Fluke TRUE-RMS Industrial Logging Multimeter with TrendCapture

Pros: - Accurate - Used as calibrated reference in our lab Cons - Relatively heavy. Best for table use, uncomfortable for field use - Conventional batteries (not rechargeable) - Need to separately purchase cable and software to export data - Battery terminal tabs snapped off

I've had this meter for nearly a year( daily use) and am pleased with it. This review will NOT be comprehensive, however, I do want to bring up a few make or break points: The LED is huge and pretty readable, the meter is so accurate however, that sometimes it can be tough to to lock onto the tailing numbers of the reading. This meter has tons of functionality. However the trade off is the boot speed. I added a video that shows how long it takes to boot. Also, becUse of all the options some simple things(like continuity test) will take a few extra button mashes. This meter is massive. It's perfect for the bench but would be rather cumbersome in a backpack. It's shock/moisture rating is lower than that of a standard fluke meter, but keep in mind that this thing is smarter than most fluke meters. The maximum sampling rate is 1S/s. This is fine if your are watching data trend, or if you set the event right, can work for some troubling shooting applications, but if you are looking for something erroneous and funky that's happening at odd hours you will be better off with a daq with a higher sampling rate. It takes AA instead of 9V batteries. A lot of people complain about battery life, but it hasn't been much of a problem for me. Overall I would purchase this meter again despite the points I made above. It's a great bench meter that has just about every function you could ask out of a multimeter. This guy is in the Big Leagues. The only thing that would keep me from purchasing this is if I were having to lug it around a factory to use on different equipment.its too cumbersome for that; I would go for something smaller, tougher. And a little faster to boot up. TL;DR - A monster meter with tons of functionality that is better suited for the bench than the factory floor.

I purchased a 289 for my lab about 8 months ago and have not been disappointed. It's robust, takes abuse like 10' falls onto concrete, and is very reliable/precise when spot-checked against test equipment costing 1-2 orders of magnitude more). Truly undergraduate and graduate student-proof! Data logging capability sealed the deal, since we sometimes operate these in harsh conditions for extended periods. Wish it had more built-in storage capacity and consumed batteries more slowly...

Very handy & powerful DMM, I work in the process industry and the 289 is the preferred tool I use for 4-20Ma current loops. Love the 2 levels of brightness on the display for when I'm working in dark places & the magnet for attaching it to beams or structures so that I can view it while working. Impressed with the battery life as well.

I work as a Facilities Engineer in a manufacturing plant. Controls, PLC's, VFD's, Servos, etc..... My old time favorite meter for troubleshooting was my tried and true Fluke 87. Once I got my hands on the Fluke 289, it was the first time I felt like I might have a good replacement / upgrade to the 87. Very happy with it. Several of the other engineers have gone to the 289 now.