Current is the rate at which electrons flow past a point in a complete electrical circuit.
Electrical
From voltage to detection to measuring voltage, continuity and basic current measurements, Fluke’s line of electrical testers has you covered. Get an inside look at new products, learn useful tips and stay up-to-date on the latest safety standards. Don’t forget to check out the best Fluke tools for electricians.
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Electrical Glossary
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 on line can result in carelessness and uncharacteristic mistakes by even the most seasoned electrician.
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.
Whether commercial, institutional, municipal, or industrial, sooner or later, nearly every facility will experience some type of overcurrent situation. Unless they're dealt with promptly, even modest overcurrent levels can cause system components to overheat and damage insulation, conductors, and equipment.
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.
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.
Duty cycle is the ratio of time a load or circuit is ON compared to the time the load or circuit is OFF.
The need for true-RMS meters has grown as the possibility of non-sinusoidal waves in circuits has greatly increased in recent years. Some examples include variable speed motor drives, electronic ballasts, computers, HVAC, and solid-state environments.
Capacitance is the ability of a component or circuit to collect and store energy in the form of an electrical charge.
A diode is a semiconductor device that essentially acts as a one-way switch for current.
AC frequency is the number of cycles per second in an alternating current (AC) sine wave.
See the key differences between the Fluke 787 vs 789 as determined by Fluke engineers. What are the key feature and spec differences? See the comparison here.
Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit’s power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work such as illuminating a light.
Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit.
Ohm’s Law is a formula used to calculate the relationship between voltage, current and resistance in an electrical circuit.
A digital multimeter (DMM) is a test tool used to measure two or more electrical values—principally voltage (volts), current (amps) and resistance (ohms).
These three measurements, all taken quickly at one outlet, provide you with a solid understanding of the building's electrical supply.
Perhaps you've been an electrician for a while. Or maybe you're just starting out. No matter how much experience you have, it's always good to spend a few minutes thinking about how to end the day in the same shape as you started it—without any injuries.
Insulated electrical tools are critical for electrical safety.
What's in your toolbox? Yuengling Tampa Brewery
Common Terminology and Abbreviations for DMM Products
Basic information about what an oscilloscope is and how the test instruments are used in industrial settings for preventive maintenance and troubleshooting.
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.
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.
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.
Many services offered by ERS involve maintaining uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.
- Electric fish, like knifefish, produce electrical signals used for sensing where they and their schoolmates are. Electric eels produce, in addition, more powerful currents for hunting and defense.
We recently asked electricians what they considered their top 5 essential tools—there were a few ties, so we’re sharing their top 7.
Placing electrical equipment or systems in an electrically-safe work condition might seem simple, but there are several factors to consider.
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.
Ensuring a dc volt is the same wherever you go and on whatever device you own is the job of national and international standards organizations with an assist from private industry.
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.
Troubleshooting lights goes from minutes to seconds when using Fluke 1000FLT Light Tester for testing fluorescent light fixtures in a commercial complex
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.
Using the 87V DMM diode-test on LEDs
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,
Test fluorescent lamp, ballast, pin continuity, voltage, and ballast-type in 30 seconds with the new Fluke 1000FLT fluorescent light tester
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.
Earth ground testing increases the reliability of equipment performance and reduces safety risk. Why testing is needed, what's a good ground, testing methods.
CAT III rated Fluke Battery Analyzers increase accuracy, safety, efficiency, with intuitive interface, Intelligent Probes, audible cues
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.
An active electrical system may have present many small currents and voltages, both dc and ac, as a result of leakages, unbalances, etc. Unfortunately, any residual dc in a system may cause a dmm resistance reading to be higher or lower than its actual value.
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).
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.
The capacitive voltage sensor works because when you hold the barrel in your hand and place the tip near a live conductor, you are inserting the high impedance sensing element into a capacitively coupled series circuit. As your hand and body form a relatively large capacitor coupled to the floor. The sensor tip is a small capacitor coupled to the live voltage. The sensing circuit detects the voltage and turns on a light or sounds the buzzer.
With the recent release of the 2018 edition of the NFPA 70E standard, many users are finding it challenging to interpret what it says and prioritize where they should focus their attention. The short answer is that the entire 70E standard is important; not just one chapter, article or section.
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.
Compare IP rating, battery life and other features. What is the difference between the Fluke 87V MAX and the 87V digital multimeter?
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.
