Fluke model most appropriate for tube amp work

[kevania]

My second cheapo dmm just died and it's time to get serious about buying a good dmm. Interested in the fluke 116 or 117. Looks like 116 will cover ma and 117 covers amps but not ma......

Any recomendations on used models ?

[xtian]

Fluke is the big name, but too $$$ for me. I'm very pleased with my Meterman 38XR:

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/meterman-38xr/

Tough to find used, tho. Company is now called Amprobe.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DCh ... DhwQwzwIBA

[xtian]

Now I see they're about the same price!

[Colossal]

I use a Fluke 87V and it is a true RMS meter. I also use an Agilent/Keysight bench top multimeter but the 87V is a handheld a great all around tool.

[David Root]

Mine is a Fluke 187, long discontinued but probably available used in the usual places.
The only way it could be better for what we do would be if it had an inductance range, so I would not have had to buy an LCR meter, which are not cheap.

[Ken Moon]

If you're patient, you can find military surplus Fluke Series 75, 77, or 85 series, such as the 77/AN (for Army/Navy) from the 80s that are still in perfect shape for about $50.

But there are so many out there from places like Harbor Freight, that are less than $20 and include capacitance, that the Flukes aren't really all that great a buy anymore.

Just look at the ranges of the different functions - I think a 200 mV range up to 750V is fine for volts, 200mA to maybe 1A for current and 200nF to 100uF for capacitance.

True RMS AC is nice but hard to find in handhelds.

[kevania]

If you're patient, you can find military surplus Fluke Series 75, 77, or 85 series, such as the 77/AN (for Army/Navy) from the 80s that are still in perfect shape for about $50.

But there are so many out there from places like Harbor Freight, that are less than $20 and include capacitance, that the Flukes aren't really all that great a buy anymore.

Just look at the ranges of the different functions - I think a 200 mV range up to 750V is fine for volts, 200mA to maybe 1A for current and 200nF to 100uF for capacitance.

True RMS AC is nice but hard to find in handhelds.

Just found a model 77 listed for sale about an hour from me. He's asking $50 American. Need more info from him as to series, age and condition. Haven't seen a pic yet....does the 77 provide any advantages over a 116 model?

[Ken Moon]

Nah, it's just a good solid handheld DMM.

I think the 116 has capacitance, which is nice.

Small differences in ranges and accuracy don't matter much when we're dealing with components whose tolerances are usually between 5% and 20%.

If the 116 is available for a similar price, I'd probably choose it over the 77.

Ken

[Phil_S]

If you are really set on a Fluke, you can haunt eBay for a deal on an old bench meter like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-8010A-DIG ... SwgmJXzqvJ
Make sure it is the kind without the rechargable batteries. Don't ask me how I arrived at this ;-}. Get the one you plug into the AC.

Or look for model 8025B. This is an older model that works perfectly well for what we do. I have one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-DIGITAL-M ... Sw-itXtJ1W

[brewdude]

I have a Fluke "8060 A True RMS Multimeter". I bought it refurbished from Parts Connection a year or two ago. I think I paid about $80. It seems to be a great meter, but does not measure capacitance or inductance. The one thing I wish is that it would automatically choose the correct scale--a very minor criticism.

[kevania]

Best price I have found on the 116 is $145.

Zoro had a 5 hour 30% off sale yesterday which I missed. It still would have been about $145 after sales tax in Nj....Zoro is only competitive when utilizing a serious discount code.

I think an older bench meter will do the trick. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Aurora]

Any Fluke DMM model will do - you and your wallet decides. Simple as that...