Placed in the middle of the Bright 70 series of Fluke Digital multimeters is the Fluke 77 version 4. One of their best priced units, it is ideal for electronic technicians and auto engineers, with powerful functionality and eye-catching design. With its clean lines, user-friendly interface and guaranteed accuracy, the 77IV work well for most general-purpose work, although there are some shortcomings for electronics.
It can be easily held in one hand and it comes with an ergonomic, sunken dial and a tapered body and fits very easily in toolboxes and drawings. This Fluke 77 IV Review takes a look at its activities, including its build quality and input protection, including levels of touchhole and accuracy.
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In-depth Review of the Fluke 77IV
The Fluke 77IV is a significant improvement over the previous series of 77 meters with more efficiency, speed and accuracy. Although it lacks the accuracy and resolution of 177 and is only an average responsive RMS multimeter, it is still solid and performs very well.
All voltages have their ranges – AC, DC and DC millivolts, and ACP and milliamps are fused separately. Resistance and continuity also have individual range positions, plus this meter comes with capacitance so is ok for electronics. It has no microamps range, but only so many electronics can work with it.
The range voltage of both AC and DC can be measured up to 1000V and it is rated third at 1000V. You can also measure services with Fluke 77IV due to its catalytic rating and it works equally on bench or case. Despite being compact and easy to carry around, it is very rugged and has a great, large display.
Can be measured continuously up to 10A (temporarily 20A), while the overall accuracy is higher, with the DC volt being the essential ± 0.3%. The continuity check and auto ragging feature are responsive and the 77IV also comes with Fluke’s patented auto-hold feature (to lock data automatically).
There is also a minimum / maximum/average mode to capture the value of the fluctuating signal.
Design and Build Quality
Like its predecessors and this brand in general, the build is excellent both inside and out. The Fluke 77IV Review has an ergonomic over-molded body, which enhances protection, lends great grapes and looks good. Most multimeters today have removable boots and it may be convenient but it is not so neat.
The housing has the features of a risk guarantee for integrated investigation leaders and bench measurements at the back. It has muscular mechanical build as well as excellent electrical properties, impressive protection rating and input protection to protect against spikes.
Intelligent in design, it looks pretty good, probably more than most multimeters with other fluxes (in my opinion). Its smooth lines and seamless interface make for a good user experience.
Function and Performance
It is a fast performer with intricate work and unintentional features. Some cheap multimeters will look good and may work well for a while but they fail in harsh working conditions. Flux only works and usually maintains accuracy for many years.
Mostly since the 70 Series Donkey year was over, the unit of the 1980s is still going strong. The battery life of the Fluke 77 Ivy is about 400 hours of regular use. Excessive use of backlights will reduce this. Sleep mode and auto power-off modes help save battery.
BUTTON FUNCTIONS
HOLD: Displays the display / automatically shows the next static input automatically
MIN/MAX: Records high, low and average values of the converted signal
RANGE: Steps change between manual ranging and range
Select: Changes input range (dial select yellow marked)
Backlight: The display LED turns on and off
INPUTS
- V/Ω/Diode (main terminal)
- COM (common)
- 10A (10 amps)
- 400mA (400mA)
Display and Interface
For a capable, professional multimeter, it’s almost as simple as it is simple. With just a few buttons and range locations, things are hard to go wrong here. The dial is very clearly labelled and each selector position has a maximum of two functions, while the input jacks are equally easy to understand.
The display is a combination of large numbers (6000 times) and a bar graph. The numbers are updated about four times per second. The bar graph is updated 32 times per second to accurately represent the values given in analog form – ideal for fast changing signals. There are also backlights.
Protection
Fluke 77 is rated in the IV @ 600V section and III @ 1000V section. The current ranges are protected by 1000 V (ground) HRC fuses. These well-engineered fuses protect the meter and the user in the event of a catastrophic failure. These are safer and more expensive than glass.
The 10 MP circuit has an 11A fuse and the milliamp circuit has a 440 mA fuse. In addition, the combination of solid input protection, current shunts, power resistors, MOVs, etc., eliminates overvoltage surge protection at 8 kV.
Who Can Use This Unit?
As we have said, one of the best things about this particular multimeter is that it can be used by both DIY enthusiasts and professional electronics. Newcomers love its auto-ranging function and ease of general use. Professionals, on the other hand, prefer its wide range of capabilities, accuracy and precision.
Also, due to its lightweight and small dimensions, it can serve as the perfect accessory for fieldwork. The thing that sets this multimeter apart from others is that it is an excellent multimeter for a car but it also works for other purposes.
So, in addition to the ability to check your car’s battery, you can conduct various measurements around your family. If you are looking for a precise and accurate instrument, the Fluke 77-IV could be one.
Pros and Cons
- Fluke 77IV PROS
- Reliable and accurate
- Great build quality
- Separate voltage ranges
- Fast auto ranging and continuity check
- Responsive display and bar graph
- Battery compartment
- Auto hold
- Nice size
- Looks good
CONS
- No micro-amps
- Average RMS response
- No separate fuse compartment
- Doesn’t include case or hanger
- Cheaper brands can do similar
Things We Didn’t Like
There is not much we do not like about this particular product. It is quite versatile and provides multiple helpful features that make it work as an ad. However, some flaws need to be mentioned. First, the main problem with all products from Fluke is the rotary switch.
After a few years of use, the rotating button becomes a weak point. However, this should not be a problem as the rotary switch takes a long time to become dull or unresponsive. The elephant in the house is the lack of true RMS features. Although it has a somewhat premium price, the Fluke 77-IV has no real RMS features and it annoys a lot of people.
On the other hand, this does not mean that it is not accurate and precise. The unit has other technology and precision systems integrated to compensate for the lack of true RMS. Some users have reported receiving Fluke 77-IV without a test lead. While this is not a performance issue, it is worth mentioning. If you are in the same situation, return the product and you will get a new shipped soon.
Fluke 77IV Digital Multimeter Review Summary:
The number of multimeters in the market is continuously increasing. However, the quality of production will decrease significantly as the offer increases. It’s hard to find a decent unit with a set of useful features for an affordable price. These are either expensive or of low quality.
If you are looking for a proper meter, go ahead and read our reviews. We offer better insights into the capabilities of different units so you can easily find the right fit for yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional electrician or a beginner; We offer honest and comprehensive reviews to narrow down your preferred options.
If you don’t like this particular product, feel free to check out the other products on our list, you will find something of interest.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a top-quality digital multimeter with an admirable set of features, this might be it. It always has everything you need to handle various measurements and analyzes.
It is compact, well-made and most importantly – affordable. Although it does not have true RMS features, it is not noticeable because other technologies compensate for the lack of true RMS.
If you do not find this particular multimeter interesting, feel free to check out our other reviews and you can buy a meter that is worth buying.