One of the best things about Fluke as a company is the fact that they often sell their measuring devices in kits. We’ve decided to take a closer look at one of their most popular tool combos – the Fluke 117/323 kit.
As the name suggests, the package combines the company’s famous 117 DMM with the 323 clamp meter. Is it worth the money? Or should you, perhaps, buy these tools separately? We’ll try to find out the answers to these questions in the following paragraphs.
The combination of these two devices should be of great assistance to all those who have to perform measuring tasks on a daily basis. Fluke’s well-known 117 multimeter is capable of measuring AC and DC voltage and amps, and is also a True RMS model that provides the user with precise measurements on non-linear loads.
The 232 clamp meter, on the other hand, is a perfect tool for making accurate measurements on non-linear signals. It is also a True RMS device and is capable of measuring 600 VAC/DC voltage and 400A AC current.
The central star of this kit is undoubtedly the 117 digital multimeter. Although it doesn’t sport a micro-amp/milliamp range, you’ll be able to measure everything else – millivolts, AC/DC amps and volts, capacitance, resistance, continuity, and frequency.
The model’s amperage range features a sensitivity of 1mA increments going up to 6A, as well as 10mA going up to 10A. On the other hand, the device can also measure resistance from 0.01Ω to 40MΩ, and that’s quite impressive.
As we already said, the mechanical protection of this device is excellent – the case is sturdy and there’s a rubber boot to prevent damage in case of an accidental drop. The overloading protection comes in the form of an 11 amp HRC ceramic fuse which is combined with onboard suppression devices.
Furthermore, the interior of the case consists of a deep lip that protects the gadget from humidity. Like most of Fluke’s measuring devices, this one is also rated to CAT – III.
Due to its shapely design and small size, this DMM is quite lightweight and easy to operate with just one hand. However, it was built from quality materials and feels very sturdy and durable, so there’s no place for worrying about breaking. The model’s battery compartment can be accessed by unscrewing a single screw and includes a 9V battery.
The unit’s display, on the other hand, is disappointing and impressive at the same time. Even though it’s quite bright and visible, it tends to lose its color when you take a look at it from an angle. We really think that Fluke should upgrade the displays in their future DMMs – it’s the only thing that stops these devices from being best of the best.
We were pleased to find the backlighting function, as well as the responsive and accurate multi-segment bar graph that updates info 32 times per second.
The other tool in this combo kit is Fluke’s True RMS 323 clamp meter. Its narrow design and a slim-line jaw mechanism allow one to use this clamp meter in tight spaces, while its tough case easily withstands wear and tear. With it, you’ll be able to measure current indirectly up to 400A AC, which is more than enough when it comes to general-purpose testing.
The last significant part of the kit is the carrying case – it has two zippers, a carrying strap, as well as Fluke’s signature black & yellow design.
Who Can Use This Kit?
General-purpose electricians and electronics hobbyists will get the most out of this kit. It fares best within light industry, homes, and schools, and is a perfect choice for trainees.
On the other hand, the tools of this kit aren’t the best choice for lab technicians who often have to deal with diagnosing failures in elaborate electronic circuits. However, the 117 DMM does make a pretty good backup device for service experts on the terrain.
Like with most Fluke’s measuring devices, we were quite disappointed with the quality of displays on the tools in this kit. Even though the screen on Fluke 117 is quite bright, it tends to lose contrast when looked upon from weird angles. It takes some time to get used to this, after which it becomes just a minor nuisance.
Although very precise, the Fluke 117 DMM does not have a milliamp/micro-amp range. This is exactly why we mentioned that the device isn’t suitable for elaborate lab work – it just doesn’t provide the professional level of accuracy.
As far as we can tell, the users are quite satisfied with the quality of the gadgets in this kit. They’re saying that the higher price of Fluke’s tool combos is well worth the money, as they bring a fantastic amount of safety and accuracy, as well as a number of useful functions.
The users are particularly pleased with the build quality of the 117 multimeter and the 323 clamp meter, saying that they feel very sturdy and that they can take a serious beating.
In our opinion, the quality of the tools in this kit entirely justifies its price. The Fluke 117 DMM is a very versatile device and one that can be of great help when it comes to general-purpose measuring around the house and in light industry. The beauty of the 323 clamp meter, on the other hand, is in measuring current without having to bare the wires – one only has to clamp the tool over the cable.
For that matter, we can do nothing else but recommend this tool set to our readers.