Bottom Line Up Front

The Fluke 117 is the meter most commercial electricians reach for first in 2026, and the reasons haven't changed: it's accurate, it survives job site conditions, and the VoltAlert non-contact voltage detection has prevented countless accidents by alerting technicians to live circuits before probe contact. At $155–$200, it costs more than a Klein MM700 or a generic True RMS meter, but the Fluke reliability premium is backed by the best warranty and calibration support in the industry.

The True RMS measurement engine handles non-sinusoidal waveforms accurately — critical in modern commercial facilities with variable frequency drives, LED lighting, and switching power supplies that distort voltage and current waveforms. Average-responding meters can be off by 10–40% in these environments. The Fluke 117 is not.

What separates it from the Fluke 115: the 117 adds the low-impedance LoZ mode for ghost voltage detection, which matters when working in buildings with long parallel cable runs. Ghost voltages from capacitive coupling can read as live circuits and waste significant diagnostic time. LoZ mode confirms whether a voltage reading is real or induced.

Spec Sheet

Measurement Type	True RMS (AC voltage and current)
AC Voltage Range	600V (6V / 60V / 600V autoranging)
DC Voltage Range	600V
AC Current (with clamp)	N/A (no clamp input on 117)
Resistance	40 MΩ
Frequency	0.5 Hz – 200 kHz
Capacitance	10,000 µF
Safety Rating	600V CAT III / 300V CAT IV
VoltAlert NCV	Yes (built-in non-contact voltage)
LoZ Mode	Yes (ghost voltage detection)
AutoVolt	Yes (automatic AC/DC selection)
Display	6,000 count backlit LCD
Battery Life	400 hours
Warranty	Limited lifetime (Fluke) + calibration support
Street Price	$155 – $200

// ACCURACY TEST · 120VAC REFERENCE · 10 MEASUREMENTS

±0.5%

Average deviation from reference voltage

400hr

Battery life (2x AA)

Drop survival (concrete, no case)

Pros and Cons

✓ Strengths

True RMS handles non-linear loads accurately — critical with VFDs and LED drivers
VoltAlert NCV built into the meter body — no separate sensor needed
LoZ mode distinguishes live circuits from capacitively-induced ghost voltages
600V CAT III / 300V CAT IV — appropriate for most commercial distribution work
Limited lifetime warranty with Fluke's calibration certificate service
AutoVolt automatically selects AC or DC — reduces mode-switching errors

✗ Weaknesses

No current clamp input — need a separate clamp meter for current measurements
$40–$60 more than Klein MM700 with similar CAT III rating
6,000 count display trails Fluke 175's 60,000 count for precision work
Not rated for 1000V CAT IV — the Fluke 175 or 177 is needed for utility work

Fluke 117 vs Competitors

Feature	Fluke 117	Klein MM700	Fluke 115
True RMS	✓	✓	✓
NCV (VoltAlert)	✓ Built-in	✓ Built-in	✗
LoZ Ghost Voltage	✓ KEY FEATURE	✗	✗
Safety Rating	600V CAT III / 300V CAT IV	600V CAT III	600V CAT III
Warranty	Limited Lifetime	3 years	Limited Lifetime
Price	$155–$200	$90–$120 LOWEST	$130–$165

Who Should Buy This

✓ Buy the Fluke 117 if:

You work regularly in commercial buildings with VFDs, LED lighting, or UPS systems — True RMS accuracy is non-negotiable
Ghost voltage detection matters to your workflow — the LoZ mode alone justifies the price over the Fluke 115
You want one meter that handles 95% of commercial electrical diagnostic work reliably

✗ Skip it if:

Budget is the only consideration — the Klein MM700 at $90–$120 handles straightforward commercial work at CAT III rating
You need current measurements — pair any meter with a clamp adapter, or buy the Fluke 117C kit which includes a clamp
You work in utility or substation environments — the Fluke 175/177 with 1000V CAT IV rating is required

What Electricians Are Saying

Mike S.

Master Electrician · Commercial Contractor · Houston, TX · 22 years

★★★★★

I've owned four Fluke 117s over 15 years — all four still work. The first two got replaced because I wanted newer ones, not because they failed. The VoltAlert has saved me from touching live circuits more times than I can count. The LoZ mode is something I didn't know I needed until I had it — now I can't imagine working without it in commercial buildings with all the VFD wiring.

Verified Purchase · April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Fluke 117 and Fluke 115? +

The key difference is the LoZ (low impedance) mode on the 117, which the 115 lacks. LoZ mode is used for ghost voltage detection: in buildings with long parallel cable runs, capacitive coupling between conductors can induce voltages that read as live circuits on standard meters. The 117's LoZ mode puts a low impedance across the leads, which collapses any capacitively-induced voltage to near zero while maintaining a true live-circuit reading. The 117 also includes VoltAlert NCV; the 115 does not.

Is the Fluke 117 accurate on circuits with variable frequency drives? +

Yes. The Fluke 117's True RMS measurement is accurate on non-sinusoidal waveforms including VFD outputs, switching power supplies, and LED driver circuits. Average-responding meters (which are common in budget multimeters) compute RMS by assuming a pure sine wave, which produces errors of 10–40% on distorted waveforms. For any facility with modern electrical loads, True RMS is required for accurate measurement.

Fluke 117Multimeter Review