Fluke 8842A DMM Repair

Repair of my Fluke 8842A Bench DMM. The VFD (vacuum fluorescent display) has aged and has gone a bit too dimm for my liking. So, after finding some new old stock for this aging meter I swapped out the display.
Repair of my Fluke 8842A Bench DMM. Swapping out the display for a new one.
More over at my website - www.ianjohnston...

[@bend0matic]

Nice job mate! I've replaced a number of these displays at work...all part of the maintenance with this model....not a bad meter. We started replacing these with 34401's though....a nice upgrade to those 8842's. Cheers and great channel.

[@scarpia519]

Eight years later...these VFD's are no longer available; however, there is an LED equivalent being marketed by an ebay seller which works really well. In acquired one and installed it in my 8842A, it does the job nicely, highly recommended. BTW, it isn't necessary to remove the RMS board, in fact, the one in my 8842A was almost impossible to removed without causing damage. I removed the front panel to get better access to the display's pins for desoldering. I had to cut the banana jack's wires to remove the panel. It was easy to resolder them during the rebuild.

[@mikemurphy5336]

on the transformer there can be cold solder joints or aged cracked solder around pins of transformer, remove all old solder, re-flow with new solder, this helps the display get brighter in some cases

[@grantfullen9559]

Nice Job on the upgrade.

[@ovalwingnut]

Very nice keyhole surgery! I would have needed to get that puppy out, flat and unencumbered. Nice repair. VFD's rule (for the most part). Cheers

[@IanScottJohnston]

Brand new old stock, a very lucky find on Ebay (.com as I remember).

[@robertpk]

What's the story of the Aim-TTi function generator on the right of the DMM at 0:57, those tools don't have this metal switch with "OFF" label, is it your improvement, or did something break in it?

[@wadehicks9270]

Good job

[@TheSoundtec]

The wires going to the test leads are just snap on connectors.. grab firmly close to the end with pliers and pull away.. they are firm connections.. Comment for Jiri.. LOL

[@lollipopposugar9055]

awesome!

[@ericc3406]

I got one from ebay, but I found something weird, after I measure the voltage, my probes don't touch anything, but the reading won't go back to 0, it slowly dropped little by little, until I short the probe. Is that normal? Never used bench multimeter before. Thank you

[@CoquiAudio]

sorry for the silly question what is the part number for the test leads?

[@pnnielsen]

Dude, you need a proper rework station with a vacuum desoldering tool... You were soo lucky that's not a 2-layer PCB...

[@mikenwa1355]

I haven’t got a bench meter but I’m in the market for one and was wondering about how you like using the Fluke 8842A? I’m considering the Fluke 8808. Do you have any idea how old the meter was when you finally had to replace the VFD? I’m not an engineer it’s just a hobby. Thanks for the video.

[@xiaoqianwh]

Very good, I also have a fluke 8842.

[@TheSoundtec]

Hi, can you tell me the outside dimensions of the VFD..?

[@alexabadi7458]

Thanks ! :o)

[@sw6188]

Hi, when you bought the NOS display, did you by chance get more than one? I have a good meter with a completely dead display and being in New Zealand it isn't practical to get a parts meter shipped from anywhere else in the world due to cost. I just need a display. Thanks!

[@IanScottJohnston]

Hi, no I only bought what I neded. Sorry!

[@jonka1]

Not sure if almost two minutes of the back of your hand while de soldering some pins is of much use. Have you considered editing this sort of footage out?

[@IanScottJohnston]

5yr old video......I was learning, still am!

[@andymouse]

Hi, just found you! Nice vid, apparently there is a dodgy way to "regenerate" the phosphor did you consider this ?

[@IanScottJohnston]

Not in this case, but have used it to extend the like of some IN-18 nixie tubes, the idea being you over voltage the tubes slightly and it helps burn off deposits and brings them back to life.

[@stevec5000]

Why not just increase the voltage to the display a little bit?

[@pnnielsen]

It's fixed by design

[@franklinyanez3963]

Hello, what model soldering iron use? thanks

[@IanScottJohnston]

Franklin Yánez Duratool desoldering gun, Weller WSD81.

[@DanFrederiksen]

Oversized, overpriced primitive tech..

[@sokolshok]

Да ладно вам. Неплохой мультиметр и разбирается удобно. Насчет цены - так зачем брать новый? Есть же laboratory surplus.