COMPARISON · MULTIMETERS
Fluke 28 II vs Fluke 87V: Which Is Better for Industrial Work?
For industrial work in wet, dusty or underground environments, the Fluke 28 II is the better fit: Fluke rates it IP67, approves it for mining (MSHA), rates it for a 3 m drop and lets it go to -40 °C for 20 minutes. For indoor plant maintenance, the Fluke 87V is the stronger instrument, with slightly tighter AC volts and DC amps specs, a 0.01 µA DC resolution and a lighter case. Both share the CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V rating, a low-pass filter for drives, 250 µs peak capture, temperature input and a lifetime warranty.
By the OhmSavvy Research Team ·
Disclosure: OhmSavvy earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. How we're funded.
Fluke 28 II
4.6★★★★★An IP67, MSHA-approved True RMS meter with 87V-class volts accuracy, a low-pass filter and a 3 m drop rating.
Fluke 87V
4.8★★★★★The step-up pick for anyone who needs CAT IV protection and high-resolution readings daily.
Specs side by side
| Fluke 28 II | Fluke 87V | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6★★★★★ | 4.8★★★★★ |
| Accuracy | True RMS, 0.05% + 1 DC V | True RMS |
| Safety rating | CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V | CAT III 1000V / CAT IV 600V |
| Auto-ranging | Yes (manual override) | Yes |
| Best for | Wet, dusty and mining sites | Industrial technicians, daily professional use |
| Ingress protection | IP67, waterproof and dustproof | IP30 |
| MSHA approval | Yes | Not listed (CE, CSA, RCM) |
| Drop rating | 3 m (10 ft) with holster | 3 m (comparison table); 1 m per IEC 61010-1 (spec tab) |
| Operating temperature | -15 to 55 °C; -40 °C for 20 min; 95% RH | -20 to 55 °C |
| Spike withstand | 8,000 V | Over 8,000 V |
| AC volts | 0.7% + 4, 15 Hz to 20 kHz | ±(0.7% + 2), 20 kHz |
| DC amps | 0.2% + 4 | ±(0.2% + 4) on 60 mA; ±(0.2% + 2) on 400 mA |
| Resistance | 0.1 Ω to 50 MΩ; accuracy not stated on page | To 50 MΩ, ±(0.2% + 1) |
| Hi-res mode | 20,000 counts | 19,999 counts |
| Battery | 3 × AA, 800 h | 9V alkaline, ~400 h |
| Backlit keypad | Yes | No |
| Weight with holster | 698.5 g (Amazon lists 300 g) | 624 g |
| Calibration certificate | NIST-traceable, per Amazon listing | Not included with the standard model |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | Lifetime |
Specs checked against manufacturer documentation and official Amazon listings. Fluke 87V is hands-on tested by OhmSavvy; the Fluke 28 II assessment is desk research. How we research.
Key differences
- →Environment: the 28 II is IP67 (sealed against dust and rated for temporary immersion). The 87V is IP30, with no rated water protection.
- →Mining: Fluke lists MSHA approval for the 28 II. The 87V's listed approvals are CE, CSA and RCM, with no MSHA.
- →Cold: the 28 II can run down to -40 °C for up to 20 minutes. Its continuous range starts at -15 °C, while the 87V's starts lower, at -20 °C.
- →Precision: the 87V's AC volts (0.7% + 2) and DC amps on the 400 mA range (0.2% + 2) carry two fewer counts than the 28 II's (0.7% + 4 and 0.2% + 4); on the 60 mA loop range both are 0.2% + 4. DC volts are identical at 0.05% + 1.
- →Power and visibility: three AA cells for 800 hours and a backlit keypad on the 28 II; one 9V for about 400 hours and an unlit keypad on the 87V.
- →Shared: CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V, a low-pass filter, 250 µs peak capture, 10 A input (20 A for 30 s), -200 to 1090 °C temperature, frequency to about 200 kHz and a lifetime warranty.
Two kinds of industrial
"Industrial work" covers two very different days. One is spent indoors in a climate-controlled electrical room, chasing a drive fault or calibrating a loop. The other is spent at a pit, a pump station, a wash-down line or a conveyor gallery coated in dust. The 87V was built for the first, and the 28 II was built to bring nearly the same measuring set to the second.
28 II: sealed
IP67 against IP30. The case is the reason the 28 II exists.
28 II: MSHA
Fluke lists MSHA approval; the 87V page doesn't.
28 II: cold excursions
Down to -40 °C for 20 minutes.
87V: tighter digits
Two fewer counts on AC volts and DC amps.
87V: lighter
624 g holstered against 698.5 g.
Same safety rating
Both CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V.
We own and have tested the 87V; it holds our 4.8 rating. The 28 II is scored 4.6 from Fluke's published specs and its Amazon listing, not from our own use. Our Fluke 87V review has the full measurement detail.
Fluke 28 II vs 87V spec by spec
Much of the electrical spec is shared, which is no accident: Fluke presents the 28 II as a rugged meter with 87V-class functions. Where the numbers do part ways, the 87V wins the measuring lines and the 28 II wins everything to do with surviving the site.
| Spec | Fluke 28 II | Fluke 87V | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety rating | CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V | CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V | Same |
| DC volts | 0.05% + 1, to 1000 V | ±(0.05% + 1), to 1000 V | Same |
| AC volts | 0.7% + 4, 15 Hz to 20 kHz | ±(0.7% + 2), 20 kHz | 87V |
| Low-pass filter | Yes | Yes, 3 dB at 1 kHz | Same |
| DC amps | 0.2% + 4 | ±(0.2% + 4) on 60 mA; ±(0.2% + 2) on 400 mA | Tie on loops; 87V on 400 mA |
| AC amps | 1.0% + 2 | ±(1.0% + 2) | Same |
| Current span | 0.1 µA to 10 A (20 A, 30 s) | To 10 A (20 A, 30 s); 0.01 µA DC resolution | 87V |
| Resistance | 0.1 Ω to 50 MΩ | ±(0.2% + 1), to 50 MΩ | 87V (spec published) |
| Capacitance | 1 nF to 9,999 µF | To 9,999 µF | Same |
| Frequency | 0.5 Hz to 199.99 kHz | To 200 kHz | Same |
| Temperature | -200 to 1090 °C, 80BK-A | -200 to 1090 °C, 80BK | Same |
| Peak capture | 250 µs | 250 µs | Same |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP30 | 28 II |
| MSHA | Approved | Not listed | 28 II |
| Drop | 3 m with holster | 3 m (table) / 1 m (spec tab) | 28 II or tie |
| Operating temperature | -15 to 55 °C; -40 °C, 20 min | -20 to 55 °C | Depends |
| Battery | 3 × AA, 800 h | 9V, ~400 h | 28 II |
| Keypad backlight | Yes | No | 28 II |
| Weight with holster | 698.5 g | 624 g | 87V |
The working: 0.2% of 12.00 mA is 0.024 mA. Two counts of 0.01 mA add 0.02 mA on the 87V; four add 0.04 mA on the 28 II. On a 4–20 mA loop, where 16 mA spans the full process range, ±0.064 mA is about 0.4% of span, which is fine for "is the transmitter alive and roughly right?" but loose for a calibration record. For loop work in more depth, see our 4–20 mA loop testing guide.
Conflicts in the sources
Harsh-site jobs: where each meter belongs
Walk through a heavy-industry site and the right choice changes from building to building. The 28 II's case earns its weight wherever water, slurry or dust can reach the meter; the 87V's tighter numbers matter where the environment is controlled and the reading goes into a report.
| Location or job | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Underground or surface mine | Fluke 28 II | MSHA approval listed; dust-tight case |
| Wash-down food or beverage line | Fluke 28 II | IP67 rating covers spray and brief immersion |
| Pump and lift stations, wastewater | Fluke 28 II | Wet floors, drops into sumps |
| Outdoor substation or yard in winter | Fluke 28 II | -40 °C excursions for up to 20 minutes |
| MCC room and drive cabinets | Fluke 87V | Same low-pass filter, tighter AC volts digits, lighter |
| Instrument loops and calibration checks | Fluke 87V | 0.01 µA DC resolution; same 0.2% + 4 as the 28 II on the 60 mA loop range |
| Steady cold storage below -15 °C | Fluke 87V | Its continuous rating goes to -20 °C |
| Hot process areas above 55 °C | Neither | Both stop at 55 °C; keep the meter out of the heat |
The cold-storage row surprises people. The 28 II's headline -40 °C is a 20-minute excursion rating. For a technician who stays inside a -18 °C freezer to work on evaporator fans, the 87V's continuous -20 °C floor is the better published match. For someone stepping out of a heated truck to an outdoor disconnect in a northern winter, the 28 II's short-term rating is the useful one.
MSHA approval and the calibration certificate
MSHA is the US Mine Safety and Health Administration. Fluke lists the 28 II as MSHA approved, and the 87V's page lists no such approval. If your mine's electrical program calls for approved test equipment, that line can decide the purchase on its own. Check the approval's conditions with your safety department; an approval is not the same as intrinsic safety. Fluke sells a separate 28 II EX for hazardous locations, and the standard 28 II on this page is not that model.
The Amazon listing for the 28 II also says the unit is calibrated before shipment and comes with a NIST-traceable certificate with data. Plants working under a quality system often need a calibration record before a meter enters service, so that can save a trip to a cal lab. The offer comes from a third-party seller rather than Amazon itself, so confirm the certificate is still described on the listing when you order. Fluke's own 87V box contents list no certificate.
Fluke 28 II vs 87V: which should you buy?
| You are… | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mine electrician | Fluke 28 II | MSHA listed, IP67, 3 m drop |
| Plant maintenance tech, mostly indoors | Fluke 87V | Tighter specs, lighter, tested by us |
| Instrument and controls tech | Fluke 87V | Better DC amps digits for loop checks |
| Water or wastewater operator | Fluke 28 II | Wet environment is the main risk |
| Food plant electrician with wash-down | Fluke 28 II | Survives hose-down cleaning cycles |
| Outdoor utility or yard work | Fluke 28 II, or 87V MAX | Both IP67; the MAX adds a 4 m drop rating |
| Needs a cal certificate on day one | Fluke 28 II | Listing includes a NIST-traceable certificate |
If you like the 87V's layout but need sealing, there is a third option: the 87V MAX is also IP67 and rated for a 4 m drop. We compare it with the standard model in Fluke 87V vs Fluke 87V MAX. For other industrial meters, see Fluke 87V vs Fluke 289 and our best multimeter for electricians guide.
Safety: rugged doesn't mean rated for every hazard
Choose the Fluke 28 II if…
- ✓You work in mines, quarries or tunnels where an MSHA-approved meter is expected
- ✓Your meter gets hosed down, rained on or dropped into water and sludge
- ✓You want a backlit keypad, 800 hours on AA cells and, per the Amazon listing, a calibration certificate in the box
Choose the Fluke 87V if…
- ✓Your industrial work is in dry electrical rooms: MCCs, drive cabinets, PLC panels
- ✓You want the tighter published AC volts and DC amps accuracy and a full resistance accuracy spec
- ✓You want the meter we've tested hands-on, and a slimmer, lighter case on the belt
The bottom line
Choose the Fluke 28 II when the environment is the problem: IP67 sealing, MSHA approval, a 3 m drop rating, short cold excursions to -40 °C, 800-hour AA battery life and a backlit keypad make it the mine and wash-down meter. Choose the Fluke 87V, our hands-on tested pick, for indoor plant and controls work, where its tighter AC volts and DC amps specs and lighter case count for more. Both share the same safety rating and drive-ready features.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Fluke 28 II the same as an 87V?+
Not quite. It shares most of the 87V's functions, including the CAT IV 600V / CAT III 1000V rating, low-pass filter, 250 µs peak capture, temperature input and 0.05% + 1 DC volts. It adds an IP67 case, MSHA approval and a backlit keypad, but its AC volts and DC amps specs carry two more counts than the 87V's.
Is the Fluke 28 II intrinsically safe?+
Fluke doesn't describe the standard 28 II as intrinsically safe. It lists MSHA approval and IP67 sealing, which is a different thing. Fluke sells a separate model, the 28 II EX, for hazardous locations. Don't take the standard 28 II into a classified explosive atmosphere; ask your safety department which certified meter your site requires.
Which is more accurate, the Fluke 28 II or 87V?+
The 87V, slightly. Fluke lists both at 0.05% + 1 on DC volts and 1.0% + 2 on AC amps, but the 87V's AC volts are ±(0.7% + 2) against 0.7% + 4 on the 28 II, and its DC amps are ±(0.2% + 2) against 0.2% + 4 on the 400 mA range (both are 0.2% + 4 on the 60 mA range used for 4-20 mA loops). Fluke also publishes a resistance accuracy for the 87V but not for the 28 II.
Does the Fluke 28 II come with a calibration certificate?+
The Amazon listing we link to says the unit is calibrated before shipment and ships with a NIST-traceable certificate with data. That comes from the seller's listing, not Fluke's box contents, which list only the meter, TL75 leads, AC175 clips, the 80BK-A probe and a quick reference guide. Confirm the listing still says so when you order.
Can the Fluke 87V be used outdoors?+
Yes, in dry conditions. Its operating range is -20 °C to 55 °C and it carries the same CAT IV 600V rating as the 28 II. What it lacks is water protection: Fluke rates it IP30. For rain, spray or work near standing water, the IP67 28 II or 87V MAX is the safer meter to own.
How long do the batteries last in the Fluke 28 II?+
Fluke quotes 800 hours from three AA batteries. The 87V runs on a single 9V alkaline cell rated about 400 hours without the backlight. On a meter used all shift, the 28 II roughly halves how often you change batteries, and AA cells are easier to find at a remote site than 9V ones.
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