums, by providing fantastic service to the customer. Sometimes, but not all, the service centre will fix the problem regardless of the terms and condition of the warranty for free.
So you could take a chance and send it to Fluke (make sure you get a tracking number + insurance) for around $10 USD and see if Fluke will fix it under warranty and ignore the fact that you bought it from ebay second hand. It is my understanding, and you should confirm by talking to a customer service representative, that if you do not qualify for warranty repair that Fluke will contact you with an $$ estimate to fix your meter. Then you can decide if the price is reasonable or not. If you choose not to get it fixed due to cost, then Fluke will send it back to you unrepaired. I believe Fluke will pay return shipping so at most you are out the original shipping costs.
Again, you may want to talk and verify with a Fluke customer service representative. If you choose the second option, please report back so we know the outcome.
PS. I am well aware of negative posts about Fluke customer service. I find that by talking nicely to a person and treat them the way you expect to be treated, that you will get a lot better result.
Kibi:
--- Quote from: retiredcaps on June 09, 2015, 05:14:28 am ---PS. I am well aware of negative posts about Fluke customer service. I find that by talking nicely to a person and treat them the way you expect to be treated, that you will get a lot better result.
--- End quote ---
I totally agree that good manners will get you a long way.
However, politeness and good manners don't get you anywhere with Fluke UK. Their representatives are polite, well mannered and sound professional. I treat them over the telephone as they treat me, but unfortunately that is the last you hear from them. They never once got back to me about my spare parts request on any of the three occasions that I telephoned their service centre. I also sent the same request over email, but I got no response either. In my opinion, this is very poor service on the part of Fluke UK.
Hopefully their other branches provide a better service.
I went elsewhere and then got my parts within days.
retiredcaps:
--- Quote from: Kibi on June 09, 2015, 12:41:37 pm ---However, politeness and good manners don't get you anywhere with Fluke UK.
--- End quote ---
My professional experience/industry is not the T&M so I don't know how it works in T&M, but when I call a company for help, I'm usually assigned a case number. That case isn't closed until I say so.
In the past coule of years, I have made contact with Fluke Canada and Extech USA. Neither provided me with a case number. Without a case number, I have no way to escalate to a supervisor and when I get passed onto another customer service representative, there is no history or case notes.
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