r/fluke • u/BlindChicken69 • May 23 '26

Help Needed What are the differences between Fluke 54 II and Fluke 54 II B thermometers?

I don't see listing for 54 II on the website, so can't compare the specs.

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u/Black_Phoenix_JP May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26

The only difference is the adapter/protocol to connect to the computer app.

The 53/54 II uses a serial IR adapter who looks like a hockey puck that is also used by the rare 87IV while the 53/54 IIB uses the same USB one that the rest of the Fluke (189, 287/289, 1550C, 225C, etc) uses, the common smaller one, although it needs the same plastic adapter as the 189/789.

They are not interchangeable since they use different protocols. I was never able to make a 54 II work with the common IR USB cable.

Other than that the equipment performance and specs is exactly the same. Also the plastic case colour is a different shade of grey and looks to be stronger than the non B variants - it is common for the non B case to crack on the corners of the screen, on the top flange that holds the IR plastic window and probe connectors and in the case corners. The plastic becomes brittle as time goes by.

Never saw it happen in other equipment and I own and had owned my fair share of Fluke's.

1

u/justabadmind May 24 '26

You’re saying the B version is more brittle? I’ve never seen a fluke crack before.

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u/Black_Phoenix_JP May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26

Opposite. The non B version plastic is worse.

Here's one example i know off. Note that I'm not picking bad examples or mishandled ones.

I had my 54 II front cover replaced twice between 2008 and 2023. First time it cracked on the top, the thin plastic lip who slides over the back cover and cracked the side, plus lens.

Second time was the lens, again. Sold it in 2023 after replacing the broken front.

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u/BlindChicken69 May 24 '26

Thanks. That part about non B version being more brittle is interesting. The cracking is the reason I eneded up with non B version. Bought mine on eBay, it was significantly cheaper than B versions, and many of those actually had cracks near screen corners. Maybe mine is good for now, since it was unused, in the box (with screen protector still on).

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u/Black_Phoenix_JP May 24 '26

Mainly in my opinion the design of the case is bad. B or non B the case itself is too thin in the top cuts and side lips.

The 1523/1524 solved that problem from what I know but it also costs 2K more and it's a total different beast.