Fluke 117 True-RMS Digital Multimeter
ELITE tier
Fluke Corporation has been the standard in electronic test equipment since 1948, and the 117 is their most popular meter for commercial electricians and HVAC technicians for good reason.
Origin
Made in USA
Warranty
Lifetime limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship; does not cover fuses, batteries, or damage from misuse; Fluke authorized service centers available worldwide
Price
~$175 (Mid)
Community
Reddit r/BuyItForLife Approved
The True-RMS measurement provides accurate readings on non-linear loads — the kind of dirty power signals that cheap meters misread by 20 to 40 percent. The AutoVolt feature automatically selects AC or DC voltage, eliminating a common source of measurement error in the field.
The CAT III 600V safety rating means the input protection circuitry is designed to survive transient voltage spikes without destroying the meter or its operator. The case is a rubberized overmold designed to survive repeated drops from ladder height onto concrete.
Fluke publishes schematics for their meters, and replacement test leads, probes, fuses, and batteries are all available. The internal fuse is a high-energy ceramic type rated to safely interrupt fault currents — not the glass fuses that cheaper meters use and that can fail explosively.
At roughly $175, the Fluke 117 costs three times what a hardware store multimeter does, but electricians who have run through three cheap meters in the time a single Fluke stays in service understand the real cost equation. Fluke backs the 117 with a lifetime warranty.