What Fluke Clamp meter should I buy?

[BigGun]

One of my meters was acting squirrely like the OP mention. Tried different leads/ batteries. It was the socket inside the meter where the leads plug in. I was able to resolder that joint and a couple others. Works great now.

 

[EPicTony]

i bought a fluke 325 last year and that thing broke within 3 weeks. the battery clip that touches against the battery terminal and provides tension broke... thats when i discovered it was made in china.... fluke japan is no help as I bought it in the states, any idea where i can order this piece?

View attachment 268819

DIY - take an aluminum can and cut a piece to insert behind the broken spring.

 

[sunsurfer]

Fluke is lifetime warranty

 

[robbob2112]

i bought a fluke 325 last year and that thing broke within 3 weeks. the battery clip that touches against the battery terminal and provides tension broke... thats when i discovered it was made in china.... fluke japan is no help as I bought it in the states, any idea where i can order this piece?

View attachment 268819

That is a pretty common type of board mount clip. I would take it apart and get a full picture of just the clip and see about finding a replacement. Those clips are generally just spring steel than has been copper plated then nickle plated.

Or if it is warranty we can work something out where you mail it in and have it returned here and I forward it.

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

Mine cost quadruple that, but it is at least working. The foil is even reusable on the battery changes so it doesn't matter to me anymore.
But I was PISSED when it broke....

understood, I would be even more pissed. mine was on sale but still not the level you are talking.

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

That is a pretty common type of board mount clip. I would take it apart and get a full picture of just the clip and see about finding a replacement. Those clips are generally just spring steel than has been copper plated then nickle plated.

Or if it is warranty we can work something out where you mail it in and have it returned here and I forward it.

yeah this was an ebay purchase...probably off the back of a truck in LA... (thats the area it came from) one of the reasons I never really thought about it other than buying a japanese meter that was only 100.00 and seems to work pretty good. (oh and its made in japan). sometimes the juice is just not worth the squeeze. I will pull it apart and look at the clip.

 

[ElkPicture]

not having dc current measurements is a no go in this situation.

Thanks, I didn't notice that the Fluke T6-600 was missing this functionality.

 

[robby]

i bought a fluke 325 last year and that thing broke within 3 weeks. the battery clip that touches against the battery terminal and provides tension broke... thats when i discovered it was made in china.... fluke japan is no help as I bought it in the states, any idea where i can order this piece?

That Sucks!
I know that Flukes high end stuff is typically made in the USA but it's kind of crap shoot on the Mid End to low, and Fluke Low end prices are like most companies high end. I don't really see too many people complaining about the made in China meters but from your photo it seems like they did the typical Chinese thing and skimped on the the alloy used on the battery terminals to save money.

The only think I know for sure is don't buy one that has Chinese writing on the box. It is meant for domestic sale in China and is not made to the same standards as even the one's made in China that are meant for export to the USA and Europe.

 

[DPC]

i bought a fluke 325 last year and that thing broke within 3 weeks. the battery clip that touches against the battery terminal and provides tension broke... thats when i discovered it was made in china.... fluke japan is no help as I bought it in the states, any idea where i can order this piece?

View attachment 268819

I see the problem Japanese batteries in an American product ( possibly made in China I don't judge )

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

I see the problem Japanese batteries in an American product ( possibly made in China I don't judge )

I think the issue is below. not sure though as I do not remember but Robby is probably spot on the money as to the issue. this was last year and I have imbibed since then... especially new years...

That Sucks!
I know that Flukes high end stuff is typically made in the USA but it's kind of crap shoot on the Mid End to low, and Fluke Low end prices are like most companies high end. I don't really see too many people complaining about the made in China meters but from your photo it seems like they did the typical Chinese thing and skimped on the the alloy used on the battery terminals to save money.

The only think I know for sure is don't buy one that has Chinese writing on the box. It is meant for domestic sale in China and is not made to the same standards as even the one's made in China that are meant for export to the USA and Europe.

View attachment 269007

 

[Hedges]

Solder in a coil spring from a battery holder?

https://www.temu.com/1-2-3-4-slots-aaa-battery-holder-bundle-with-wire-diy-battery-storage-boxes-1-slots-1-aaa-battery-holder-1-5v-2-slots-2-aaa-battery-holder-3v-3-slots-3-aaa-battery-holder-4-5v-4-slots-4-aaa-battery-holder-6v-g-601099516509298.html

 

[robby]

To directly answer the Ops question, if you are building out a large Solar System and money is not a major problem then I would say buy a Fluke 393FC. Amazon recently had a sale on them for around $550.
The reason I say a 393FC is because it's east to work with in tight wiring and the ability to log and graph Voltage and Amperage over a period of weeks could become very handy on a new Install.
After your done with the installation you can sell it on eBay without losing too much value.

 

[ElkPicture]

New leads and/or new batteries will cure 90% of meter problems unless it has been abused to much.

If you just want an excuse for a new toy to play with a good fluke is hard to beat.

I went with this - not nearly as expensive as a Fluke, but just as good.... or you can get some cheap ones - I have a few listed in my tools section of the first signature line

https://www.tequipment.net/Hioki/HiokiCM4375-90/Clamp-Meters/

PROBLEM SOLVED:
I replaced the batteries and leads but it was still broken. I was just about to pull the trigger on a $400+ fluke... But I took one last look at the batteries... I turned out that the battery clip lost it's spring a bit and was loosing it's connection to the aaa battery. I bent it out a bit and now it's working like a champ. Thanks!!

 

[ElkPicture]

Solder in a coil spring from a battery holder?

View attachment 269311

https://www.temu.com/1-2-3-4-slots-aaa-battery-holder-bundle-with-wire-diy-battery-storage-boxes-1-slots-1-aaa-battery-holder-1-5v-2-slots-2-aaa-battery-holder-3v-3-slots-3-aaa-battery-holder-4-5v-4-slots-4-aaa-battery-holder-6v-g-601099516509298.html

The battery spring connection was the issue. Thanks!!!

 

[ElkPicture]

To directly answer the Ops question, if you are building out a large Solar System and money is not a major problem then I would say buy a Fluke 393FC. Amazon recently had a sale on them for around $550.
The reason I say a 393FC is because it's east to work with in tight wiring and the ability to log and graph Voltage and Amperage over a period of weeks could become very handy on a new Install.
After your done with the installation you can sell it on eBay without losing too much value.

I fixed my meter... But I do love the idea of logging data.