Product Description
Fluke 289 Combo Kits Save big by buying a Fluke 289 multimeter, Fluke premium silicon test leads, alligator clips,FlukeView software and cable together in one kit. In durable yellow Pelican hard case. Case is waterproof, crushproof, comes with cut-out foam to protect unit.
| Price: | $599.95 |
| as of Tue, 05 Mar 2013 02:56:23 GMT ***Remember, deals price on this item for sale just for limited time*** | |
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #69400 in Home Improvement
- Brand: Fluke
- Model: 289
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 2.00 pounds
Features
- Low impedance voltage function prevents false readings due to ghost voltage
- Unique logging and graphing capabilities mean you no longer need to download logged readings to a PC to detect a trend
- Stores up to 15,000 recorded events
- Real time clock for automatic time stamping of saved readings
- Large 50,000 count, 1/4 VGA display with a white backlight
From the Manufacturer
The fluke 289 true-rms logging multimeter with trendcapture is the ultimate handheld tool for demanding applications that require high-precision. It quickly documents design performance and graphically displays what happened. Saving measurements allows you to name and recall measurements made in the field, and it has a real time clock for automatic time stamping of saved readings. Its' unique logging and graphing capabilities mean you no longer need to download logged readings to a PC to detect a trend, and it stores up to 15,000 recorded events. Weighing less than two pounds, the fluke 289 packs more accuracy and convenience into a handheld multimeter than ever before, putting more problem solving power in your hands. The low impedance voltage function prevents false readings due to ghost voltage. The true-rms ac voltage and current accurately measures complex signals or non-linear loads. The selectable ac filter (smoothing mode) helps display a steadier reading when the input signal is changing rapidly or is noisy. The adjustable recording and auto hold thresholds specify a percentage change in the readings that begins a new event. The 289 features a large 50,000 count, 1/4 VGA display with a white backlight, that allows multiple sets of measurement information to be simultaneously displayed at the same time. The multimeter runs about 100 hours, 200 hours in logging mode, on 6 aa alkaline batteries, or neda 15a IEC lr6. The 289 is multi-lingual interfaced and includes the following: a manual, 6 aa batteries, a set of tl71 silicone test leads, a probe holder, and two ac72 alligator clips. An optional accessory is the 80bk-a integrated DMM temperature probe with a measurement range up to 260-degrees Celsius. The fluke 289 true-rms logging multimeter is designed to meet csa, ul, tuv, ce agency approvals, and is cat iii 1000 v/cat iv 600 v safety rated. The fluke 289 true-rms logging multimeter with trendcapture is sold one item per package.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful.
By Malcolm Hebert
Awesome meter if you want to sample at rates as fast as 1 sample per second (but that's the limit at the low end). With an optional current probe you can read amps as well. It comes with a thermocouple to measure temp. The software is pretty good and you can dump the data to a csv file. It has reports and they are ok. My R61E thinkpad laptop will not read the cd's but I faked it out by mapping it to another DVD on another pc on my network and installed it from there. Worked fine. The only thing that's missing (of course) is power measurements. For that you gotta cough up a whole lot more moola to get the vector multiplier function (IxV) found in the 43B power quality meter. I'm sure itching for one of those too but the bucks are holding me back right now. The 289 sips batteries and has no capability to be powered from 120vac though it can run about a week straight on the 6 AA batteries that powers it. Snag a 44 pack of double A's from a retailer on the cheap and your set for a while. I wish the 43B could sip batteries but it's only good for 4-6 hrs on batteries. I guess the 43B sucks the heavy juice to do all the great stuff it does. I've worked as an industrial electrician for 10 years and a power systems electrical engineer for the past 27 years (professional engineering registration in CA and WA states)(yep I'm a gray hair) and I've worked in a variety of industrial, electronic and power environments and have used a pile of electrical test equipment. All in all I'm very happy I bought this meter and after having it now for about 4 weeks I must say I'd run out and buy it again tomorrow in a heartbeat. So you know, I'm not employed by Fluke and do not own any of their stock. They just did this right and I'm giving them the kudos they deserve for this great product.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
By Vivek Gupta
I bought this thinking it came with the temperature probe, however it doesn't nor did the lead kit that I purchased. So I returned it and bought the kit version instead, that includes the case, additional leads, temperature probe and software for creating reports. Seemed like a better value.
As far as the multimeter goes, it is solidly built and performs completely up to expectations. The screen is clear and large making it easy to take readings and view multiple pieces of information simultaneously. I am looking forward to putting it to use over the years.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
By DeusEx
The Fluke 289 is Fluke's top of the line digital multimeter. There isn't much this machine can't do. And what impresses you at the end of the day is it does nearly all of them really well! Whether you intend to use it as an industrial meter, an electronics meter, or a general purpose electrical meter, the 289 feels equally at home in all of them and feels to the end user like it was made just for them! It's 50,000 count meter that has measurement fields for nearly ever conceivable electrical measurement that one can take. It measures Volts, Amps (in three ranges A, mA, and uA), resistance, conductance, dBV, capacitance, continuity, frequency, duty cycle, pulse width, temperature, and crest factor. It features a low impedance measurement mode, a low pass filter, a relative measurement mode, min/max/avg, a diode check, and of course a data logging mode with graphic display.
Normally I try to divide my DMM reviews into 4 sections, "what I love", what I like", "room for improvement", and "what I dislike." This meter however, honestly has so few flaw I will discuss specific features in each section. First up is the display. It's a dot matrix quarter VGA LED display. This is an outstanding feature because of the amount of information and the variety that can be displayed simultaneously. For instance, in the min/max/avg mode, this meter displays in real-time the current measurement in large numbers, and then in three smaller fields the maximum, the average over time, and the minimum. That's a total of four simultaneous reading on screen. Personally I find that to be a VERY POWERFUL and useful resource. All of these fields updating continuously. The interface features four soft buttons that effect on screen menus to access the various tools for each measurement. For instance you select voltage on the main dial and then use a soft key to bring up the menu. You can for instance select "relative" from there and use that in conjunction with a amp probe to "zero" the probe. There are some drawbacks, the main one being during rapid changes there is a ghosting to the digits that coupled with the shear number of them (5 on screen) can make this difficult to decipher. However there is a quazi cure for this. The auto ranging on this meter is outstanding. And the bar graph is the fastest thing that updates on the screen. It allows the user to get a handle on what's happening with fluctuations and rapid change. If that's not enough, the user can put the meter into record mode and take measurements that can be pinpointed on the graph later. The only thing I dislike about the graphing mode is that it doesn't draw or show the graph in real time. It's only visible after recording has stopped. Honestly I'm not sure how many measurements it takes per second in data logging mode but you can traverse the graph to the second from what I've seen and done. In conjunction with the display I have to say I like the interface. As I mentioned there are four hot keys, in addition there is are four directional buttons to navigate the various screens. There are also a few shortcut keys like min/max, backlight, info, and range. Speaking of the backlight, it's Fluke's traditional two stage backlight that woks great in low light / no light situations. However it will tank the batteries if run constantly. The info key is a basic help button that acn assist the user with menus and the like. There is also a Hold key on the main face. However you can set this meter to use Fluke's "auto-hold" feature with is excellent and you would expect on a top of the line machine.
Next up is safety, build quality, and physical attributes. This meter is a CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V rated meter which makes it one of the best you can buy. The CAT ratings are a bit ambiguous but I'll attempt to summarize CAT III and CAT IV. Basically with the CAT III safety range, you can work on panel boards / switch gear and anything down stream of them (i.e. - feeders, outlets, hard wired equipment, and anything plugged into them.) CATIV is the only rating higher and it adds service drops to the list. So basically CATIII is the MINIMUM rating you want on your meter. DO NOT exceed the CAT rating of ANY meter because doing so, in a Murphey's Law scenario could cause a catastrophic failure that could result in fire, or an open arc that could injure the user, and in the worst case even cause the meter to explode! The voltage that accompanies the CAT rating isn't all that important in terms of catastrophic failure. It's simply the maximum "working voltage " or "max line voltage" of the meter at a specific category rating. Maximum surge and destructive voltage can be a little harder to find if not posted in the literature. The build quality of the 289 is excellent as you would expect from Fluke. However this is not a "field grade" meter. It's not going to take the beating that something like the 87-V would. It does have a large LCD display which makes it venerable and it has more in common with modern mobile devices than it does with traditional multimeters when it comes to the internal PCB. So I recommend a quality soft case or even a hard case for this tool to protect your investment. It does include a removable rubber holster like other DMMs but it's so heavy I fear it would do little to protect it from a drop on something like concrete. This is a large meter so the case I recommend s the Fluke C35. It's about 10 inches long and about 4 inches wide. As I said it's got a heft to it as well so you feel like your using something with some quality inside. It features a battery compartment that uses 6 AA batteries instead of a typical 9V battery. This is good since this meter is a power hog. If used sparingly the batteries can certainly have a decent shelf life. However since this thing is basically a small computer it drains battery power about as fast as a computer when its in use. One of the major complaints about this meter from many users is its estimated 100 hour battery life. For someone who uses this meter daily that estimated life would lead to battery changes once or twice a month. Not too good honestly. Personally I don't find it to be the big kick in the face everyone else does. I just carry around some extra batteries just in case. Also I don't use my meter daily either nor is this generally the first one I grab. It's a powerhouse of features, but all of that functionality isn't always needed so I grab a smaller, lighter, and CHEAPER meter for the basic work. "Why wear your best suit to play in the mud?" Is my line of thinking. All of that said, I would say Fluke could've put a DC input jack on the side of this thing and shipped it with an AC adapter. Finally on the top of the meter is an optical sensor that coupled with a Fluke brand optical to USB interface cable allows the user to export recorded measurements to a PC. I'm not sure if it does live readings though I would assume so based on the interface. The optical interface "breaks" the electrical continuity between the meter and the PC, so the USB line has no physical connection to the meter. Basically this means if a voltage spike toasts your favorite DMM, you're not replacing a laptop along with it. There was some issues with the interface causing a system crash when a bright light was directed into it during recording modes. However the 289 received a firmware up date and I believe this issue has been resolved.
Let's talk about modes, features, and accuracy in relation to voltage measurement next. As I said in the intro, this meter can take just about any measurement used in industry today (short of PQ analysis and oscilloscope readings.) This meter has an AC Volts range of .001mV (in the 0-50mV range) to 1000.0V (in the 500.0V range) It's accuracy changes depending on the input current's frequency across all voltage ranges and between 45-60Hz this meter is accurate to +/- 0.3% +25 counts. Up to 10 kHz it's accurate to 0.4% +25...not bad at all for AC measurement!!! In addition to standard AC measurements it has a LoZ (low impedance) voltage input mode that changes the resistance used to measure the voltage. Where as most DMMs use internal resisters in excess of 3 mega-ohms a low impedance meter uses around a 3k ohm resister. What's the diff? Normal high impedance measurements are generally very accurate, however they suffer from a little dilemma within physics that causes them to show readings on denergized lines if that line is running along side a live line. This is what we call Ghost Voltage. What happens is a small (incredibly small) amount of current is generated on the line by the flow of current through the near by line. This is not going to hurt anything, but if a reading is taken with a normal meter it shows a voltage. In some cases that voltage can be near the voltage of the energized line. Fret not! There is nothing wrong with your meter or your wiring (assuming the voltage reading drops to near zero in low impedance mode) the high resistance internally in the meter doesn't allow the current to flow thru the resistor efficiently thereby yielding a reading that is false. You're thinking, "Sounds like an important feature for a DMM... Why don't they just make all meters use this lower resistance?" The low impedance has a few draw backs. The first being it can't be used on electronics circuit boards (a key area of use for a DMM.) The low resistance can often be lower than the resistance on the circuit board thereby creating a short circuit and perhaps damaging components. The other draw back is generally speaking LoZ readings are less accurate than the traditional measurements. This meter's LoZ accuracy is 1000V with .1V increments at 2% +40 counts within a frequency range of 45-440Hz. So as a rule of thumb, start out measuring in normal mode, then flip to LoZ if the voltage readings on your dead line are suspect. Next major feature for AC measurement is the Low Pass Filter. This is useful in environments that suffer from harmonics on the line or equipment that generates them. This would include variable frequency drives for polyphase motors, environments with large collections of computers or UPS backup systems, and some forms of inverters. Basically a harmonic is a multiple of frequency found on the line. Typically in the US, 60 Hz is standard, so a harmonic of that could be 120Hz or 600Hz. The low pass filter cuts out frequencies in the measurement above 1000Hz which can throw off the measurement by quite a bit. Like the LoZ Volts mode, this is a case of experience tells you when to use it. Finally there are measurements for peak to peak voltage and also crest factor like you would find on an oscilloscope. These have distinct uses both in problem solving and planning for future additions such as low voltage transformers. Let's switch gears and talk about the 289's DC measurement. Again the first range is 50mV with a step count of .001mV but it's accuracy is impressive (+/- 0.05% + 20 counts in that range.) The next range is even better, 500mV, .01mV resolution, and 0.025% + 2 (that 2 counts!!!) Finally the other ranges carry the meter up to 1000.0V with 0.03% + 2 counts. Now if you're reading this and saying..."yep I'm lost!"...allow me to attempt to explain. The screen resolution shows a certain number of digits. That number of digits doesn't change. For instance this is a 50,000 count meter. That means that this will show a total of 5 digits regardless of where the decimal place is up to the most significant number being a "5". So for instance... The 289 can show 4.9999V in the 5V range, however after our reading crosses the 5V threshold, the meter will lose the least significant digit (the ten-thousandths digit) and display 5.001V. Confusing I know, but all meters use this basis for how many digits they can display on screen. This meter for instance can show 5.0000V, 50.000V, 500.00V, then up to 1000.0V in the "volts range", the mV range can do the same in mV. Now just because it can display VERY high degrees of accuracy doesn't mean it can always "give" you that accuracy. There is an accuracy-error correction to be considered. Let's assume we have a perfect 1V source. This meter could display it as 1.0000V. However at 1V this meter is accurate to +/- 0.025% + 2 counts. First we take the reading and add AND subtract .025% which would give us a possible range of 1.00025 and 0.99975. Then we have to add and subtract from the highest and lowest respectively 2 "counts"... A count is the LEAST significant digit viewable on screen. Since we can't see either one of the 5's from the two numbers above the counts will be added to the ten thousandths column in this case. Yielding a viewable range of 0.9995V or 1.0005V as acceptable deviations. Now assuming that made sense, you're thinking some of these ranges are double digits on counts. Don't worry about that, this meter's resolution is above 10,000 counts where as most meters top out at 6,000 counts so it has an extra digit that other meters lack. Adding in double digit counts just means that particular range isn't any more accurate than other meters (i.e. - 20 counts on a 50,000 count meter is the same as 2 counts on a 6,000 count meter.) The other thing I will note is that most DMMs and especially Flukes when tested against a precision voltage reference test not more than a count or two off if not spot on. This illiterates that these deviations are on sort of bell curve and that means a properly calibrated meter is usually just about spot on most of the time. One final note, this meter does have quoted specs in the literature for AC over DC, DC over AC, and AC+DC.
INTERMISSION.... .... .... ....
And we're back! Let's talk about some other measurements, features, and accuracy... First up lest talk about current measurement. This meter can measure a wide range of current the lowest range being 0-500uA with resolution of 0.01uA and an accuracy of +/- 0.6% + 20cts @ 45Hz-1kHz. The counts addition change throughout the various ranges but the percentage accuracy stays the same up to the 500mA range. The top of the range is 10A with resolution of .001A and an accuracy of +/- 0.8% + 5cts @ 45hz-1kz. The DC side also measures down to 0-500uA with resolution of 0.01uA. It's accuracy is 0.075% +20 cts. Again accuracy changes throught he various ranges but the top range is 10A with 0.001A resolution and an accuracy of 0.3% +2 cts. This is all highly accurate for a handheld meter. This meter is a perfect fit for those looking to do precision current measurement in electronics work. If you do want to use the 289 for current measurements beyond 10A you can always use a current clamp with banana plug inputs. The relative or "delta" feature accessible from the menus will be quite useful for this to "zero" the clamp. However to be honest, I have a high grade Fluke clamp and even paired with my 289 its honestly no more accurate than my $60 ideal clamp meter. The 289 can take dBV measurements which certainly has it's applications in electronics work. It can measure a range from -70dB to +60dB with a variable accuracy between 0.1% and 0.3% based on dB and input frequency. Resistance measurement is key component of any DMM. The 289 can measure from 0-500M ohms. The book ends are slightly less accurate but the mid section of measurement between 500 ohms and 500k ohms ranges have an accuracy of 0.05% +2 cts. This is pretty good and right in the same ballpark as other precision handheld meters. It will measure capacitance, from 1nF with a step resolution of 0.001nF and an accuracy of 1% +5 cts. That's pretty good! It features a diode check with a max limit of 3.1V and a resolution 0.0001V. Basic accuracy for the check is 1% +20 cts. That's good enough for general electronics work. This meter does measure temperature. It's range is from -200C to 1350C. That's pretty wide! This meter has a frequency counter which ranges 0-100Hz in increments of 0.001Hz all the to 1MHz. In most but not all ranges the accuracy is 0.005% +5 cts. Most meters top out at 50kHz or maybe 100kHz, so getting one that can measure beyond that is a refreshing sight. That said, even in electronics, I rarely hear of anyone that measures frequency unless it's with a scopemeter. Lastly this meter will measure "pulse width" which is a unique feature for a DMM. Lowest range on this measurement is 0.1ms with a resolution of 0.0001ms and an accuracy of +/- 0.002ms + 3 cts. The highest range is 2000ms at a resolution of 0.1ms and the same accuracy.
I can't speak to the accessories included with the base model meter since I actually purchased mine in a kit. I bought 289/FVF. However I will speak to that. The FVF kit includes of course the 289. It includes the PC interface and Fluke View software. It comes with the Fluke C35 soft case as well as the TPAK hanger. Included probes are a pair of Flukes TL71s (NICE!!!!) and there basic alligator clips as well as the temperature probe. The kit generally sells for around $100 more than the basic meter but the accessories that it comes with more than offset that cost. The optical sensor alone is $100. There is a paper manual which gives very little functionality and is more about specs. But there is a smaller quick start guide which will get you started.
Final thoughts. This meter will cost you $500-600 a kit will run you $550-700 depending on what and when you buy. Unquestionably it is absolutely worth every penny. However that's not really the question. Is it really worth it to YOU? That's a different matter all together. You can get near this accuracy for half the cost. You can darn good accuracy and quality for a quarter of it. This meter's selling point is its precision and the fact that it has nearly every tool an electrician, electronics technician, or industrial technician would ever need all packed into one unit. So if this sounds like something you can use, then don't hesitate to buy. However, if these features sound overkill and you think you'll do just as well with something more inexpensive, then by all means look at something better suited to your needs. This is not the first DMM nor the first Fluke review I've done. And there's something I always say. You have to pay for quality. Most test tools are built to a price set even before the first engineers put their plans on paper. And that unit is built to that price with very little exception. Fluke trades on reputation. They know they have a market in professional contractors and technicians. I'm not going to tell you they don't have a price point in mind, but they certainly don't sacrifice quality to get it to a specific dollar amount. They build to a "market" and to a "standard". And they further submit they're tools to the various standards groups in North America and Europe to gain their coveted (safety) seals of approval. These tests aren't cheap by the time you send hundreds of units for testing and destruction but it's worth it to be able to prove to the consumer that they are getting a meter or instrument that will provide the highest levels of safety and quality possible. My point with all of this, is if you choose to buy a meter other than the 289 or even other than a Fluke, make sure it's been independently tested for end user safety. About the time a line surge runs down the service drop, thru the panel board, and through your "el cheapo" DMM is not the time to be reconsidering spending a little more money on a proper instrument. Good meters are cheap by comparison to hospital stays...
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