Author Topic: I need to know the History of FLUKE 87 ( 1988 - 2010 ) (Read 96382 times)

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2010, 09:45:00 pm »

Ok here is a gift for every wild spirit like me ..

Here are high resolution pictures of my Fluke.

I found few points of interest on the bottom housing...

First , there is an small 9 thermally printed ( that stands for the manufacturing year )

Secondly , at the fuses rating , it says min 17000A ( an indication that Fluke still uses old stock at the back cover ) , the specs have be updated to 20000A for many years now.

Any way , nothing passes from the crazy inspector unwatched !!

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #26 on:** June 08, 2010, 11:24:59 pm »

Link addition about the Mini test : Chauvin Arnoux PAC12 AC/DC PRO Probe Clamp

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=660.0

exodia · « **Reply #27 on:** August 18, 2010, 05:56:07 am »

Hello kiriakos. I would like to know how much you paid +shipping to Greece for that Fluke 87V. I'm in the phase of purchasing my 1st serious DMM from Ebay but those V series are quite expensive. I like the greater capacitor range and temperature measurement of the latest generation but the 200+€ are abit high for me. I also like the lifetime warranty but i don't know if it's valid if i buy from Ebay. I think i'll try find a series III 87. Any suggestions?

The 1st generation of 87's does it have full 0,01 resolution?

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #28 on:** August 18, 2010, 01:11:23 pm »

Hi

I had select the 87-5 as an fresh and True RMS meter ..

About the pricing it matters of where you live ..

If you do not care about the True RMS , get another meter and forget the Fluke 87 versions ...

And get something that works for your needs ...
The 87-5 or V , its not a God , yesterday I found that it can not measure pF as capacitors meter..

Here is a picture of my invoice ... In comparison with the street price in Europe, my price can be called as bargain one.

.

ThunderSqueak · « **Reply #29 on:** August 18, 2010, 05:33:47 pm »

Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on May 09, 2010, 12:08:33 am

Another very practical and useful improvement between the original and the III is the backlight was changed from a green LED to white, and is way brighter.

Yep, I posted this earlier... My old 87 and my new 87-v

Quote from: saturation on April 23, 2010, 07:25:32 pm

Wow, that old Fluke is still alive and working? That model is over 30y old!

It looks like an 8060A, my 'dream' DMM, I could never afford back then.

I have techs working under me that have this meter... Old but they still work and do the job

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #30 on:** August 19, 2010, 05:38:29 pm »

Well I did one adjustment by software on the above picture ,
the reason was to see, of how deferent are the quality, and the illumination of the new display.

Well , its like night and day , even if the original picture , was taken with wrong settings ,
and the display lighting looks more powerful in both , than the real thing.

What I did was to drop down the illumination of the picture , at the point that the Green display starts to fade for good , the New display looks 200% more brighter and readable ... at list .

ThunderSqueak · « **Reply #31 on:** August 19, 2010, 09:26:06 pm »

Quote

Well , its like night and day , even if the original picture , was taken with wrong settings ,

hey, I took that picture with my phone

but yes, it is like night and day.

exodia · « **Reply #32 on:** August 21, 2010, 05:01:32 pm »

Kiriakos i live in Greece like u :-)

Now about Fluke 87V. I've come to a deal with a seller on ebay that can sell me a V for 255 calibrated tested so i think it's a good deal. Just today i bought a Rigol 50Mhz and a fluke 17B for a starter DMM and maybe my 2nd DMM will be a 87. Do you suggest anything better for a pricepoint at about 180€ max? To tell you the truth i don't think a true RMS is a must for me i'm more into dc stuff, microcontrollers and such.

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #33 on:** August 21, 2010, 05:28:28 pm »

Hello @exodia , and welcome ..

I do understand , that you are a bit confused, the Fluke 87 line , had some wide recognition as model.
But there is many other meters equally well made for bench use , that no one had put his hands on them, for an review ..

My experience with brands and models are small , but by experience about to tell, if something works correctly or not, are huge.

I will advice you to watch the reviews of Dave , so to get an picture of how the modern meters stand this days , about build quality.

In my priority s , other than the TRUE RMS , was and the 20.000 counts ability .

I think that its an good idea , to suggest to Dave , to make an review of meters at 20.000 counts.

So my suggestion to you , are to start looking about meters with the 20.000 counts ability.
From the other hand , UNI-T has some very fresh models loaded with nice futures,
its up to you , if you will explore this new product range.

Some models can be found here ..
local link (GR) .. http://www.emimikos.gr/shop/

exodia · « **Reply #34 on:** August 22, 2010, 04:01:55 pm »

Thanks kiriakos, i'll have a look. The 20.000 count is the resolution of the unit?

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #35 on:** August 22, 2010, 04:14:45 pm »

Yes it is ... so to be able to see max 19,999 volts .. above that it drops to 20,00 volts ...

So the 20.000 count its five displayable digits ( at the range of 20 volts max )

The 30.000 counts its five displayable digits ( at the range of 30 volts max )

etc etc ...

batee · « **Reply #36 on:** August 23, 2010, 05:31:32 am »

Bought my first Fluke 87 in approx 1991-2. Cost about $350.

Suffered from LCD delamination. Before Fluke released the revamp kits, it was too expensive to fix, so I sold it in eBay.

Bryan

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #37 on:** August 23, 2010, 02:17:01 pm »

Quote from: batee on August 23, 2010, 05:31:32 am

Bought my first Fluke 87 in approx 1991-2. Cost about $350.

Suffered from LCD delamination. Before Fluke released the revamp kits, it was too expensive to fix, so I sold it in eBay.

Bryan

Hello Bryan , this issue are alive even today ...
The third party repair Kits , even if they look available on ebay, its not something that you can count on it, about their existence and normal pricing , in long term .
Thats why my advice to all the Europeans, are to get nothing less than the 87-5 (V) ,
because it uses the improved one .

marianoapp · « **Reply #38 on:** August 23, 2010, 03:32:05 pm »

i may be able to get a used Fluke 87 (the first revision) locally for about $275, which is a good deal around here since a 87V is $600+

so, reading the topic i found that the main differences between the original and V revision are:
1- 0.1% accuracy
2- cap measurement up to 5uF
3- no temp measurement
4- no low pass filter

am i missing something?

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #39 on:** August 23, 2010, 03:39:04 pm »

Quote from: marianoapp on August 23, 2010, 03:32:05 pm

am i missing something?

Size and lighting of the display , plus .. I think that in order to replace the battery, it must completely opened.

ThunderSqueak · « **Reply #40 on:** August 23, 2010, 07:57:58 pm »

Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on August 23, 2010, 03:39:04 pm

Quote from: marianoapp on August 23, 2010, 03:32:05 pm
am i missing something?

Size and lighting of the display , plus .. I think that in order to replace the battery, it must completely opened.

yep, this is true. The old model also suffered from "ghosting" of the display. This could be fixed by a disassembling the display and cleaning the contacts but they eventually deteriorate again. Fluke put out a kit to replace the whole display with a newer part that does not have this issue. The cost of this kit and the price of an old 87 however would make purchasing an 87V more cost effective if you are starting from scratch. The bar graph also works differently on the meters. (see earlier picture I posted). To put the old meter into 20,000 count mode is different, you have to hold a button down while turning the meter on. On the new meter it is just a button press.

I love my old 87, it has been with me for a long time, but I love my 87v more (I think the old one might be getting jealous).

A family picture of my fluke meters. I replaced the holster on the old 87 as a while back a kid stole the meter, his father found the meter with my name on it and made him return it, the holster however did not make it back to me. Stupid thieves

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #41 on:** August 23, 2010, 08:43:13 pm »

Quote from: ThunderSqueak on August 23, 2010, 07:57:58 pm

his father found the meter with my name on it and made him return it

Wow, you just pinch my interest , and I have to ask , how did you do an such marking,
that personalizes the meter ..
Just an sticker at behind ... or something more ?

ThunderSqueak · « **Reply #42 on:** August 23, 2010, 09:57:07 pm »

I did a shallow engraving on the back and filled it with white paint so it stands out. I also have my name written on the inside battery. I am well known in this state (I have a good reputation), so people know where to find me.

Kiriakos-GR · « **Reply #43 on:** August 23, 2010, 11:12:30 pm »

Well from my side as freelancer , because I visit my customers , in their shops or homes..
Some their targeting , my small hammer , or the wire cutters , but not an meter !!!

I have also an sticker in the battery compartment of my mobile phone.

Thanks for sharing the info ..

gcb · « **Reply #44 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:25:44 am »

also found some ET87.

regular series 1

"ET-87 DDM"

(images from Craigslist, will be gone soon. if you know how to upload images here, please do)

T4P · « **Reply #45 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:19:05 am »

brandonb · « **Reply #46 on:** September 13, 2012, 02:20:22 am »

Kiriakos-GR nice write up on the fluke, im a huge fan, have a fluke 87-3, but the ground bannana plug has a broken connection inside the component its self (not the solder joint), do you guys know where to buy a new bannana plug component so i could solder in a new one in the meter?

retiredcaps · « **Reply #47 on:** September 13, 2012, 04:03:02 am »

Quote from: brandonb on September 13, 2012, 02:20:22 am

but the ground bannana plug has a broken connection inside the component its self (not the solder joint), do you guys know where to buy a new bannana plug component so i could solder in a new one in the meter?

Do you mean something like this?

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=fluke+87+input&_sacat=0

Personally, I find the prices super high for replacement parts since used fully working Fluke 87 and sometimes the 87 III sell for about $100 on ebay.

This auction was more reasonable if you didn't care about the modification

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271053504078

brandonb · « **Reply #48 on:** September 13, 2012, 04:34:55 pm »

yes thats what im looking for, thanks...they are proud of those, i was told that the meter is life time warranty, wonder if thats true?

jcpx · « **Reply #49 on:** October 05, 2012, 09:50:32 pm »

Hello all,

I purchased second hand fluke multimeter 87-III.
I just received it and noticed the following thing:

When I turn ON the fluke, on the AC Voltage measurement, the multimeter makes 2 small popping (or clicking) noises that come from the inside. it is not loud, similar to a small relay being activated.
Sometimes, the display blinks at the same time than the noises.

I noticed also that when turning the multimeter ON, on the AC Voltage measurement, the graph bar jumps like crazy in all the directions then settles down. it lasts 2 seconds before settling down.

None of the fluke I used 87-5 and 187 had a similar behavior. I am worried with the popping noises happening at startup.
Have you noticed that on the 87-III already?

I also have to replace the 11A fuse (F2) because it is blown. Hopefully no damages happened to this fluke with a high current.

Thanks for your help.


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

Author Topic: I need to know the History of FLUKE 87 ( 1988 - 2010 ) (Read 96382 times)

Share me