Flukes new meter family

[ilikepez]

For a while Fluke has been teasing a new wireless meter family, and today they are having a sneak peek webinar on element14. Unfortunately I can't make the webinar but I was able to find this data sheet on one of their dealers websites.
http://docs-asia.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/1144/0900766b81144714.pdf

Right now they are going to have four wireless modules and a main unit. The wireless modules are a voltage monitoring module, a current clamp, a module with a flexible current probe, and a wireless thermocouple module. The main unit can navigate between ten different modules, and read data from four at a time. A computer can monitor ten modules simultaneously. Each module is data logging as well so the main module or computer doesn't have to be in continuous contact with it.

Anyway I think its fairly interesting, although probably less useful for a hobbyist or someone working in a lab, for doing industrial maintenance I can see it being quite handy. More modules are in development supposedly but I'm not sure what else they really need, except for maybe a smaller current clamp.

[billclay]

Looks interesting, nothing else out there is like this.

I wonder if it will eat batteries like the 233 does? 

[saturation]

Thanks!  Now that's a hot new development.  No maker I know has something like it, another Fluke first, I think.  I found a PR image, its unfortunately fairly large, but the detail is good electronics porn anyway.  Enjoy.

[grenert]

Yuck on the matrix display.  Didn't they learn from the 289?   

[nack]

Maximum 600mA? Hmmm thans a pitty really. For the matrix display, yeah lets hope they have increased the contrast a bit in comparison to the 289.

[M. András]

ahh double the pixel density and it would be fine. i like it as it is on my 289. however this looks intresting and looking at the logging datapoint numbers why they couldnt do that on the 289 too? stupid 10k limit

[ecat]

The display looks like e-ink, interesting choice if so.
Highly legible, very, very, very low power, sadly a maximum update rate of 2 or maybe 4 times a second.

[FenderBender]

Yeah I was about to comment that you can't update an e-ink display very quickly...as of now...maybe they have another trick up their sleeves?

[EEVblog]

The display looks like e-ink, interesting choice if so.
Highly legible, very, very, very low power, sadly a maximum update rate of 2 or maybe 4 times a second.

It does kinda look e-inky.
300 hours from AA's.

Pretty niche looking system though.

Dave.

[Paul Moir]

What's up with that temperature module?  Only one type of thermocouple, +-0.5%+0.3deg?  I mean, you can buy a pocket +-1 deg thermometer with lifetime guarantee on the cal for ~$20....
 

[SeanB]

looks like Eink but i think you can get LCD backlight sheeting to look paper white. It looks like a big high resolution matrix though, you could run a simple scope on it as well with the right firmware.

[ilikepez]

What's up with that temperature module?  Only one type of thermocouple, +-0.5%+0.3deg?  I mean, you can buy a pocket +-1 deg thermometer with lifetime guarantee on the cal for ~$20....

But its not data logging or wireless. That is the big selling point. Fluke is really pushing these for industrial electricians and maintenance technicians. I think there is probably more money in that than the electronics design market.

[T4P]

I guess the "600mA" limit is because it's like the 233 for electricians

[mikeselectricstuff]

looks like Eink but i think you can get LCD backlight sheeting to look paper white. It looks like a big high resolution matrix though, you could run a simple scope on it as well with the right firmware.

I'm sure if it was Eink they'd say it in big letters on the  datasheet. It could be a Sharp memory LCD but again I'd expect them to be shouting about it as a feature.
As it is a new range, the display photos may be faked due to not having production hardware.
The datasheet does say LCD.
E-ink or (better) Sharp memory LCD would be a very good choice for a DMM - someone  should do it.
Actually memory LCD would be better, as e-ink has the potential danger that it could continue to show a 'safe' voltage reading when the meter has died or crashed.

[iloveelectronics]

The display looks like some very basic photoshop job. I don't understand the fuss about it...

[MartinX]

I am disappointed, they promise wireless but you still have to connect those pesky test leads. If they continue this line of marketing I am definitely suing.

[tom66]

And a move away from 2-3 digit numbering to "CNX3000"? That doesn't roll off the tongue like 87V or 179.

[EEVblog]

It seems Fluke have noticed this is on the EEVblog community radar and are sending me one for review.

Dave.

[opticpow]

Noice one Dave (Ozzie only ref soz). hmmm, meter p0rn. Got my popcorn ready 

[T4P]

The display looks like some very basic photoshop job. I don't understand the fuss about it...

Exactly ...
OT: So i finally know who this "Frankie" is, it's you! 

[iloveelectronics]

The display looks like some very basic photoshop job. I don't understand the fuss about it...

Exactly ...
OT: So i finally know who this "Frankie" is, it's you! 

LOL! Busted!

[saturation]

This is the best solution regarding the screen and performance questions raised on the thread ...

It seems Fluke have noticed this is on the EEVblog community radar and are sending me one for review.

Dave.

[billclay]

And a move away from 2-3 digit numbering to "CNX3000"? That doesn't roll off the tongue like 87V or 179.

What's CNX supposed to mean in marketing-speak?  Connects?  Connection?  Cancelled?

[billclay]

It seems Fluke have noticed this is on the EEVblog community radar and are sending me one for review.

Fluke should had sent you the pre-production unit.  Your feedback would have been much more useful to them at that point (although they would likely not let you disclose anything until after release.)  If the meter is crap now, too late...

[PetrosA]

I'm not sure I see the advantage to this system vs. the Agilent system. With Agilent's system, you only need to buy the snap-on modules for your existing DMMs (and hopefully soon, clamp meters too) whereas with Fluke's system, you need to buy all new dedicated units to have a useful kit. I can do up to three meters together now with datalogging on any of the functions the Fluke system does, and that software will certainly be upgraded to handle more at sometime in the future. While I think Fluke is making a decent effort, I don't think it's the best they could have done and it kinda looks like backpedaling to me. I'm curious what their pricing will look like for this stuff.