Attention Fluke DMM Users

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infinity

infinity

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New Jersey
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Journeyman Electrician
Recently I had a problem with my old Fluke 87 DMM display. Some segments of the display didn't work. Looked something like this:

a9_1.JPG


So I called Fluke and they told me that parts for my older DMM were not available and that any repair would cost $200. They offered to take back my old DMM and replace it with a new one for $300. After saying a few choice words to myself, I figured I'd search for parts on the Internet. I came across a message board for guys who repair testing equipment. Someone had posted that the problem was due to some oxidation of the contacts between the board and the LCD elastomers. They suggested a simple cleaning with a Q-tip and some alcohol. So I took it apart, cleaned it, and reassembled. Then it looked like this:

b4_1.JPG



Not bad for less than 10 minutes work. Yes, Fluke is on my S$%& list. Don't understand why they couldn't tell me this information. Thought that maybe someone would find this info useful.
 
Thanks! Not that I want to star bashing Fluke, but my Fluke meter starts to give incorrect voltage readings when the battery starts getting low but before the low battery indicator shows on the display. The voltage starts creeping up to around 170 volts on a 120 volt nominal circuit. The first time I had this happen, I thought one my customers had real problems. It wasn't until I checked the neighbor’s voltage when I realized my meter was giving wrong readings. I change the batteries and it went away.

Sure enough, several months later the same problem started again. This particular model automatically shuts down if left on and not used for a period of time. I would always forget to turn it off which I believe resulted in a short battery life.
 
bphgravity said:
It wasn't until I checked the neighbor?s voltage when I realized my meter was giving wrong readings.
Click to expand...
That may not have been the most reliable check, if they're on the same transformer. :rolleyes:
 
My Fluke 87 started acting strange, the display would blink even when switched to off until the batteries died.

They quoted about $95 for any repair over the phone so I sent my meter out to them.

It came back quickly working, cleaned and calibrated, the letter they sent said the switch contacts where dirty.

The best part was they sent back a check refunding almost half of the $95.

This was about 6 years ago so I am not surprised the price went up.

I wonder if they still refund?
 
Word around the supply house is that Ideal is gaining market share pretty fast and has much better warranty service and pricing. I own a Fluke 337 clamp meter that works pretty well, and an Ideal circuit tracing kit I use from time to time. I haven't had problems with either of them, nor have I had to deal with either company's customer service.

Just passing along what I've heard from other guys at the supply house.
 
Personally I really think that Fluke products are well made. I really like them. The most annoying thing is that the solution to the problem was rather simple. I would really be annoyed if I spent the $300 for the new meter and then found out later that the problem with the old one could have been repaired for 5 cents.
 
Other meters

Other meters

I had a technical writing project last semester and put together a comarison of three different dmm's.

I really like Fluke, but I have used a Greenlee model in the past on a sizeable fire alarm project, and it was very nice! After looking into the three different meters, I really could not make up my mind as to which meter I would buy. It seemed prices were all comparable.

Has anyone else used Greenlee?

-Matt
 
infinity said:
They suggested a simple cleaning with a Q-tip and some alcohol. So I took it apart, cleaned it, and reassembled. Then it looked like this:

b4_1.JPG



Not bad for less than 10 minutes work. Yes, Fluke is on my S$%& list. Don't understand why they couldn't tell me this information. Thought that maybe someone would find this info useful.
Click to expand...


I have the exact same problem!!! Are there tricks, hints, helps, etc. to getting to the contacts???

THANKS!
 
Ragin Cajun said:
I have the exact same problem!!! Are there tricks, hints, helps, etc. to getting to the contacts???

THANKS!
Click to expand...


Just disassemble the meter, the screws are in the back. There is a plastic retainer around the LCD. Once you remove that the LCD can be removed. You will see two rows of contacts on the PC board that touch the elastomers (the rubbery things attached to the LCD). Clean the contacts and the elastomers with a Q-tip and some alcohol. Let dry and reassemble. Good Luck!
 
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