Fluke 12E User manual

®
12E
Digital Multimeter
Users Manual
PN 3382138
October 2008
© 2008 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in China. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
This Fluke product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for three years from the date of purchase. This war-
ranty does not cover fuses, disposable batteries, or damage from accident, neglect, misuse, alteration, contamination, or
abnormal conditions of operation or handling. Resellers are not authorized to extend any other warranty on Fluke's behalf. To
obtain service during the warranty period, return the unit to point of purchase with a description of the problem.
THIS WARRANTY IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, SUCH AS FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. FLUKE IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY. Since some states or countries
do not allow the exclusion or limitation of an implied warranty or of incidental or consequential damages, this limitation of
liability may not apply to you.
Fluke Corporation
P.O. Box 9090
Everett, WA 98206-9090
U.S.A.
Service Center Address:
Fluke Corporation Beijing Service Center
Room 2301 Scite Tower
22 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chao Yang District
Beijing 100004, PRC
Tel: [phone]
Shanghai Shilu Instrument Co., Ltd.
#139, 2638 Nong, Hongmei Nanlu
Shanghai 201108
Biao Zhun Hao: Q/SXAV 1-2002

i
Table of Contents
Title Page
Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1
Safety Information .......................................................................................................... 1
Safe Working Practices .................................................................................................. 1
Instrument Overview ...................................................................................................... 4
Terminals ................................................................................................................... 4
Display ....................................................................................................................... 4
Battery Saver ................................................................................................................. 5
Making Measurements ................................................................................................... 5
Manual Ranging and Auto Ranging ........................................................................... 5
Data Hold .................................................................................................................. 5
Measuring AC and DC Voltage .................................................................................. 5
Measuring AC or DC Current ..................................................................................... 6
Measuring Resistance ............................................................................................... 7
Testing for Continuity ................................................................................................. 7
Testing Diodes ........................................................................................................... 8
Measuring Capacitance ............................................................................................. 8
Maintenance ................................................................................................................... 8
General Maintenance ................................................................................................ 9

12E
Users Manual
ii
Testing the Fuses...................................................................................................... 9
Replacing the Batteries and Fuses ........................................................................... 10
Service and Parts .......................................................................................................... 10
General Specifications ................................................................................................... 11
Accuracy Specifications ................................................................................................. 12

1
12E
Multimeter
Introduction
Warning
To avoid electric shock or personal injury,
read "Safety Information” and “Warning and
Precautions” before using the Meter.
The Fluke 12E Multimeter (hereafter referred to as “the
Meter”) is a 4,000 count instrument.
The Meter is battery powered with a digital display.
Safety Information
The Meter complies with IEC 1010-1 CAT I 1000 V, CAT
II 600 V, and CAT III 300 V overvoltage standards. See
Specifications.
Use the Meter only as specified in this manual, otherwise
the protection provided by the Meter may be impaired.
In this manual, a Warning identifies conditions and
actions that pose hazards to the user.
A Caution identifies conditions and actions that may
damage the Meter or the equipment under test.
International symbols used on the Meter and in this
manual are explained in Table 1.
Safe Working Practices
Review the safety information and comply with the safe
working practices on pages 2 and 3.

12E
Users Manual
2
Warnings and Precautions
To avoid possible electric shock or personal injury, and to avoid possible damage to the Meter or to the
equipment under test, comply with the following practices:
 Before using the Meter, inspect the case. Do not use the Meter if it is damaged. Look for cracks or missing plastic. Pay
particular attention to the insulation around the connectors.
 Inspect the test leads for damaged insulation or exposed metal. Check the test leads for continuity. Replace damaged
test leads before using the Meter.
 Verify a Meter’s operation by measuring a known voltage. Do not use the Meter if it operates abnormally. Protection
may be impaired. When in doubt, have the Meter serviced.
 Do not apply more than the rated voltage, as marked on the Meter, between the terminals or between any terminal and
earth ground.
 Use caution when working with voltages above 30 V ac rms, 42 V ac peak, or 60 V dc. These voltages pose a shock
hazard.
 Use the proper terminals, function, and range for your measurements.
 Do not operate the Meter around explosive gas, vapor, or dust.
 When using the probes, keep the fingers behind the finger guards.
 When making connections, connect the common test lead before connecting the live test lead; when disconnecting,
disconnect the live test lead before disconnecting the common test lead.
 Disconnect circuit power and discharge all high-voltage capacitors before testing resistance, continuity, diodes, or
capacitance.
 Do not use the Meter in a manner not specified by this manual or the safety features of the Meter may be impaired.
 For all dc functions, including manual or auto-ranging, to avoid the risk of shock due to possible improper reading,
verify the presence of any ac voltages by first using the ac function. Then select a dc voltage range equal to or greater
than the ac range.

Multimeter
Safe Working Practices
3
 Warnings and Precautions (Continued)
 Before measuring current, check the Meter’s fuses (see “Testing the Fuses”) and turn OFF power to the circuit before
connecting the Meter to the circuit.
 Do not operate the Meter with the case (or part of the case) removed.
 Use only two AA batteries, properly installed in the Meter case, to power the Meter.
 Replace the battery as soon as the battery indicator () appears. With a low battery, the Meter might produce false
readings that can lead to electric shock and personal injury.
 Do not measure voltages above 600 V in Category II, or 300 V in Category III installations.
 Remove test leads from the Meter before opening the Meter case or battery door.
 When servicing the Meter, use only specified replacement parts.
Table 1. International Electrical Symbols
 AC (Alternating Current) Earth Ground
 DC (Direct Current) Fuse

AC or DC Double Insulated
 Safety Information Shock Hazard
 Battery  Complies with EU directives

12E
Users Manual
4
Instrument Overview
Terminals
COM
A
mA A V
400mA
FUSED
C
10A
FUSED
CAT I 1000 V
CAT II 600 V
4
3
2
1
apg1f.eps
Item Description
1 Input terminal for ac and dc current
measurement to 10 A.
2 Input terminal for ac and dc microamp and
milliamp measurement to 400 mA.
3 Common (return) terminal for all
measurements.
4 Input terminal for voltage, resistance,
continuity, diode, capacitance,
measurements.
Display
2
5
4
6
7
11
1
3
8
9
10
a
pg
2f.e
p
s
Item Description
1 Relative mode is active
2 Continuity selected
3 Display Hold is enabled
4 Diode test is selected
5 F – Farads for capacitance
6 A, V – amps or volts
7 DC, AC – dc or ac voltage or current
8 Ω - Ohms is selected
9 m, M, k – decimal prefix
10 Auto range selected
11 Battery is low and should be changed

Multimeter
Battery Saver
5
Battery Saver
The Meter enters the “Sleep mode” and blanks the display
if the Meter is not used and the input is inactive for 30
minutes. Press any button or turn the rotary switch to
wake the Meter up. To disable the Sleep mode, hold down
the YELLOW button while turning the Meter on.
Making Measurements
Manual Ranging and Auto Ranging
The Meter has both manual and auto range options. In the
auto range mode, the Meter selects the best range for the
input detected. This allows you to switch test points
without having to reset the range. You can override auto
ranging by selecting the range manually.
The Meter defaults to the auto range mode in
measurement functions that have more than one range.
When the Meter is in the auto range mode, Auto Range is
displayed.
To enter and exit the manual range mode:
1. Press .
Each press of  increments the range. When the
highest range is reached, the Meter wraps to the
lowest range.
2. To exit the manual range mode, press and hold 
for two seconds.
 Warning
Dangerous voltages may be present at the
input terminals and may not be displayed.
Data Hold
To hold the present reading, press . Press  again
to resume normal operation.
Measuring AC and DC Voltage
To minimize improper reading of an unknown voltage
containing either ac or ac + dc voltage components, first
select the ac voltage function on the meter making
particular note of the ac range required for a good
measurement. Next manually select the dc function with
the dc range that either matches or is higher than the
previously noted ac range. Using this procedure minimizes
the effects of ac transients while making accurate dc
measurements.
1. Choose ac or dc by turning the rotary switch to ,  or

2. Connect the red test lead to the terminal and the
black test lead to the COM terminal
3. Measure the voltage by touching the probes to the
desired test points of the circuit
4. Read the measured voltage on the display.
Note
The only way to access the 400  range is by
manual ranging.

12E
Users Manual
6
+
__
+
_
+
Volts AC Volts DC Millivolts DC
VVmV
apg3f.eps
Figure 1. Measuring AC and DC Voltage
Measuring AC or DC Current
1. Turn the rotary switch to ,  or .
2. Toggle between ac or dc current measurement by
pressing the YELLOW button.
3. Connect the red test lead to either the A, or mA 
terminal based on the current to be measured and
connect the black test lead to the COM terminal.
4. Break the circuit path to be measured. Then connect
the test leads across the break and apply power.
5. Read the measured current on the display.
AC
apg4f.eps
Figure 2. Measuring AC and DC Current