Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PJL · 1st Nov 2011, 9:58 pm

Answered a freegle advert today for a DMM and was handed over a Fluke 79. Nice one your all thinking but not so. It had obviously been kicking around in an electricians toolkit for all it's life and was covered with plaster and deep gouges and scratches. I gingerly took it to the car and put it on the floor to save the seats from the mess and of course when I got it home it didn't work.

I got the manual off the WWW for nought and measured in a few places to discover the PSU was not right. Inspection revealed some water damage in one corner and although it looked OK, a few continuity checks identified the wayward track. A bit of micro-surgery with the soldering iron, switched on, and amazingly it works and compares well with my 4.5 digit DMM.

I T-cut the plastic bezel so I could see through it, blew the plaster off the works, doused the switch in IPA, and played with it for a while...and now I fully appreciate why you guys are constantly saying these are the best. I am now a beleiver, these are the Tek of the DMM world.

If anyone has a spare case screw I know just the place it would fit.

fetteler · 2nd Nov 2011, 1:59 am

Nice going

The Fluke 79 is a very handy meter - I've got one and it has been just great although it has a display problem now. Reading your success story has made me inclined to have another look at it after all these years. The display is generally faint and has some odd digits - zeros tend to look like eights sometimes - I remember giving up with it after fitting a new LCD and a really good clean with IPA didn't effect a cure. Your comments about the power supply have made me think again; maybe the LCD isn't being driven properly? Also (back in the day) I was working without the benefit of the manual and circuit diagram.
I found the low Ohms and capacitance ranges very useful.

Cheers,
Steve.

PS I'm a case screw missing too!!!

Peter.N. · 2nd Nov 2011, 10:36 am

After blowing up a few of the early DMMs by trying to measure the reisistance of the mains and other silly things I eventually bought a Fluke which so far has proved indestructable apart from the display crumbling at one edge, not sufficient to interfere with readings yet. It cost about £80.00 which was a lot of money back then but the auto shut down has probably saved me that in PP3s in the intervening years.

Peter

Alistair D · 2nd Nov 2011, 11:28 am

A 79 MK1 was my preferred meter at work for many years. I always found the display to have less contrast than the other meters in the range. The only problem I had with mine was the function switch end stop broke off the case so that the switch could be turned past the off position.

Al

PJL · 2nd Nov 2011, 12:56 pm

I am going to splash out (about £3) and get a set of new screws via my brother in the USA. Steve, I'll let you know if it works out and you can have one of my spares.

fetteler · 3rd Nov 2011, 12:26 am

Excellent. You are very kind - thanks

Steve.

Herald1360 · 3rd Nov 2011, 2:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair D

A 79 MK1 was my preferred meter at work for many years. Al

Not a 79 but this 77 still is. Complete with current cal sticker as well.

E-Z hooks for general use though, rather than the OE prods.

PJL · 3rd Nov 2011, 10:45 pm

Contrast seems good on this one, I am not too sure what ages LCD's, use or environment. The screws have been bought but as seller would only ship to USA they have to journey via Florida.

1st Nov 2011, 9:58 pm	#1
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead Answered a freegle advert today for a DMM and was handed over a Fluke 79. Nice one your all thinking but not so. It had obviously been kicking around in an electricians toolkit for all it's life and was covered with plaster and deep gouges and scratches. I gingerly took it to the car and put it on the floor to save the seats from the mess and of course when I got it home it didn't work. I got the manual off the WWW for nought and measured in a few places to discover the PSU was not right. Inspection revealed some water damage in one corner and although it looked OK, a few continuity checks identified the wayward track. A bit of micro-surgery with the soldering iron, switched on, and amazingly it works and compares well with my 4.5 digit DMM. I T-cut the plastic bezel so I could see through it, blew the plaster off the works, doused the switch in IPA, and played with it for a while...and now I fully appreciate why you guys are constantly saying these are the best. I am now a beleiver, these are the Tek of the DMM world. If anyone has a spare case screw I know just the place it would fit.

2nd Nov 2011, 1:59 am	#2
fetteler Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 1,475	Re: Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead Nice going The Fluke 79 is a very handy meter - I've got one and it has been just great although it has a display problem now. Reading your success story has made me inclined to have another look at it after all these years. The display is generally faint and has some odd digits - zeros tend to look like eights sometimes - I remember giving up with it after fitting a new LCD and a really good clean with IPA didn't effect a cure. Your comments about the power supply have made me think again; maybe the LCD isn't being driven properly? Also (back in the day) I was working without the benefit of the manual and circuit diagram. I found the low Ohms and capacitance ranges very useful. Cheers, Steve. PS I'm a case screw missing too!!! __________________ Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking... Last edited by fetteler; 2nd Nov 2011 at 2:01 am. Reason: smiley and PS

2nd Nov 2011, 10:36 am	#3
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead After blowing up a few of the early DMMs by trying to measure the reisistance of the mains and other silly things I eventually bought a Fluke which so far has proved indestructable apart from the display crumbling at one edge, not sufficient to interfere with readings yet. It cost about £80.00 which was a lot of money back then but the auto shut down has probably saved me that in PP3s in the intervening years. Peter

2nd Nov 2011, 11:28 am	#4
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead A 79 MK1 was my preferred meter at work for many years. I always found the display to have less contrast than the other meters in the range. The only problem I had with mine was the function switch end stop broke off the case so that the switch could be turned past the off position. Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

2nd Nov 2011, 12:56 pm	#5
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead I am going to splash out (about £3) and get a set of new screws via my brother in the USA. Steve, I'll let you know if it works out and you can have one of my spares.

3rd Nov 2011, 12:26 am	#6
fetteler Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 1,475	Re: Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead Excellent. You are very kind - thanks Steve. __________________ Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking... Last edited by fetteler; 3rd Nov 2011 at 12:27 am. Reason: punctuation

3rd Nov 2011, 10:45 pm	#8
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Fluke 79 Mk II raised from the dead Contrast seems good on this one, I am not too sure what ages LCD's, use or environment. The screws have been bought but as seller would only ship to USA they have to journey via Florida. Attached Thumbnails