This sub-section is about the meters I call "80 type."  My section  MODELS AND SERIES describes a few of the Fluke meter types, and the different versions of each.  (Because E-bay limits the size of buying guides, I had to split my Fluke buying guide into sections, and even sub-sections)    Please see the MODELS and SERIES section for information about other meter types, and please see the Main Guide for additional information about Fluke meters.

Link to Main Guide
Link to Models and Series, main

80 Type Meters

The standard meters of this type are the 83, 85 and 87.  The automotive meters of this type are the 86 and the 88.    Fluke calls the 89 (no series and series 4) and the 87 (series 4)  "80 series" meters, but they are a different type of meter, and are described in the "180 type" section.  (That's why I use the term "type" instead of series, "series" is defined differently by Fluke. I use the term TYPE to group similar meters together.)

Standard Meters:  Fluke 83, 85 and 87

Fluke 83

The capabilities are AC and DC volts, DC millivolts, Resistance (Ohms),  Capacitance, Continuity/Diode Check, and current.  (Amperes,  Milliamperes, and Microamperes - both AC and DC)  These meters will also record the minimum and maximum values read, will make relative measurements, and will measure  frequency.  All of these meters have the "touch hold" or "hold" feature.

None of the 83 meters are true RMS.   (See the section about TRUE RMS on the Main page )

The earliest version of this meter is the 83. (no series, or series 1)  These meters are labeled simply: "FLUKE 83 MULTIMETER."   Some people call these "no series," some call them "series 1's"  and some call them "just an 83."  These do not have a  backlight and are NOT rated by the IEC.  (See CATEGORY RATINGS section: Main Page linked)

The second version of this meter is also an 83, and is also labeled simply: "FLUKE 83 MULTIMETER."   These meters are identical to the "series 1" meters, except that they are category III rated by the IEC.  (See main page section: CATEGORY RATINGS linked)  I call these meters "series 2" meters, but I don't believe anyone  else does.  Fluke calls them 83, category III meters. (also listed as 83 1000V meters, which is a bit confusing, because the non category III meter can measure up to 1000V maximum)

The only visible difference between the two is the wording and symbols on the  front panel , between the Volts, Ohms, Diode jack and the COM jack. The difference is shown below:

    

LEFT - "SERIES 1" meter,  RIGHT - "SERIES 2" meter. (Category III rated)
The "CAT III" marking  (and the symbol change) are the only front panel differences.


The third version is labeled "FLUKE 83-III MULTIMETERS."  These are called "Series 3" or "Series III" meters.   These meters have a  backlight, just like the 87-3.  Early 83-III meters have a green backlight, later meters have the white backlight.  The two backlight modules are interchangeable, so a meter repair person can install a white backlight into a meter that originally had a green backlight.  Backlight upgrade kits are available on E-bay occasionally.   The Series 3 meters have a battery door which makes battery replacement easier.  The 3 series have revised LCD displays with larger digits.

  83-1 and 83-2 buttons (83-3 is similar, except there will be a backlight button at the lower left)

The final version (as of the date this guide is edited) is labeled "FLUKE 83-V MULTIMETER."  These are called "Series 5"  or "Series V'  meters.   The 87-5 adds temperature measuring capability, (see my TEMPERATURE section for details)  a smoothing function, Duty Cycle Measurment, and a low pass filter function for AC voltage measurements. (This feature Eliminates High Frequency Noise)  These also have the battery door, a white backlight with two brightness levels, and the LCD display with larger digits.

I do not yet own an 83 series 3 or 5, so I do not have pictures to describe the button differences.   See the pictures below of the 87-3 and 87-5 buttons.  The buttons for the 83-3 and 83-5 are very similar, except for the lack of the words "PEAK MAX MIN" and "TEMPERATURE," because the 83-3 does not have these features.   The 83-3 has the blue "function" button, the 83-V has the yellow button, just like the 87-3 and 87-5, respectively.

Fluke 85

The capabilities are AC and DC volts, DC millivolts, Resistance (Ohms),  Capacitance, Continuity/Diode Check, and current.  (Amperes,  Milliamperes, and Microamperes - both AC and DC)  These meters will also record the minimum and maximum values read, will make relative measurements, and will measure  frequency.  All of these meters have the "touch hold" or "hold" feature.

All of the 85 meters are true RMS.   (See TRUE RMS section: Main Page  linked)

The earliest version of this meter is the 85. (no series, or series 1)  These meters are labeled simply: "FLUKE 85 TRUE RMS MULTIMETER."   Some people call these "no series," some call them "series 1's"  and some call them "just an 85."  These  do not have a backlight, and are NOT rated by the IEC.  (See CATEGORY RATINGS section: Main Page linked)

The second version of this meter is also an 85, and is also labeled simply: "FLUKE 85 TRUE RMS MULTIMETER."   These meters are identical to the "series 1" meters, except that they are category III rated.  (See main page section: CATEGORY RATINGS linked)  I call these meters "series 2" meters, but I don't believe anyone  else does.  Fluke calls them 85, category III  (1000V) meters. (also listed as 85 1000V meters, which is a bit confusing, because the maximum voltage of both meters is 1000V)

The only visible difference between the two is the wording and symbols on the  front panel , between the Volts, Ohms, Diode jack and the COM jack. The difference is shown below:

    

LEFT - "SERIES 1" meter,  RIGHT - "SERIES 2" meter. (Category III rated)
The "CAT III" marking  (and the symbol change) are the only front panel differences.


The third version is labeled "FLUKE 85-III MULTIMETERS."  These are called "Series 3" or "Series III" meters.   Early 85-III meters have a green backlight, later meters have the white backlight.  The two backlight modules are interchangeable, so a meter repair person can install a white backlight into a meter that originally had a green backlight.  Backlight upgrade kits are available on E-bay occasionally.   The Series 3 meters have a battery door which makes battery replacement easier.  The 3 series have revised LCD displays with larger digits.

  85-1 and 85-2 buttons (85-3 is similar, except for the additional backlight button at the lower left )

I do not yet own an 85- meter of any series, so I do not have pictures to describe the button differences .   See the pictures below of the 87-1, 87-2 and 87-III  buttons.  The buttons for the  85-3  are very similar to those on the 87-3, except for the lack of the words "PEAK MAX MIN" and "TEMPERATURE," because the 85 does not have these features.

There is no 85-5 (85-V) meter. 
 

Fluke  87

The 87  has all of the features of the 83 and 85 meters:  AC and DC volts, DC millivolts, Resistance (Ohms),  Capacitance, Continuity/Diode Check, and current.  (Amperes,  Milliamperes, and Microamperes - both AC and DC)  These meters will also record the minimum and maximum values read, will make relative measurements, and will measure  frequency.  All of these meters have the hold feature, called "hold" or "autohold" depending on series.  This is similar to the "touch hold" of other meter types.  Added features for the 87 are a 4 1/2 digit, high resolution mode and a peak detect feature.  Like the 85, the 87 is a true RMS meter.

All series of the  87 meters have a backlight.  Series 1 and 2 and the oldest series 3 meters have the green backlight,  Later series 3 and all series 5 meters have the white backlight.  (The two backlights  are interchangeable, so a meter repair person could install the white backlight into a meter that originally had a green backlight)  Replacement backlight kits are occasionally available from E-bay sellers.

The earliest version of these meter is labeled simply "FLUKE 87 TRUE RMS MULTIMETER."   Some people call these "no series," some call them "series 1's"  and some call them "just an 87"  These are not category rated by the IEC. (See CATEGORTY RATINGS  section of the  Main page linked)

The second version is also labeled "FLUKE 87  MULTIMETER," with no "series."  These meters are identical to the "series 1" meters, except that they are category III rated by the IEC. (See CATEGORTY RATINGS  section of the  Main page linked)    The  pictures below show the difference:

       These pictures are of the  "no series" or "series 1" Fluke 87.  The jack is not marked "category III."  It only indicates the maximum voltage of the meter - 1000V.

  These pictures are of the newer "no series" Fluke 87.
As you can see, the face is no different, but the jack is marked "category III."  Fluke calls these meters 87 (cat III) versions, I refer to them as "series 2" meters just to tell them apart.  Again, the maximum voltage is 1000V, but the meter has been rated as Category III.  (See CATEGORY RATING section of the Main Page (linked))

The next group are the "series 3's" or "series III's" as displayed on the meter.   These are almost identical in appearance to the "series 1 and 2"  meters. (as I call them)   The only significant difference is the display - the series 3 meters have an LCD with larger digits.   Minor differences are:
1. The term "series III" is printed on the front.   (FLUKE 87 III TRUE RMS MULTIMETER for example)
 2.  The markings on the buttons differ slightly.  (See pictures, below)

These meters are also category III rated, and have the same features as the "no series" meters described above.  Earlier production series 3 meters have the same green backlight as the "series 1 and 2" meters, but later production meters have the white backlight.  As I mentioned earlier, the two backlights are interchangeable.)

There is an "87 series 4" (shown as "series "IV" on the meter) but this is really a 180 type meter and is described in the 180 TYPE section of the  Models and Series Page ( linked)

The -V series, or -5 series is the latest version.  The 87-5 adds temperature measuring capability, ( see my TEMPERATURE section for details) a low pass  filter, (eliminates high frequency noise) to the AC voltage function, Duty Cycle Measurment, and a Smoothing function.  Also, the backlight has two brightness levels.

The secondary function color has been changed, and the "Hold" or "touch hold" function is renamed to "autoHOLD." (see pictures below)

Button and dial differences: 

                
               87  "No Series"                                87  Series 3                                   87   Series 5
                  "series 2"

As you can see from the pictures above, the no series, "series 2,"  and series 3 have a blue function button which is used to activate the functions printed in blue on the dial.  The series V meter uses the color yellow.  The series III adds a logo for the backlight switch (lower left) and has a different graphic on the "hold" function button.  The hold function is renamed "autohold" for the series V, and the color of the backlight button is changed.  (Ignore the blue dot on the Series 3 picture, this is a sticker on my meter to indicate it has been calibrated)

Automotive Meters:  Fluke 86 and 88

The first versions of the 86 and 88 (both no series, or "series 1") are labeled simply: "Fluke 88 Automotive Multimeter" or "Fluke 86 Automotive Multimeter."  The only difference between the 86 and 88 is that the 88 has a backlight,  and the 86 does not.  Otherwise, they are the same.

Both meters have the following capabilities:  AC and DC volts,  DC millivolts,  Resistance (ohms), Continuity Check (beeper), diode check, DC and AC current (Ampere and Milliampere ranges for both), RPM (requires a special probe), and duty cycle measurement for Pulse-width modulated waveforms.  (These are used frequently in automotive electronic systems.)  These meters also record the minimum and maximum reading,  have a smoothing feature (low pass filter) to eliminate high frequency noise, and have relative measurement mode. (can be used to eliminate lead resistance, for example)

These meters have the green backkignt, but the white backlight can be retrofitted to this meter for easier reading.

The 88 (series 5)  adds temperature measurement capability,  ( see my TEMPERATURE section for details)  has the newer white backlight, and has an LCD with larger digits, (same size as series III and V standard meters) and has a yellow "function" button instead of the blue button that is used for the series 1.

 The 86 was only made in the "no series" or "series 1" - there is no series 3 or series 5 version of the 86.
There is no series 3 version of the 88, but Fluke calls their latest version the "series 5."  This is probably to indicate it was introduced at roughly the same time as the 87-5 meter.

I do not yet own an 88 series 5, so I have no pictures at this time.