The Fluke 117 and Fluke 87-5 (also written as 87-V or 87V) are both True-RMS Multimeters with large 6,000 count displays featuring bright white LED backlights for easy viewing in any environment. Each is capable of measuring resistance, continuity, frequency, and capacitance.

From there, the models start to differ. On the 87-5, you can measure up to 1000V AC/DC while on thee 117, you can only measure to 600V AC/DC. Basic DC accuracy on the 87-5 is also better at 0.05%, compared to 0.5% on the 117. In addition, the 87-5 supports temperature measurement while the 117 does not. The displays for each meter also differ - on the 87-5 you have 6,000 counts and 3.5 digits as standard, with up to 20,000 counts and 4.5 digits in high-resolution mode. The 117 can only do up to 6,000 counts and 3.5 digits.

The 87-5 also includes a peak hold feature which is absent on the 117. The 87-5 also includes a low-pass filter while the 117 does not. Safety ratings for each meter also differ. The 87-5 is rated to CAT III 1000V and CAT IV 600V. The 117 is rated to CAT III 600V. This makes the 87-5 more suitable to demanding industrial applications.

The 117 does include some special features which are missing on the 87-5. These include VoltAlert™ non-contact voltage detection as well as LoZ ghost voltage detection technologies. The Fluke 87-5 does not include VoltAlert™ or LoZ. The 87-5 makes up for this with a limited lifetime warranty, while the 117 only has a 3-year warranty.

Want to know more? Check out the tables below for complete specifications or give us a call at 877-571-7901. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have.