Just a reminder of the important step at switch on.
ALWAYS do a resistance check of the leads!
It is just an automatic reflex for me now.

 

Just a reminder of the important step at switch on.
ALWAYS do a resistance check of the leads!
It is just an automatic reflex for me now.

There are so many things you would expect to be automatic, such as turning the bolt counter-clockwise to seat the thread before fastening.

 

One thing is the new Flukes are no longer US made!

 

One thing is the new Flukes are no longer US made!

Where then?

 

china...

 

china...

And made for western or Asian markets.
You can buy the Asia only Flukes online but they have no warranty outside China.

We got 15 for a customer plus a couple of extras so to offer a years warranty with them and cover any infant mortality and now nearly 10 years later all 17 are still in use.....one is mine, a 15B.

 

china...

Not all Flukes.
https://www.productfrom.com/products/US/Fluke/0/1

 

No, just the handheld multimeters I think... The ones that sell the most and thereby their most used products.

 

No, just the handheld multimeters I think... The ones that sell the most and thereby their most used products.

That's not true either in the USA. There are plenty of made in USA Fluke handheld multi-meters.
https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/electrical-testing/digital-multimeters/fluke-87v

"The Fluke 87V is designed and built in the U.S. and comes with a lifetime warranty"

 

There are several so called "Fluke Killer" multimeters in the market that claim to match Fluke specifications for a much lower price. And they are probably a great buy for hobby use. But they do not match up against Fluke for durability and long-life. Little things like settling time, how it feels in the hand, ability to hang it on something, or the piece that comes out on the back to prop it up on a bench, how quick it autoswitchs, ease of reading the screen, sturdiness, etc. that just doesn't add up to what a Fluke is.

 

I am not going to say Fluke or any other big name company. I do much work for a high end test equipment company.
My lab is full of high end and also clones. Some times the clones are good and most of the time they are not.
In each car/truck there is a volt meter in the tool box. It only needs to measure 12V or 11V or 14.5V, it could be off 5% and I don't care.
The Big name things all talk to each other and over the internet. From any where I can make measurements.
Today I was checking a reference voltage in a test instrument I am building. I need 3.300 volts. I used a good meter that is calibrated at a good lab. It was cold in the lab and the meter and my reference must be right no matter what the temperature is. January when I am asked how I know my readings are right; "I used a meter by JoeFung meter company". NOT. Even if the clone meter was right who would trust it?

----edited-----

Allegory: I am selling my house. The buyer comes with a box of Euro or Dollars. OK, But, what if he comes with North Korean Won? Do you really feel safe? How many Chon are in a Won? I would purchase a bowl of rice with Won but not a house.

 

Another thing to think about - from a business expense perspective... Fluke meters are cheap. Attorneys are about the same price as an 87V - per hour. Engineers are about the same price as an 87V - every 2 hours. Labor is expensive - not equipment.

Fluke meters are only expensive from a personal perspective - but these are professional tools.

 

I have a bunch of cheap meters, several out in the garage where they get dirty and I don’t mind if they get scratched up, lost or busted. In the lab and when I need a critical measurement or there’s a chance it could be dangerous, I trust my Fluke 87V.

my latest cheap meter is an OWON XDM1041, it’s a little bench meter 4 1/2 digits, its accurate within specs, and the numbers are large and easy to read with a pretty color screen. Being Chinese it has some quirks but very useful device.

 

Cheaper made in China Flukes.
https://www.fluke.com/en-in/product/electrical-testing/digital-multimeters/fluke-101

 

when someone asks me why Fluke multimeters are expensive i tell them to check prices, accuracy and user friendliness of analog multimeters (Simpson etc.).

couple of years ago did training on electrical servicing of the robot in an aerospace company. to avoid sending our toolboxes, client said they will provide tools listed. when i got there, training was in a storage space used as a break room with foosball tables etc. no signs of tools but on one of the shelves there was couple of old Simpson multimeters. i am not sure if one of students (maintenance techs) knew how to use one. when told to take some measurements with instruments at hand, they were all groaning loudly and fidgeting forever before coming up with some answer.

 

Dave is right, of course about all the excuses Fluke makes but the truth is, it is because they are YELLOW.
That's why they fight so hard to keep others from making yellow meters.

Actually, Dave is spot on. It's the certainty that sells them. No one ever got fired for buying Fluke for a lab. (Riffing on IBM, of course)

 

The Fluke 77 I bought in 1985 is grey. Its seen lots of use and is going strong
thirty six years later.

 

But they weren't always yellow. My Fluke 73 which lasted 35 years was grey. They became yellow when they added the case which would pass the drop test. If my 73 had had that case it would still be working.

 

But they weren't always yellow. My Fluke 73 which lasted 35 years was grey. They became yellow when they added the case which would pass the drop test. If my 73 had had that case it would still be working.

I know, I had a 73 as well. But they really leaned hard on the yellow bumper in later years as identity. They wanted it to be that if you pulled out a Fluke on a job site, people knew you had pulled out a Fluke.

 

I know, I had a 73 as well. But they really leaned hard on the yellow bumper in later years as identity. They wanted it to be that if you pulled out a Fluke on a job site, people knew you had pulled out a Fluke.

And now every Chinese multimeter is yellow, and not just any random shade of yellow!