Author Topic: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.  (Read 9257 times)

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Offline AxtmanTopic starter

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I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« on: July 19, 2023, 11:19:54 pm »
I bought a Fluke 101 multimeter the other day. I wanted a small, inexpensive, safe, reliable meter that I could put in my pocket to garage sales, swap meets, hamfests, etc. I wanted to bring along a meter to make a few quick measurements before I bought a piece of equipment. The Fluke 101 is better than I expected.

So the Fluke 101 gets two thumbs up from me.  :-+ :-+
 

Offline Ground_Loop

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2023, 01:44:35 pm »
I gave some thought to getting one as a "kitchen drawer" meter, but I've seen a number of negative reviews about build quality (the meter itself, leads), and performance  (incorrect readings, slow auto ranging, battery life, etc.).  Have you experienced any drawbacks?
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Offline colorado.rob

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2023, 03:55:35 pm »
Other than the name and color, what makes this better than say a cheap Aneng AN8008?

It doesn't measure current. So it is a little limited in what it can do.
 
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Offline LazyJack

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2023, 03:57:06 pm »
I have 2 Fluke 87s, an 85 and an 83, and a couple of bench meters, etc. , but I keep finding myself using the 101 for a lot of simple stuff. It's small, easy to handle, I'm not afraid of tossing it into the tool bag and so far I did not have any problem with it (I have it for now over 2 years). Sure, autoranging is slow, the continuity tester is not as nimble as of the 87, but it works. I do not have any accuracy problem whatsoever. For the price, unbeatable.
 

Offline Fungus

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2023, 05:03:16 pm »
I gave some thought to getting one as a "kitchen drawer" meter, but I've seen a number of negative reviews about build quality (the meter itself, leads), and performance  (incorrect readings, slow auto ranging, battery life, etc.).  Have you experienced any drawbacks?

I've had one for years. It's small and cute, dial is smooth and clicky, I like the little numbers, overall build quality is 100% Fluke. Joe Smith's testing has shown it to be one of the toughest meters out there. Fluke's website used to call it "Extremely robust" but they've turned down the language a bit lately (so it doesn't affect sales of their expensive meters?)

Autoranging is NOT slow. Continuity speed isn't great but OK for occasional use. Diode test will light a white LED.

I don't know where you get incorrect readings from, I can't imagine Fluke would release a meter that didn't read properly.

The supplied leads are Fluke's cheapest, ie. not great quality, but easy to replace. I don't use them myself because they're way too long and bulky (1.5m long I think) and I want to fit it all in a small carry pouch. I replaced them with some much shorter Anengs. See photo.


My only real criticisms would be the limited functionality and the beeper is a bit on the quiet side for use in a noisy environment.

If you want a reliable pocket-size meter with a real CAT rating then I don't think there's anything that will beat it.

« Last Edit: July 20, 2023, 05:08:42 pm by Fungus »
 
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Online mwb1100

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2023, 06:38:21 pm »
Fluke 101 is a great meter if you understand and accept its limitations:

  - not true RMS
  - no current measurement - this can be a plus if you don't need to measure current, since it removes the possibility of a short circuit by having probes set up wrong
  - no DC mV
  - no backlight
  - no tilt stand

Most of what I do with a meter is:

  - DC voltage
  - resistance
  - continuity check

So I think the very compact and robust (at or near the top robustness performer on Joe Smith's tests) 101 is a pretty good deal at around $50 on Amazon.

Fluke claims the battery life is at least 200 hours, which isn't as much as many (most?) of their meters, but I don't think I'd classify it as a problem or nuisance.

One other thing to be aware of is that it's authorized for sale only in Asia (I think), so people outside that area won't get warranty support.  Up to  you how much of a concern that would be.

(also I think it's kind of funny that so many Amazon reviews complain that it's unsafe because there are no fuses when fuses are only needed in meters that measure current)
 

Offline Veteran68

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2023, 07:19:36 pm »
One other thing to be aware of is that it's authorized for sale only in Asia (I think), so people outside that area won't get warranty support.  Up to  you how much of a concern that would be.

The "lower" 100 series (101-107, 115-118) are made in China but authorized for sale in the US market.

In that respect, to my understanding Fluke has three categories of meters:

1. Meters made in the US and sold worldwide: 87V, 179, 289, etc.
2. Meters made in China and sold worldwide (including US): 100, 107, 115, 117, etc.
3. Meters made in China only for Asian markets: 115C, 117C, 87-VC, 15+, 17B+, etc.
 
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Offline bdunham7

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2023, 07:42:22 pm »
1. Meters made in the US and sold worldwide: 87V, 179, 289, etc.
2. Meters made in China and sold worldwide (including US): 100, 107, 115, 117, etc.
3. Meters made in China only for Asian markets: 115C, 117C, 87-VC, 15+, 17B+, etc.

I think that is all outdated or incorrect.

The US industrial line may be "Made in USA" or "Assembled in USA" (the current 289) for some markets, but they are also made in China and perhaps elsewhere for other markets.  There are specific matching models for the Chinese market, like the 289C.

The 101 is now US grey market AFAIK, although it may have previously been legit.  Fluke does offer the 107 as its 'replacement'.  The 11x meters are marked as made in Malaysia (my 116) or Singapore (according to TEquipment) with parts from who knows where.

It's a global operation, so I'm sure all of this is constantly changing.
A 3.5 digit 4.5 digit 5 digit 5.5 digit 6.5 digit 7.5 digit DMM is good enough for most people.
 

Offline 5free

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2023, 02:12:37 am »
a nice tool , I have the F101 since 2013. 

but it has lost the calibration data once( display "err" ), and I fixed it.

anyway, a lovely meter.
 

Offline mendip_discovery

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2023, 06:39:38 am »
I have seen these in a few places and I can say they seen to do the job quite well. Not a lot of people understand current let alone want to test it.

I have Fluke T6-1000 in the shed as a grab and go meter. By I have a sinometer and a 121GW for when I want to get a bit more serious. Though I am on the lookout for a decent DC Current logger clamp meter.
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Offline Fungus

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2023, 09:59:18 am »
I have seen these in a few places and I can say they seen to do the job quite well. Not a lot of people understand current let alone want to test it.

The 101 can measure current, just not directly.

Look closely at the photo I posted above. There's a little 0.1 Ohm, 1% resistor in the case next to the red probe.
 
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Online BeBuLamar

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2023, 11:19:03 am »
How often you measure current with a DMM? I don't think current measurement is important for low end meters. It also prevent blowing fuse or even worse if someone try to measure voltage while the probe is in the current jack.
 

Offline Fungus

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2023, 12:36:51 pm »
How often you measure current with a DMM?

Me? Very often.

I work on small electronics and need to know power consumption, how hard the LEDs are being driven, etc.

It depends on your job though. 10A is nothing to electricians / automotive people so a DMM won't even measure it.
 
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Offline TheSteve

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #13 on: July 21, 2023, 03:30:09 pm »
I like my Fluke 101 - it is cheap so I never worry about it. Yet it always measures what I need it to measure. I also gave one to my dad who isn't an electronics guy. Now if he measures a battery or the voltage from the dryer outlet I know he won't hurt himself or the meter. No current is exactly what is needed on a low cost meter like this, no chance of connecting things wrong.
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Offline edavid

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #14 on: July 21, 2023, 03:52:33 pm »
If you do need current ranges, the FLIR DM64 (Brymen BM235) is a solid option at $50, but it's quite a bit larger than the Fluke 101.
 

Offline Fungus

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #15 on: July 21, 2023, 04:17:16 pm »
If you do need current ranges, the FLIR DM64 (Brymen BM235) is a solid option at $50, but it's quite a bit larger than the Fluke 101.

The BM805s is even cheaper and does way more than the Fluke 101, including beep alert on the current jacks (I wouldn't buy a serious meter with current that doesn't have that feature...)

https://brymen.eu/shop/bm805s/

But yeah, it's bigger.
 

Online mwb1100

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #16 on: July 21, 2023, 07:35:12 pm »
The BM805s is even cheaper

Shows up as 47 EUR ex-VAT for me which is pretty much the same as $50.

A few pluses for the Flir DM64 (as long as you're in the USA - I don't think the $50 offer is good outside the US):

  - free shipping
  - comes with Brymen's silicone leads which are among the best in the business.  Better than Fluke's TL71 in my opinion, and definitely better than the TL75 leads that come with most Flukes .  I suspect the BM805s comes with PVC leads (probably still very good leads)
  - a nice, long backlight (BM805s has none). A lot of people don't give a damn about backlights, but I find them useful very often

In my opinion, the $50 Flir DM64 deal is crazy good in spite of the "blocky" physical design which I don't care much for, but it's certainly no deal breaker.
 

Offline Fungus

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #17 on: July 21, 2023, 07:43:01 pm »
I don't think the $50 offer is good outside the US):

It's 228€ here: https://www.flir.es/products/dm64/

 
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Offline bdunham7

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #18 on: July 21, 2023, 07:53:13 pm »
the FLIR DM64 (Brymen BM235) is a solid option at $50

I'm not sure what is going on at FLIR that would cause them to dump them for $50, but with free shipping and a 3-year warranty, that's stupid cheap.  Too bad I just absolutely don't need another meter.

A 3.5 digit 4.5 digit 5 digit 5.5 digit 6.5 digit 7.5 digit DMM is good enough for most people.
 

Offline Bud

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #19 on: July 21, 2023, 07:58:39 pm »
Seems to be stock clearance, it is a discontinued model.
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Offline Fungus

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #20 on: July 21, 2023, 09:30:32 pm »
Yeah, $50 for a Cyber-BM235 is crazy cheap. Grab 'em while you can...
 

Offline J-R

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #21 on: July 21, 2023, 09:56:56 pm »
Quick note on the Flir DM64, I was initially concerned with many details in the datasheet that didn't match the Brymen BM235.  However, the specifications listed in the user manual do match the BM235.  Also, despite the labels on the DMM not indicating it, the DM64 does have the Auto check and VFD features.
 
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Offline Veteran68

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #22 on: July 21, 2023, 11:26:07 pm »
Yeah, $50 for a Cyber-BM235 is crazy cheap. Grab 'em while you can...

*Sigh*
 

Offline ledtester

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #23 on: July 22, 2023, 12:51:02 am »
Yeah, $50 for a Cyber-BM235 is crazy cheap. Grab 'em while you can...

Just placed an order for one. They are currently on backorder - my expected shipping date is Aug 5th.
 

Offline Veteran68

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Re: I am impressed with the Fluke 101.
« Reply #24 on: July 22, 2023, 01:33:17 am »
Yeah, $50 for a Cyber-BM235 is crazy cheap. Grab 'em while you can...

Just placed an order for one. They are currently on backorder - my expected shipping date is Aug 5th.

Huh. Maybe I grabbed one of the last ones? My order confirmation doesn't mention a backorder.
 


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