Fluke 17b..and fake Fluke TL175 Leads

[MJLorton]

Hi Folks,

Had to post this for a laugh before getting my head down into the next tutorial.

First off, thanks to the kind gent that made a donation towards the Fluke 17b...I'll keep donators names anonymous unless they say otherwise.

As stated, I was keen to get one of these into my paws to see and feel it first hand...and my initial impression is that the meter itself feels good...certainly seems to be in spec for its limited resolution.

I paid a slightly  higher price for the 17b ($108.99) as it came from the US...and it came "w/ Free Case w/ Fluke Test Leads TL175". I knew I was getting a really good deal here ....or it would provide some content....a win win in my case!

Just for interest...it cost me a further $40 to get it shipped to South Africa, as that's the only option they offered...but it did get here fairly swiftly....then a trip and further R178.70 ($21) to SA customs for clearance...got to love them!

So...the first thing I did was have a close look at the leads...and as I have a genuine set of TL175's (thanks to Comtest) I put them side by side...

The pictures tell most of the story...they are fake...but note the picture in the ebay store, how they particularly point out the "Fluke TL175" in the photo!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221050433989

The "twist" mechanism to shield / unshield  to probes is very dodge...the probes seem to be so-so quality...but the leads do seem to be silicone but not obviously the special leads that Fluke use to indicate wear.

So....buyer...beware...if it seems to good to be true....   

 

[Kiriakos GR]

Oh my !!  We have a Trademark violation among the other issues (IEC 61010 Violation) . 
The one who did the cloning he was not even brave enough to baptize those as FLIKE or FTUKE !!  hahahaha

Now imagine just that... the one who did it, he had primarily in mind to cheat on the back of their own Chinese people, which it is sad even as thought.

Happy new year Martin !! 

[SeanB]

Wonder how much copper is in them then. Apply 10A from your power supply and see the difference in voltage drop across each cable comparing the real Fluke to the "Fluke Fluke" lead.

If you do not like them then a quick bit of surgery with a sharp blade and a few photo's of the inner construction of the cable and the probe ends then.

Yasu Kirakos, plagiarism is the most sincere form of flattery...................

[Kiriakos GR]

Yasu Kirakos, plagiarism is the most sincere form of flattery...................

Hi Sean I am just in my first cup of coffee and I got a bit confused with your comment,
is it possible to explain a bit further your consept?

[iloveelectronics]

That's very interesting to note! I did a bit of research and actually found that these so-called TL175's actually come standard with the 17B and 15B Chinese-market only multimeters, even from shops that claim to be authorized official distributors of Fluke products. I have no proof but my theory is that they aren't exactly "fake", but a lower cost/quality, for Chinese market only version of the standalone TL175.

[SeanB]

Copying a Chinese design, means they really like it, and think it is worth the time and effort to copy. You do not copy something that you think is worthless, unless somebody is fool enough to pay you to do so.

[Kiriakos GR]

I have no proof but my theory is that they aren't exactly "fake", but a lower cost/quality, for Chinese market only version of the standalone TL175.

When you stamp your products with CAT ratting, it translates that you are complying in full with the IEC safety standards.
There is no such thing as : a just a bit of compliance = partial compliance.
And basically what spoils the sup by a naked eye inspection, is just the banana connector.   

[Kiriakos GR]

Copying a Chinese design, means they really like it, and think it is worth the time and effort to copy. You do not copy something that you think is worthless, unless somebody is fool enough to pay you to do so.

FLUKE has a document in which it explains their thoughts of how they researching the market in order to design their test leads, by traveling the world and by getting feedback from their customers in USA and Europe.
I do not think that the FLUKE headquarters are aware about this item.
It is unthicable to me that they would risk to become a laughing stock for one silly made banana. 

[iloveelectronics]

I think I'm going to order one of these Chinese/fake TL175 from China, cut them up and see what's inside

[SeanB]

I will look forward to that Frankie.wonder how much the 17B costs from PRC, but must not spend any more money now, bills to pay..............

[Kiriakos GR]

I have Tweet the story to Fluke, I bet that right now they are scratching their heads about it.

[retiredcaps]

I have an alternate theory.

Perhaps these are Fluke "oops" products that were meant to be destroyed, but some enterprising person loaded them up in his van and made off with them?

I say "oops" because obviously the plug-in end is missing the strain relief, but the probes themselves look genuine if I compare them to this picture

http://www.active123.com/TL175-Twistguardtm-Test-Leads-2mm-Dia-Probe-Tips-Prodview.html

Active123 is an authorized Fluke dealer in Canada and their pictures show the non yellow colored probes.

Even the "fake" plug in ends look like genuine TL75 plugs right down to the cross or "X" metal internal plug.

It is confusing since the ones sold at Active123 don't have the yellow coloring, yet both are the exact same part number.

[retiredcaps]

Hmm, in Dave's episode 185 (Fluke 87V GSM fix), the TL175 probes are shown at 14:23 into the video.  Since Fluke sent that prototype 87V directly to Dave, I highly doubt he got any counterfeit probes.

Notice they don't have the yellow coloring, but he does have the strain relief on the plugs.

So maybe my manufacturing "oops" theory holds some water?

Although I have only been seriously interested in multimeters for the past year, I don't think I have seen any counterfeit Fluke products.  Sure there are many lookalikes, but I could be entirely wrong on this subject matter.  I guess only Fluke knows for sure.

[retiredcaps]

Sorry, found one more piece of information that Fluke may have added the yellow coloring in later versions.  Press release from 2011 shows no yellow.

http://www.warwickts.com/latest-news.asp?id=23

[Kiriakos GR]

FLUKE kindly responded in my message, this is their point of view.