Fluke 17B User manual

PN 1991246
October 2002 Rev. 4, 1/10
© 2002-2004, 2010 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in China. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
15B & 17B
Multimeters
Users Manual

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
This Fluke product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for one year 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 Beijing Service Center
Room 401 SCITEC Tower
Jianguomenwai Dajie
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 ...................................................................................................... 5
Terminals................................................................................................................... 5
Display....................................................................................................................... 5
Battery Saver ................................................................................................................. 6
Making Measurements ................................................................................................... 6
Manual Ranging and Auto Ranging........................................................................... 6
Data Hold .................................................................................................................. 6
Relative Measurements (17B only)............................................................................ 6
Measuring AC and DC Voltage.................................................................................. 6
Measuring AC or DC Current..................................................................................... 7
Measuring Resistance ............................................................................................... 8
Testing for Continuity................................................................................................. 8
Testing Diodes........................................................................................................... 9
Measuring Capacitance............................................................................................. 9
Measuring Temperature (17B only) ........................................................................... 9

15B & 17B
Users Manual
ii
Measuring Frequency and Duty Cycle (17B only)..................................................... 10
Maintenance .................................................................................................................. 10
General Maintenance................................................................................................ 10
Testing the Fuses...................................................................................................... 10
Replacing the Batteries and Fuses ........................................................................... 11
Service and Parts .......................................................................................................... 11
General Specifications................................................................................................... 12
Accuracy Specifications................................................................................................. 13

1
15B & 17B
Multimeters
Introduction
XWWarning
To avoid electric shock or personal injury,
read "Safety Information” and “Warning and
Precautions” before using the Meter.
The Fluke Model 15B and Model 17B Multimeters
(hereafter referred to as “the Meter”) are 4,000 count
instruments.
The Meter is battery powered with a digital display.
Except where noted, the descriptions and instructions in
this Users Manual apply to both the Model 15B and
Model 17B Multimeters.
Unless otherwise identified, all illustrations show the
Model 17B.
Safety Information
The Fluke Model 15B and 17B comply 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.

15B & 17B
Users Manual
2
XWWarnings 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.

Multimeters
Safe Working Practices
3
XW 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 (M) 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.
⇒When in REL mode the Δsymbol is displayed. Caution must be used because hazardous voltage may be present.
⇒Remove test leads from the Meter before opening the Meter case or battery door.
⇒When servicing the Meter, use only specified replacement parts.

15B & 17B
Users Manual
4
Table 1. International Electrical Symbols
BAC (Alternating Current) JEarth Ground
FDC (Direct Current) IFuse
CAC or DC TDouble Insulated
WSafety Information XShock Hazard
MBattery PComplies with EU directives
GDiode ECapacitance
CAT II
IEC Measurement Category II – CAT
II equipment is designed to protect
against transients from energy-
consuming equipment supplied from
the fixed installation, such as TVs,
PCs, portable tools, and other
household circuits.
CAT III
IEC Measurement Category III – CAT III
equipment is designed to protect against
transients in equipment in fixed
equipment installations, such as
distribution panels, feeders and short
branch circuits, and lighting systems in
large buildings.
~Do not dispose of this product as unsorted municipal waste. Go to Fluke’s website for recycling
information.

Multimeters
Instrument Overview
5
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
measurements to 10A and frequency (17B
only) measurements.
2 Input terminal for AC and DC microamp and
milliamp measurements to 400 mA and
frequency (17B only) measurements.
3 Common (return) terminal for all
measurements.
4 Input terminal for voltage, resistance,
continuity, diode, capacitance, frequency
(17B only) and temperature (17B only)
measurements.
Display
27
6
8
9
10
14
1
345
11
12
13
apg2f.eps
Item Description
1 Relative mode is active
2 Continuity selected
3 Display Hold is enabled
4 Temperature is selected
5 Duty Cycle is selected
6 Diode test is selected
7 F– Farads for capacitance
8 A, V – amps or volts
9 DC, AC – dc or ac voltage or current
10 Hz – Frequency is selected
11 O– Ohms is selected
12 m, M, k – decimal prefix
13 Auto range selected
14 Battery is low and should be changed

15B & 17B
Users Manual
6
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
R.
Each press of Rincrements 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 R
for two seconds.
XW Warning
Dangerous voltages may be present at the
input terminals and may not be displayed.
Data Hold
To hold the present reading, press H. Press Hagain
to resume normal operation.
Relative Measurements (17B only)
The Meter will display relative measurements in all
functions except frequency.
1. With the Meter in the desired function, touch the test
leads to the circuit on which you want future
measurements to be based.
2. Press
rto store the measured value as the
reference value and activate the relative
measurement mode. The difference between the
reference value and subsequent reading is displayed.
3. Press
rfor more than 2 seconds to return the
Meter to 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