Fluke 117 RMS Multimeter Review 2023 – Pros, Cons, & Verdict

Fluke 117 – A Quick Look

Volt alert

The Fluke 117’s volt alert feature will tell you whether a circuit is live without actually touching the leads to it. This non-contact voltage detection makes locating dead circuits less of a hassle because it’s hands-free. That’s a time-saver that makes the electrician’s job just a little bit safer.

Ghost or not a ghost

You’re working on a circuit that’s supposed to be dead, but your multimeter says it isn’t. Is it live? Or have you detected a ghost? The Fluke 117’s Auto-V/LoZ feature discerns what’s live and what appears to be live but is just capacitance bleed-through. This means electricians can work more quickly and safely.

Proven safety

For a lot of multimeters, listing the safety rating is more or less an educated guess. It’s designed to work to a certain specification, but that’s based on the design and what’s worked in the past. Individual units might vary. Fluke tests each piece of equipment to make sure that it’s constructed to operate to the conditions they say it’ll operate to. This is why people pay extra for Fluke’s reputation for quality.

FAQ

What is the operational temperature range for the Fluke 117?

14 degrees Fahrenheit to 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

Is this good for industrial use?

Fluke independently tests all of their products to make sure that they actually operate to the listed safety range. The Fluke 117 is rated to 600V. If your work involves panels below that, then yes, this is good for industrial use. If your electrical load is larger, then you should look for a more powerful multimeter.

Is this model good for beginners?

The Fluke 117 is really designed for working electricians. Its non-contact voltage detection and its ability to discern ghost voltages are really what make this intended for professionals working in the field as opposed to homeowners with a basic home-based workload.

What the Users Say

When it comes to shopping for tools and test equipment, you like to think of yourself as discriminating. You want to make sure that every dollar you spend is going to realize some kind of value. We get that. We also respect that. So we don’t take it personally when that means that you want a little something more than just taking our word for it. What experiences have other consumers had with the Fluke 117? Well, we read their reviews, too. For those of you who are pressed for time, we’ve sorted the wheat from the chaff and summarized what others had to say.

For starters, whenever the name Fluke is used, the overall consumer experience is going to be good. Fluke just flat-out makes high-quality, durable, accurate digital multimeters, and the reviews on the 117 very much reflect that.

Users noted that the 117 is part of Fluke’s 110 line, which is the least expensive line of Fluke multimeters. So it’s noted that, even though the 117 is pricey compared to other similar models, this is the floor for getting a genuine Fluke multimeter.

That said, users found this an excellent electrician’s meter. Its built-in features made for quicker, safer work for a lot of users, and Fluke’s reputation for durability is justified. If you’re an average homeowner with an average workload, you can probably find a multimeter that suits your needs for less money. You just won’t get the Fluke name.

Something some users didn’t like was the display. Some found it difficult to read, or readable only from certain angles. Enough people complained about this to warrant keeping it in mind when you’re looking to buy. You’ll want to make sure that you can easily read the display before taking your multimeter into the field.

The overall consensus, however, is that Fluke hit a home run with the 117. Its features and build justified the extra expense. It’s also accurate and a real asset.

Conclusion

The Fluke 117’s no-contact voltage alerts and its ability to sort out live circuits from ghost signals make it ideal for electricians when working with voltages less than 600V. It has the Fluke construction, which means durability, but that also increases the asking price.

Average homeowners might find that price too high. Many of the same features are available in multimeters that price much lower, and what you’re really paying for is Fluke’s reputation for safe, durable multimeters. But if you’re in the market for a high-end basic electrician’s multimeter, spending a little extra for a Fluke build is well worth the few extra dollars.

Related Reads:

• FLUKE 116 HVAC MULTIMETER REVIEW
• FLUKE 115 DIGITAL MULTIMETER REVIEW