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Fluke fundamentals

Stay relevant in your industry by keeping up with best practices, practical how-to articles and videos, Fluke tool basics, and some of the most common industry terms. Whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, this information will keep you sharp and ready for what the day has in store for you.

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Fundamental videos

Fundamental on-demand webinars

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Glossary articles

Articles

What is true-RMS?

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.

Articles

What is a diode?

A diode is a semiconductor device that essentially acts as a one-way switch for current.

Articles

What is Ohm’s Law?

Ohm’s Law is a formula used to calculate the relationship between voltage, current and resistance in an electrical circuit.

Articles

What is duty cycle?

Duty cycle is the ratio of time a load or circuit is ON compared to the time the load or circuit is OFF.

How-to articles

Clamp meters

Articles

Inside current transformer (ac) clamp meters

An interior view of a Fluke 325 clamp meter

Articles

What is a clamp meter?

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.

Articles

How to choose the right clamp meter for your job

Fluke’s assortment of clamp meters has been engineered to address a wide variety of needs, from routine tasks to specialty projects.

Articles

What are Hall Effect (ac, dc) clamp meters?

Hall Effect clamp meters can measure both ac and dc current up to the kilohertz (1000 Hz) range

Multimeters

Articles

Clamp Meters vs Multimeters

A digital multimeter is essentially a voltage-measuring tool with some current abilities. A clamp meter is basically a current-measuring tool with some voltage abilities. They are distinctly different instruments, each with its own advantages.

Articles

Fluke 87V Digital Multimeter vs Fluke 87V MAX Multimeter

Compare IP rating, battery life and other features. What is the difference between the Fluke 87V MAX and the 87V digital multimeter?

Articles

Why digital multimeter accuracy and precision matter

Articles

Guide to Digital Multimeter Safety

Take digital multimeter safety precautions to handle the conditions found in your work environment. Understand multimeter CAT ratings and ingress protection (IP) codes.

Industrial imaging

Articles

Expediting air leak detection

Even the smallest air leaks can compound product and energy waste and lost production time—especially for a production line that cannot function without compressed air to run its tools and processes.

Articles

Case study: How to detect compressed air, gas and vacuum leaks AND find hidden profits

What if there were a leak detection technology that could pinpoint the precise location of a leak from up to 50 meters away? The Fluke ii900 Sonic Industrial Imager, a “gamechanger” in the pursuit of finding compressed air leaks.

Articles

Case study: How air leak detection equipment prevents downtime

Find out how air leak detection equipment prevents downtime for a 150,000 square foot plant that runs approximately 400 tools on compressed air, produced by a 200-horsepower compressor.

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How to prioritize the leaks in your compressed air system using LeakQ

If your compressed air system is under-performing, your connected equipment will be too. Learn how to monitor and prioritize which air leaks to fix using the Fluke ii900 LeakQ mode.

Insulation testers

Articles

What is an insulation multimeter?

The Fluke 15x7 Series Insulation Multimeter is a new category of test tool that combines a full featured True RMS DMM and a megohmmeter. It's an integrated tool for maintaining and troubleshooting motor systems, electrical distribution, and production equipment.

Articles

Why controlling leakage current is important

Articles

Insulation resistance testing capacitors and high-voltage components

Using a megger for insulation resistance testing capacitors and high voltage components.

Articles

Insulation tester vs megohmmeter

What is the difference between an insulation tester and a megohmmeter? Compare insulation meters, testers, megohmmeters, and meggers to learn about what's best for your needs.

Oscilloscopes

Articles

How to read a waveform on an oscilloscope

Oscilloscopes sample signals as they change over time and then plot those signals on a display. The amplitude of the signal is plotted on the vertical axis and time is displayed on the horizontal.

Articles

Oscilloscope vs multimeter: choosing the right tool for testing and troubleshooting

The difference between an oscilloscope and a digital multimeter (DMM) is simply stated as pictures vs. numbers. Learn more, including when to use each.

Articles

Basic oscilloscope functions

Power quality

Articles

Detecting power quality issues

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.

Articles

Common Power Quality Factors Affecting Transformers

Transformers supplying nonlinear loads should be checked periodically to verify operation within acceptable limits. Transformers are also critical to the integrity of the grounding system.

Articles

What is power factor? How to Calculate Power Factor Formula

What is power factor and why is it important? Learn how to calculate the power factor formula, each component of the equation, and why it matters.

Articles

Why peak demand management matters

Temperature

Articles

How to get great results with an infrared thermometer

Infrared (IR) thermometers enable you to measure temperature quickly, at a distance, and without touching the object you're measuring. They are so useful, easy, and even fun to use that they have become as common in kitchens as they have on factory floors. Infrared thermometers are often used to find overheated equipment and electrical circuits, but they have hundreds of other uses.

Thermal imaging

Articles

Why use a thermal imager?

Articles

Three ways to conduct thermal inspections

Thermal cameras provide a return on investment

Articles

What is Thermal Imaging? How a Thermal Image is Captured

Learn how infrared cameras measure heat signatures and use color palettes, spatial resolution, and proper focus to create a thermal image.

Vibration

Articles

Most common causes of machine vibration

Vibration can result from a number of conditions, acting alone or in combination. Keep in mind that vibration problems might be caused by auxiliary equipment, not just the primary equipment.

Articles

3 ways to improve motor health with vibration testing

One would be hard-pressed to find a facility manager who doesn’t want maintenance operations to run as smoothly as possible. Detecting signs of motor components failure becomes easier when combined with a preventive vibration program.

Articles

Understanding Vibration Monitoring and Analysis

Vibration testing for condition-based maintenance, to reduce costs and production losses. Mechanics of testing, analyzing roller bearing faults.