Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

[lilmonk3]

Have a chance to pick up Fluke 75 for $20.. I really need a new meter but dont want to spend $100 on one.. Whats your thoughts????

[tom66]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

It's not a bad meter but I don't think it's True RMS. Then again, unless you work on industrial power controls it's probably not that important to you. In the time I have had my BK true RMS DMM, I have used the feature a total of zero times on TV repairs.

[retiredcaps]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

Have a chance to pick up Fluke 75 for $20.

1) We, the regulars, rarely, ever ask people to do any sort of AC measurement. So for troubleshooting lcd/TV purposes, a true RMS multimeter is not required.

We usually ask for DC voltage and resistance measurements 99% of the time. We also rarely ask for current measurements.

2) I had a Fluke 75. I bought it for $20 and later sold it when I got used successor models. It is a good basic multimeter, but lacks any of the features like autohold, min/max, etc. I have found autohold and min/max to be useful in certain troubleshooting scenarios.

The Fluke 75 does have an analog bar graph which is useful to see fluctuating voltages.

3) For around the $20 to $30 price range, you may want to consider the Fluke 27. It has autohold and min/max. It is big (really big), but rugged as it was designed for military/government use.

See

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21650

4) With luck and patience, for $40, you can get a Fluke original 80 or 80 III series. I managed to get a Fluke 83 III and Fluke 85 III for $40 each off ebay.

https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...56&postcount=8

The Fluke 83s get no love because it is not a True RMS multimeter. This would be my first choice for the < $50 because it is

a) fast (4 sec/display update)
b) fast autoranging
c) features like autohold, min/max
d) solid construction
e) backlight on the model IIIs

See 3 recent auctions and the sub $50 price tag.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-83-MUL...-/330794148855

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-83-Mul...-/300780937440

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-83-Mul...-/130763059316

A brand new Fluke 83V costs over $425 here in Canada.

5) If you do buy the Fluke multimeter, make sure the fuses are working. They are expensive to replace (around $6 to $12 each).

[tom66]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

As a quick test you can check the fuses using the continuity mode; red probe in V/OHM, meter set to continuity, touch probe into AMP jack, check for continuity; then touch in 440mA jack. (One possibility though is the 440mA setting is only engaged by switch, in which case you'd need a separate meter to test.)

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

Today what ever you touch is related with inverters.
And so the True-RMS is a must have.

The first gen 75 is an old school meter.
My advice, do some savings, and get something better - fresher.

[tom66]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

Not with LCD or plasma TVs, or monitors, or computers, or laptops... You will never need true RMS for them, unless you are doing something such as characterising power consumption with usage/picture content etc. It's a neat feature to have but for 99% of electronics is completely unneeded.

[lilmonk3]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

I snooze I lose.. He sold it and another clamp style for $20..

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

Not with LCD or plasma TVs, or monitors, or computers, or laptops... You will never need true RMS for them

Your area of interest looks very limited, but the multimeter thankfully are not.

I snooze I lose.. He sold it and another clamp style for $20..

Your destiny is to get a meter of our times.

[tom66]

Re: Whats your thoughts on Fluke 75

Sure, but I'm just making the point that most users on this forum don't work on industrial power controls . There may be a few where the feature is essential.