Fluke DMM
My needs are served half the time by a simple sub $100 DMM. Other times, I need a more complex and reliable meter. The Fluke 87V is that meter for me.
The 87V is more a general-purpose tool than Fluke’s T5, previously reviewed on Cool Tools. The T5 is a compact, limited resolution (only four-digit display) tester. It does not appear capable of measuring many of the things that the 87V can handle. The 87V can measure a much wider range of voltages and currents with greater accuracy. It also has an analog-style bar graph to help show trends, stores max./min. readings and will sound warnings if limits are exceeded. It can answer all the same questions as the T5, except in some cases it would need a probe (the open jaw mechanism for measuring current without breaking the circuit is the T5’s killer feature).
The 87V can also measure temperature (with a probe), frequency (for control circuits) and handles in-line current measurement to 20A. The peak capture will let you see spikes on a signal/control line as short as 250 us. It also has built-in filters for measuring voltages on noisy lines (as with motors).
If you only need to know how many volts or how many amps in a household setting, the T5 is surely sufficient. If you want a bench-grade tool for the homeowner, automotive and/or electronics hobbyist, the 87V is the real deal. For me, most of the time, the application is automotive or motorcycling (ensuring that things are charging and within spec); or that I can confirm the homemade wiring harness is assembled correctly prior to plugging in the $100-plus parts and accidentally cooking them. For more complex things, like servo controls in remote control applications, the duty-cycle measurements the 87V gives help confirm that the servos are in the right position.
I don’t use the frequency feature very much, but temperature measurement is useful in a few applications when debugging cooling problems in equipment, too. When trying to solve a problem with a power supply or load-induced glitch, the max/min hold functionality is great. You can stress and test the circuit and see the min. (or max.) readings after the fact to confirm, or refute, the problem.
The Fluke 87V is the benchmark by which most are measured. Knowing that it can be beat on and abused, yet continues to give me lab-grade results year after year means I just depend on it and stop wondering what is going on. It tells me.
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Fluke
Favorite (15)
christopher
Agreed on the Fluke 87M: having the use of multiple probes and advanced min/max storage really comes in handy when you're right in the middle of something, and don't want to stop to scratch out results on paper.
dingo
I've used a VC97 for years (various manufacturers, Taitan, Kaito, Victor, Aidetech). $30 gets you the Fluke's functionality plus a thermocouple. Harbor Freight has them occasionally, eBay always does. No sense in paying ten times the price for essentially the same thing.
Just sayin'.
I use a Fluke at work and can get them for cost. I still use the VC97 at home.
Tim K
I've got a fluke 189 which I love as a multimeter. Do beware however if working on microelectronics and measuring current. We have serious problems on low oltage systems (e.g. fpgas at 1.8V) where the current draw is high (in the region of 1-2A. Unfortunately, in the lower current ranges, the internal resistance of the Fluke meters is high to ensure accuracy. By high, think about a 1 ohm resistance at 1A in line with a device using a 1.8V supply. The meter can end up dropping 1V across it leaving the fpga only 1.8V to cope with. It's for this reason we dont use Flukes with microelectronic current readings. THe cheaper meters perform much better or alternatively the SOurceMeters for bench use by Keithley are excellent as they ensure the current measurement is internal and the supply adjusted to give the correct voltage at the device.
Another possibility is using a power supply with sense connections and connecting them downstream of the current meter
FlukeorAgilent
For readers with .gov or .mil email addresses, you can save some serious money off the Fluke 189IIM/AN and the Agilent U1241AN (which replaced the 87-V as the Navy standard meter) at navicpmart.com You are basically buying from existing government schedules and get 40-50% off.
Shannon
Agilent's newest line of multimeters merits a look; they have an OLED display available on their high-spec model that is a legitimate innovation. That display is visible over 160 degrees of viewing angle, and is a native light-emitter. Agilent has priced them competitively (for once), since they're presumably upset about their dismal market share in the handheld-multimeter arena.
Whompy
For under $10.00 you can have a perfectly useful multimeter:
http://www.elexp.com/tst_s830.htm
For under $40.00 you can stop messing around with multimeter features and graduate to an oscilloscope:
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/digital-storage-oscilloscope-diy-kit.htm
For under $50.00 you can enjoy an hundred-fold benefit over this ridiculous device...
charlie
The low end multimeters are useful for quick checks and carrying around. but they suffer some potentially serious problems, such as accuracy, probe voltage, reliability and probe voltage.
put the meter into cotinuity beep mode and tap the two probes together, then try it with the fluke or a good one.
read the EEVBlog for a good comparison with some of the el cheapo's and the fluke.
Plus the level of aftercare service you get from fluke is excellent..
sugaree
I know it's analog but what about the good old Simpson meter?
matt the calibrator
I've calibrated a metric ton of these, and they are worth every penny. Hardly ever out of tolerance, and I've only had to repair a few, and that was due to some abuse by the owners. Fluke makes some great stuff, but these bad boys are among my favorites.
@FlukeorAgilent - Thanks for the link. I'm gonna pick up one of those new Agilent meters.
@sugaree - My old Simpson still works like a champ. Best analog meter EVER.