Fluke 115 Compact True-RMS Digital Multimeter with Polyester Carrying Case

Years ago, when I was broke and needed a multimeter, I paid thirty dollars for one at an auto parts store because I couldn't afford anything better. It served me well in mostly basic automotive troubleshooting, but it finally died when the batteries leaked their contents and severely corroded the terminals. I cleaned them up and replaced the batteries, but the readings were inconsistent and I couldn't rely on them. br>br>Since my financial situation has improved, I have decided to purchase the Fluke. Right away, you can tell the quality is significantly better. Everything just runs more smoothly, the LED display is easier to read, and based on what I've seen of Fluke's internals online, I know I'm getting something that professionals trust, and that I can be confident that the readings I'm seeing are the real numbers, not ones I need to double-check. guessing. br>br>Recently, I've started doing higher-voltage 110/220V household wiring, which means the stakes for my safety have increased significantly. In these situations, I need something that won't let me down. Not only that, but my old meter was giving me fits when it came to an overcharging alternator with a rhythmic voltage fluctuation. The refresh rate on this pricey meter was the selling point for me at the time; I wasn't confident in my readings, and this one didn't seem to mind. I knew exactly what I was looking for, and the figures I was seeing were accurate. I could clearly see the alternator overcharging in a rhythmic pattern, indicating that it needed to be serviced. br>br>Now, you're probably wondering why I deducted one star. The dial is the reason for this. With such a high price tag on a simple tool, I want something that simply works. Even though I suspected the wire was hot despite the breaker being off on another circuit in the room, and this could have potentially led to me being electrocuted because that outlet was indeed hot at the time, I couldn't get it to read, and there was no indication of this on the meter. Turns out that the dial was between detents and there was no indication of this on the meter. The detents aren't very positive, and when I connected it to the hot 110 outlet leads, it was just showing zero. Thankfully, my spidey sense kicked in and I double-checked the meter to make sure it was in good working order before grabbing a hot lead; a quick wiggle and she was good to go, though it did scare me a little. I've never had that problem with my cheap meter, and I'll have to rely on it again in these circumstances. Now that I'm aware of the issue, I'll devise a solution to ensure my safety, but come on, Fluke. You can improve those detents, or perhaps you could create some firmware that detects when the dial is between detents and issues a warning when it is. This is a very underwhelming situation.

Bellamy Serrano

| Jun 09, 2021

Unless you're looking at the meter tilted away from you, the LCD display on the 115 is severely washed-out. I love Fluke equipment and the meters manufactured in the US in the 1980s were jewels, but the garbage being pushed out of China (like this one) should never bear the Fluke brand. br>br>Unless you're looking at the meter tilted away from you, the LCD display on the 115 is severely washed-out. The readings are unreadable from any angle above the display. The kickstand, which doesn't tilt the meter far enough back for the display to be at full contrast (though I suppose if you're a very short person, it would be the ideal angle), adds to the annoyance. Looking through forums, it appears that this is a common [and ongoing] issue with Fluke meters in this range, and while a simple contrast adjustment would fix it, Fluke chooses to ignore it. br>br>As an aside, the dial is so stiff that the thumb wheel is nearly useless. I have large, strong hands, and moving the dial with just my thumb is extremely difficult for me. The backlighting is also inadequate, with only a single white LED in the corner instead of dual edgelights with proper diffusion. The meter has a $30 feel to it rather than a $150 feel.

Nico Stein

| Oct 01, 2021

Pros:
- Very sturdy and well constructedbr>- The selector and buttons have a great feel to them. br>- Pros: It's quick and precise. br>br>Cons: It's expensive. br>br>
- - s**tty display - s**tty display - s**tty display - This is a solid multi-angle washbr>br>This is definitely a solid multi-angle washbr>br> meter. Everything is comfortable to hold and appears to last a long time. Only the display is a disadvantage. It's a lot worse than the free Harbor Freight multi-tool. meter. The viewing angles are bad, and the backlight makes it even worse. I'm not sure if this applies to all of them or only a few, but be aware of the problem.

Aliana Vaughan

| Jan 24, 2021

This meter is one of my favorites. For the past 6 years of (very light) use, it has performed admirably. However, the rotary knob began to cause me problems - br>br> When I select VDC, unless I wiggle the dial, the meter does not always register this mode. When I called Fluke for a repair estimate, they informed me that the unit was more than three years old and therefore not repairable. They offered me a small discount on a new purchase, but it was only $15 less than the retail price, and I really like this meter, but it's disappointing that Fluke doesn't stand behind it and won't repair it.

Bellamy Duran

| Feb 05, 2021