Fluke 43B User guide

®
Fluke 43B
Power Quality Analyzer
Applications Guide
April 2001
© 2001 Fluke Corporation, All rights reserved. Printed in The Netherlands.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.

Fluke 43
Applications Guide
Table of Contents
Chapter Title Page
Working Safely.............................................................................. 1
How to use this Manual................................................................. 2
Conventions Used.................................................................... 2
Resetting the Fluke 43B................................................................ 4
1 Basic Measurements.................................................................. 5
Introduction................................................................................... 5
Measuring Line Voltage................................................................ 6
Measuring Current........................................................................ 7
Line Voltage and Current Simultaneously..................................... 8
Measuring Line Voltage and Current ....................................... 8
Recording Line Voltage and Current........................................ 9
Testing Continuity......................................................................... 11
Measuring Resistance .................................................................. 12
Measuring Capacitance................................................................ 13
Testing a Diode............................................................................. 14
2 Receptacle Branch Circuits....................................................... 15
Troubleshooting Electrical Distribution Systems........................... 15
Detecting Transients (Phase to Neutral)....................................... 16
Monitoring Rapid Voltage Fluctuations......................................... 19
Measuring Voltage Harmonics...................................................... 21
Measuring Current Harmonics...................................................... 22
Measuring the Load on a Transformer.......................................... 24
Recording the Load on a Transfomer ...................................... 26
Measuring K-factor........................................................................ 29
3 Lighting Loads............................................................................ 31
Introduction................................................................................... 31
Measuring Current Harmonics...................................................... 32
Measuring Power on Single Phase Loads.................................... 33
Measuring Surge Current.............................................................. 34

Contents (continued)
iii
4 Motor Loads................................................................................ 37
Introduction.................................................................................. 37
Induction Motors........................................................................... 38
Checking Voltage Imbalance .................................................. 38
Checking Current and Current Imbalance............................... 40
Measuring 3-Phase Balanced Power...................................... 42
Measuring Peak and Inrush Current ....................................... 44
Measuring Power Factor of 3-Phase Motors........................... 47
Grounded Y-Connection with Balanced Load..................... 47
Delta connection or floating systems.................................. 48
Measuring Voltage Harmonics................................................ 50
Adjustable Speed Drives.............................................................. 51
Checking Current on Phases .................................................. 51
Measuring Fundamental of Motor Voltage .............................. 52
Measuring Frequency of Motor Current................................... 53
5 Scope Mode................................................................................ 55
Introduction.................................................................................. 55
Basic One Channel Measurement............................................... 56
Set Up Selection .......................................................................... 57
Viewing Signal Details.................................................................. 59
Triggering..................................................................................... 61
Return to Auto Mode.................................................................... 62
Dual Channel Measurement ........................................................ 63
Single Mode................................................................................. 67
6 Handling Screens and Data....................................................... 67
Introduction.................................................................................. 67
Saving Screens............................................................................ 68
Viewing and Deleting screens...................................................... 68
Printing Screens........................................................................... 70
Creating Reports.......................................................................... 71
Recording Harmonics over Time.................................................. 72
7 Definitions................................................................................... 75
Index

Working Safely
1
Working Safely
Warning
To avoid electric shock and/or equipment damage, use caution
when connecting test leads to live components. The jaws of
alligator clips can create a short circuit between closely spaced
live parts. Avoid making connections to feeder conductors or
bus bars at elevated potentials. Whenever possible, make
connections to the output side of a circuit breaker, which can
provide better short circuit protection.
•Follow all legal requirements. Follow all instructions in the manuals. Obey
posted instructions.
•Never assume that a circuit is de-energized. Check it first.
•Always set up the measurement first, then connect the test leads to the
circuit.
•Use only test leads and test lead adapters supplied with the Fluke 43B
(or safety-designed equivalents as specified in the accessory list,
see Chapter 2 of the Users Manual).
•Never use adapters or test leads that have exposed metal parts or
insufficient voltage rating.
•Remove all test leads that are not in use.
•Make connections to the instrument first, before connecting leads to a live
circuit.
•Connect the ground lead first, then the voltage leads and the current probe.
Disconnect in reverse order.
•Route your test leads carefully.

Fluke 43B
Applications Manual
2
How to use this Manual
The applications in this manual are grouped in
five chapters.
Chapter 1 contains basic measurements.
Start with this chapter to get acquainted with
the Fluke 43B and with this manual.
Chapter 2 contains applications related to
problems with receptacle loads and
transformers.
Chapter 3 contains applications related to
lighting systems.
Chapter 4 focusses completely on motors and
motor drives.
Chapter 5 explains the scope functions.
To find an application related to the functions
in the main menu, look up the page numbers
in the figure.
Conventions Used
GGround
NNeutral
1Phase 1
2Phase 2
3Phase 3
VOLTS / AMPS / HERTZ
Pages: 6,7,8,38,40,51,53
POWER
Pages: 24,33,47,48
HARMONICS
Pages: 21,22,29,32,50,52

How to use this Manual
3
SAGS & SWELLS
Pages: 9,19
OHMS / CONTINUITY / CAPACITANCE
Pages: 11,12,13,14
TRANSIENTS
Page: 16
RECORD
Page: 26
INRUSH CURRENT
Pages: 34,44
SCOPE
Page: 55

Fluke 43B
Applications Manual
4
Resetting the Fluke 43B
To restore the Fluke 43B to its factory settings and return to the opening screen,
reset the Fluke 43B. Resetting does not clear screen memories.
Turn the Fluke 43B off and proceed as follows:
1Press and hold.
2Press and release.
The Fluke 43B turns on, and you should hear a double beep, indicating that the
reset operation was successful.
Figure 1. Resetting the Fluke 43B
(3) Release the HOLD key.
The opening screen with default settings
appears on the display.
Note
To learn how to setup the Fluke 43B,
see: “Introducing the Fluke 43B” in
Chapter 1 of the Users Manual.
4Continue.

5
Chapter 1
Basic Measurements
Introduction
This section provides easy-to-do measurements which you can perform almost
anywhere. Begin with these examples to get started with the Fluke 43B.
Note
It is a good idea to reset the Fluke 43B before you start a new
application. This way, you always start from the same setup.

Fluke 43B
Applications Manual
6
Measuring Line Voltage
Determine whether the voltage level, voltage waveform, and frequency from an
outlet are correct.
1Open the main menu.
2
3Make connections as shown below:
The rms voltage should be close to the nominal voltage, for example 120V
or 230V.
The waveform should be smooth and sinusoidal.
The frequency should be close to 50 or 60 Hz.
The Crest Factor CF is an indication of the amount of distortion. A high
Crest factor means high distortion.
Note
Nominal voltages and frequencies differ by country.
VOLTS
/
AMPS
/
HERTZ



