Retro Fluke DMMs

[Majes]

What do you guys think about the older Flukes that are popping up on Ebay lately from US Government surplus for the beginner or novice ?

I have picked up three in the last month all for under $40.00 US including shipping.  a 72 / FM with case, leads and prob, an 8025A and an 8025B also with case, leads, and prob.

Two still within calibration date range, and one less than a year out. All seem to be within spec with one another and the Tek Power 4000 ZC, but I have nothing more accurate to test them against.

I suppose being out of spec a little wouldn't matter much to me anyway since I am just fooling around with some small solar projects, but of course they don't have the functionality of the newer meters of any brand.

I am Just curious what more experienced folks think about this older stuff...

[ModemHead]

I think older stuff is great, since I'm made of it.

I have a number of older Flukes mostly all purchased from eBay in 'parts or repair' or 'not working' condition.  Minor repairs and cleaning (sometimes only a new battery) usually bring them back to life, and I have found it extremely rare to find one that is not still reading well within it's accuracy specification.

Used DMM purchases have their caveats of course, like blown fuses and internal damage from over-current/over-voltage abuse.  So one would need to be confident of one's ability (and existing equipment) to test the unit for proper operation and possibly carry out repairs.  This might rule out some beginners and novices.

[retiredcaps]

What do you guys think about the older Flukes that are popping up on Ebay lately from US Government surplus for the beginner or novice ?

Excavatoree has written a good guide for people buying Fluke multimeters off ebay at

http://reviews.ebay.com/Fluke-Meters-Main-Read-First_W0QQugidZ10000000007231862

Dave has done a teardown of the Fluke 27/FM at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKuvmoW0AZQ

It will give you some insight to how some of the older Fluke's were made.

Like ModemHead, I found most of the used Flukes, some are close to 30 years old, I have purchased to be well within it stated accuracy.  I have no reference standards at home, but they all measure within 1 or 2 mVs of each other on the DCV scale.

Just be careful not to overpay for them on ebay. I have seen some very questionable pictures and descriptions of old Flukes fetching very high prices.

[Majes]

Thanks for the replys, I too like the older stuff. I have several older IBM servers still in service in different datacenters. Like these quality multimeters they are build like tanks! Still going strong after 20 + years, haha....

[Paul Collins M0BSW]

 I use old equipment all the time, don't really care for all this software controlled stuff, I wonder if the new stuff will last as long, or only as long as the companies support it. Imagine spending hundreds on a scope , only to have it sat there because the software has gone corrupt, my old analogue just switch it on within a minute it's ready to play

[Steve Johnson]

I have a calibrated 87V I bought this year.  I use it to keep an eye on my other Fluke digital handhelds and bench meters which are all still within spec:
8020A, 8020B, 75, 8000A, and 8800A. 
My oldest is the 8020A from 1977. So no,  I don't see anything wrong with using vintage Flukes.

Just picked up one of these also to help keep an eye on my digital meters and any others I'm repairing or restoring:
DMMCHECK Plus, DMM Tester  Seems to work pretty well so far.