The multimeter for this advanced data logging is Fluke’s top-end handheld meter. An accurate and stable device, the Fluke 289 high-performance industrial logging multimeter can monitor and diagnose errors in a variety of cases. It displays the results in TrendCapture graphical form by displaying a 50,000-count dot matrix and can communicate seamlessly to smartphones and computers.
What makes it an all-time great is that it’s a great multimeter with most test ranges on board. It is backed up by a high level of precision and resolution and is good for both electronic and electronic work on the field or bench.
More details of the Fluke 289 clamp meter review:
Table of Contents
In-depth Review of the Fluke 289
Despite being more fit for the bench due to its huge size, the 289 is a multimeter first and a data logger second. It gives almost all fields including AC / DC voltage and millivolts, all current range (MPS, milliamps and micro-amps), continuity and, capacitance, resistance, frequency, duty cycle and pulse width, conduction, DVB and temperature.
The main stand-out feature of the Fluke 289 multimeter is its exceptional data logger. It can store up to 15,000 recorded events and can capture trends so you can study graphs in-situ. There is a real-time clock for time-stamping and data can be sent to a smartphone or PC via Bluetooth.
This is a true RMS AC voltage / current multimeter, good for accurately measuring non-linear loads. It stays automatic by default, which runs much faster than many other meters. The big screen is also a plus; A 50000-count display that can simultaneously display live readings and three more results.
Extra functions: It also has a low ohm range (with low resolution), a low-pass filter for analyzing motor drives, and a low impedance AC volt to eliminate ghost voltages. Other features include a relative mode, a selectable AC filter (or smoothing) for the stationary reader, and a superfood peak capture of up to 250μs. You can purchase 289 NIST-certified calibrations to guarantee its accuracy.
Specifications and Features
The Fluke 289 brings an array of different powers that make it stand out against almost any meter, even more, famous flukes like the 87. The meter protection is rated at Cat III / 1000V and Cat IV / 600V so it can be used in anything you want. It is extremely accurate, it is very useful for small electronics as well as most large stuff which most users are undoubtedly planning to use for it. This is the amount of electricity you need, it will measure quite amperes, volts, capacitance, resistance, frequency are all in this package.
What’s more, it lets you read faster which can save time and frustration in the field.
The abilities don’t end there, though what’s unique about the Fluke 289 data logging true-RMS multimeter is that it can log readings over time with its unique graphing capabilities. While in logging mode the meter rated to run for 200 hours on its six AA batteries, which means you can read more than one day when dealing with a particularly problematic system.
Like all Fluke meter lines, there are plenty of tons of accessories available here. Of particular note is a temperature sensor that will combine the capabilities of graphing, which can be of great use to anyone working with HVAC / R and allows to detect of complex problems with the power of a unit. It’s at the top of the line and the meter you’ve dreamed of for your entire professional life.
Graphing Capabilities
If you are not a professional then obviously the 289 price is not suitable for everyone so it must be understandable to go with a slightly lower price. For those who observe large, complex systems, however, the ability to keep accurate measurements for extended periods of time is invaluable. The screen of the Fluke 289 is quite large, you will notice it first when you pick one. It has a final high pixel count, and it has one reason: graphing. You can take readings for hours, even days, and the software will map it for you.
This will help you notice the trends over time. It will also have a real-time stamp on each of them, allowing you to determine when exceptional tracking events are happening. While this may not seem like much at first, lots of weird things can happen in electrical systems and at the same time you can keep an eye on more factors, the better off you will be.
The software not super-advanced, perhaps it is better to compare it with a graphics calculator than with a computer. Trained staff will be able to easily parse data in a visual format, although this can make a huge difference in the amount of time it takes to solve a problem. Batteries are also twice as long-lasting when you are running in logging mode, it is rated at 200 hours which means more than a week of data can be recorded from a single set of AAs.
DATA LOGGING
The data logging feature and trend capture is what really make the Fluke 289 stand out. You can track voltage or resistance, for example, record it and then quickly display the results in graphical form. Logging can be done at regular time intervals or in the event log format. However, you can log multiple range china option for logging in the current investigation.
Interval/event recording: Including recording a measurement based on time; Say, in a second break, you can also track ‘events’ as a result of signal activity. The latter helps save battery and logged data volume.
Save: You can save multiple logging sessions (such as when working with fields), where real-time clock time-stamps automatically read.
Graphing: Although 269 cannot display a graph in real-time, you can display the graph right in the onscreen post-logging session, uploading it to a PC for viewing.
Zoom: You can zoom the graphs up to 14 times to get better resolution and analyze the result more accurately.
Connectivity: The IR 3000 FC Infrared Connector (optional extra) plugged into the back of the meter will transmit data to the PC or smartphone without seeing everything onscreen. This data can be shared as a video call after Fluke Connect and ShareLive.
Build Quality
While probably not as desirable as the 87V or 28II, the Fluke 289 is well built. It made in the United States, where several cheaper series has been put together in China. The holster of the integrated type, so moved and has a plastic kickstand.
Despite the outward toughness, we noticed in the Fluke 289 review that the big screen made it a bit risky to drop. It is best to have a carry case to protect the screen, especially for those who wish to work exclusively on the store floor.
Display and Labels
The display is a full dot matrix, the VGA type of quarters that enables it to create graphs. The count is 50,000 (4 4/5 digits), so it also has a great solution. The best of these is that you can get multiple readings at once, including live readouts, such as minimum/maximum/average. Another example: display voltage and frequency at the same time.
Very few handheld meters can achieve this. Your graphic mode has a zoom feature that lets you zoom to the right of the graph and get incredible resolutions. This is a big time-saver as it saves transfers to PC to do the same thing. There is also a bar graph, which highlights highly responsive and easily changing signals.
The only real negative of all these reactive is the ghost that appears in rapidly changing numbers. This made it a bit easier with the AC filter. There is also a two-stage white backlight for large screens. But be aware that it consumes more battery than anything else. They can be clear on the labels. The dial selector is a bit cluttered but it’s not for beginners again and it doesn’t take too long to find your way.
Function and Performance
Here is a traditional themed multifunction dial, which is busy and has a wide range. The good thing is that voltages have their own range of positions, including AC and DC millivolts – DC millivolts divide their position by temperature. A clear omission from the dial selector is that the off position F 289 has a light button to power up.
BUTTONS
There are four ‘hot keys’ at the top that enable the screen menu for many measurement activities. These are used for data logging features (such as start and stop) as well as various range options. The four directional buttons navigate the menu screens, and there are four shortcut buttons, the power button and the backlight.
Shortcuts
HOLD: Manual and automatic Touch Hold ® Screen Set up
MIN/MAX: Displays minimum, maximum, and average values (together).
RANGE: Changes the automatic/manual range and moves through the manual range of the input of the given range.
info: explains functions, help button
Power: Pulses turn on and off every time there is a data log.
Backlight: Display on and off the backlight.
Automatic power-off: Default off time is not set The meter is not being used for 15 minutes. This time can be adjusted or it can be disabled completely.
Battery saver/screen sleep: The screen will fall asleep five minutes after it is not in use while in record or minimum / maximum mode. You need to enable auto-off to make it work.
Battery life: 200 hours (minimum 100 hours) specified, but somewhere more likely screen slip mode saves batteries when in extended data logging mode.
Input warnings: The 289 differs from many other digital multimeters in that it has an input warning system for incorrectly plugging in leads, in which it does so using optical sensors. For example, if you have a dial set of AC volts and the lead of the red probe plugs into MPS (A). It will beep and display a warning message.
EXTRA FUNCTIONS
Low-pass filter: Helps to measure performance on variable frequency drives by blocking voltages above 1kHz. If the AC voltage / AC voltage goes within the frequency range, go there through the menu hotkey.
Low impedance voltage (LoZ): For example, it gives a low impedance by directing the elimination of ghost voltages from neighboring wires. There are separate input dial locations for lodges.
Low ohms (LoΩ): The probe leads to compensating for the natural resistance in the leads as well as allowing the measurement of the low resistance in the circuits more accurately measured through high resolution. Fluke 289 true-RMS data logging multimeter has its low ohms (50Ω) range location.
Smoothing mode: Reading the selectable AC filter lets you fix the stillness or noise.
Min/Max: The minimum / maximum mode 289 is probably the most useful multimeter on the market for measuring and displaying. It lets you do both reading and averaging between the two with live readings displayed simultaneously. Stamped during each reading.
NIST calibration: You can choose 289 with or without NIST calculus. It simply proves that your meter manufacturer is working on the specification. The performance of the Fluke 289 multimeter is great. Even forgetting all the fancy data logging and additional features, it is a very fast and capable digital multimeter. Auto-ranging is particularly reactive and even capacitance can be measured with 1% general accuracy.
Protection
The 289 field isn’t as tough as the other flukes and of course if you’re comparing it to the much-desired 87V. This is not surprising as it is also built for benches and has quite delicate circuitry. It is nonetheless tougher than most other non-fluxes and features a ragged integral boot.
Also, the tops of the probes are of high quality, with finger guards and sharp edges. Input overload protection and input isolation are great. When it comes to connections, the 289 has an optical interface so there is no electrical current at that point that would protect your computer, for example, in the event of a voltage spike.
Who’s It Suited To?
The higher price tag could give some more casual meter users a break, and so on. Logging capabilities not required to work around the house most of the time and even small circuits are often better at taking small measurements.
Professional electrician, HVAC / R technician, or anyone else who frequently finds himself working on large equipment. But it stands head and shoulders above the rest of the options. The only real caveat about using it is that the next generation of meters is likely to come with more advanced software and some of the people in the market do not have Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities.
Difference between the Fluke 289 and 287
Both 289 and 287 have data logging capabilities. The difference between the two is that the Fluke 289 multimeter also has a low-pass filter, low impedance and low ohms range.
Roundup
In this Fluke 289 review, we have a very efficient multimeter/data logger that is both featured and accurate. Despite being expensive, it is worth the cost of the benefits it offers. It suits professionals interested in recording and analysis systems, both field and bench.
If you are a beginner, the Fluke 289 can be overkilled unless you are a medium-term beginner engineer. But if you don’t need this level of functionality, accuracy, or solution, consider something smaller and cheaper, like the UNI-T UT61E. Note that it cannot compete with Fluke in terms of features or input protection.