Fluke 77 Series II Bits

[TheBay]

All,

I have had this multimeter for years, I love the damn thing and fits like a glove!
The trouble is the fuses are expensive and I am trying to find a source for them, I use it for autoelectrical uses as well so blow fuses quite often 

Also I need to find a new case for it, the yellow rubber one with a stand, does anyone know where these are available in the UK or have a part number?

I know I should upgrade but this has served me well and a damn good multimeter. I have a few good high end (for this brand) LG/Goldstar meters from when I was a electronics engineer in the LG Electronics factory, but I keep going back to this trusty old Fluke.

P.S. I think the Fluke TL71 leads are hopless, I love the feel but they break internally with a lot of use, any recommendations of a better leads/probes?

[Robomeds]

Hopefully the UK folks can come thought with some good purchase locations.  In the US the 23 (almost the same meter) can be had off ebay cheap.  The TL-75 leads might be stronger than the 71s.  Not sure as I haven't had trouble with my 75s but I haven't been too hard on them.  You might look at getting a Fluke 8025A or 8025B if you can.  These look the same as the 25/27 meters (the hefty military models) but they have a slightly different fuse setup.  The low current loop has two fuses, a cheap glass fuse and the big buss fuse.  That might save you from killing pricy fuses left and right.  Note that you can always check using the 10A range first. 

Hope that helps at least a little.

[TheBay]

Thanks for the reply,  will have a look at those models as well. Yeah I'm actually killing it on 10 amp a lot, usually someone else cranking it over when I'm doing a current drain check ooops

[retiredcaps]

The trouble is the fuses are expensive and I am trying to find a source for them, I use it for autoelectrical uses as well so blow fuses quite often 

They should be available at any large electronics distributor.

Also I need to find a new case for it, the yellow rubber one with a stand, does anyone know where these are available in the UK or have a part number?

Finding a new one will be difficult as the 70 series II have been long discontinued.  They do show up on ebay in various conditions, but I suspect shipping will be expensive.

P.S. I think the Fluke TL71 leads are hopless, I love the feel but they break internally with a lot of use, any recommendations of a better leads/probes?

Where are TL71's breaking?  At the probe?  At the tip?

Try looking at the TL175E. They seem to have extra strain relief at the probes and tips.

http://www.flukeonlinestore.com/3565554.html

http://www.mouser.com/images/microsites/Fluke%20TL175%20Features.jpg

I just got an used TL175E, but haven't tried them out yet.

[retiredcaps]

The TL-75 leads might be stronger than the 71s.

Having just used TL75s in the garage a few minutes ago in -5C weather, they do stiffen up and tangle. 

Last week it was -38C and there was no way I was going into the garage with a multimeter to do any car battery measurements despite the 25/27 rated operating temperature of -40C.

[retiredcaps]

Yeah I'm actually killing it on 10 amp a lot, usually someone else cranking it over when I'm doing a current drain check ooops

Sounds like you need a DC current clamp.  If you blow enough fuses, it will pay for the DC current clamp.

[echen1024]

The TL-75 leads might be stronger than the 71s.

Having just used TL75s in the garage a few minutes ago in -5C weather, they do stiffen up and tangle. 

Last week it was -38C and there was no way I was going into the garage with a multimeter to do any car battery measurements despite the 25/27 rated operating temperature of -40C.

I wish it could be cold in Houston for once. On Friday we will have a high of 20* C. *sigh*

[retiredcaps]

A quick search on Farnell for KTK-15

http://uk.farnell.com/cooper-bussmann/ktk-15/fuse-fast-acting-ktk-15a-600v/dp/1615092

I have no idea if the above is a low, mid or high price.

[casinada]

I was going to suggest the same thing, use a clamp meter  or a clamp probe to plug in your multimeter.
http://en-us.fluke.com/products/accessories/fluke-i410.html#fbid=Irx3Vyq4cGY

[TheBay]

Cheers for the replies all, I have decided to re-fuse my fluke and keep it on my bench, I will use my LG/Goldstar DM333 for vehicle use possibly with a clamp, much cheaper fuses and actually damn good meter (We used them in the LG factory for repair work) I'm just set in my ways with my Fluke

Gonna get a few sets of probes for the Fluke, they usually break internally as they join the probe, it might be down to weather, it might be other factors... I have a lot of accessories for the TL71's so hoping they fit the others. If not I need to be more gentle

DM-333 looks kinda Fluke-Esque

[retiredcaps]

DM-333 looks kinda Fluke-Esque

Teardown/internal pictures of the LG M333 please!!

The yellow holster looks like it can fit a Fluke 80 series multimeter.

[TheBay]

No problem at all

Will do it tomorrow and get pics up, do you want any measurements, if so metric or imperial?

I did have 2, one with "Goldstar" one with "LG" both say LG Precision Instruments on the rear, I kept the Goldstar.

[retiredcaps]

Will do it tomorrow and get pics up, do you want any measurements, if so metric or imperial?

Let's see if your internal pcb looks like this one (which has clearly seen better days)?

http://www.crystalradio.cn/thread-103212-1-1.html

Your comments about how well it works or feels would be also appreciated.  Measurements at your discretion and I'm in Canada so I can understand either metric or imperial. 

[TheBay]

Wow that's seen some use!

It looks like the design was sold off, I found some further information with it being sold under a different name, but production started in 2009!

I left LG in 2002 and had the meters some time before then, I see from that PCB the IC has the old Goldstar logo on it, I wonder if it's a in-house design or re-labled... I am interested in tearing this thing apart.

http://www.tequipment.net/EZDigitalDM333.asp

There is a PDF manual there with specifications, it's a nice meter to use, I like the separate diode/continuity mode, nice LCD readout, beeps when left unattended and then will finally switch off. Built in stand is nice, where as most have the stand on the rubber case instead. Feels well made, taken a LOT of abuse bearing in mind I was working with CRT's mainly till LCD's became mainline, I will have to dig around and find my other EX LG kit, I had discharge probes and all sorts of odd Korean tools. I still have my Weller WSD80 station from back then, I have only just ordered a replacement tip!

The ones I have/had were all made in Korea, I wonder if the "Rebranded ones were" I see that site says Comparable to the Fluke 23, well the 23 is the same as the 77 that I currently own, interesting...

Will do it tomorrow and get pics up, do you want any measurements, if so metric or imperial?

Let's see if your internal pcb looks like this one (which has clearly seen better days)?

http://www.crystalradio.cn/thread-103212-1-1.html

Your comments about how well it works or feels would be also appreciated.  Measurements at your discretion and I'm in Canada so I can understand either metric or imperial. 

[TheBay]

My Mini Teardown of the DM-333

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/110351247362412788793/albums/5956975647368969505

[retiredcaps]

My Mini Teardown of the DM-333

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/110351247362412788793/albums/5956975647368969505

Thank you for the pictures.  It is appreciated.

[TheBay]

No problem at all, apologies it's only a few pictures and I haven't written anything about it, I have had such a busy week.
I will probably do a full teardown and writeup on it at some point.


One interesting thing about this meter I have not seen on another, is there is a lockout on the 10amp socket, which only allows a lead to be plugged in when it's in the 10amp position, if you move the dial away from 10amp with the lead plugged in, it makes a really loud (Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep), nice feature I thought

Oh and it does micro-amps

http://images.ihscontent.net/vipimages/VipMasterIC/IC/SAMS/SAMSD028/SAMSD028-60.pdf

My Mini Teardown of the DM-333

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/110351247362412788793/albums/5956975647368969505

Thank you for the pictures.  It is appreciated.