Author Topic: Fluke 867B, good or obsolete? (Read 32442 times)

Wytnucls · « **on:** May 25, 2016, 05:07:55 pm »

Just bought a Fluke 867B for a little under 300$. Would be keen to hear from people familiar with the meter, to find out if it is still a useful tool in a world of cheap oscilloscopes.

kripton2035 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2016, 05:16:45 pm »

I had one once ago.
found it too slow for everyday use
and the nicd batteries don't last long you must charge it too often
may be if you can hack it with a lithium pack ?
otherwise nice tool.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2016, 05:35:32 pm »

Yes, 8hrs isn't much. I will use it mostly on the bench. So, I hope it can be powered on with the charger connected.

edavid · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2016, 06:37:44 pm »

What is the sample rate in DSO mode?

Wytnucls · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2016, 06:50:31 pm »

Sample Rate: 4.8 Megasamples per second. 1MHz max (-3dB).
Screen update rate: 4 times per second

Features
• Waveform Display to 1 MHz Safety-rated to 1000V
• Digital Display/30,000 counts
• Selectable True-rms or Average Sensing
• Continuity/Conductance/Capacitance
• Duty Cycle/Pulse Width/Period/Frequency
• Min/Max/Average with Time Stamp
• Relative Mode
• Touch Hold® and Peak Hold
• dB, AutoDiode™
• Auto/Manual Ranging, Smoothing™
• RS232 Interface (software and cable optional)
• Logic Activity
• Component Test
• LCD backlight
• Waveform memory

blacksheeplogic · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2016, 09:05:31 pm »

Quote from: Wytnucls on May 25, 2016, 05:07:55 pm

Just bought a Fluke 867B for a little under 300$. Would be keen to hear from people familiar with the meter, to find out if it is still a useful tool in a world of cheap oscilloscopes.

Very nice meter, but aside from battery life, the problem I've had with these and several other Flukes is the size. It's the main reason the Fluke 117 is my most used meter.

tautech · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2016, 09:47:01 pm »

Quote from: Wytnucls on May 25, 2016, 05:35:32 pm

Yes, 8hrs isn't much. I will use it mostly on the bench. So, I hope it can be powered on with the charger connected.

One of the not so small advantages with HH's is the isolation from mains ground they provide so just watch/check that when it's on the charger you aren't connected to mains GND.

glicos · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2016, 09:59:34 pm »

For me it help me a lot and been using it as my main meter for 9 years till know, esp the component test function. Only drawback is the battery (but now i upgrade it to lithium that i bought from aliexpress) and maybe due to old age, the LCD started to fade but when viewed directly in front its normal. I already bought a new LCD and just waiting for it to arrived. The "oscilloscope" function is not that much of use...only for quick visual indicator.

Overall, its a good meter for me..

glicos · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2016, 10:06:25 pm »

Quote from: Wytnucls on May 25, 2016, 05:35:32 pm

Yes, 8hrs isn't much. I will use it mostly on the bench. So, I hope it can be powered on with the charger connected.

Yes it can be powered from the bench using the charger

kwass · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2016, 12:45:28 am »

I've had mine since it first came out in 1997 (?), I use it mostly on the bench but portably when I need too. I also have an HP 34401A and a Fluke 8846A for bench meters but there are some things the 867b does better than either of those:

1) almost instant startup
2) auto-direction diode test
3) fastest, latching continuity tester I've ever used

... then there's the portability and quick visual waveform display.

It's never drifted out of calibration and I've only had to replace the battery pack once in 19 years.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2016, 01:04:12 pm »

Thank you all for the information. I will probably have a few more questions after I receive the meter and get to play with all its unfamiliar functions.

mos6502 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2016, 02:35:35 pm »

Looks like an interesting meter. Does anyone know if the graphing function works in all modes? I.e., can you graph resistance, frequency, current?

Wytnucls · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2016, 03:05:47 pm »

Most modes as you can see:

Wytnucls · « **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2016, 05:57:06 pm »

Here are a few pictures of the beast. Very happy with it. I don't know when the last calibration was performed, if any, but it seems to be very close to my DC volt reference.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2016, 05:44:53 pm »

The meter has some unusual features.
Here is one where the trend screen in Ohms mode shows glitches (>1us) as small vertical bars on the horizontal axis every time continuity is lost or goes above range threshold.
The trend timeline may be stretched up to 30 hours, with a glitch bar shown if detected in any 15 minute interval.

kwass · « **Reply #15 on:** June 24, 2016, 01:41:50 pm »

There are lots of unusual and useful features in the 867b.

The Auto Diode feature identifies and displays the cathode and anode leads and the Manual Diode with tone on works like the HP/Agilent/Keysight 34401 where it beeps if the forward diode drop is in range.

You can combine functions such as Touch Hold and Trend so that the meter will lock onto a fixed values while still displaying the trend.

It has three powers sources: mains adapter/changer, nicad/nimh cells (easily changed built-in pack), 6 x AA cells (built-in holder).

It's really too bad that they stopped making this meter. Overall, I like it far better than any other meter I have or have used. It was outrageously expensive back in the day but it was worth every penny.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #16 on:** June 30, 2016, 12:12:02 pm »

I concur. The 867B has become my favorite meter.
Well conceived, with user-friendly menus and dependable.
Although a monster size wise, once on its stand, it is very sturdy and the footprint is bearable on the desk.
Even the rudimentary scope function has some use:
For instance, inrush current starting a small DC motor.

http://www.industrialelectronics.biz/fluke/gmm-app2.htm

glicos · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2016, 05:27:11 am »

Have a schematic for a DIY optical cable for Fluke 867b and software that might be useful. Hope this will help user of 867b Grpahical Multimeter..

DIY Cable:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4Z7TQYJ7AI0b2ZXRndYOE5NLU0

Fluke 860 Software:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4Z7TQYJ7AI0Q0lCSDdVVkpCaTA

Wytnucls · « **Reply #18 on:** July 03, 2016, 04:28:51 pm »

SW860 FlukeView software manual:

Wytnucls · « **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2016, 04:48:58 pm »

Software won't install on Windows 10. Needs a Windows 3.0 machine.

kwass · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2016, 04:51:50 pm »

Quote from: Wytnucls on July 03, 2016, 04:48:58 pm

Software won't install on Windows 10. Needs a Windows 3.0 machine.

Maybe try running under DOSBOX, I'll bet that works fine.

Wytnucls · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2016, 05:25:46 pm »

It would with the DOS program files. glicos posted the windows files only.
Might have to dig my old Compaq 286 out of the cobwebs!

timb · « **Reply #22 on:** July 04, 2016, 12:04:45 am »

Quote from: Wytnucls on July 03, 2016, 05:25:46 pm

It would with the DOS program files. glicos posted the windows files only.
Might have to dig my old Compaq 286 out of the cobwebs!

You can install Windows 3.x in DOSbox. VMware would also work. (In that case, there's a DOS .com file you might want to use, to prevent your CPU from pegging 100% all the time; I can dig it up if you want it. Otherwise, FreeDOS works just as well, only newer, and also supports Windows!)

ci11 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 04, 2016, 12:13:50 am »

FlukeView 860 runs perfectly in Virtual PC "XP Mode" under Windows 7

Wytnucls · « **Reply #24 on:** July 04, 2016, 09:57:18 pm »

Thanks ci11, I have an old XP desktop and the software works fine on it.
Now for the PM9080 cable. Some are available on eBay, but are quite pricey, at around 150$.
May have to build my own eventually, as per glicos files.


EEVblog Main Site	EEVblog on Youtube	EEVblog on Twitter	EEVblog on Facebook	EEVblog on Odysee

Author Topic: Fluke 867B, good or obsolete? (Read 32442 times)

Share me