| Products > Test Equipment |
| Fluke 289 Meter |
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| Gandalf_Sr:
Good luck with your attempts to bid on eBay WaveyDipole, I gave up after 1) getting a scam seller (I still haven't got the refund from superdeal85 yet) and 2) being outbid multiple times at the $320 mark and 3) having my reasonable (IMHO) best offers declined multiple times e.g. $350 offer for an item listed at $400. Getting an older one sounds like a crap shoot, you could get one with a bad supercapacitor (which is fixable) and many of them look like they's been bashed around in an HVAC tech's bag for a few years or soaked in oil. I gave up on the 289, reconsidered my needs, and bought a used Keysight U1242C for $217 (from the eBay Keysight store) which can record up to 2,000 readings stand-alone (enough for my needs - yes you can set the sampling period), has double the battery run time of the 289, but has no on-instrument graphical readout. I'm kind of invested in Keysight already; I own the U1117A adapter that allows me to get data from up to 100 m away over Bluetooth using the very nice (and free) Keysight Meter Logger software for IOS and Android? which also allows up to 3 different instruments to be connected simultaneously . Plus there's free Keysight Handheld Meter Logger software for the PC that can connect via the USB-IR serial cable (one came free with my new meter plus I already owned one) or, you can use the U1117A Bluetooth adapter that plugs into the back of the meter to link your meter from up to 100 m away. I own 2 other Keysight multimeters (U1242B and U1252B) plus a 34461A benchtop. |
| WaveyDipole:
--- Quote from: Black Phoenix on November 07, 2019, 11:44:28 am ---The IR sensor problem was fixed with the v1.16. Logically the 1.41 includes that and as someone already said also improved battery life, but that is his words, nowhere in Fluke's website is explained what is the fixes from the 1.41. If you go to the software section on the 287/289 is only mentioned the fact that older equipments don't support the new firmware, but the new firmware is no where to be found as downloadable in Fluke's website, the only file available in the page is the update to 1.16. Again we suppose that is only the aforementioned battery life and since it's only the new PCB revisions who support that a change in said PCB, as an update to different ARM CPU or other components that need said firmware because they are different from the original PCB. --- End quote --- Yes, exactly my point no real information regarding what has been fixed and no download for 1.41, just 1.16. Looks like 1.41 is being installed at production time, but not being made available for download so what gives? We are left guessing, but thank you for confirming that the sensor issue is fixed in 1.16. The supposition regarding battery life is also logical as it would make sense that it may have required a hardware + firmware change acccomplish. --- Quote from: Black Phoenix on November 07, 2019, 11:44:28 am ---TrendCapture is the function the 287/289 have, without needing extra software or hardware, it comes with it. The Fluke View Forms software is what needs the IR Cable to download the logging data from the memory of the DMM to the PC and make reports or analysis later on. It's an error from the seller who lists and don't know what they are listing. What you should look for is if you want the kit with the software and ir cable if that is included in the listing or if its the DMM and the leads/thermocouple only. --- End quote --- Point taken. You can capture and view the results on the meter. The PC software is not essential, so I guess it is indeed fair to say that it comes "with TrendCapture". --- Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on November 07, 2019, 12:32:25 pm ---Getting an older one sounds like a crap shoot, you could get one with a bad supercapacitor (which is fixable) and many of them look like they's been bashed around in an HVAC tech's bag for a few years or soaked in oil. --- End quote --- Yes, have seen a few like that and am aware of the supercap issue. The one I'm looking at is as new, comes with the whole kit including IR interface and FormsView software for a price that some meters alone sell for and looks a genuine sale. The drawback is that it has an older serial number and firmware so evidently has the older board and can't be upgraded beyond 1.16. I guess that I'm trying to understand what the drawbacks (if any) would be. --- Quote from: Gandalf_Sr on November 07, 2019, 12:32:25 pm ---I gave up on the 289, reconsidered my needs, and bought a used Keysight U1242C for $217 (from the eBay Keysight store) which can record up to 2,000 readings stand-alone (enough for my needs - yes you can set the sampling period), has double the battery run time of the 289, but has no on-instrument graphical readout. --- End quote --- I don't have any investment in Keysight, but I'm not entirely happy with the Brymen 869s. It seems to work well enough, but the feel of that rotary knob and the large gap makes me uneasy when using it. The 5-digit display feature was enticing, but really not particularly accurtate. I can't say that I am dis-pleased with it as it does its job, but not entirely happy with it either. The purchase was originally a toss-up between the Brymen 869s and Fluke 287/289. The 289 has features such as Low-Z and Low Ohms, and others that I don't have on any other handheld meter and I appreciate its a meter that one would use in special circumstances, i.e. where logging, or a specific function is required. I use the Fluke 187 most of the time as my go-to meter. Still, a re-consideration of one's needs (do I really need this?) is always a good idea and I will give this some thought. Agilent do seem to have a good range of DMMs, but I am baffled by their use of NiMH batteries rather than LiON if they are going down the re-chargeable route. Anyways, I mention this only as a backgound as to the reason for my renewed interest in the 289. |
| Black Phoenix:
--- Quote from: WaveyDipole on November 07, 2019, 01:17:34 pm ---I don't have any investment in Keysight, but I'm not entirely happy with the Brymen 869s. It seems to work well enough, but the feel of that rotary knob and the large gap makes me uneasy when using it. The 5-digit display feature was enticing, but really not particularly accurtate. I can't say that I am dis-pleased with it as it does its job, but not entirely happy with it either. The purchase was originally a toss-up between the Brymen 869s and Fluke 287/289. The 289 has features such as Low-Z and Low Ohms, and others that I don't have on any other handheld meter and I appreciate its a meter that one would use in special circumstances, i.e. where logging, or a specific function is required. I use the Fluke 187 most of the time as my go-to meter. Still, a re-consideration of one's needs (do I really need this?) is always a good idea and I will give this some thought. Agilent do seem to have a good range of DMMs, but I am baffled by their use of NiMH batteries rather than LiON if they are going down the re-chargeable route. Anyways, I mention this only as a backgound as to the reason for my renewed interest in the 289. --- End quote --- I will be sincere, do you really need the 287/289 being an owner of a 187? Probably with the cable and the software you have most of the 287 minus the reading of the capture on screen and the big screen. I have a 289, it was my big spend first DMM, other than the normal chinesium powered less than 30€ no safety ratings DMM. But with the years, the TrendCapture is nice but in reality not essential. If I was able to exchange my 289 for an 189 I would probably thing a lot about it. When I've done the deal of the 87V this year I was looking at the 89-IV before and was almost closing deal with it but the price that I got the 87V was inexcusable and I didn't had a reason to buy both, other than TEA (something that I'm trying to resist, and it's been very difficult since I started visiting this community... ;D). The 187/189 combines both of best worlds - Fast turn on as the 87V and better accuracy with the logging from the 287/289. It's nice to have all the bells and whistles but... |
| WaveyDipole:
I appreciate your sincerity and I take the point about TEA, which can get to the best of us! What I would like is to have two very capable handheld DMMs, preferably with somewhat different features, so that between the two one can cover just about everything. I am very pleased with the 187 so the 189 might be a good choice for the second meter despite being nearly identical to the 187. The 87-V would also be a good option although I feel the latter is overpriced for what it is, even though well respected. The 289 (but not the 287) seems to have a few extras that differentiate it from both, such as the simultaneous display of min/avg/max as well as the graph, but as you say, these might be considered bells and whistles.... I am also going to have a good look at the Agilents again. I seem also to remember looking at the Hioki, just not many used ones about. |
| Gandalf_Sr:
WaveyDipole, If you go the Agilent/Keysight route, make sure you get the U1242C rather than the U1242B, their functionality is very similar but the U1242B can only capture 200 readings internally but the U1242C can hold 2,000. I have bought several items from their eBay store and they have always been great although they often take a week to ship the item; they usually accept a bid of 90% - 95% of the asking price too. I also think that I got lucky getting a U1173B cable with the meter I just bought, they normally run around $35 and I'm pretty sure they don't come standard with the U124X series meters. |
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