Fluke Corporation is a leading name in the industry when it comes to manufacturing reliable, durable, and highly accurate digital multimeters (DMMs). Whether you're an electrician, HVAC technician, automotive expert, or industrial engineer, Fluke offers a multimeter tailored to your needs. This blog provides an in-depth overview of popular Fluke multimeter models—Fluke 117, Fluke 177, Fluke 77, Fluke 376, Fluke 179, and Fluke 87-V—highlighting their key features, differences, and applications.
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1. Fluke 117: The Electrician’s Multimeter:
Key Features:
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True RMS for accurate AC voltage and current measurements.
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Non-contact voltage detection.
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Compact and lightweight design.
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Measures voltage, current, resistance, continuity, frequency, and capacitance.
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Automatic range selection.
Best For:
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Electricians working on residential or commercial installations.
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Quick troubleshooting in electrical panels.
Usage Example: Fluke 117 is perfect for electricians who need a portable, all-in-one tool for basic electrical diagnostics. Its non-contact voltage detection adds an extra layer of safety.
2. Fluke 177: High-Accuracy Multimeter for Fieldwork:
Key Features:
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True RMS for precision AC readings.
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Backlit display for low-light environments.
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CAT IV (600 V) and CAT III (1000 V) safety ratings.
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Measures voltage, current, resistance, continuity, capacitance, and frequency.
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Lifetime warranty.
Best For:
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Technicians requiring a robust, accurate tool for professional-grade fieldwork.
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Environments where safety is paramount.
Usage Example: Fluke 177’s combination of ruggedness and precision makes it ideal for maintenance and repair in industrial facilities.
3. Fluke 77 IV: The General Purpose Multimeter:
Key Features:
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Measures voltage, current, resistance, and continuity.
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Simple and user-friendly design.
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Wide range of voltage measurement capabilities.
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CAT III safety rating.
Best For:
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Entry-level users and general-purpose applications.
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Basic troubleshooting tasks.
Usage Example: Fluke 77 is well-suited for hobbyists or technicians handling non-complex systems that don’t require advanced functionalities.
4. Fluke 376: The Advanced Clamp Multimeter:
Key Features:
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Measures AC/DC current up to 1000 A using a clamp.
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True RMS for accurate readings.
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iFlex Flexible Current Probe for expanded measurement capabilities (up to 2500 A).
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Measures voltage, resistance, continuity, and frequency.
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CAT IV (600 V) and CAT III (1000 V) safety ratings.
Best For:
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Industrial and commercial electricians working on high-current systems.
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Applications requiring current measurement without breaking circuits.
Usage Example: Fluke 376 is perfect for diagnosing motor drives, industrial control panels, and large electrical systems.
5. Fluke 179: The Industrial Multimeter with Temperature Measurement:
Key Features:
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True RMS for accurate AC readings.
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Measures voltage, current, resistance, continuity, capacitance, frequency, and temperature.
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Backlit display.
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CAT IV (600 V) and CAT III (1000 V) safety ratings.
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Lifetime warranty.
Best For:
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Industrial maintenance professionals.
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Environments requiring temperature measurements along with electrical diagnostics.
Usage Example: Fluke 179 is highly valued in industrial environments for its ability to measure temperature, making it ideal for diagnosing heating elements or HVAC systems.
6. Fluke 87-V: The Industrial Workhorse
Key Features:
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True RMS for precision AC readings.
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Low-pass filter for accurate motor drive measurements.
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Measures voltage, current, resistance, continuity, capacitance, frequency, and temperature.
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Data logging and Min/Max/Average recording.
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CAT IV (600 V) and CAT III (1000 V) safety ratings.
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Lifetime warranty.
Best For:
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Industrial engineers and maintenance professionals handling complex systems.
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Environments with variable frequency drives or noisy signals.
Usage Example: The Fluke 87-V is indispensable for diagnosing and maintaining motor drives, industrial equipment, and systems with fluctuating electrical signals.
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Key Differences Between Models:
Feature | Fluke 117 | Fluke 177 | Fluke 77 IV | Fluke 376 | Fluke 179 | Fluke 87-V |
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True RMS | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Non-contact Voltage | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Temperature Measurement | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Current Measurement | No | Yes (via probes) | No | Yes (via clamp) | Yes (via probes) | Yes (via probes) |
iFlex Compatibility | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Safety Rating | CAT III (600 V) | CAT IV (600 V) | CAT III (1000 V) | CAT IV (600 V) | CAT IV (600 V) | CAT IV (600 V) |
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