Fluke101 Digital Multimeter

My old multimeter died and I looked at my old favorite Fluke meters but the price tag for a new Fluke 87 was too much for my fixd income so I looked at other models and the mdel 101 stood out for both price and features. For less than $50 the meter is a compact and full featured instrument that feels solid but doesn't break th bank. It is made in China aad doesn't come with a case. For the electronics hobbyist or DIYer, it has all of the features you need. It's auto ranging and measures voltage, resistance, capacitance and frequency but omits current. I usually read current from the power supply but if you need to measure amperage you probably want a different meter.

I've owned a Fluke 79 for over 20 years and often use high end Fluke meters in my job. I wanted to get a second meter to have handy in the garage. The 101 seemed like a good choice. I'm happy with my purchase. The meter is small, display is easy to read, it performs basic tasks well, and seems well made.I was considering the more expensive 107. Based on my experience with the 101 I would recommend against it. If you need more features spend a bit more and get one of the higher end meters instead.A few notes on the 101 based on other reviewers feedback and my experience with other fluke meters:* The 101 does not have the option to pick the range manually.* The "hold" function on the 101 just locks the display when the button is pushed.. I don't find the 101's manual hold useful. The higher end fluke meters have "auto hold" which locks a stable reading, much more useful.* The test leads are nothing special but they are fine. They are not silicone and hence not as flexible as the higher end leads.* The test lead jacks on my meter appear sturdy. Others mention them being loose. It was much more difficult to insert the leads all the way into my 101 than the other meters I've used. I could see where one might not insert the leads all the way and they would be attached but loose.* Higher end fluke meters typically are gray plastic with a yellow rubber surround. On the 101 the style is similar but the yellow is plastic, not rubber.

I bought one for myself and one for a gift. This is a great, and reliable, multimeter choice from a company known for accurate and reliable meters. m I like that it has a built-in beeper when checking for resistance.

I rebuild old vacuum tube volt meters and use this regularly to calibrate and troubleshoot circuits inside 50-60 year old tech. After almost a year of regular use, I still haven’t had to change the batteries. It’s auto shut off is a nice piece of mind. Out of the box it’s resistance and voltage measurements were spot on. The only down side is that it doesn’t have a kickstand, likely because the leads come out the bottom instead of the front. I did find a .stl file so you can 3D print a plastic base if you need one. A rubber over molded type sleeve would be nice as an aftermarket item, in case it gets dropped.

Update: After using this DMM for a couple days, I noticed that the TL75 leads provided seemed to be much stiffer than my older TL75 leads (which are softer and quite flexible). I emailed Fluke Tech Support on this and they replied the same day, noting that the TL75 leads now are manufactured in China and are indeed a little stiffer than the same leads formerly made in the US. The response noted that they MAY loosen up over time; they recommended the TL71 premium test leads as an alternative (about $35 on Amazon). I'll be using my older leads instead.Original: Been doing a bunch more field work lately and got tired of worrying about using my much more expensive Fluke meters where they could get soaked or dropped (or stolen). This small tool does what I generally need to do at a much better price point than even a model 107, and a quart ziplock baggie keeps it nice and dry. A slot on the top rear accepts some of the Fluke TPAK accessories (including the strap and magnet combo) and, if necessary, a safety lanyard.It's quite accurate (a quick check against our calibrator at work showed that the accuracy as received is fine) and has nice large digits. No backlight like on the 107 (which would be nice), but half the price and not a real issue for my usage. It's small, fits in the hand or pocket nicely, and comes with Fluke's standard TL175 lead set (NOT the TwistGuard ones); usable length of the leads is about 48 inches and the probe tips are 3/4-inch long. No case, but the protective caps on the leads is a nice touch; the caps are not captured, though, so I expect they'll be MIA at some point.Lost a star here because there was no User Manual included (I downloaded it from the Fluke site) and the batteries (apparently new Duracells with a 2029 expiration date) were quite DOA. As other reviewers have noted, the meter is made in China (as were the batteries) but is solidly made and everything on it works properly.Only other con is that is does NOT measure Amperes, but I knew that going in and the $45 price was right.Overall a good price for a tool that should last many years.

Nice little meter for when don't need my large 789 process meter.

This meter is perfect of what I need. I don't deal with super high voltage or amps and is accurate. I love the automatic range making it so easy to read. I'm buying a second one soon!

Solid device