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The first goal of any electrician or technician who works around live voltage is to go home safe. Traditionally voltage has been measured by attaching test lead probes or alligator clips directly to electrical conductors. This requires metal-to-metal contact that brings with it the risk of arc flash and potential harm to both the person doing the measuring and the equipment being measured.
Fluke FieldSense technology offers a safer way to measure voltage by isolating the measurement tool from the voltage source under test. This reduces the risk of electrical shock and arc flash. Through the principle of galvanic isolation, FieldSense allows electricians and technicians to measure voltage without exposing themselves to contact points with live voltage. Instead, a FieldSense-enabled test tool such as the Fluke T6-1000 Electrical Tester senses the electrical field in the open fork and measures the voltage through the cable insulation. Commercial and light industrial electricians can use FieldSense-based devices for voltage and current measurements, verifying continuity values, and testing individual circuits. Here are the top five ways this non-contact voltage measurement technology can help you work safer:
1 - No metal-to-metal contact when measuring ac voltage
In the past, measuring voltage has required metal-to-metal contact. You had to either attach probes or alligator clips to the conductor, which immediately put you at risk of spark or arc flash. Fluke FieldSense technology allows you to measure ac voltage, current, and frequency through the cable’s insulation by sliding the fork of the tester over the conductor. There is no direct electrical contact with live voltage so there’s much less potential for electrical shock or arc flash. You can work safer and faster. FieldSense technology does require a capacitive path to earth ground which, with the T6 electrical tester, can be made in one of two ways.
You can create a capacitive path to ground by first firmly inserting both test leads into the storage dock on the back of the tester, then placing your finger firmly on the ground touch point on the back of the battery cover. Next, slide the fork around the ac conductor. The second method is recommended if you are wearing safety gloves or are otherwise insulated from ground. In that case, you simply touch or clip the black test lead of the FieldSense tester to a grounded conductor such as a conduit or junction box.
2 - Goes beyond detection to let you know how much voltage is present
There are a variety of devices that can detect whether voltage is present, ranging from pen style testers to clamp meters. FieldSense devices go way beyond those to show you not only that live voltage is present, but to accurately measure that voltage. FieldSense technology injects a known signal to accurately derive the unknown ac voltage. This produces an actual ac voltage measurement, unlike traditional non-contact voltage detectors that only detect if voltage is present through magnetic field sensors. So, you now have voltage detection and a measurement in one step, with one tool.
3 - Reduces the need to open panels because you can access wires at junction boxes
FieldSense-enabled devices don’t need access to wire end points so you can take a measurement at any point along the conductor. This makes it much easier to quickly measure ac voltage and current on traditionally inaccessible measurement points such as crowded junction boxes. All you have to do is slide a single conducting wire into the open fork, read the results, and you’re done in no time.
4 - One-handed voltage measurements
Because FieldSense technology eliminates the need to fuss with test leads, in many cases, you can accurately measure voltage with one hand. The open fork form factor makes it easier to isolate individual hot and neutral wires, which in turn helps reduce the chance of accidental contact with another voltage point and the likelihood of errors. You’ll save time…and perhaps a lot more.
5 - Combines with proving unit to verify proper operation
A key requirement for any test tool, before you use it for live voltage tests, is to verify that it is working properly both before and after taking a measurement. And you want to be able to do that without unnecessary exposure to shock and arc flash. The PRV240FS proving unit sources 240V of continuous ac voltage to allow you to safely verify that your FieldSense electrical test tool is working properly before you conduct live tests. It’s a good practice to test your tester both before and after live tests, to ensure safer and more accurate measurements.
A final safety note
Even with the improved safety of FieldSense enabled testers, workers should still wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Measuring without test leads does not mean you can skip wearing the required PPE. This means electricians should still wear arc-rated clothing and protective equipment including gloves, safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection and leather footwear as required. In lower voltage areas, measurements can be taken wearing minimal PPE, including gloves and protective eyewear. A complete list of PPE categories, as defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 70E, are available in Table 130.7(C)(16). Greater electrical hazards require PPE with a higher arc rating that is able to withstand an arc-flash incident.
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The baseline meter for troubleshooting and repair of electrical and electronic systems
Surge arresters play a key role in protecting electrical devices and equipment in high-voltage electrical substations. Like other devices, they must be periodically diagnosed. The most common method is visual inspection: checking that the arrester has no visible external mechanical damage.
However, an arrester with no visible external damage can sometimes suffer internal damage. As a result, it may not be able to protect against a surge or overvoltage. Doble Engineering makes monitors for detecting leakage currents in surge arresters and got together with Fluke Europe. We used Fluke’s handheld thermal imaging cameras to create a reliable diagnostic solution to this challenge.
The IEC60099-5 international standard includes an overview of methods used for diagnosing high-voltage surge arresters. We developed the LCM500 Leakage Current Monitor precisely for this purpose. It performs non-invasive diagnostics of varistor-type surge arresters (with metal-oxide blocks) during operation.
This instrument measures the quality of the metal oxide blocks to help manage the risk of failure. Specifically, it uses IEC60099-5 method B2, analyzing the leakage current’s 3rdharmonic with harmonics compensation in the grid voltage. According to the international standard, this is the most reliable method of diagnosing high-voltage surge arresters during operation.
We tested the LCM500 at a 110kV/6kV overhead power line substation. The station, which has two transformer fields, is fitted with valve-type surge arresters. Table 1 (below) shows the measurements we took from the LCM500. Valve-type arresters should give low total values of leakage current, and current values of same-type arresters should be similar. As shown, though, the L2 phase leakage current was considerably higher than for the other two phases. That suggested that the L2 phase arrester might be damaged.
We then wanted to make sure thermal imaging cameras could help us to verify the findings of the LCM500. The Fluke Ti450 Pro infrared camera seemed like the right choice, since it can capture (and visualize) very small temperature differences. This particular camera is extremely sensitive and gives accurate, sharp onscreen images. It does this even when the surge arresters are high up or far away. Examples of thermal images from the field study are shown in below. The temperature difference Delta-T of 10°C in the arrester’s upper part shows additional local heating.
Table 1. Measurement results provide reliable diagnostics solutions
This approach of measuring the leakage current using the LCM500 and then using the Ti450 Pro infrared camera clearly showed damage in the L2 phase surge arrester. Our tests also confirmed that the LCM500 can effectively assess the technical condition of high-voltage, valve-type surge arresters. We concluded that this complementary method of verifying the possible damage to surge arresters provided the reliable diagnostics solution we were looking for.
We identify the 10 most common mistakes even expert electricians can make when testing electricity.
Anyone who makes their living by working with electricity quickly develops a healthy respect for anything with even a remote chance of being “live.” Yet the pressures of the getting a job done on time or getting a mission-critical piece of equipment back online can result in carelessness and uncharacteristic mistakes by even the most seasoned electrician. The list below was developed as a quick reminder of what not to do when taking electrical measurements.
For more information on the products and services available from Fluke, click here.
Five hundred years ago, Florence, Italy spawned a remarkable number of Renaissance masterpieces, including:
What are the common denominators of these masterpieces? They are popularly recognized and acclaimed, admired by experts and novices alike. They enjoy enduring appeal, lasting centuries. They exhibit an extreme level of quality and detail. They grow on you; the longer you look, the more you see. Finally, they are frequently emulated (or blatantly copied).
Sounds a lot like the Fluke 87 Industrial DMM. Universally recognized and admired, the 87 is the world’s most popular industrial DMM. Treasured by experts and coveted by novices, the 87 has the feature set and the durability to make it an annual sales leader since its introduction in 1987.
Unlike the Masters, Fluke gets to update the classic 87 from time to time. The latest Fluke 87 V Industrial DMM remains a TRMS meter, but now includes a selectable low-pass filter for accurate ASD output readings that agree with the motor controller. Dual-rated at CAT IV 600V and CAT III 1000V for use on high energy circuits, the 87 can tolerate input transients over 8,000 volts. A type-K thermocouple thermometer is now built-in. A new large-digit display features a bright, two-level backlight.
Many copies of an 87 have been attempted. Insist on the original Fluke 87. You won’t find it in a museum, but your favorite Fluke distributor would be glad to show you one.
| Botticelli’s Birth of Venus  | da Vinci’s Mona Lisa  |
For the Masters of the Italian Renaissance, a thin veil separated art and engineering. The Masters were polymaths; exceptionally competent in more than one discipline. Giotto di Bondone (1267 -1337), painted the fabulous frescoes in the Arena Chapel in Padua, but also engineered Giotto’s Bell Tower in Florence. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 -1446), initially an artisan in bronze and gold, gained fame for his revolutionary engineering methods in the Dome of the Basilica of Florence. He also invented one-point linear perspective, yielding a three-dimensional effect in two-dimensional media. The ultimate Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), was an unrivaled painter (Mona Lisa, The Last Supper) who conceptualized helicopters, tanks, hang gliders and bridges centuries before they would be built. Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), excelled at sculpture (Pieta, David), painting (Sistine Chapel ceiling, Creation of Adam) and architecture (Church of San Lorenzo, St. Peter's Basilica).
The new Fluke Ti32 Thermal Imager delightfully blurs the boundary between art and engineering. Certainly the way the camera rests in the hand - and is controlled with only one-hand - speaks of “art”. But the ability to survive a two-meter drop says “engineering”. Image resolution of 320 by 240 pixels and a Thermal Sensitivity (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference) spec of <50 mK shouts “engineering”, but a crisp, detailed display that seamlessly blends IR and visible images says “art”.
Here are a couple more boundaries that get blurred by the Ti32. The performance level says “laboratory-only”, but the price point says “affordable”. Put it to work with plant maintenance, process and HVAC/R technicians. The User Interface says “Easy-to-Use”, but on-board emissivity correction, SmartView reporting software and Voice Annotation all say “sophisticated”.
Confused? Don’t be! Snap things into focus, see for yourself! Request a demonstration at www.fluke.com/demo. Or call 1-800-760-4523. In stock now at selected Fluke distributors for immediate delivery.
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| Giotto’s Tower | Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s Tower | Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa | Michelangelo’s Pieta |
The Dark Ages and the Renaissance were, for me, abstractions from long-forgotten textbooks. Yet, here in the Church of St. Croce, tangible evidence of the Florentine rebirth of art and science is all around me. To my right is the tomb of Michelangelo, sculptor of David. Next to that is a memorial to Dante, author of The Divine Comedy. Further up on the right are the tombs of Machiavelli, author of The Prince and Rossini, composer of the William Tell overture. To my left is the tomb of Galileo, arguably the brightest light of them all.
Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642), an astronomer, physicist and mathematician, is the father of modern science. He expressed his natural observations mathematically, and found real-world applications for his discoveries. Galileo did a lot of Fresh Thinking in his lifetime, none more profound than his work on the Solar System.
Galileo advanced a notion of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus that the earth orbits around the sun. Based only on his observations of the heavens, Galileo promoted this concept of heliocentrism for twenty years, leading to his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems in 1632. This contradicted the geocentrist doctrine of the Catholic Church. A Papal inquisition of 1633 forced Galileo to denounce his concept and placed him under house arrest for life. Banished to an obscure location in the back of the church in 1642, Galileo’s remains were relocated in 1737 to the present place of honor near the front entrance. Galileo paid a price for his Fresh Thinking, but in the end, we all benefited from his intellectual integrity.
Today, Fluke is doing some Fresh Thinking around the maintenance of rotating machinery. Conventional wisdom calls for long-term observation by specially-trained technicians with expensive vibration analysis instrumentation to troubleshoot rotating machinery. The Fluke 810 Vibration Tester is designed for maintenance techs that need to quickly ascertain mechanical equipment condition, to understand the root cause of any problem, and to take cost-effective corrective action right now. Using proprietary algorithms an Onboard Info feature and a powerful user interface, the new Fluke 810 helps you quickly identify root cause (e.g., bad bearing, misalignment, unbalance or looseness), to determine its location, and to determine how severe the problem is, all without reliance on prior machine history.
To see how the Fluke 810 can help you eliminate guesswork, maximize uptime, control maintenance costs, and minimize spares inventories, download the 810 Application Note: http://support.fluke.com/find-sales/Download/Asset/3672666_6126_ENG_A_W.PDF
Bio: Rick Pirret recently retired from Fluke following 30 years in product design and marketing. Previously, he was with Bell Labs for 10 years in product and facility design. Rick studied mechanical engineering at Cornell and Stanford, and completed an MBA at Seattle University. Over the years, hobbies have included scuba diving, white water canoeing, flying, motorcycling, and bicycling. More recently, Rick likes to be outdoors in the Cascades Mountains or on-track in a BMW.
Atop a luscious, 500 meter hilltop in Tuscany lies the fortified village of Montalcino. Once a stopover on the main path from Florence to Rome, today it is home to one of the world’s great wines, Brunello de Montalcino. Yes, the soil and climate are perfect for growing Vitis Vinifera. Yes, the old Sangiovese vines are well established. But the big difference is expertise. After centuries of winemaking, and nearly 200 years focusing on Brunello, these artisans have forgotten more about fine wine than most countries will ever know. They produce a rich, dark, leathery red wine with a complex aftertaste that will last until your next birthday. These wines are best sampled using a modern-day tourist contrivance, the Brunello Bus.
Atop a 600 foot plateau in Everett, Washington sits the Fluke Corporation. It, too, straddles a major avenue of commerce, as Boeing makes 777s and 787s next door. The glacial till left over from the last ice age does not support much besides Douglas Fir and Red Alder, and the persistent drip irrigation from the sky favors indoor activities. Here, the locals have developed a deep expertise in Digital Multimeters, DMMs. Beginning with the MIT root stock of John Fluke, Sr. in 1948, then cultivated by grads of Stanford and the University of Washington, Fluke has developed a deep commitment to durable, real-world Test and Measurement equipment. They conceptualize, design, test, build and service a diverse collection of DMMs for connoisseurs who appreciate and use fine test tools.
From the Fluke cellars, here are the latest releases of the 2009 vintage:
And yet, these exciting new flavors still have to beat the long-term success of this all-around leader:
To sample one of these vintages, see your Fluke distributor today.
Web applications, or "Apps", are all the rage. Running on a smart phone, they represent an intersection of the internet and a handheld touch panel. They provide a combination of fun and functionality - many of most popular Apps are games. They are fast and easy to use, contain a lot of intelligence around a specific task, and deliver fast answers. For example, the Carbon Footprint Calculator asks you to enter miles driven, airline trips taken and electrical / natural gas consumption, then quickly shows how many trees are required to offset your presence on the planet.
It turns out that Fluke has been packaging Apps for years in the form of specialty Digital Multimeters. They are fast and easy to use, and contain a ton of intelligence around Ohm’s Law, E= I x R. The smarts reside in firmware rather than software, and the platform is a rugged handheld DMM versus a phone. However, the outcome is the same - fast answers.
Here are four applications matched with a task-specific DMM to deliver the power of a modern App:
Audition one of these Fluke Apps today to see the power and speed they can bring to your daily workload.
Bio: Rick Pirret recently retired from Fluke following 30 years in product design and marketing. Previously, he was with Bell Labs for 10 years in product and facility design. Rick studied mechanical engineering at Cornell and Stanford, and completed an MBA at Seattle University. Over the years, hobbies have included scuba diving, white water canoeing, flying, motorcycling, and bicycling. More recently, Rick likes to be outdoors in the Cascades Mountains or on-track in a BMW.
