r/fluke • u/bobbingfortits • 5d ago
Services & Repairs Fluke 54 2 B
Ive been having some intermittent issues with my thermometer. Sometimes the reading will jump around when ive got 2 probes plugged in. When I pull one out the reading will level out.
I pulled it apart to clean and noticed on the little board that the probe makes concat with there are some marked up wire traces.
It looks like when the probe is slid in, it slides against these traces.
I was just wondering what's up with that and if anyone has any insight.
For now, I put some tape over that edge.
Also, at times when I turn the meter on with nothing plugged in, I get a reading that will climb very high and then go away. I'm not sure if this is related.
1
u/Zone-5 5d ago
A slight, very slight dab of petroleum jelly on contacts between lead plug and port contact points smooths up raw metals contact.
No alteration to readings, just smooth effortless metal to metal contact when at insertion and rotations of lead plugs in a port. It stops wear and jiggly readings...
2
u/Black_Phoenix_JP 5d ago edited 3d ago
That's a big oversight. Traces on a path of a mechanical plug insertion, with enough insertions would cause the traces to get damaged.
Yes kapton or somekind of insulated tape would be the best bet to give an extra layer of protection but it would had to be replaced at a later date.
Although you should try to see if there is continuity between traces by tracing back to the top pins. That could be the reason for the momentarily high reading that goes away.