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Review

Fluke 179 Review: True-RMS Multimeter for Industrial Troubleshooting

The Fluke 179 is the industrial workhorse of the Fluke handheld range: True RMS, temperature, bar graph, auto hold and min/max/average recording. This review explains what those features are used for and how the 179 differs from the smaller Fluke 117.

By the Akermin Editorial Team · 4 min read

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Fluke 179 Review: True-RMS Multimeter for Industrial Troubleshooting

Fluke · Fluke 179 Multimeter with Backlight, Includes Built-In Thermometer to Measure Temperature, Measures True-RMS AC Current and Voltage, Frequency, Capacitance, Resistance, Continuity and Diode

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Price and availability are shown on Amazon and can change at any time.

Verdict

The Fluke 179 is the meter to choose when troubleshooting is the job rather than verification. It measures True RMS AC voltage and current, DC voltage and current, resistance, continuity, capacitance, frequency, diode test and temperature with the included thermocouple. It offers both manual and automatic ranging, an analogue bar graph, Display Hold, Auto Hold and Min/Max/Average recording, and a backlit display. Against the Fluke 117 it is larger, has no non-contact voltage detection or AutoVolt, and costs more, but it has temperature, manual ranging and a bar graph, and it is rated for the higher transient categories that industrial and service-entrance work require. The documentation supports it as a long-service industrial meter, and owner reports about durability are consistent with that.

Who It Is For

  • Industrial electricians and instrument technicians who troubleshoot motors, drives and controls.
  • HVAC technicians who want temperature and electrical measurements in one meter.
  • Anyone who needs manual ranging for stable readings on fluctuating signals.

Documented Specifications

Item Documentation
Measurement type True RMS AC voltage and current
Functions Voltage, current, resistance, continuity, capacitance, frequency, diode test
Temperature Built-in with included type K thermocouple
Ranging Manual and automatic
Recording Display Hold, Auto Hold, Min/Max/Average
Display Backlit digital display with analogue bar graph
Kit Available as an industrial thermometer combo kit

The manufacturer publishes the safety category ratings, accuracy figures and input limits on the datasheet and on the meter itself; consult those for the current revision.

Temperature in an Electrical Meter

The thermocouple input is what separates the 179 from the 177. In HVAC work it lets one meter read a capacitor, a contactor coil and a supply air temperature in sequence. In industrial work it checks a motor bearing housing or a transformer surface while the same meter reads the current. Type K thermocouples are low-cost and available in bead, surface and pipe-clamp forms, so the function grows with the accessories you add. Readings are only as good as the thermocouple contact, so surface readings need a probe designed for surfaces.

Manual Ranging, Auto Hold and the Bar Graph

Auto ranging is convenient until a signal hovers near a range boundary, when the meter hunts and the digits blink between resolutions. Manual ranging fixes the range and steadies the reading, which is why industrial technicians insist on it. Auto Hold is the feature owners praise most: it captures a stable reading and beeps so you can look away from an awkward probe position. Min/Max/Average recording catches intermittent faults such as a voltage sag when a compressor starts, over a period of minutes or hours. The bar graph is the fast-response indicator for trends. Together these make the 179 a troubleshooting instrument rather than a checker. See measuring DC voltage and testing continuity for the basics.

Build and Ergonomics

The 170 series is larger than the 110 series but still one-handed. The case fits Fluke’s holster and magnetic hanger range, and the input jacks are on the front for use in a holster. Owners commonly report a decade or more of service, which is consistent with the manufacturer’s positioning of this series as a lifetime instrument. The backlight is adequate rather than bright; the Fluke 117’s white LED is the brighter of the two. The 179 ships with a bead thermocouple suited to air temperature; a surface probe is a worthwhile addition for motor and pipe readings. The fuses for the current inputs are the high-rupture type specified by the manufacturer and should be replaced only with the same rating, a point owners raise after a blown fuse on an unfamiliar circuit.

Strengths

  • Temperature plus full electrical functions in one meter.
  • Manual ranging, Auto Hold and Min/Max/Average for troubleshooting.
  • Bar graph shows what the digits miss.
  • Reputation for durability.

Limitations

  • No non-contact voltage detection and no AutoVolt.
  • Larger and heavier than the 117.
  • Higher price than compact meters with similar basic functions.

How It Compares

The Fluke 117 is the electrician’s compact alternative with VoltAlert, AutoVolt and LoZ but no temperature. The Fluke 325 clamp meter also has temperature and capacitance and adds clamp current, for a technician who mostly measures current. The testo 770-3 is a Bluetooth clamp meter with a thermocouple input and a two-line display for HVAC teams that want app reporting.

How We Research

This review is based on the manufacturer’s published specifications and user manual, the Amazon product listing and owner reports. We did not run laboratory tests. Related: choosing a multimeter for home electrical work.

Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter, Non-Contact AC Voltage Detection, Measures Resistance/Continuity/Frequency/Capacitance/Min Max Average, Automatic AC/DC Selection, Low Impedance Mode

Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter, Non-Contact AC Voltage Detection, Measures Resistance/Continuity/Frequency/Capacitance/Min

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Fluke 325 True-RMS Clamp Meter with Frequency, Temperature & Capacitance Measurements

Fluke 325 True-RMS Clamp Meter with Frequency, Temperature & Capacitance

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testo 770-3 Clamp Meter Set – Clamp Multimeter for Electrical Testing – HVAC Multimeter TRMS Measurement – Measures AC/DC Voltage up to 1000 V - with Retractable Pincer Arm and Bluetooth

testo 770-3 Clamp Meter Set – Clamp Multimeter for Electrical

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Products shown because their documented specifications fit this guide. Price and availability are on Amazon and can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Fluke 177 and 179?

The 179 adds temperature measurement with a type K thermocouple. Otherwise the two share the same platform. The 175 is the base model without the backlight and without temperature.

What is Auto Hold?

Auto Hold freezes the reading when it stabilises and beeps, so you can take a measurement in an awkward position and read it afterwards without pressing a button while holding the probes.

Why does it have an analogue bar graph?

The bar graph updates faster than the digits and shows trends, peaks and fluctuations that a number cannot. It is useful when adjusting a potentiometer or watching a voltage sag under load.

Does the 179 measure current?

Yes, through the input jacks in series with the circuit up to the fused limit on the meter. For clamp measurement it accepts accessories such as the i400.

Affiliate disclosure: Akermin earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through links on this page. Our editorial picks are based on documented specifications and owner feedback, not commissions.