Fluke Tutorials

[GordMay]

Application Notes From the Fluke Digital Library @ Fluke test tools, answering your electronic, electrical, predictive maintenance and biomedical needs.

Including:

"Beat the Book"
Testing Electrical Systems with a Digital Multimeter:
http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/aut...e/beatbook.pdf

[SeaKing]

Thanks Gordy, this will give me lots of enjoyment reading and learning some troubleshooting tips. I can already see a clamp on amp meter of some type on my christmas wish list

[GordMay]

AC/DC Clamp-On Ammeters are designed for accurate & non-intrusive measurement of DC and AC currents using Hall Effect technology.
Fluke: Test and Measurement - Fluke Canada)
Amprobe: Amprobe Clamp-on Meters

There's other cheaper brands ...

[roblanford]

Hey Gord,
What meter and accessories would you suggest to have aboard to deal with comms and electrical install/maintenance?
I am looking for good quality, accurate, and ease of use.

I've always believed that good tools don't make a craftsman but bad tools can make the learning process for an amature like me very difficult.

Thanks
Robert

[GordMay]

I’ve got a couple of excellent, but expensive Fluke multimeters; but admit I’ve been just as happy with my Sears Craftsman DMMs.
Goto:
Sears.com
And look at: #82139, 82141, 81079, and/or 73755

[hellosailor]

I blew out a good B&K meter some years ago and replaced it with an inexpensive one that's not quite as accurate or talented. For someone new to electronics, I'd suggest any $25 meter from a big-box store (WalMart, Target) that has a 10-amp range on it. They're enough to start with, and when you do make a mistake, you'll only lose $25. If you don't make a mistake, then you buy the good Fluke and you'll have a second meter for the times when you want to read two things at once.

The cheap meters have some quirks (they'll read pulsed DC as both DC and false AC, showing false AC levels on something like an alternator output) that the Flukes don't have, but that's not nomally an issue. They'll also be less accurate, but when you are looking at battery voltages in the 12.60 volt range, the "absolute" accuracy difference of 1/2% compared to 2% isn't going to make or break the deal most times.

I've found Radio Shack, Home Depot, etc. all to be terribly overpriced on basic meters. Like 2x-3x higher than at the WalMart and Target auto departments.

[GordMay]

A free series of textbooks on the subjects of electricity and electronics

Lessons In Electric Circuits ~ by Tony R. Kuphaldt
Lessons In Electric Circuits

Copyright (C) 2000-2007, Tony R. Kuphaldt
These books and all related files are published under the terms and conditions of the Design Science License. These terms and conditions allow for free copying, distribution, and/or modification of this document by the general public.
DESIGN SCIENCE LICENSE: Lessons In Electric Circuits -- Design Science License

and/or

All About Circuits - Tony R. Kuphaldt, et al
All About Circuits : Free Electric Circuits Textbooks
&
All About Circuits : Sitemap

Including:

Volume 1 - DC
Volume I - DC : All About Circuits

Volume 2 - AC
Volume II - AC : All About Circuits

Volume 3 - Semiconductors
Volume III - Semiconductors : All About Circuits

Volume 4 - Digital
Volume IV - Digital : All About Circuits

Volume V - Reference
Volume V - Reference : All About Circuits

and much more ...

[roblanford]

Thanks Gord and H.S.
I sure appreciate it.

Robert

[Maddog]

Check out Harbor Freight Tools. Their stuff is OK and cheap. I bought a couple of inexpensive digital meters from them. They seem to work and would be cheap to replace.