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Beyond the basics: Have you ever wondered about the efficiency of your fireplace?

Ways the 62 MAX+ Infrared Thermometer can save you energy and time in troubleshooting HVAC mechanical systems: air, water, coils, boilers, power supplies

Adam Wegener makes and teaches ceramics in Portola Valley, CA. Last year, he bought a Fluke 189 DMM and a high temperature thermocouple from the local ceramics store that allows him to measure temperatures up to 2300°F. Now he uses the 189 to log temperature over the 30-hour heat up and cool down cycle. Then, he loads the temperatures onto his computer and uses the peak temperature and heating rates to perfect his next firing.

Data centers hold crucial information to most organizations’ operations, it needs to be kept secure, protected, and still accessible always. Which is why data centers also need to be inspected on a regular basis and including thermal imaging in that inspection can ensure the data house within them is safeguarded. 10 steps to use a thermal camera in a data center While thermal mapping, or the walk through the data center gathering thermal scans, there are multiple places you should pull out your...

When Fluke tool users head for home, they know the workday is far from done. Customers describe how they use their industrial-strength Fluke test tools around the house.

Why are those infrared images blurry?

Learn how IR-Fusion™ works, how blending is accomplished and how this new technology can greatly improve the detail to infrared images to help you identify the exact locations of infrared points-of-interest.

Follow the experiences with wireless test tools of electrician Chipper Stohl of AECI, as he works primarily in emergency troubleshooting and repair, with some installation and maintenance.

Wireless testing survey results with comments and insights from Fluke tool users

Out on the job site, concrete finishers stand ready to shape wet ready-mix into a new stretch of highway. Mixer trucks are lined up at the concrete batch plant,waiting to take on their loads. But hold on—an electrical problem has shut down the plant. It's time to call Keithly Electric.

Mixing higher voltage 480-volt three-phase cables in the same cabinet as lower voltage 24- or 120-volt control wiring and communication cabling can result in erratic operation or even complete failure of electronic equipment inside the cabinet. Knowing what is inside the cabinet before you open it, the specific wiring issues to look for once inside, what values to measure, and simple ways to correct problems can help alleviate many erratic and sometimes "mysterious" control and communication issues on the plant floor.

IEC Category Ratings: Use the Right Tools for the Job.As with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), using the proper tools for the job can help keep electrical workers safe.

Limiting workers’ exposure to electrical hazards like arc flash or electrocution is a solid foundation for any electrical safety program. Combine that mindset with the right non-contact tools and more electrical workers will be kept out of harm’s way.

Harmonics-Understanding, measuring, and interpreting results.From minor control trips to compressor and transformer failures, harmonics can impact every type of HVAC equipment

Moving or reconfiguring a production line can disrupt a complex and finely tuned system. When you move a line, electrical distribution systems, variable frequency drives (VFDs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), lighting, communication circuitry, controls, emergency stop systems, and more are susceptible to unanticipated changes ranging from glitches to outright failures.

The electrical power issues that most frequently affect industrial plants include voltage sags and swells, harmonics, transients, and voltage and current unbalance. The proper tools to correct these issues include knowledge and electrical test instruments ideally suited for each task.

Critical systems run smoothly with regular maintenance and reliable tools Everybody knows that consistent, dependable electrical power is critical to any plant's function. But perhaps even more critical is a reliable uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. UPS systems are the silent partners that just sit and wait until there's a break in power. At that point, the UPS system is the most important system in the plant. It has to be ready to spring into action in milliseconds to keeps things running for anywhere from seconds to hours.

Monitoring three-phase power quality is a must. Whether you troubleshoot mysterious electrical problems or provide additional services to a client, it is three-phase power that is provided to commercial and industrial customers and three-phase power that is distributed throughout a facility.

Voltage stability may be a problem in areas where loads are cycling on and off during the day. Large compressors, motors, welding machines, arc furnaces, power factor correction capacitors and other large electrical machinery along with system impedance can easily cause voltage dips, swells, and transients.

Downtime is costly, both in terms of patient wellbeing and monetary costs - the X-Ray, mammography, and other systems themselves cost millions and a failure can also idle technicians or surgical teams. Most of the facilities have motor/generators and can maintain operations independent of the utility, making the power system robust but also complex.

Test and record field bus, motors, and power with one instrument.

If you knew how much it cost to run that equipment

ROI for industrial energy efficiency programs. How manufacturing plants can identify energy waste, save on utilities, and industrial energy costs.

With the economic downturn, many facility managers are facing very tight operation and maintenance budgets. Capital expenditures for new HVAC mechanical equipment have likely either been frozen or eliminated.One way to free up financial resources is to tune up existing HVAC equipment. Follow best maintenance practices and the increased operating efficiency will reduce energy consumption.

Cogeneration - also known as combined heat and power or CHP - is the process of generating electricity and usable heat at the same time. The term has a modern, "green energy" ring to it, but cogeneration has been around since Edison's Pearl Street Station used heat from its turbines to warm the buildings of lower Manhattan in the 1880s.

With energy savings, there's intent and then there's plan. Industrial facilities in the United States show a sustained interest in energy management. That's the intent: Reduce overall energy usage or sustain usage but increase the amount produced per kW used.In manufacturing, a plan will only stick if it has both the wisdom of experience guiding the vision and the ROI numbers to back up the effort. But in energy, there just isn't the body of research out there for an industrial plant manager to use to set baselines for what "reasonable" energy usage looks like in a manufacturing facility.

The first step in evaluating a building's energy use involves an energy audit. This consists of various home performance tests which identify opportunities to reduce energy use. Once the audit is complete, various weatherization techniques are performed to improve the energy efficiency of the building, often called 'weatherizing'.

One approach to getting full life out of a CFL bulb would be to leave it on longer, reducing the heater- filament-stressing on-off cycles. In my experience, described above, you could leave it on five times as long as an incandescent lamp and not use any more energy.

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.

Managing energy efficiency in your facility can save money. Conducting an energy inspection can show you how to reduce energy costs by up to 25 percent.Energy is a critical issue for facilities around the world. Undiscovered and uncorrected energy waste represents tremendous potential savings.

You may have read about the new Smart Grid currently in development by various manufacturers, utilities and government agencies worldwide. 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.

For the most part industrial and commercial electrical systems are getting safer and more reliable. The U.S. Fire Administration's most recent report, analyzing data from 2001, estimates that 8.7% of the nation's 47,785 non-residential fires were caused by electrical distribution equipment. That's 32% fewer than in 1998.

Measuring live voltages and current in today's high energy environments can result in a severe hazard to equipment and users if proper precautions are not applied. Given the risk of transients, surges, and old-fashioned human error, it always pays to follow safe work practices and use test instruments rated for the voltage or current you're measuring.

The most popular reason for paralleling conductors is to provide higher ampacity than a single conductor can provide. "In a typical building design, the largest conductors are usually 500 kcmil or 600 kcmil". "And many electrical contractors will actually object to 600 kcmil. If ampacity above 400 A is necessary, using parallel conductors is the only reasonable solution.

Troubleshooting lights goes from minutes to seconds when using Fluke 1000FLT Light Tester for testing fluorescent light fixtures in a commercial complex

When working with electricity, very often the first measurement needs to answer, "Is voltage present or not?" This question is a critical part of electrical testing.

Lockout/Tagout procedures specify the steps electricians must follow to remove power from an electrical circuit or panel, and to lock out and tag the panel or circuit, so that no one can re-energize it while work is in progress.

Properly grounding a facility's electrical system ensures a low impedance connection from the electrical system to the earth. However, the effectiveness of the earth ground depends on several factors.

Standby battery backup systems play a critical role in keeping essential operations functional in the event of a utility outage. Although most batteries used in modern day UPS systems are “maintenance free,” they are still susceptible to deterioration from corrosion, internal shorts, sulphation, dry-out, and seal failure.

Examine six areas when deciding on the best insulation resistance tester for the application. Consider the equipment to be tested, test voltage requirements, the testing environment, other possible uses, the experience level.

CAT III rated Fluke Battery Analyzers increase accuracy, safety, efficiency, with intuitive interface, Intelligent Probes, audible cues

As we have seen, power problems have a bad effect on electronic devices. To detect a power problem, a technician will first check out the power supply to a device to make sure it is functioning properly.

Test fluorescent lamp, ballast, pin continuity, voltage, and ballast-type in 30 seconds with the new Fluke 1000FLT fluorescent light tester

Voltage detectors are a quick, inexpensive way to check for the presence of live voltage on ac circuits, switches and outlets before working on them. Also known as voltage wands, sticks, "power sniffers" or pens, they clip into a shirt pocket and beep or glow when they detect voltage on exposed conducting parts or through insulation.

On circuits protected by GFCIs (Ground Fault Current Interrupters), leakage current can cause unnecessary and intermittent tripping. In extreme cases, it can cause a rise in voltage on accessible conductive parts.

Clamps measure current. Probes measure voltage. Having a hinged jaw integrated into an electrical meter allows technicians to clamp the jaws around a wire, cable and other conductor at any point in an electrical system, then measure current in that circuit without disconnecting/deenergizing it.

Early reports from the field suggest that the new Fluke 772 and 773 Milliamp Process Clamp Meters may be game changers, breaking new ground for technicians in the HVAC controls industry. With the feature sets these meters offer, troubleshooting of the most common problems in modern control systems becomes a snap.

The safety rated Fluke T+Pro gets field-tested by non-electricians. Larger buttons for gloved hands and a battery life indicator helped to make the transition from the old solenoid-based testers to the T+Pro much easier.

Fluke Energy Analyze Plus Fluke Energy Analyze Plus application software for download, analysis and reporting. Used with Fluke 1730, 1732, 1734, 1736, 1738, 1742, 1746, and 1748.Fluke 173x v2.4.1 Firmware File (.bin)To update instruments running firmware revision 2.0 or newer, create a directory called “Fluke173x” on a USB stick and save the firmware binary file to that directory location. For units running firmware prior to 2.0 the directory will be the model of the instrument being updated...

You could call this a factory, but you've never seen a plant like this before. The "manufacturing" process here relies on "shots" of laser energy focused on a target the size of a BB. The product: a nuclear reaction six times hotter than the core of the sun . . . and a growing understanding of fusion reactions that could one day free the planet from dependence on dwindling fossil fuels. "

Since a small increase in current flow to a motor produces a proportionately larger amount of heat, motor amperage exceeding nameplate values should be carefully investigated as a possible cause. These overload trips, though often caused by motor loading issues, can also indicate bearing failure, insulation breakdown or voltage unbalance.

Saving energy and minimizing energy waste is one of the most important aspects of energy use. No matter what industry you work in, looking for energy savings means looking at your power consumption rates and developing a power quality management energy saving plan. Benchmarking electrical energy consumption The first step in developing a power quality management program is benchmarking your current electrical energy consumption across the facility. Through that initial survey, you can look for quick...

Find out what dual impedance and voltage detection are and why it's good to have them built into your multimeter. Find out about impedance basics, ghost voltages, non-contact voltage detection and the absence or presence of voltage testing.

Find out what the hidden dangers of making voltage and current measurements with a tester that does not have the fuse protection that was designed into the tester - dangers than can cause serious burns, and possibly even death.

“Let's just oversize the motor and we can run it lightly loaded—that will save us some money and be easier on the motor.” This is a false belief among some who select and install motors. Properly sizing motors for a given load results in driving loads more efficiently, saving energy, and saving dollars. Motors typically are most efficient when they are 90 % to 95 % loaded. Just because a motor says “25 Hp” on the nameplate does not mean the motor is producing twenty-five horsepower as it operates.Clamp meter readings: Problems and Solutions

Founded in 1997, LIFETECH S.R.O. develops, designs and distributes equipment for water and air treatment and purification. The company also services its equipment, as well as equipment made by other manufacturers. Lifetech has about twenty employees overall, with five in the Development Department.

In the world of handheld digital multimeters, maintenance professionals are being deluged with new models, new manufacturers, new functionality, claims about ruggedness, claims about water- and dust-resistance - the list goes on and on.

Making sure that equipment delivers peak performance at all times requires ongoing troubleshooting on the part of maintenance technicians. Depending on the size and scope of the facility, operations will change over and produce many different products and packages in varying size runs.

Expert Chuck Newcombe compares digital multimeters of yesterday with today's DMMs with true-rms ac measurement capability. Get the facts about the subtle points you should know when making rms measurements.

The application note explains what kind of logging these meters can perform, how to use the recording feature, and the information that can be provided to you. This note also discusses how FlukeView Forms PC software is used to increase the power of the Recording feature.

Read success stories from ONSITE PC Assitance owner Robert Johns. Working on mostly low voltage equipment for home offices and small-to-medium business, Johns uses the Fluke 116 to measure for low voltage, auto-ranging and min/max temperature.

Accessory current clamps expand a multimeter's flexibility and measurement capabilities by allowing it to measure up to thousands of amps.

Pressure calibration can be challenging in the best of environments. Working in an area that has the potential for explosion takes the degree of difficulty to another level—one where the technician needs proper training and equipment.

Learn signal conditioning basics, types of signal conditioning and how they ensure signal measurement accuracy.

When assessing control valves and their performance, you need to understand the different types of valves and what they can be tested for.

Understand how to use under-utilized functions on your DMM such as Fast/Peak and Min/Max.

Read harrowing true stories about extreme testing experiences with Fluke tools.

A Florida county water utilities department uses Fluke tools to measure VFD output filtering, Min/Max frequency, phase-to-phase voltage imbalances and motor insultation resistance checks.

A Canadian engineer keeps wind farm in New Brunswick up and running by using a Fluke multimeter.

Troubleshooting robotic equipment with the Fluke 175 True RMS Digital Multimeter at Briggs & Stratton plant; manufactures small engines for generators, pumps, pressure washers

Astronomers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have been working in Antarctica's interior since 1996. In collaboration with astronomers from France, Italy and the United States, they're seeking the perfect location for the next generation of deep-space telescopes.

Among the many tools offered by Fluke for testing ac circuits is the model 360 AC Leakage Clamp Meter. This meter can measure up to 60 amps ac in normal use,

Most facilities have grounded electrical systems, so that in the event of a lightning strike or utility overvoltage, current will find a safe path to earth. A ground electrode provides the contact between the electrical system and the earth.

To determine the existing equipment's capacity, factor in the incoming conductor size, the ratings of the equipment, and space for new circuits. To determine present loading, you'll need to either precisely calculate the existing loads, or measure them.

Electricity is a force of nature, the same around the world.So it's probably no surprise that electricians and maintenance techs from Canada to Australia and Pakistan to the Philippines share many of the same experiences, and learn the same lessons - and sometimes learn them the hard way.

If you find a circuit that shows voltage when there should be none, be careful what you do next. Creating an arc is unsafe and could get you fired or much worse. Be safe. Determine whether the voltage is induced by nearby, energized cables or if it is being backfed from an unknown source.

HSI Security Systems installs, maintains and monitors electronic life-safety systems throughout Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. We're an electrical contractor that specializes in low voltage systems and rudimentary electrical controls.

The Fluke 416D and 411D laser distance meters measure distance to a target up to 60 m (200 ft) away using the unit's laser spot, and can do a quick calculation of area (square feet/meters) and volume. Accuracy is up to 1.5 mm (1/16 in).

I have used my Fluke 189 meter to test for bad grounds on light, medium and heavy-duty trucks. I have seen more electrical problems - i.e., ECU (Electronic Control Unit) communication & data link issues - stem from bad grounds than any other failure, close to 75%.

Some Norma 4000 and 5000 instruments require attention due to a calibration error of the external probe (EXT.Shunt- BNC) inputs of instruments caused by incorrect data being written into the instrument at production.This error only affects the current probe inputs of the instruments in the 100mV range and only specific serial numbers (you will have been contacted by Fluke if this affects you).Please follow the steps below to fix the calibration data for all customers if you have been contacted to...

Download Fluke Connect Software.Fluke Connect Software (.exe)

PowerLog Classic Application SoftwarePowerLog Classic application software used with the Fluke 345, VR1710, 1735 and 433/434/435. (Compatible with Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10).Firmware Updater Software (.exe)Firmware Upgrade Instructions (.doc)Latest Firmware versions:The firmware on the instrument can be checked using these steps: Press Menu key, select Instrument Setup using the cursor keys, press Enter, select Version and Calibration using the cursor key, press Enter. The screen displays the firmware...

PowerLog Classic Application SoftwarePowerLog Classic application software used with the Fluke 345, VR1710, 1735 and 433/434/435. (Compatible with Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10).1735 Firmware Upgrade Tools v3.1 (.exe)Upgrade your Fluke 1735 to the latest firmware. (Vista compatible)1735 Firmware v1.10 (.zip)This file should be unzipped and used in association with the firmware upgrade tools V3.1 (above). Last updated on 08/2014NOTE: v1.10 firmware requires PowerLog Classic v4.4 to v4.6.V1.10 Firmware...

Tune up the performance of your CombiScope®. Add PC power with FlukeView® CombiScope® software for Windows.This is a Windows package for documenting, archiving and analyzing measurements from the Fluke CombiScope. Toolbar buttons give fast mouse access to the most commonly-occurring tasks and functions.Free Demo Software! Free upgrade to version 2.0!Download the free CombiScope Interactive Demonstration Software. If you currently have FlukeView CombiScope version 1.0 or 1.1 installed on your PC,...

Fluke Connect for real-time troubleshooting and collaboration; technicians and managers can view same measurement data on smart phones at same time from virtually anywhere.

Fluke is voluntarily recalling certain 373, 374, 375 and 376 Digital Clamp Meters that were manufactured between September 1, 2010 and October 31, 2012.

Fluke 287 multimeters beginning with serial number 42700001 and Fluke 289 multimeters beginning with serial number 42830001 ship with firmware version 1.41. Older versions of the Fluke 287 or 289 with lower serial numbers cannot be upgraded to version 1.41Fluke 287 Firmware update version 1.16Owners of Fluke 287 multimeters with serial number 42700000 or LOWER can update to firmware version 1.16. These multimeters are NOT upgradable to any firmware higher than 1.16.To upgrade your 287 to the latest...

Fluke 805 Vibration Meter Firmware and Trending Template fluke-805-vibration-meter-firmware-and-trending-template Fluke 805 Vibration Meter Firmware and Trending Template Fluke 805 vibration meter firmware trending template. Push work orders and routes directly to your 805 FC using the Fluke Connect™. Quickly create asset groups, assets and test points using the Import Template in Fluke Connect™. Fluke 805 Vibration Meter Firmware v3.0.5 (.bin)Quickly create asset groups, assets and test points...

Software UpdateIMPORTANT NOTICESThe Viewer software may or may not work on all computersSometimes the Viewer software installs and works fineSometimes the customer’s software / IT group can get it workingSometimes the customer’s software / IT group can not get it workingAll of the 810 features / capabilities will function properly without the Viewer software810 Viewer software allows users to transfer data / results from 810 to the PC to view what is on the 810, backup the database, and print...

Firmware Release V11.46 »Firmware Release V11.46 Readme »For Fluke 190 Series II, 2 and 4 Channel instruments with firmware version V09.00 onwards. The firmware release V11.46 has the following improvements:Firmware version V11.45For Fluke 190 Series II, 2 and 4 Channel instruments with firmware version V09.00 onwards. The firmware release V11.45 has the following improvements:Resolved issue with data storage of set-up files on USB-flash drivesFirmware version V11.44The firmware release V11.44...

PQ Analyze v1.9.4 (.zip)Includes latest product firmware. This software will also verify you have the lastest Firmware installed.Note: Download file is about 25MB.v1.9.4 Release Notes (.pdf)Firmware Prior to v1.3.17 (.pdf)Firmware Installation Instructions on devices with firmware prior to v1.3.17.GPL Offer

Note: If your VT04/VT04A has firmware version 2.2 or earlier, please contact our service department to discuss the upgrade procedure.GPL Offer

Press Browse button and find the data file that you copied from the 805 to your PC:Press the Configure Graph button:Select options to configure the graph and press the Plot Graph button:You will see the trend plot and severity scales to help you determine if the machine is healthy or not. Also shown below are the 805 screen captures when the machine is healthy and when it has a fault.To print the trend plot, simply use the print shortcut: Ctrl + P to open up the Print menu.Press the View Data button...

Download 753/754 Windows Driver (.exe)This is the driver that will enable Windows programs to communicate with the 753 and 754 through the USB port. Download this self-extracting installer and run it. Once installed, the 753/754 will be assigned to a Windows COM port. If necessary for the software package you are using, launch the windows device manager and you see what COM port has been assigned. If you have already installed DPCTrack2, then it installs this driver and it should not be necessary...

Fluke 805 Vibration Meter Firmware and Trending TemplateTo copy the template:Turn on the PC or Laptop and copy the template you have downloaded from the link above.To export data:Connect the USB cable between the PC and the Meter. Turn on the Meter. A pop-up menu opens to show that the new hardware is found. -OR-Go to My Computer and select the removable disk that is the Meter. Double-click to see the contents of the disk.Make a copy of the TXT-format file from the Meter to the PC or Laptop.To...

Fluke Norma 4000 and Norma 5000 Power AnalyzersNormaView Software (.zip)This file is compressed, expand the contents of this file to a known location, then run the file launch to install the software.Before carrying out the Norma Firmware upgrade process, check the version of firmware in your analyzer in the General Setup screen under Info (consult the operators manual for details).Fluke Norma Upgrade 4000/5000Firmware Update Utility (.exe)Firmware Downloader Instructions (.txt)Firmware upload utility...

FlukeView Forms Basic 3.8.4 (.exe)FlukeView Forms plus Designer 3.8.4 (.exe)Fluke 975 USB Drivers 1.5.0.22 (.zip)FlukeView Forms Software.Anyone with FlukeView Forms version 3.0 or later can receive a free software update by clicking the links and downloading the software from this site. Basic users would select the "Basic" link and users with the complete package would select the "plus Designer" link. If your present FlukeView Forms software is older than version 3.0 (less than 3.0) you must purchase...

Fluke CNX sw3000 software works with the CNX pc3000 PC Adapter to wirelessly manage and communicate with Fluke CNX modules.Release 1.0.0.17 Feb 12, 2013Download software (.exe)GPL Offer

FlukeView v3.2 (.zip)GPL Offer

Designed for capturing power quality measurements in avionic and military systems, Fluke 437 Series II is the must-have 400 Hz Quality Analyzer.