Fluke - Make electrical measurements easy - with the right tools!

Application Note With today’s proliferation of electrical systems, a simple multimeter is no longer enough. The right tools will help electrical contractors to get the job done quickly, efficiently and safely. Electrical systems in today’s homes and commercial build-ings are much more complexthan just a few years ago.Where the most important loadhas traditionally been basicpower and lighting circuits, allkinds of appliances, systemsand networks have rapidlybecome established. A widevariety of domestic appliances,security and access controlsystems, personal computersand peripherals and manymore mean more diversity andcomplexity for electricians andinstallers. Let alone theincreasing trend towards‘smart buildings’, with all thenew technology that involves. These developments are reflected in the correspondinggrowth in the cost and scale ofelectrical installations, whichhave increased to represent asignificant proportion of theoverall value of many newbuilding projects. Where asimple, analog multimeter hasin the past been enough tohandle most tasks, today’selectrical systems demandmore sophisticated tools to getthe job done quickly, efficientlyand - above all - safely. But ofcourse ‘sophisticated’ shouldnot translate into difficult oper-ation.  In the past the most frequently required value to bemeasured was voltage, forexample to make quick checksfor good connections or meas-ure losses. Today a muchwider range of parameters mayneed to be measured, forexample accurate true rmsvoltages, variable-level signals,currents - including bothsteady-state values and inrushcurrents such as when motorsor other devices are started-up- low-level signals innetworks, or even parameterslike frequencies, temperatures,rotational speeds and more. Make electrical  measurements easy -  with the right tools! Keeping safety in mind All the time, the essentialfactor of safety has to be keptfirmly in mind. As the leader inhandheld electrical test tools,Fluke has a strong safety focusin all its products, and worksactively towards industry-wideprotection measures to helpensure safe working conditions.Fluke aggressively promotes itsElectrical Safety Program, aneducational campaign aimed atraising awareness of industrialelectrical hazards and productstandards. 

2 Fluke Corporation One safety issue that’s critical toelectrical workers is transientovervoltages. As distributionsystems and loads becomemore complex, the possibilityof transient overvoltagesincreases. Motors, capacitorsand power conversion equip-ment such as variable speeddrives can be prime generatorsof voltage spikes. Lightningstrikes on outdoor transmissionlines also cause extremelyhazardous high-energy tran-sients. When takingmeasurements on electricalsystems, these transients pres-ent invisible and largelyunavoidable hazards. Theyoccur regularly on low-voltagepower circuits, and can reachpeak values of many thousandsof volts. This means voltagescan be encountered that are farhigher than simply the ratedvoltage of the network or circuiton which a measurement isbeing made. In these cases, theuser’s protection depends onthe safety margin built into themeter being used. The voltagerating alone will not indicatehow well that meter wasdesigned to survive these highvoltage transients. Fluke electrical tools are tested by independent testinglaboratories, and carry thecorresponding approval markssuch as UL, CSA, TUV and VDE.Particularly important is theEN61010 safety standard,which emphasizes protectionagainst the increasing dangerof high-voltage transients.Every Fluke meter is designedto meet this standard and ismarked with a relevant categoryand voltage rating, in manycases the CAT III 1000 V over-voltage category which providesthe required level of protectionin domestic and commercialworking environments. Practical guidelines forpurchasing A few simple practical guide-lines are worth applying everytime when purchasing newmultimeters and other testtools. It goes without sayingthat meters and test leads should always be made ofdurable, non-conductive mate-rials. Double insulation is alsoessential to provide maximumprotection against voltagespresent on live wires andconductors. Input jacks onmeters should always berecessed to prevent the dangerof accidentally touching liveparts of the jack plugs. And forthe same reason test leadsshould always have shroudedinput connectors. Finally, testleads should have finger guardsand non-slip surfaces, to givethe user a secure grip withoutthe danger of unintentionallycoming into contact with liveareas of either the lead itself orthe component under test. Wide choice of easy-to-use tools Making the electrician’s jobsimpler and more efficient,Fluke offers a wide choice ofeasy-to-use electrical test toolsto handle. Probably the mostcommon test of all is to checkfor the presence of a voltage,and the Fluke 1AC VoltAlert™makes it easier than ever to doso. This compact tool fits in ashirt pocket, and all that’snecessary is to touch the tip toa power terminal, conductor,outlet or cord, even withoutdirect metal-to-metal contact.If it glows red you knowthere’s voltage on the line.  The Fluke T3 voltage and continuity tester has LED voltage indicators that clearlyshow seven AC or DC voltagelevels. Or if you need full multi-meter functions in a compact,pocket-size tool, the Fluke 112digital multimeter is specifi-cally designed for use byelectricians and contractors. It offers true rms AC voltageand current measurements,ensuring optimum accuracy ofmeasurements on equipmentthat draws current in shortpulses, as well as frequencyand capacitance measure-ments. The model 112 also hasa backlight for a clear readouteven in dark spaces.  Meeting the increasing need for current measurements, theFluke 322 clamp meter is compactand affordably priced, enablingevery electrician to make quick,accurate measurements in tightspaces. Or with its new OpenJaw™technology, the T5 voltage,continuity and current tester is asingle, compact tool that allowscurrents up to 100A to be checkedwithout opening the circuit.  There’s more to today’s elec- trical measurements than simplyvoltage and current, which isreflected in Fluke’s wide rangeof special-purpose test tools.Good examples are the 61 and65 infrared thermometers, forquick, safe, non-contact temper-ature measurements. These canbe used for electrical fault locationand diagnosis by identifying hotspots on electrical panels,connections, motors and systems.Infrared thermometers are theideal tools for measuring surfacetemperatures of targets which

are rotating, electrically live,dangerously hot or in hard-to-reach locations. With their bright laser beamfor easy object targeting, thesethermometers cut measurementtime down to almost zero bytaking a temperature readingin less than one second. Best ofall, one of these pocket-sizeinfrared thermometers is avail-able for less than  € 130, so it can be an affordable part ofevery electrician’s toolkit. User-friendliness anddurability are essential  Like all the Fluke electrical testtools, these models are alldesigned for easy, intuitiveoperation so electricians canconcentrate on the job they aredoing. No-one wants to carry auser manual when workingon-site, so instruments shouldabove all be easy to use. Keyfactors are a bright, easy-to-readdisplay, and especially onewith backlighting for workingin dimly lit areas. Knobs andbuttons should also be clearand easy-to-operate to ensuresecure working in tough fieldconditions. And tools should becompact and lightweight, foreasy use in cramped equipmentcabinets and cable compart-ments.  Fluke professional test tools have earned a reputation overthe years for their ruggedconstruction, and most modelsare tested to withstand a 3 meter drop onto a hardsurface. Which means theywill last longer and continue toperform to specification, evenafter long periods of tough,everyday use.  Choose the accuracy you need Of course it’s important to beable to have confidence inyour meter readings. Mostmeasurements on electricalinstallations and circuits don’tdemand lab-grade accuracylevels, but it’s important to besure that the accuracy of a toolis properly matched to the measurement task to be done.Full information can be foundin the product specifications,which will tell you what youneed to know about the accu-racy of your meter readings. Accessories and service Finally, it’s worth giving someconsideration to the value oftool accessories and spareparts. Accessories can oftenbroaden the range of applica-tions of a tool greatly, and inmany cases make specificmeasurement tasks mucheasier. An extra set of testleads or alligator clips willextend the functionality of yourmeter. And the availability ofspare fuses is important toallow tools to be put back intoservice without delay. Which iswhy it is recommended to buytools from a trustworthysupplier who offers a widerange of add-ons and spares.  Fluke Corporation  3

Fluke. Keeping your world up and running. Fluke CorporationPO Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206 Fluke Europe B.V.PO Box 1186, 5602 BD Eindhoven, The Netherlands For more information call:In the U.S.A. (800) 443-5853 or Fax (425) 446-5116In Europe/M-East/Africa (31 40) 2 675 200 or Fax (31 40) 2 675 222In Canada (800)-36-FLUKE or Fax (905) 890-6866From other countries +1 (425) 446-5500 or Fax +1 (425) 446-5116Web access: http://www.fluke.com/ ©2003 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in The Netherlands. 5/2003  10627-eng. Rev. 01 4 Fluke Corporation