Find Your Best fluke digital multimeter Here

First, Fluke itself: Fluke makes best-quality meters. In fact, they are overwhelmingly regarded as the best meters available. That’s not to say there aren’t other very good brands (e.g., Agilent, Hioki), or that 2nd tier brands (e.g., Extech, Meterman) don’t have their place – they do. But Fluke meters in general offer the combination of best specifications, best build, and best protection (for you as well as the meter). The thing is, you will pay top dollar.

The 87 is a very tough meter in very widespread use in the field. The 80 series meters, like the 70 series that preceeded them, have a reputation for holding their accuracy and lasting for decades. They are well-fused and well-shielded, tightly-sealed, and stories of Fluke meters surviving falls, high voltages and currents, weather, and a myriad of other challenges are legion.

Look carefully at specs and responsiveness. The 87 is exceptionally responsive. Continuity detection, for example, is extraordinarily fast, to the point where it’s hard NOT to trigger the beep when testing by touching the probes, no matter how quickly and briefly you try to touch them together. Compare that to other meters with lesser response characteristics and it will dawn on you how easy it is to miss an intermittent. Basic accuracy is very good in the 80 series and also limited to +1 or +2 digits in most ranges. Compare that to many others where it’s often +4, or even more, plus the 87 can be put into 20,000 count mode, and relative mode can be used to get more accuracy as well where you need it.

Finally, the 80 series carries a lifetime warranty. Considering Amazon’s aggressive pricing on these meters, the premium over a lesser meter like, say, the Fluke 117 (which carries only a 3-year warranty) is low enough that it makes sense to upgrade to the better meter.

FYI – the Pelican 1200 case is an excellent fit for this meter, as long as you don’t need to carry a lot of accessories. Pelican 1200 Case w/Foam (Black) Probably the most rugged case you can buy.

Product was shipped in a timely manner and was exactly as specified. Fluke equipment is of course of premium quality.

I tried several cheaper multimeters, all of which I managed to break through carelessness, the last one by attaching it accidentally to a high-voltage ignitor that belongs to a high pressure sodium lamp. I then sprung the money for the 73, and have used and abused it since using it on everything I could. The only damage I have sustained was needing to replace the fuse in the 10am current measuring circuit many times.

I have had this device for over 10 years now as well, and the case is heavily scuffed, from being tossed in my toolbox and occasionally being used as a hammer to right bent electrical utility boxes, but it still works exactly as it did the day I got it.

This is an awesome product. I think it has now been replaced with the 179 model, which is true-RMS, unlike this one. If that device lives up to this one, it would be a sure buy as well. Time will tell.

I recently purchased one of these meters and was very happy with it – built very, very nicely. But then found Fluke is replacing it with the 179 so i returned the 73 and bought the 179 – a much better meter for only a little more money.

This is my second 177. Other than people walking away with the first one it’s flawless.

This is a great product, bought mine a couple of months ago and finding it very useful.

Please Note: It does come with a set of TL75 leads.

I like the other reviewers have owned many multimeters but have finally settled on fluke. I used fluke equipment in electronics school and now work in industry that demands using equipment in inclement weather. The fluke has held up great and the auto detection of DC and AC has simplified the work when switching between different circuits. I have also used this meter on weekends when working on old cars and it has worked great for troubleshooting and rewiring vintage metal.

I originally bought the Extech EX330 which I was attracted to because it has a thermocouple and a lot lower price. However, I got a defective unit and realized why it was so much less expensive, At that point I decided to make the investment in a meter that I hope will last me many years. It was a lot more expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Regarding the comment that it is not the quality of older Fluke meters, I probably should have bought a Fluke and saved going through a series of meters that last a hand-full of years and then hit the trash can. Comparing it to my old meters, it seems to be a very well-built instrument.

These units are well built and so far have been realiable and accurate when I compare them to my work kits.
The only down fall is the hot stick is not quite as sensitive as I would like (prefer my greenly to the one included here)
The other star loss is for that and the fact that the two meters repaeat many of the dame functions and that the clamp meter does not do dc amperage.
But for a basic kit not bad. I keep the clamp meter and hot stick in the truck for day to day use on renovation jobs and the other in the garage for auto and equipment diagnostics. The only part I can not comment on is the temp probe as I have not used it.