October 2018Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
The Fluke 789 ProcessMeter is an advanced troubleshooting tool for electricians and instrumentation professionals, combining the functionality of a loop calibrator with the power of a digital multimeter. By equipping the 789 with a temperature measurement module and the wireless data logging capabilities of Fluke Connect with ShareLive video call (sold separately), process technicians can now do a lot more while carrying a lot less. And with its built-in, selectable 250 ohm HART resistor, it eliminates the need to carry a separate one.
Monitor temperature and electrical parameters at the same time
The FC Wireless K-Type temperature module can be used for day-to-day troubleshooting applications. It measures temperature in one location and then wirelessly relays the results to a smartphone (with the Fluke Connect app installed). This comes in handy for checking multiple components of heating and cooling systems simultaneously.
For example, at one site, a temperature module was set up to monitor refrigerant line temperatures while a technician worked on the refrigeration components located elsewhere. It was also used on split system chillers. In one instance the chiller, which had microprocessor-based control, was located in the basement, while the air-cooled condenser was located on the roof. The technician was able to oversee the fan-cycling controls by measuring the motor draw using the a3000 FC current clamp. At the same time, he monitored the liquid line temperature using the temperature module, and observed a specific percentage on the microprocessor in the basement. He viewed the results from all three tools simultaneously, in real time, on his smartphone.
Finding a needle in a haystack
With the Fluke Connect DC voltage module, another user measured a 0-10 VDC signal to a variable frequency drive located in a supply air cabinet. The third-party panel was inaccessible so the VFD was the only place to test. “If I had tried to monitor the third-party signal at the VFD with a standard meter, it would have tripped an alarm due to ‘no proof of air flow’ by the air flow switch,” he said. “Using the Fluke Connect DC voltage module I found that the building automation system was not sending the proper ramp signal when duct static pressure dropped.”
This same FC module also helped him to find a chronic problem in a DC power supply that was intermittently dropping the 5 V it supplied, which caused a chiller to fail and trigger an alarm. The DC voltage module was left on the power supply overnight. “The results showed that the power supply dropped voltage and then restored itself,” the technician said. “I replaced it with confidence the next day. These meters are of incredible value when tests need to be conducted outside electric panels and in remote locations.”
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