Documents

Don’t Run it Backwards

Amy_Fluke — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:43:15 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Amy_Fluke on 10/7/2021 4:43:15 AM

Phase rotation testing in utility power distribution systems


There’s an old saying that the first time you hook up a three-phase motor it will run backwards. If you’re lucky, it will only make you look foolish. If you’re not, it could severely damage expensive equipment and cost you or your employer substantial money. Ruining compressors Here’s an example of what can go wrong. A public utility in the Northwest was installing a new piece of computerized switchgear. It was intended to service a rather large area that comprised both industrial customers and some miscellaneous commercial facilities. The crew doing the installation was experienced, but the piece of equipment was new to them. The foreman, who was responsible for specifying which leads were connected where, inadvertently reversed phases. Once the utility had finished its work, it turned the power back on. Down the road, at a major manufacturer, a whole set of screw compressors for the HVAC system — ranging from 25 to 50 hp — started running backwards. Screw compressors are lubricated by internal oil pumps, “and if they run backwards, they don’t pump oil,” said the manufacturer’s maintenance chief. In a few seconds, all the compressors were toast. “Thank God our chillers didn’t come on before we discovered the problem,” said the maintenance chief, “because that would have been really bad.” The utility ended up paying for all new compressors, plus the rent on units brought in on a temporary basis. While it also did energy studies and set up a new, more efficient system for the customer, it still was left with egg on its face — and a large bill. All of this could have been prevented, if the utility crew had better understood the instructions on the new equipment and had used a phase rotation indicator like the Fluke 9040 to check the phase rotation at the 480 volt output of the transformers that fed the compressors. Those few minutes would have saved the customer considerable downtime and the utility a pile of money. Doing it right A different utility, after many years of using the old-style rotating-disc units, changed out to Fluke 9040s instead. They use them most commonly after a meter base or transformer bank has been changed out, to make sure the rotation is correct before connecting the load. Interestingly, this isn’t a consideration in a new installation, because then the responsibility falls on the customer’s electrician to make sure the rotation is right before hooking up the motors. If he’s wise, he’ll have his own 9040. The utility has now been using the 9040s for about three years. They were initially drawn to the tool because it was the only Category IV unit they could find. The need for this was made abundantly clear when customer electricians went to check the phase rotation on a transformer whose nameplate read 240 V a using rotating-disc phase unit. Unfortunately for them, the system voltage was actually 2400 V, and they smoked their phase rotation indicator. This got the utility people to thinking: “If it happened to them, and we have 2400 V secondaries in our system, there’s a possibility that someone might misread a nameplate in our system. Let’s go ahead and get a Category IV in case someone messes up.” So the utility bought 9040s. Some of the older technicians resisted at first, insisting they were more comfortable with the old rotating dots, but the younger ones are used to electronic devices. And what could be simpler: It’s marked L1, L2, L3, red, white blue, so you can’t easily go wrong. More ruined equipment Of course you have to actually use the 9040. One time the utility bought a new motor and relocated an existing meter base to power it, but the electrician didn’t hook it up the way it had been, and while the meter base said red white and blue counterclockwise, it was actually clockwise. A technician checked rotation at another meter base, found it correct, and apparently assumed that this one would be the same. They plugged in a meter, threw the breaker, and ruined the motor. Another time the job was to replace a bank of transformers with heavier units with heavier wire. Despite the fact that everyone on the job was experienced, for some reason no one took a rotation reading. They finished hooking everything up, plugged it in, turned it on….. and then bought all new rotational equipment for the customer downstream. The amount that incident cost doesn’t even compare to the cost for a new 9040 for everyone on the crew. Standardizing on the Fluke 9040 Another utility had been using the old mechanical rotation devices that had been the industry standard for years, but they had started breaking down and even cross-phasing internally, and the manufacturer didn’t respond quickly or even seem to take the safety issue as seriously as they might. The meter technicians and linemen now use the 9040s to verify phase rotation on new installations and mark breaker panels with the existing rotation. Later, if they’re troubleshooting an outage or do a routine swap, the crews will verify rotation both before and after, using those markings and the 9040. Tthe idea is to make sure to leave the customer with the same phase rotation. This check occurs inside transformers, at disconnects on meter panels, on the pole to verify overhead service, on overhead transformer banks, and in vaults to verify at the last disconnect point prior to feeding that source to the customer. The utility maintenance chief has developed a fondness for Fluke equipment, and says it has proven its product over the years. The equipment, he says, is “made tough for this industry. These things are going to be dropped, get wet, get beat up, dropped from poles and out of pockets.” And it’s simple to use, with a yes or no answer. “It’s about time we got something other than this mechanical stuff,” he concludes.

How to Calculate the Payback of Test Tools

Amy_Fluke — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:07:02 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Amy_Fluke on 10/7/2021 4:07:02 AM

View online at Fluke

Now that budgets and staff are smaller, it's not uncommon for management to ask for justification before authorizing tool purchases. The key phrase here is return on investment (ROI), or how long will it take to save enough money, using the tool, to cover the cost of purchasing the tool.

The easiest scenarios are when a tool allows you reduce the man-hours required to complete a job. For example, installing an IR Window in a panel and using a thermal imager allows one person to inspect key panel components in five minutes, versus two people spending a half hour or more and suiting up with PPE. In that instance, calculate the cost of the man-hours and multiply by inspection frequency to determine how many inspection cycles it will take to cover the cost of the window and the imager.

But what about a tool that solves a really irritating, intermittent problem that has you running all over the plant instead of doing your regular job? How do you cost that out? Or a tool that improves general productivity? Or that extends the life of equipment? Or allows component vs. unit replacement? Or helps you avoid unplanned downtime? Or allows you to complete a fix in-house instead of bringing in a contractor at night or on a weekend at $250/hour? Sometimes the hardest thing is to put a price on keeping everything running smoothly.

If you can't do a man-hour calculation, consider the equipment cost. A component vs. a unit, for example. Or, if you extend the life, then over the course of a year how much do you save by not having to purchase a new unit? And management should know the approximate cost in lost business opportunity and overhead per hour of downtime.

In most cases, common sense thinking will help you at least rough out the cost. The following scenarios demonstrate how.

Example 1: A facility with a large central cooling plant typically hires a service company to check the insulation of the cooling tower fans, chilled water pumps, and condenser water pumps. The service company charges $125/hour. This year, the team would like to do this work in-house, if possible, so they purchase an insulation resistance tester for $450. The new insulation tester is paid for in less than four hours, certainly within one cooling season. The meter then is making money every time it is used! Also, because the cooling system motors are checked at the beginning of the cooling season, the probability of costly downtime and emergency service calls are reduced. In addition, the meter is available for use with other equipment such as hot water pumps and air handler motors, increasing general productivity and reducing the payback period even further.

ROI: Tool paid for in four hours.

Example 2: A facility uses a large steam plant to distribute high pressure steam across the facility campus. Steam traps are used to collect the condensate and return it to the steam plant for use as feedwater. The steam traps need to be checked regularly, because if they fail open, live steam is introduced into the condensate, which wastes steam and energy. Due to staff cutbacks, the steam traps have not been checked recently and there are probably failures occurring now. According to one steam trap manufacturer's calculations, a 1" inlet steam trap at 10 psig steam, at a generating cost of $5 per 1000 lbs, will cost $4725 per year in waste. And that's just the cost of one trap. So, the team researches the ROI for buying a thermal imager to quickly check all of the steam traps on site. The model they are considering costs $4,500. In other words if one single faulty trap is found and repaired, the thermal imaging meter will be more than paid for. Every other trap after this one that is discovered will add 100% of the savings generated directly to the bottom line, season after season. And they can use the thermal imager to inspect and troubleshoot many other areas of the plant and campus and perhaps stabilize the operations and maintenance budget. Productivity per staff member will increase as well.

ROI: Tool paid for at detection of first failed steam trap.

Example 3: A facility suffers from continual refrigeration compressor burnouts, at $9,000 per compressor. These burnouts are leading to the loss of product batches that must be stored in a controlled environment, at $0.60 per unit and batches of 1500. Further, the supply irregularities are leading important customers to cancel their orders. The refrigeration compressor burnouts are also costing thousands of dollars in expensive service calls. The causes of the continual burnouts remain unknown. The team decides to purchase a power quality analyzer, for $7,500. They attach the analyzer to the incoming power of one of the compressors, and discover that the incoming power supply has major voltage and phase fluctuations that are probably causing the premature compressor burnouts. They continue testing upstream and trace the problem back to the incoming power from the electrical utility. The utility is contacted and the power problem corrected. The compressor burnouts stop. Even with the cost of this tool, the money saved from one avoided compressor burnout will pay for the analyzer. They avoid the unit price, the emergency service calls, the product loss, and the sales loss. Plus, they use the meter on other applications, improving equipment performance throughout the plant, allowing a limited staff to solve more problems and spend less time fighting fires.

ROI: Tool paid for immediately, costing less than the current waste per incidence.

Once you cost it out, all three of these examples sound like pretty good uses of limited budget dollars. The question may be not if you can afford the test instrument, but can you afford to not have it and suffer from high costs and expensive service calls?

Tags: test, payback, calculate, tools

Job skills that count: Maxing your meter to solve problems faster

Amy_Fluke — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:07:00 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Amy_Fluke on 10/7/2021 4:07:00 AM

View online at Fluke

Many electricians and technicians are facing a couple different challenges, at the same time:

Their teams (and budgets) are smaller yet asked to do more
Complex electronic equipment is becoming more common

There has to be some learning involved, to meet these challenges. Learning new methods to be more efficient, to fix problems faster, to troubleshoot complicated systems.

But who has time for training?

The good news is that you may already have a great opportunity in your toolbag.

A lot of technicians buy a really good multimeter but never fully explore all of its functions. Well, that day may have come. Use this guide to get familiar with the more advanced features of your meter, as they apply to electronic equipment such as VFDs, and then start using them to improve your accuracy, lower your troubleshooting time, and do more - with less.

Picking meters for VFD work
Everywhere you look today, you'll find Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and other types of electronically-controlled equipment. Selecting the right multimeter for VFD maintenance is not as simple as it used to be. Drive output is not a sinusoidal waveform of 60 Hz. Yet, many multimeters only give accurate readings on "clean" waveforms. The distorted waveforms and harmonic currents in VFD outputs can create gross inaccuracies on these meters.

To work with a VFD, first select a meter that is "True RMS." Average responding meters give accurate RMS readings only if the ac voltage signal is a pure sine wave. A True RMS meter will read the RMS values of the various waveforms produced by the VFD.

Second, look for labeling indicating the meter meets recognized testing laboratory requirements and has appropriate Category Ratings. (CAT III should be the minimum for VFD work inside of a plant). Always perform a safety inspection of your meter including test leads and any accessories you have available.

Third, consider a meter with a built-in "low-pass" filter, such as the Fluke 87V, 1587, or 289. These meters filter out distortion for the highest accuracy VFD readings.

Measuring electronic equipment
Some may argue that a DMM is not required for modern VFDs, since they have a digital display tracking many different drive parameters and diagnostic codes. Such keypad control interfaces are invaluable for programming the VFD and identifying specific problems. However, maintenance and troubleshooting often finds the technician not in a position to read the VFD display, or, in many cases, the technician is interested in values elsewhere in the drive system.

For example, on larger drives, there may be separate cabinet doors for accessing various sections of the VFD. Some drive systems may have a disconnect between the drive and the motor. Certain types of motors, such as IEC motors may have open terminals within the terminal box allowing voltage readings directly at the motor. Controls and analog and digital inputs may be located anywhere in the plant. The right DMM, properly used, is a must.

Feature specifics

Using the low-pass filter
VFDs vary the voltage and frequency applied to the motor to vary motor speed. Since the waveform output of VFDs is not a standard sinewave, the meter must be able to provide accurate readings of the fundamental values applied to the motor.

The "low pass filter" mentioned earlier filters out the higher unwanted frequencies. When reading ac voltage and frequency, technicians must manually activate this filter. Push the "Low Pass" button and verify the low pass filter "On" indication appears on the meter face.

To read voltage, place the function switch in the ac volts position.
To read frequency, depress the "Hz" button while in the ac volts position and read hertz.

What the bar graph is for
Depending on the drive application, there may be ramp up times programmed into the drive. Also, the drive output voltage and frequency will vary due to changes in load. Output values can change rapidly and be difficult, if not impossible to read on the digital display.

The bar graph on the modern DMM display provides the much needed analog indication to note trends and observe rapidly changing values. Happily, it does not overshoot like older analog meters do. And, the bar graph responds up to 10 times faster than the digital display. The bar steadily expands horizontally from left to right over its scale, providing a stable, usable indication of drive output.

To determine the approximate value displayed by the bar, first observe the bar display scale and count the divisions along the graph. Divide the number of divisions into the displayed scale. Then determine the value at the end of the bar. For example, if the meter is on the 600 volt scale and there are five division marks on the scale, then each of the division marks represents 150 volts. (The first mark represents zero, then divide 600 volts by the four remaining marks for 150 volts each.) See Figure 1.

If the end of the bar reaches the second division along the scale, then the voltage reading is 150 volts. If the end of the bar appears between two divisions of the scale, interpolate to determine the value. Remember that the bar graph provides an approximate value; but, is invaluable for estimating rapidly changing readings that cannot be observed digitally.

Tracing voltage issues with Min/Max
When loads do not operate properly, fingers often point at erratic drive output voltage and frequency. As it happens, mechanical issues such as a faulty chain drive or worn gears are usually the real culprit. However, as part of the troubleshooting process the electrical professional should verify proper VFD operation.

With the low pass filter turned on, measure voltage after the drive output at a convenient location between the drive and motor terminal housing.
Depress the Min/Max button as the drive operates.
When ready, and with the voltage leads still in place, depress the Min/Max button again and observe the maximum voltage the drive produced while recording values.
Depress the Min/Max again and read the minimum value produced by the drive during this time.
A third activation of the Min/Max function key provides the average voltage value.

Tip: Min/Max can also be helpful when measuring separate analog inputs, such as 0 – 10 V dc from a remote control potentiometer.

Measuring output changes with Auto Hold
As a drive ramps up to speed, the voltage output gradually builds. Also, small changes in motor speed are created by small changes in voltage and frequency. Once again, attempting to observe the readings as they change on the digital display may be too difficult.

Press the "Auto Hold" function key and the DMM will lock in and hold the reading on the display. Then, when the changing voltage steadies out at the next value, the meter will beep and the new reading is locked in on the meter display.

This process continues, providing a set of incremental voltage readings as the drive adjusts itself to the next desired level. The "Auto Hold" mode is especially useful when verifying drive output voltages during longer ramp up and deceleration periods.

Your Auto Range habit
Many electricians and technicians develop the habit of using their meter in "Auto Range." With this function, the meter will determine the best scale for the reading and go to that scale automatically. However, reading a variable voltage may cause the meter to continually cycle between scales. Determining exact values then becomes difficult.

Depress the "Range" function on the meter to manually select the desired scale. Keep pressing this button, changing scales as needed until the desired scale appears and the appropriate number of significant digits is indicated.

Using "Rel" to measure terminal voltage
Use the "Relative" mode to determine how much values change based on another value. For example, measure voltage at the terminals on the VFD that provide input for speed control.

Depress the "Rel" mode key. The measured value now becomes the reference value to which all other values are compared. The meter also resets to zero at the same time.

Now, as the measured input values change, a reading appears on the display indicating the amount of change. If the reference value in the meter is 7 V dc, for example, and the meter reads -1 V dc, then, the value has decreased by one volt to 6 V dc.

Troubleshooting inverters with the Diode function
If the main fuse supplying the drive blows, drive diagnostics may later reveal a problem with the inverter section. Place the DMM function switch to the diode symbol to read resistance of the drive output transistors.

Technicians can also make capacitor checks by selecting the appropriate function on the DMM and verifying measured capacitor values fall within the rating of the capacitor.

Trace overheating with temperature measurements
Overtemperature trips may be due to a dirty air filter. Or, they could indicate more severe problems. To find out, select temperature on the DMM and use a thermocouple or other temperature probe to check actual temperatures of components such as heat sinks. Compare temperature variations from other similar components to determine the possible source of the overheating. If applicable, check thermistors with the resistance function on the DMM.

Checking input power with voltage and low-pass filtering
You can also make a few quick checks on the input power to the VFD. Certain problems here could cause drive malfunctions.

Use the ac Volts function to verify power supply voltage levels are within manufacturer specifications.
Then, activate the low pass filter while measuring incoming voltage. There should be no change in voltage with the filter on. If there is, this may be a sign of harmonic issues on the power supply. Investigate these further with more sophisticated test equipment.

Checking crest factor with Peak mode
Use the "Peak" mode to approximate the "crest factor" of the incoming power supply.
Input sine waves that are flattened across the top may cause operational problems with the VFD.

Measure and record the incoming voltage with the peak function turned "Off." This is the RMS value of the voltage applied to the drive.
With the peak mode "On," read the peak voltage of the sine wave applied to the drive.
Divide the peak value by the RMS value and you should see a crest factor of 1.41. If the calculated value varies significantly up or down, further investigate power quality issues on the power supply to the drive.

In these high-pressure times, knowing how to troubleshoot complex problems requires using every trick in your DMM. The modern DMM is the 'right hand" of the field technician. Learn to get the most out of your meter!

(This is the first installment of a series of articles on test equipment usage. In the next article we will examine the use and application of multimeters that log data and then display it on screen).

Tags: digital, dmm, multimeter, vfd, fluke

Fluke Developing Smart Grid Technology

Amy_Fluke — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:05:37 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Amy_Fluke on 10/7/2021 4:05:37 AM

View online at Fluke

You may have read about the new Smart Grid currently in development by various manufacturers, utilities and government agencies worldwide. But – did you know that there are many different definitions for the Grid, depending on whose perspective you look from?

At the highest level, the idea behind the Smart Grid is to add far more "intelligent" devices to the transmission of high voltage across a large power grid such as the continental U.S. Those devices would monitor and control the electricity flow, for a variety of reasons; principally, to prevent outages like the one covering the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and Canada in 2003. But also, to reliably accept intermittent power from renewable energy resources, and to make much more efficient usage of the power that we transmit, distribute and consume.

Getting from here to there involves many different aspects, from communications and networking to end consumer electronics to new meters on houses to monitoring the grid itself. When it comes to that last part, Fluke is getting in the game.

The primary device to monitor the new Smart Grid is something called a PMU, a phasor measurement unit. This unit can either just take measurements (about 30 per second), or can be combined with a relay, depending on the manufacturer, and is ideally networked into to a larger grid control system.

There are currently about 200 PMUs active in the U.S. right now. New federal initiatives plan to get 850 more units in the field within a couple years.

It turns out that there isn't currently a way to verify that all of those 850 different units, supplied by many different manufacturers, are truly interoperable…because there is currently no way to dynamically calibrate a PMU. In other words, to test its accuracy under dynamic (real-world) power conditions.

So, Fluke proposed to re-engineer its dynamic power standard, the 6105, to support the project, and won a $1.4 grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to do so. The federal stimulus funding was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act a NIST initiative to support research in areas deemed of national importance and to bolster US scientific and technological infrastructure.

The first step at Fluke will be to gather a national team of experts to decide what the measurement and accuracy requirements are for Fluke to build to, and possibly, to inform the next evolution of IEEE standards.

Fluke will be developing this new technology over the next 26 months.

Tags: Technology, grid, developing, smart, fluke

New Fluke test tool catalog now available in print and online

Amy_Fluke — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 03:09:23 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Amy_Fluke on 10/7/2021 3:09:23 AM

View on Fluke

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

02/16/2010

Sixty-four full-color pages cover the full Fluke lineup

EVERETT, Wash. – Fluke Corporation, the global leader in portable electronic test and measurement technology, has published its latest 2010 Fluke Test Tools Catalog. The full-color catalog is available online and in print.

This fully illustrated 64-page catalog opens with overview pages that connect the dots between common industrial and commercial equipment and the measurement tools needed to help maintain it. Focus areas include electrical, HVAC, mechanical, controls, general operations, building diagnostics, and energy management.

The Fluke catalog also features selection guides to help technicians differentiate by measurement or application area which of the various Fluke digital multimeters, power quality testers and analyzers, process tools and tool accessories will work best in their application.

The new Fluke catalog also includes special mention and full details on four groundbreaking new Fluke test instruments introduced in recent months: the Fluke 773 Milliamp Process Clamp Meter, the high-resolution Fluke Ti32 Thermal Imager, the ultra-durable Fluke 28 II Dustproof/Waterproof Digital Multimeter and the Fluke 233 Remote Display Multimeter.

To view the Fluke catalog online, visit the Fluke catalog home page. To order the printed catalog, just visit the Fluke Web site to register and to fill out the online order form.

Fluke Corporation
For more information on Fluke tools and applications, or to find the location of your nearest distributor, contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206, call (800) 44-FLUKE (800-443-5853), fax (425) 446-5116, e-mail fluke-info@fluke.com or visit the Fluke Web site at http://www.fluke.com/.

About Fluke
Fluke Corporation is the leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians, metrologists and building diagnostic professionals who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes for quality control as well as conducting building restoration and remediation services. In just the past year Fluke tools won more than 15 industry awards including Test and Measurement World Best in Test, Control Engineering Engineer’s Choice, and Plant Engineering Product of the Year. Fluke is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

# # #

For more information:
Larry Wilson
Public Relations Manager
(425) 446-5671
larry.wilson@fluke.com

Tags: test, new, catalog, tool, fluke

Fluke: Five Things to Consider When Buying a Clamp

Amy_Fluke — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 03:09:22 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Amy_Fluke on 10/7/2021 3:09:22 AM

Go to article

	1. Choose a clamp that gives accurate and repeatable results Does your clamp report the true-rms reading? Is the problem with your motor or your clamp? Make sure your clamp meter is working for you rather than against you. Imagine that you have spent the whole day troubleshooting a problem with a motor only to discover that the problem wasn't really the motor but the clamp you were using to measure it. You stake your reputation on your ability to get the job done, be sure your clamp meter is working for you not against you. First, make sure your clamp meter reports the true-rms reading. Otherwise noise from everything from a variable frequency drive to compact fluorescent bulbs can result in a less accurate reading. You should always make sure that the clamp meter meets the industry accuracy standard: 2% ± 5 counts. Beware of accuracies stated to ± 10 counts, as these meters can have twice the error when measuring low currents.
	2. Make sure the clamp works where you do Have you ever dropped your clamp? Have you ever used your clamp outside? Have you ever used your clamp to pry apart wires? If so, make sure your clamp can work where and how you do Making accurate and repeatable results in a laboratory is a good start. But you don't always work in a clean and controlled environment. Before making a purchase, check whether the clamp is specified to work in the environment you do. One important feature is a built in low pass filter to ensure that interference from other electronics won't distort your readings. Also be sure you don't buy a clamp specified for indoor use only or with a minimum operating range warmer than 15 °F if you think you might need to make measurements outside. If the clamp isn't designed for the outdoors the measurements you get might not be accurate. Finally be sure the clamp you are using is rugged enough to continue to give reliable results after years of prying wires apart, drops from ladders and bouncing around the back of your truck.
	3. Don't compromise on Safety Does the clamp have the correct rating for the work you are doing? Will the design allow you to use the meter easily when wearing PPE? If they don't, you could be in danger Your test and measurement tools are a critical link between you and danger. They are quite literally an extension of your body into a very dangerous environment. First things first, be sure you choose a clamp meter with an appropriate category rating for the work you are doing. Second, choose a brand with a reputation for providing safe test and reliable test equipment. Anyone can buy a clamp meter and put their brand on it. Only a few manufacturers design, build and test their own equipment to exceed international safety standards. Finally, your clamp meter is part of a safety system that includes personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition to having the right PPE, be sure that you can easily operate your test and measurement equipment with that gear in place. Safety gear in your tool box or locker will do you no good, and it isn't being used safely if you have to take it off parts of it when operating your test equipment.
	4. Choose a clamp meter with easy to replace batteries Your clamp meter isn't a power hog. Don't treat it like one. High capacity battery packs are important for drills or other high power devices, but clamp meters are designed not to be power hogs. Because you use a clamp meter to troubleshoot electrical problems and important equipment, losing power in the middle of a measurement can put you or others at risk. At a minimum, you're on the clock, so it is most likely costing you – or your company – valuable time. Most clamp meters can get more than 150 hours of operating time out of two standard AA batteries. When choosing a clamp meter choose one that uses standard alkaline batteries. That way you won't be left waiting for proprietary batteries to recharge, plus it is easy and inexpensive to carry replacements.
	5. When choosing features, pick quality over quantity Not using all the features on your clamp meter? It could be costing you. In money and functionality. These days you can get almost anything built into a clamp meter (tape measure anyone?). The more gadgets that are built into a clamp meter, the harder it becomes to use and the worse it performs. Instead of trying to get the most features possible, chose a meter that has the measurement functions you need to get the job done, without any of fluff that doesn't make sense. Plus, you don't end up paying for features irrelevant to the job at hand. The right measurement functions depend on the type of work that you are doing, but be sure to consider the following: Inrush. If you are working around motors and drives, an accurate inrush measurement function is a must. The Inrush function allows you to accurate measure the high current surge that flows into motors during startup. This measurement can be critical when troubleshooting problems such as nuisance trips of over current protection devices. Because it looks at the entire motor inrush period, it is far more accurate than the "MAX" function which only looks at a single point in time. Autoranging display. A measurement that displays in the correct range can be a real timesaver when working in tight spaces. Choose a clamp that automatically sets the correct measurement range so that you are not having to a adjust switch positions while trying to position the clamp and take a measurement. Large display with Backlight. Be sure the clamp meter display you select has large, easy to read characters. Some displays may seem adequate when viewed in a showroom but then fail to perform in the workplace. Real world conditions mean a wide viewing angle and backlight are a must.

Tags: clamps, meter, clamp, fluke

Thermography

migration.user — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:03:09 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by migration.user on 10/5/2021 2:03:09 PM

Power Quality

migration.user — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:03:07 GMT

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Portable Oscilloscopes

migration.user — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:03:05 GMT

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Motor & Drives

migration.user — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:03:03 GMT

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Fluke Connect

migration.user — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:03:02 GMT

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Digital Multimeters

migration.user — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:03:01 GMT

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Documents

migration.user — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 17:58:49 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by migration.user on 10/1/2021 5:58:49 PM

Ghost Hunting with Fluke

e14phil — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:32:00 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by e14phil on 10/29/2019 11:32:00 AM

Ghost Hunting with Fluke Thermal Imager

Farnell was founded 80 years ago here in Leeds and our team of ghost busters hope to step back in time this Halloween! Our team of brave employees are going in search of ghosts from the past using high-tech environmental testing equipment from Fluke …

Armley Mills once the world’s largest woollen mill before it was destroyed by fire, today it is a museum but still holds onto much of it’s past in the as is reported to be one of the most haunted buildings in the UK... Join our team below:

players.brightcove.net/.../index.html

Tags: Fluke Connect, thermography, Digital Multimeters

The Fluke 1735 for power and energy logging

tech1 — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:22:01 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by tech1 on 8/14/2009 1:22:01 PM

With the increased focus on the effective use of energy and reduction of waste, more and more industrial and commercial users are analyzing their electrical loading to optimize performance and reduce energy bills.

Electrical load studies are extremely useful to industrial and commercial energy consumers for safety, operational and financial reasons.

These studies include determining and verifying cable and system capacity, balancing load distribution over three phases, keeping track of power factor, and quantifying energy consumption before and after improvements to justify energy saving devices. Understanding power load studies is important for industrial maintenance technicians and external contractors involved in power distribution systems and equipment installation.

In addition, with today’s shifting business requirements buildings are frequently reconfigured to meet needs and demands of the occupiersrom the changing of a production process in an industrial facility to reconfiguration of office space. When a facility requires the addition of new electrical loads to an existing service or set of feeders, the first thing that must be determined is whether the existing system will support the new loads. This is of course essential information prior to additional plant being installed and also important to have a comprehensive understanding of the existing loading in order to evaluate the new system, once installed.

The portable Fluke 1735 Power Logger is an excellent tool for performing load studies for optimizing usage. It includes flexible current probes for connecting around multiple conductors or bus bars, and it has a PC interface and software for downloading and interpreting measurements. The 1735 measures voltage and current on all three phases plus neutral, and records multiple parameters that can help determine system load, including voltage, current, frequency, real power (kW), apparent power (kVA), reactive power (kVAR), power factor, and energy (kWh). The 1735 also includes a number of power quality measurement functions for more detailed analysis of electrical problems.

Fluke also offers the 435 Power Quality Analyzer, a three-phase power quality analyzer which is fully Class-A compliant, has advanced logging functions, user-configurable measurements and a large memory for detailed long-term recording of events Ideal for in depth troubleshooting of power systems..

Of course Power and energy surveys should only be undertaken by qualified personnel and all safety aspects observed.

Product information table:

Mftr’s Part No.	Product Description
Fluke 1735Fluke 1735	Power Logger
Fluke 435Fluke 435	Power Quality Analyzer

Tags: at:npi, date:1_06_09, sp:fluke

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Electrical load studies are extremely useful to industrial and commercial energy consumers for safety, operational and financial reasons.