A while back I reviewed the Fluke 87V multimeter, which I still think is the best handheld meter. Since then I’ve tested (but not yet formally reviewed) a couple of other Fluke meters.
Their Fluke Connect system of wirelessly-communicating meters and test equipment is well-polished now, and they’re rolling out slight improvements based on user preferences and habits. There are new Fluke Connect modules, and more on the way.
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So let’s talk a little about Fluke.
You will often see a lot of people recommending Fluke multimeters and other equipment. Why? Form what I can tell, there are 2 main reasons – first-hand user experiences, and Fluke’s word-of-mouth reputation.
I don’t think I have ever heard anyone complain about Fluke multimeters. I do remember reading a story once, about how someone’s Fluke meter was misbehaving and how the company replaced it for them without issue. That’s as close to a complaint or rant that I can remember seeing.
My experiences with Fluke have been nothing but positive so far. And I’m not just talking about my review experiences. I needed help selecting some equipment I wanted to purchase for ToolGuyd lab use, and a couple of Fluke products were on the short list.
Fluke’s customer service was fantastically capable at giving me product selection advice. I probably shouldn’t have been, but I was surprised.
Fluke isn’t the only brand I have had good technical support experiences with, but it is somewhat of a rarity for such a large brand. It was nonetheless a very influential experience in giving me an even stronger warm and fuzzy feeling about Fluke.
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When I recommend Fluke, it’s based on number of standout product aspects, such as quality, reliability, accuracy, and a few others mentioned in my 87V review, but also the support you have available from the company.
If you’ve got a problem, they can help you. If you need help selecting a certain meter, accessory, or device for your application, they can guide you. This seems to be rare these days.
Then there’s the Fluke reputation, mainly in regard to a lot of what I said above. There are lots of people recommending Fluke equipment, and some might have never held a Fluke meter or other test & measurement instrument in their hand before.
Fluke’s reputation is just that strong. How often does someone recommend a brand or tool they have zero first-hand experience with?
It’s a little weird when you think about how some might recommend Fluke based on hearsay. But I did it too. Before I tried my first Fluke meter, I KNEW that they produced superior equipment, because I had heard so many positive things about them over and over again. You can only hear good things about a brand so many times before you believe them as fact.
When comparing a $50 meter to a $120 meter, or a non-Fluke product to one of Fluke’s more featured and higher-priced meters or other products, the differences might not be apparent as first. But you do get more for your money. From what I can tell, you get better protective circuitry, greater reliability, higher accuracy and precision, wider measurement ranges, better durability, and of course customer support.
I want to know about YOUR experiences with Fluke. It’s I’ve used a number of Fluke tools. and am currently testing a couple more. But everyone has different application needs and wants. If you’ve used Fluke tools before, which one(s), and for what?
My typical multimeter usage (in no particular order): continuity, DC voltage (60V or less), DC current, AC current (less than 10A), resistance, capacitance, frequency, temperature.
Has anyone here had a BAD Fluke experience?
Bruce
Over the years I’ve used about 5 different Fluke meters. The first was a 600amp fork meter. This is a great troubleshooting meter for high voltage. It’s rugged, easy on it’s battery, and gives readings accurate to 1 volt. Not RMS. Completely unsuited for low voltage work that I was doing that needed two decimal places when under 5 volts. I also didn’t like the molded in leads. I pulled a trusty 73 off the shelf that I’m pretty sure came over on the Mayflower. It almost gave me the accuracy that I said I needed but it certainly covered my lower voltage needs and I carried it and the fork meter for about 6 years. I still have the 73 but the case is cracked and the dial will go past off. I keep it in the car for roadside emergencies.
I’ve currently got one the 100 series RMS meters. I like it’s Cap check and overall accuracy, it’s very fast when taking readings but without a clamp amp reading it’s not ideal for HVAC work. I keep it on the bench for troubleshooting smaller projects. I’ve also got a 189 which I found in a pawn shop for a steal. Discontinued now it’s really an awesome meter. Way more that I need. It came with an AC/DC clamp meter and it’s my primary personal meter that never gets left behind. Amazingly accurate, any reading you could possibly want.
I use meters for the following uses:
AC Voltage to 500v troubleshooting large HVAC systems
DC voltage to 115v on large PV cell systems all the way down to under 5vdc for control systems
AC amps to 400 on HVAC
DC amps to 250 on PV systems
MFD to 75 microfarads for smaller HVAC caps
Millivolt to 20 on boiler controls
Milliamp to 20 on control systems
There is a bunch of car stuff in there as well but that’s mostly just continuity stuff.
Jerry
I was trying to chase down a bad connection on an electric water pump with my $10 Harbor Freight tester with no luck, so I wound up calling an electrician who found it in 5 minutes with his Fluke. I tried again with my cheapo tester, and even after knowing which connection was causing the problem, it just wasn’t sensitive enough to detect. Long story short, we fixed the connection his Fluke meter said was loose, and the pump hasn’t cut out since.
Wayne R.
I’ve been using Fluke meters for over 25 years. Fluke meters & HP equipment (before PCs came along) were clearly getting the job done with more capacity than necessary back then. A few other companies made specialty equipment we needed that Fluke & HP didn’t cover, and they (like Anritsu) were of the same rank in quality & capacity.
Fluke’s always been the default. Back then, I think you could use old Simpson meters too but the choices were a lot fewer than today. I’ve got a little Extech Pen DVOM in my bag, but Flukes are never far away; they’re the reference meter. And their accessories (leads & probes) can’t be beat, either.
I think the main thing about Fluke: If you got a weird reading out of one of them, the first thing you do is question yourself, not the device. What have I done wrong?
When I have a choice between an old beat up, trashed & dirty Fluke or someone else’s shiny new doodad, Fluke’s still the choice. More things in life need to be as reliable.
Nathan
I read that EXTECH 330 review. I went back and read the Fluke 87V review. I started looking at the devices on Amazon. By the time i came out of the rabbithole, i had almost forgotten how i started and i had ended up buying a uni-t ut210e for a song. AC and DC clamp ammeter that works even for <1A readings that also has leads to measure voltage and capacitance, has a built-in NC detector with really good spatial precision and a backlight, and is really compact.
As the article says, not everyone needs a Fluke. I suspect most people don't given the highly-evolved meters available from some of the less premium brands.
fred
Way before there was digital technology – I was using a Triplett 630APLK meter (similar to Simpson) for around the house and shop work. My plumbing crews were long ago using Fluke meters so in 2004 I finally broke down and bought a Fluke 177 – so much easier to use – that I wondered why I had waited so long to move to digital. Being more a plumber and woodworker than a electrician at heart I can’t say I put the 177 through its paces – but have used it over the years to troubleshoot many heating systems – and its has always seemed to help me diagnose the problems.
Drew M
I think the EEVblog on youtube has some of the best multimeter reviews I’ve seen.
mike aka Fazzman
Fluke is what you always hear about,I dont own one myself but have used them various times in College and at work,everyone knows about Fluke They are legendary.
I have an Amprobe 34XR-A Meter for around the house,its a good accurate meter. Have compared it to other meters in the labs and its pretty much dead on. I still have an old Simpson meter that was my dads.
Fazal Majid
@Fazzman
Amprobe is a sister company of Fluke, along with Tektronix, Leica microscopes, X-Rite colorimeters and Matco tools.
mike aka Fazzman
Thanks for that reply. I thought I recalled Stu doing a review not long ago about that. For the money the Amprobe is really nice,one of my college electronics instructors really liked the Amprobes so I ended up getting a holiday deal one year for mine.
Stuart
You’re right – https://toolguyd.com/amprobe-current-clamp-meter-review/ . Amprobe tools seem pretty decent.
Stuart
Thanks! I was completely unaware that Leica Microsystems or X-Rite were Danaher companies!
Amprobe is actually a Fluke company, and Pomona too. Keithley is also under the Danaher umbrella.
https://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/
Conor
One slight oddity on the business side of things is that Fluke now requires you to pay extra for a certificate of calibration to the NIST standard. Only required for aerospace or similar traceability, but an easy thing to miss when ordering from them.
Personally and professionally, have been very happy with the accuracy and durability of Fluke multimeters, especially my personal clamp meter.
Stuart
I believe that a lot of companies do the same. The first example to come to mind is how Mitutoyo measurement tools cost a bit more if you want a NIST calibration certificate.
Chris
I’ve used them before but don’t own one but it’s all the guys use at work, every single electrician has one and won’t use anything else
Michael Quinlan
I have quite a few pieces of Fluke equipment – but all from their datacom category – including CableIQ, LinkSprinter 200 & 300, Intellitone 3000, TS100, and their MicroScanner (I no longer have it). I’ve also used (rented) various models of their Category cable certification testers. I’ve had only great experiences with Fluke, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.
The closest I can come to a complaint is with the first certification tester I rented; it could only store 16 tests at a time, and only had a (slow) serial interface for downloading – so testing 130+ cables took quite a long time, with a lot of down(loading) time.
jim
I buy and use strictly fluke from my daily 87 and clamp on ammeter to the RPMs that I use to monitor power quality in critical and life safety applications – they are the most robust and well designed products for in the field use
Jim Felt
John Fluke was a widely respected north of Seattle company that like Tektronix in the western suburbs of Portlandia was eventually conglomerated into Danahar Corporation. Who dropped all in the remaining USA manufacturing like the next day and outsourced every single thing that was economically advantageous to the new acquirer. Still better then the long fallen and lamented Polaroid Corporation.
That said they did keep their respective in house development and design facilities/staff and still market great gear in their respective markets.. testing.
AngryDrumGuy
As a homeowner with a repair skill set that falls between intermediate/advanced and as a music teacher, I have no choice but to use the best tools I can afford to ensure the work is done right.
While wiring at home and in vehicles doesn’t require high end equipment, the electronics that are slowly taking over the music industry and now the classroom require a lot of maintenance with little tolerance for inaccuracy.
After growing up on analog meters and having a few cheap digital ones, I finally moved to a Fluke 115 a few years ago and the difference is inarguable.
I now have a Klein MM500 that stays with the tools at school for quick troubleshooting (and in case it sprouts legs), but the 115 handles every problem well and if it’s beyond that capability, the device goes back for warranty service or gets replaced.
Only gripe- the alligator clips available for the TL75 leads can get shredded by the lead points if you’re not careful when attaching them. I’ve destroyed one set already.
jet_tech
My only negative experience with a fluke meter was accidentally plugging the leads into the amp side of the meter when they needed to be in the voltage side, and it took us about 5 minutes to figure out why there was no reading on the meter.
billiam
My father in law has a Fluke or two that he has had for several decades. So, I know that they are extremely durable and reliable. In looking for my own needs, I wanted quality, but could not justify the cost of the Fluke meters. I ended up getting a BK and have been happy with that for my limited needs.
Dave L.
Every place I worked that used VOMs used Flukes.
Mike
Only BAD thing about Fluke is explain the cost to your wife! I don’t recommend them to everyone, my parents don’t need a Fluke meter to test an outlet or light bulb. There are some good mid-level options now if you are a light user or just starting out. But when your job and life can depend on it there is no option, Fluke all the way. Off the top of my head I have a 117, 179, 123, T5, 323, 52, and a MicroScanner.
fred
What got me a bit on the cost front – was that after I bought my 177 ($181 in 2004)- I realized that having their low impedance gizmo (SV225) would be good to help distinguish between real voltage and stray voltage in heating system circuits. $40 (in 2006) for what seemed to me a few cheap electronic components assembled in a small plastic cube -seemed “Fluke Pricey” but worked for me better than anything I could have been able to cobble together.
Albert Collins
I started in electronics repair as a teenager back in the late 70’s just as Fluke meters were beginning their climb to the top. I always heard the other techs say “If it works, it must be a Fluke!” That still holds true today.
Jim
Some time ago I bought a Fluke AC/DC clamp ammeter and it ended up getting recalled for some minor defect. Fluke replaced it with a brand new, better model with no hassle at all. They even shipped the new meter before receiving the old meter.
Now I own a 289, a low range clamp-on AC/DC ammeter, a VT-04 visual thermometer, a flexible AC ammeter adapter, an IR thermometer plus a bunch of cable and fiber testing, tracing, and qualifying equipment. There’s a lot of yellow stuff in this shop.
I really like having someone who cares and who speaks English on the other end of that support call – not that Fluke requires that much support.
Jay
Only have 2 Fluke products. Bought a Fluke 12 Digital Multimeter in the early 1990s while attending HVAC/R trade school at the local community collage. What a great meter. So great in fact that it is in my tool bag to this day and still going strong. Bought a Fluke 1AC VoltAlert in the early 2000s to speed up troubleshooting electric ranges. The 1AC is still in the tool pouch but now used mainly for finding hot wires doing residential and light commercial repair and remodeling projects.
As a side note, recently picked up a new clamp meter since my trusty analog Amprobe (one of the older all black models) quit working. Decided to give the UEi DL389 TRMS meter a try. Like it so much that it’s now my go to meter and the Fluke 12 is backup.
Went with Fluke because if I was going to trust my life to a multimeter I wanted the best. Now that Fluke is make in China decided to look around and see what other techs are using. Found that many are now using either Fieldpiece or UEi. I liked the compact size of the UEi DL389 so that’s what I got and so far have been very happy with it.
fred
I had never heard of UEi until we bought our first electronic manometer (EM150 – made in Taiwan ) from them about 6 or 7 years ago. We bought it based on price and the recommendation of one of my new guys who had used one in a prior job. We liked it – so bought a few more. The only quibble – as I recall – was that it needed a case to protect it – and you had to buy it (AC319) separately for about $20. But I guess that’s how they kept the price of the meter low.
Bob dobalina
I own a couple Fluke thermometers. I wish I had more Fluke instruments but they don’t seem to depreciate so buying used is pointless. That’s a good reason to buy them new, of course, but I’m not savvy enough to justify paying the cost of entry on the stuff.
Michael
I have the first version 85 still in use.
Jonatan
My first “proper” DMM was a Fluke 187 after having two UNI-T failing, opening them up and shaking my head. They were really cheap, and really cheaply built. I bought the 187 on ebay ~2004, it looked as it had had a tough life when I got it, and it is still with me today. This kind of reliability is just unheard of in most places. And with Fluke it’s just expected.
Now I have a range of Flukes, and they’re always the first choice and have never disappointed.
In UNI-T’s defense: I found them to be good tools for the money. They do what it says on the tin and they can cost less than my lunch. But for my professional use the electrical testers are all yellow.
Matt
The only bad thing I can say about Fluke are their insulation testers.I was shopping for one this year.Looking for one priced under $1000 and having an analogue scale.It seems Fluke does not make them anymore.I ended up buying a used older Fluke.
Testing for moisture in motor windings with only a digital read out is a nightmare.
JoeM
I’ve only got one experience with Fluke, and that is wanting one. They’re above my price point, plain and simple. The only complaint I’ve ever heard of a Fluke is their cost. A girl I went to high school with was able to get herself a Fluke for nothing because her Father works on power lines, and they force people who do so to upgrade regularly. When her Father upgraded, he gave her his older, still-flawless model. What’s more, when he upgraded, the people he works for were able to get a major discount from Fluke themselves for their workers to upgrade.
I’ve been drooling over several of their higher-end meters for years now, not because any one thing I do needs it, but because those are the models that allow me to do the many levels of things that I do. I have an older 9-volt Mastercraft Voltmeter, and I’ve replaced the leads at least once, but given the chance, I would recommend, enthusiastically, that anyone get a Fluke if they are able.
They really are worth it, from every bit of research, every review, and every reputation story I’ve heard over the years.
Rami
Strange how nobody complains about Fluke having some of their products made in China. Whenever there is an article about DeWalt or Milwaukee there is always somebody whining about China. Where are those same comments now?
fred
I thought that that was what Jim Felt was talking about in his comments above – but maybe it was more of a lament than a whine – talking about what Danaher had done when they acquired Fluke. I can lament too about the loss of good quality US manufacturing jobs – but its been a seemingly inexorable slide when it comes to the production of most consumer goods. In 1996 – the first year I was keeping detailed inventory/purchase records for my business – just over 90% of our small (excludes large machine tools and construction equipment) tool purchases (dollar amount) were for tools made in the USA with England, Germany and Japan making up most of the other 10%. China did not even represent 1/2 of 1%. By 2012 – before I retired – USA-made tools accounted for just under 47% of our buy. China and Taiwan were about 15% each, Canada about 5%, Germany, and Japan about 4% each. 2% were Swiss-Made, with 1% each from Finland, France, Israel, Mexico, Poland and England. I’m guessing that if my successor is still keeping records China probably accounts for quite a bit more of the 2015 tool buying dollars – with the USA slipping further down the list.
JoeM
Frankly, I don’t care where it’s made. If China is capable of making these things with such quality that a Fluke is still a Fluke, and a DeWALT is still a DeWALT, then it doesn’t bother me that it isn’t made in North America. Having blind loyalty to a country can have consequences to the quality of your work. If your loyalty trumps your quality standards, then your final products will be equally faulty. If the Quality is there, then your loyalty is warranted. But, what comes first is the Quality, not the Country. Fluke multi-meters and test equipment are still the best, despite the fact that they’re made in China. The country, therefore, doesn’t particularly enter into the debate on this.
If anything, it’s a lesson to North American manufacturing. If the quality doesn’t exist here, then it should be seriously upgraded so that the “Jobs Coming Back to North America” plan doesn’t result in a loss of quality. Fluke is still the best in their field. You have to go back to a time before the Globalization efforts to find competition for their models of products. The current field is dominated by them, and others have fallen behind. Older products still survive, yes. But we can’t live entirely in the past. It hurts our standards and our credibility when we live in the past, and have no future plans.
Royesses
I had a Beckman 310 meter until about 1985 when I purchased a Fluke 77. The red test lead was open. I called Fluke and had a new set of test leads in a day. The meter was my go to until about 1990 when I purchased a Fluke 87. I used both meters and then in 2004 I gave the 77 to a friend who had lost his 77. I still have the 87 and won’t part with it. I cleaned the zebra strip 3 or 4 times since I owned it and last year finally replaced the zebra strip. Both meters are simply the best money can buy. I have a Tektonix 2465 O-scope that I won’t part with either. I think the Fluke/tektronix combination represents the absolute height of engineering and manufacturing America has ever had. I long for those days again.
Thanasi
I have the 374 and it’s really great i issues so far
Bob
I have been in the industrial HVAC field for over 30 years. Switched to Fluke long ago, and have relied on them ever since. The collection includes 12B, (3) 27, 52, 62, 335, and my main go to, 233. Very handy with the detachable face. I expect to acquire 381 shortly. I also have and use the many accessories for the mentioned 27 meters, which can measure temp, pressure, or amps.
As far as the out country sourcing of Danaher, the present 233 I have is USA made. Bought earlier in the year to replace a 233 USA unit that was damaged by battery leakage.
Perry Lombard
We like Fluke… use them every day
Perry
http://www.centralvahomeinspections.com
Josh
I am shopping for a new meter and do wish Fluke made a meter that has capacitance and inductance in one. My old Wavetek 27xt is on the fritz.
Ed S
I tossed out a Fluke MM (12) that I had for a few years. One day I go to use it and it is dead. I replace the 9volt (seriously needs a screwdriver to access) with known good and still not working. I never used with any voltage higher than 120VAC or lower than .05mv so I wonder if fuse is bad… but then how to test? I have only one (dead) MM. A fluke indeed.
I want to get another but at $158 for a 117 tech model… I am not happy at the high cost. Mine was $80 when I got it. Whoa, was that 10 years ago.. or more…
Pros: When Fluke worked, it was reliable. Compact and easy to read.
Cons: cost…even at discount
Sam Greenfield
Their Ethernet cable testers are the best in the business
Mickey
Bought my first Fluke meter (a 73) over 30 years ago. Dropped it in an elevator pit where it got submerged in water. I sent it in to Fluke, they fixed it and sent it back for free, still have it and it still works. I have bought many more Fluke meters since the first one and all have been excellent trouble free meters. Left that line of work a few years back and really don’t have a need for a new meter. The newer Flukes I saw at the store were imported so that would be a deal killer for me, so I don’t see a new Fluke meter in my future. Not that I really need one but I might have bought one just because.
Michael
I come here to this Community if I do not disturb to bake for help.
I am from Europe where complains isn’t resolved with Fluke tools. My history become a fight and I don’t know how to resolve just put this problem in Tribunal.
I buy a Fluke 289 in 2015 in Portugal from Lisbon and I discover a mistake from Fluke or where is made. Here in Europe Fluke cost more than other’s countries on all World and of course we do not have so much income anymore because too many companies move to Asia.
Also, if I do not have a good Tool I can’t work so I pass hungry like today to be honest, just because I lost many jobs on my own to not be able to show to clients and explain simply how their protection against Electrocution it’s become hostile and make big trouble with Electrical Protection of Earth.
When I want measure on Loz function with Fluke 289 AC voltage is grown up to 8-10 Volts without any connection to any electric terminal and this is very bad because the client see this fact and it’s wondering (so do I) what kind of measure I want show to them if Multimeter even without probe connected to a Multimeter begin from 0.2 Volts and grow every second to 8-10 Volts.
So, more than 5 mounts ago I go to company from where I buy (Lenave-Portugal) and I show to them this anomaly and they send back to the Fluke Portugal for repair but this representative after 5 months send it back and told to seller company all it’s good. Of course, the seller see another’s 289 Fluke meters and compare with them and give me reason to complains because other’s 289 stay with maximum 0.2 Volts or 0.8 Volts. I don’t know what’s up there and I don’t know if Fluke work correctly here in Europe but all this months I lost many times my bred and real when you are old more than 40 years nobody want to give a job and on your own you must accept concurrence of other’s professionals who come with other’s tools Fluke 289 and you feel shame for be treated like an obsolete human been.
I don’t understand Fluke why don’t take measure with what’s happen with local representative or I don’t know what’s going on here in Europe.
If anyone know how can help please, tell me where can I resolve this troubleshooting.
Thank you