Fluke 114 vs 115: Choose LoZ Voltage or More Measurement Functions

Choose the Fluke 115 if your measurement list includes direct AC/DC current, capacitance, frequency or diode tests; choose the Fluke 114 if voltage, resistance and continuity cover the job and you need AutoVolt/LoZ to reduce ghost-voltage readings. The 115 is a different feature mix, not a complete upgrade: it drops the 114's automatic AC/DC voltage selection and low-impedance voltage mode. These recommendations follow Fluke's model-specific user manual, with the maker-page conflicts explained below.

Quick choice: start with the required measurement

• Voltage checks with ghost-voltage rejection: pick the 114 for AutoVolt/LoZ.
• A broader bench toolkit: pick the 115 for its current input and component functions.
• Both sets of functions: read our Fluke 115 vs 117 comparison. The 117 combines the current/component functions with AutoVolt/LoZ and adds VoltAlert non-contact detection, per the same manual.
• Fine low-current work or temperature: start with our multimeter buying guide. Neither model provides a dedicated µA range or built-in temperature measurement; Fluke's extended specifications assign those functions to the 116 within this group.

Fluke 114 vs 115: the model-specific comparison

The following uses the model assignments in Fluke's shared manual, particularly the function headings and accuracy tables. A feature appearing somewhere in this multi-model document does not mean both meters have it.

Both US product pages also list a three-year warranty: 114 and 115. Neither display count nor the standard DC-voltage accuracy specification gives the 115 an advantage here.

Broader measurement toolkit: Fluke 115

The 115 is our choice when you want to check components as well as voltage. Fluke documents capacitance, diode test and frequency alongside resistance and continuity. Its US product page lists the standard FLUKE-115, part 2538790.

See the standard Fluke 115 and package options at Fluke

An amps input does not guarantee useful small-current detail

The manual gives the 115 a 6.000 A range with 0.001 A resolution, and a 10.00 A range with 0.01 A resolution. Those steps are 1 mA and 10 mA, respectively, calculated by unit conversion. It has no dedicated mA or µA range. If fine low-current detail is the reason you are buying, compare the range, resolution and accuracy required for that job before choosing the 115.

Fluke specifies DC-current accuracy as ±(1.0% of reading + 3 counts). Resolution is the display step, not an accuracy guarantee. The manual also says readings above 10 A are unspecified, with a greater-than-10-to-20 A duty limit of 30 seconds on and 10 minutes off. Do not treat the product page's overload headline as a normal continuous-current rating. These limits come from the manual's current table and footnotes.

For protection of that input, Fluke specifies its PN 803293 fuse: 11 A, 1000 V, FAST, with at least 17,000 A interrupt rating. Match the exact specified replacement; a matching amp number alone is insufficient.

Voltage-focused electrical checks: Fluke 114

The 114 earns its place through AutoVolt/LoZ, rather than a longer function list. Fluke's US page identifies the standard meter as part 2538783. Its manual describes AutoVolt as automatic AC/DC selection with an input impedance of approximately 3 kΩ, reducing the possibility of false readings from ghost voltages.

See the standard Fluke 114 at Fluke

It also retains separate AC- and DC-voltage functions. The manual specifies nominal input impedance above 5 MΩ for standard AC volts and above 10 MΩ for standard DC volts, for both meters. Auto-ranging, available on both, selects a range; AutoVolt selects AC or DC. They are different conveniences.

AutoVolt also has a different accuracy specification: ±(2.0% of reading + 3 counts) for DC and AC from 45–500 Hz, compared with the standard DC-voltage specification in the table. Choose the mode deliberately rather than assuming every voltage position has identical characteristics.

Fluke's safety sheet warns against using Auto Volts on circuits that could be damaged by its low input impedance. LoZ is a troubleshooting function, not a universal default for sensitive circuits.

Use this requirements card before choosing the 114:

• Yes: Voltage, resistance and continuity cover your measurement list
• Yes: AutoVolt and LoZ voltage troubleshooting matter to you
• No: You also require a direct amps input, capacitance, frequency or diode test
• Partly: You need both feature sets: compare the Fluke 117

Avoid the misleading feature claims on Fluke's own pages

The 114 overview mentions current and frequency. Its product-page prose attributes both to the 114, but the shared manual restricts direct-current inputs and frequency measurement to the 115 and 117. Buy the 114 as a voltage/resistance/continuity meter. A compatible optional voltage-output current probe, described separately in the manual, does not create a direct amps terminal.

The 115 page contains temperature information. Its comparison chart and footnotes show temperature text, but the model-specific manual supplies no temperature function for the 115. The extended specification sheet assigns built-in thermocouple measurement to the 116. A temperature probe in an accessory list does not establish a built-in temperature function.

The 115's frequency ceiling is inconsistent. The product page's range table stops at 50.00 kHz; the shared user manual adds a 99.99 kHz range for voltage-input frequency. We leave the upper limit unresolved. If that ceiling determines your purchase, ask Fluke which specification applies to the supplied unit before ordering.

Finally, LoZ capacitance is distinct from LoZ voltage. The 115's low-impedance capacitance power-up option does not supply the 114's AutoVolt voltage mode. The manual separates these functions explicitly.

Buying guide: standard packages, CAL and safety fit

Use the Models and What's in the box sections of the 114 and 115 pages to compare complete packages:

Fluke's 114 data sheet specifically names TL75 leads, while its current US page says only test leads. Confirm the supplied lead model rather than assuming that older, more specific package description applies. For the 115, the current US listing specifies PVC, so do not assume silicone leads are included.

Choose CAL when the supplied calibration certificate and data satisfy your paperwork requirement; it is a package option for the 115, not an additional measurement mode. Compare the total cost of the exact standard or CAL package, required accessories and any separate calibration service. Do not assume an unlisted case, clips or magnetic hanger are included.

Both meters are marked CAT III 600 V, not CAT IV. Fluke's category guide places service-entrance equipment in CAT IV. The safety sheet limits the complete setup to its lowest-rated component and requires protective probe caps for CAT III/IV environments. Match the leads and accessories to the work as well as the instrument.

Home-use caveat: that same safety sheet classifies these meters as Class A EMC equipment and cautions against residential use because of possible interference with radio reception. CAT ratings address a different issue: the electrical measurement environment. If residential EMC suitability is a requirement, obtain Fluke's guidance before choosing either.

1. 1

   Match functions

   Choose the 114 for AutoVolt/LoZ or the 115 for direct current and component functions; consider the 117 when both matter.

2. 2

   Match the paperwork

   Check standard versus CAL and the exact calibration certificate your work requires.

3. 3

   Match the accessories

   Confirm the lead model, ratings, protective caps and any additional case or hanger before comparing totals.

How we choose

We compared Fluke's US product listings, shared user manual, safety sheet and extended specifications, using model-specific entries to separate functions. Recommendations are based on those documents; we publish no original meter readings here. Fluke specifies accuracy for one year after calibration, at 18–28°C and 0–90% relative humidity, with additional function-specific conditions. The source disagreements above remain identified rather than silently resolved.

For the broader decision, return to best multimeters. For current-measurement tool choices, see clamp meter vs multimeter. Our selection method explains the research approach.

Verdict

Buy the 115 for its direct-current input and component functions, or the 114 for voltage-focused checks that benefit from AutoVolt/LoZ. If both are requirements, move to the 115 vs 117 comparison. Choose the least costly complete package that covers your actual measurement list, accessories and calibration paperwork.