New life to an old Fluke

[65535]

I have a way old Fluke 85, well the screen was fdaing in some spots, and it has been taken apart in mr garage collecting dust and metal filings. Well today I cleaned it squeaky clean and put it together with a new battery.

The screen is as good as new (albeit a little scratched).

So for all you Fluke owners with fading screens it may be possible to make them like new again. You have to completely strip it to the PCB. The screen is on a special conductive sponge fitting that makes contact with individual tabs on the PCB for the display. I think they get dirty and make a weak screen.


I am happy now.

 

[VidPro]

you didnt say what you cleaned it with.
did you clean also the conductive sponge with something?
i dont have a fluke, but i have piddled with them lcd things in other stuff

 

[65535]

Just wiped it down. Brushed the PCB with a 2" 99cent paintbrush, wiped the sponge with a dirty microfiber towel.

 

[Bones]

...
So for all you Fluke owners with fading screens it may be possible to make them like new again. You have to completely strip it to the PCB. The screen is on a special conductive sponge fitting that makes contact with individual tabs on the PCB for the display. I think they get dirty and make a weak screen.
...

That conductive sponge sounds similiar to the material I encountered in the MH-C9000. I was informed that it was known as a Zebra strip. Presumably because, in this instance, it was coated on both sides with a much lighter material:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post2302069

Insofar as its cleaning is concerned, I would use a lint free cloth dampened with filtered water mixed with a few drops of dish soap. If it's really greasy, perhaps dampen a cloth with pure alcohol to start. In both instances, I would test a non-critical spot to start.

 

[DM51]

Interesting - let's see some pics!

Do you know how old it was? And is it still accurate? Some meters lose accuracy over time, so it would be interesting if you could measure it against a new one.

 

[65535]

Lost the card reader for my camera so I can't get any pics. It's old it was my grandpas I think over 20 would be a safe estimate.

 

[drillbritz2ov]

hello i have a re branded fluke meter that had a similar problem with the lcd display fading but i put it down to being stored in a damp environment did similar remedy to yourself dismantling and drying out the conductor strip you mentioned and cleaning the contacts with wd40. 5 years hence its still doing good service .tip put a a bag of silica gel crystals in its storage bag ,the type you get in boxes of nuts and bolts etc the ones you normally bin keeps the moisture ingress to a minimum . Lol cliff

 

[neoseikan]

How much did the Fluke 85 cost you?
You must be happier than buying a new one.

 

[65535]

Happier since it was my grandpa's. Flukes are pricey. This Original model 85 is pretty impossible to find, this is pre-backlight.

 

[cheetokhan]

I still have, and use, an old Fluke 8060A.

 

[Beamhead]

A couple oldies from the 80's and both work fine. 8030A, 8020B

 

[neoseikan]

We purchased a UNI-T UT71B yesterday. like it very much.

 

[snakebite]

you have to be careful not to tear the zebra strips.they can be stuck tight.
just wipe the board,strip,and lcd with denatured alcohol.let dry and reassemble.
got a free 77/bn and just did it.
like new again.

 

[PEU]

We purchased a UNI-T UT71B yesterday. like it very much.

Got one more than a year ago and it provides excellent service, and its nice for datalogging and discharge charts


Pablo

 

[neoseikan]

Got one more than a year ago and it provides excellent service, and its nice for datalogging and discharge charts


Pablo

Oh. Is it a UT71B too? How much?
Mine is about $90.