Fluke 411D Installation and operating instructions

What would you do, if you had a laser distance
meter to measure distance, instead of a regular
measuring tape or wheel?
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).
Fluke asked users for ideas on how to use a laser distance meter, and
got back quite a few. We’ve collected 101 of the best.
Facilities: Layout
1. Provide accurate estimates
for bidding out work (HVAC,
electrical, cable, main-
tenance). Measure distances,
area, and/or volume.
2. Measure height or width of
buildings1and other objects,
by triangulation if needed.
3. Verify CAD drawings for as-
builts and design drawings.
4. Determine how square a
room or object really is, or
whether the sides are com-
pletely parallel.
Application Note
From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library
101 applications for
laser distance meters
Automatically calculate square footage.
Measuring long conduit runs.
5. Lay out parking lots.
6. Verify that new construction
satisfies usage requirements.
7. Determine footprint of equip-
ment or office cubicles to be
installed, to aid in layout.
8. Create as-built building
dimensions where no blue-
prints are provided.
9. Calculate total internal floor
space/volume of a room or
building.
10. Measure distances over areas
where obstacles in the way
disallow the use of measur-
ing tapes or wheels.
Facilities: Cranes
11. Measure distances on roof1
to quote on crane lift
needed for rooftop equip-
ment replacement.
12. Measure ceiling height to
determine equipment needed
for access.
13. Quickly calculate length of
wire rope needed for cranes.
14. Set up collision detection for
cranes without pulling tape
and using two people and
two aerial lifts.
15. Measure spans on runways
for cranes.
1 Laser measurement outdoors can be
compromised by direct sunlight.

2 Fluke Corporation 101 applications for laser distance meters
Facilities: Safety
16. Measure distances (includ-
ing ceiling heights) to install
emergency lighting, sprin-
klers, and fire extinguishers
to code.
17. Determine accurate room
dimensions to ensure correct
chemical concentration for
Clean Agent Fire Suppression
system.
18. Measure distances from
machines for safety equip-
ment (fire extinguishers, fire
blankets, etc.).
19. Measure water levels in fire
suppression tanks.
Facilities: Other
20. Use in setting up floor sup-
ports in large communication
rooms.
21. Measure room dimensions to
calculate how much paint is
needed.
22. Measure room dimensions
to calculate how much floor
covering is needed.
23. Measure height for appropri-
ate ladder selection.
24. Document location of stand-
ing water or leaks found
with a thermal (IR) imager or
infrared thermometer.
Electrical: Cable
25. Measure distances for linear
length of wire or cable runs.
26. Measure distances for linear
feet/meters of conduit
needed for new installations.
27. Measure height of high volt-
age lines to meet clearance
requirements.
28. Calculate total length needed
in setting up wire assemblies
and harnesses.
29. Measure distances to calcu-
late voltage drops (in power
supply).
30. Measure depth, distance of
underground conduit.1
31. Determine length of wire
available on hand.
32. Measure distances of under-
ground cable1from various
landmarks or obstacles/
known hazards.
33. When locating underground
cable with a transmitter/sen-
sor tool combo, trace down
cable and shoot back with
distance meter.1
34. Locate underground cable
faults1using the A-frame
method. Tell the exact dis-
tance of fault from starting
point without tape measure
or trundle wheel.
Electrical: Ceiling/Floor
35. Measure distances to objects
within hard-to-reach drop
ceilings to determine over-
head cable runs, line of sight.
36. Measure ceiling height and
square feet/meters to deter-
mine rod lengths for drop
ceiling installation and light-
ing fixtures.
37. Measure distance under
subfloors or structures for
networking or other cable
installations.
Electrical: Safety
38. Measure distances from
power system devices (trans-
formers, etc.) for electrical
safety/arc flash protection
and power studies.
Electrical: Other
39. Measure disconnect place-
ment for spas and pools.
40. Measure distances between
electrical service poles.
41. Ascertain distance around
walls for proper receptacle
placement per code.
42. Decide where to place power
drops/connections to the
power supply in manufactur-
ing floor layouts.
43. Measure electrical room
square feet/meters for regu-
lation verification.
Industrial Maintenance:
Conveyors
44. Determine conveyor belt
length (for/at installation).
45. Calculate conveyor belt
capacity, based on length.
Industrial Maintenance:
Layout
46. Measure distance between
machines to estimate heat
loading.
47. Determine equipment
ventilation requirements
(mass air flow).
Industrial Maintenance:
Tanks
48. Check tank level2and
verify accuracy of tank level
transmitters.
49. Measure water level at
power plant water intake.
Industrial Maintenance:
Other
50. Check calibration of auto-
mated product shuttle
distance sensors.
51. Align large welding fixtures.
52. Determine the volume of
industrial ovens used in
powder coating, etc.
Measuring height to tall ceiling.
1 Laser measurement outdoors can be
compromised by direct sunlight.
2 Do not use laser measurement tools in
the proximity of flammable materials.

3 Fluke Corporation 101 applications for laser distance meters
HVAC
53. Measure roof height1to
determine flue lengths.
54. Calculate duct lengths
for static pressure drop on
long runs.
55. Determine rise or drop over
distance, for pipe drainage.
56. Measure distances for duct
runs for installation or
replacement.
57. Determine room volume
for cooling, air flow/
exchange requirements,
sizing equipments.
58. Determine duct run
type (size, for volume
requirements).
59. Size ducts for traversals.
60. Measure distances for air
handler spacing.
Plumbing
61. Determine distance between
pumps and distance the
pump needs to push liquid,
to determine pump and/or
motor size.
62. Determine distance for
pump lines and piping runs,
especially when measuring
pipe lengths behind existing
walls.
63. Measure distances between
tower drives for water pres-
sure calculations in irrigation.
64. Measure the size of a yard
to figure out sprinkler heads
required.
65. Measure condensation lines
for installation/repair.
Construction
66. Find horizontal lengths
(overhead) for determining
rain gutter1length.
67. Measure distances from
roads1and property lines to
comply with local building
codes.
68. Determine amounts of
structural materials (studs,
plywood) needed for
construction.
69. Determine insulation require-
ments (volume needed).
70. Determine offsets needed for
septic systems.1
71. Determine trench, hole
depth.1
72. Determine amount of sheet-
rock to cover surfaces.
Lighting
73. Find center point of ceiling
and other key locations for
fan/lighting installation.
74. Determine light/lumen
requirements based on
ceiling height, compared
to elevations of suspended
lighting fixtures.
75. Determine the number
of power supplies needed
in temporary LED lighting
applications.
76. Determine distance from
power supplies for LED and
low-voltage lighting and
other electronic loads.
77. Determine length to access
light fixtures in high ceilings
for maintenance.
IT
78. Determine network
equipment spacing in
communication rooms.
79. Measure reach and distance
between wireless network
elements for IT installation
technicians.
Towers
80. Estimate guy-cable lengths
for cell towers.1
81. Set earth grounds for cell
tower; measure distance from
ground when conducting
earth-ground 3-pole fall of
potential tests and soil resis-
tivity tests.1
82. Determine safe distance from
microwave transmitters on
cell towers.1
83. Measure height of equipment
on utility poles in surveying
for cell tower sites.1
84. Measure heights of lines and
brackets on transmission
towers for maintenance.1
Solar
85. Measure roof width and peak
height1to calculate roof pitch
in estimating output of solar
panels.
86. Determine roof area1for solar
panel size estimates.
87. Document location of shading
analysis1for ground-mounted
PV (photo voltaic) array.
Calculating equipment footprint.
1 Laser measurement outdoors can be
compromised by direct sunlight.
2 Do not use laser measurement tools in
the proximity of flammable materials.

4 Fluke Corporation 101 applications for laser distance meters
Automotive
88. Calibrate on-board distance,
parking, and warning
systems.
89. Set up a stopping distance
course for training/demon-
stration and brake tests.
90. Check for vehicle oversize
load clearances.
Video, audio, and theatre
91. Measure distances for cam-
era lens selection, focus and
zoom settings.
92. Figure length for video and
camera cable compensation
calculations.
93. Measure height of video
projector and screen for
calculation of lumens and
for pixel per inch/quality of
projection.
94. When evaluating a room or
new system design, calculate
viewing angles, and audio-
based predicted coverage
maps.
95. Measure the height of a
lighting pipe to raise theatri-
cal lighting trusses to specific
heights above the stage or
the seats.
Biomed
96. Verify source-to-image dis-
tances when servicing X-ray
equipment.
97. Verify discrete medical
equipment distance require-
ments are met when systems
are installed.
Other
98. Check distance from objects
for setting thermal imager
ranges and determining
distance to spot accuracy
on infrared thermometers.
99. Determine distance
between surveillance
cameras and subjects to get
desired coverage.
100. Measure from a target to
the optical micrometer
mounted on an alignment
telescope for setups in a
calibration lab.
101. Continuously measure auto-
mated moving equipment to
verify correct location.
Fluke Corporation
PO Box 9090, Everett, WA 98206 U.S.A.
Fluke Europe B.V.
PO Box 1186, 5602 BD
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
For more information call:
In the U.S.A. [phone] or
Fax [phone]
In Europe/M-East/Africa [phone] or
Fax [phone]
In Canada (800)-36-FLUKE or
Fax [phone]
From other countries [phone] or
Fax [phone]
Web access: http://www.fluke.com
©2008 Fluke Corporation.
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Printed in U.S.A. 7/2008 3361276 A-EN-N Rev A
Modification of this document is not permitted
without written permission from Fluke Corporation.
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