Fluke 233 User guide

Fluke 233 Remote
Display Multimeter
Imagine the possibilities
Application Ideas

Application Ideas
Use this booklet to see how people in a variety of situations could
use the Fluke 233 Remote Display Multimeter. These are real
quotes from customers in the field. They responded to the Imag-
ine the Possibilities contest which asks people to tell us how they
could imagine using the 233 remote display meter.
These real-life uses should help you and your customers realize
what a versatile, powerful tool the 233 is. They are only limited by
their imagination in ways that it will help them be more productive.
Automotive..........................................................3
Cranes................................................................. 7
Electronics ......................................................... 11
Facilities ............................................................ 15
Hospitals ........................................................... 19
HVAC.................................................................23
Industrial Controls ............................................. 27
Manufacturing ................................................... 31
Networks...........................................................35
Electrical Contractors .......................................39
NFPA 70E ..........................................................43
Utilities............................................................... 47
Nuclear.............................................................. 51
Contents
2

3
Automotive

“An automotive technician’s pay is heavily based on produc-
tivity. Any tool that saves you time makes you money. There
are many routine tasks where this meter would help to do
just that. I work out of 3 bays and often on several cars at
once. Multi-tasking is a necessity. If I want to monitor para-
sitic drain on a battery of one car while doing something
else two bays away, this meter would allow me to do that.
Another reality of the job is having to do more from the
driver’s seat. With electronic throttle control you can no
longer manipulate the throttle from under the hood or
without being tethered to the scan tool. With this meter,
underhood temperatures and readings can be monitored
from the driver’s seat without having to route the meter
leads or strain to see the display. At the same time, this
allows shorter leads to be used eliminating the worry of
them being pinched, tripped over, or falling onto a hot
exhaust pipe.“ M.H., Nebraska
“We sometimes need to hook a meter to a control module
and then drive the lift truck around while taking measure-
ments. Sometimes the meters can’t be mounted in a location
that is easy to read while operating the lift trucks. With the
Fluke 233, we could connect the base unit up to take mea-
surements and mount the remote display on the instrument
panel. This would be much safer than what we do today.”
J.H., Kentucky
“I think that remote display would be great to sit in front of
the windshield while the test leads are connected under the
hood. There are many situations where I need to be inside
the cab cranking the engine while looking at the display
and that is impossible with conventional multimeters. Often
times a second technician is necessary to look at a display
or to crank the engine. The Fluke 233 would likely increase
productivity and improve technician efficiency in many sce-
narios. I think it would also enhance personal safety because
I am often near rotating engine components while trying to
hold and read a display. I could connect and stand back and
look at the display while in a safe location.” S.B., Missouri
Automotive
5

“As a heavy duty charging system service technician and
trainer, a large part of my job includes monitoring and com-
paring voltages and current flow from a generator all the
way to a set of batteries that may be up to 30 feet away on
a longer truck. Having a meter with a remote display would
allow me to give an on vehicle training session without
having to force course attendees too follow me back and forth
and remember readings. As diesel engine compartments get
hotter and louder, the option of monitoring voltages from a
cooler, safer, quieter distance makes more and more sense
everyday.” N.N., Illionis
“This is an excellent idea. With today’s auto and diesel
technology we are constantly troubleshooting electric circuits
related to fuel injection, general electrical, sensor voltage,
open circuit resistance etc. I can’t tell you how many times
I have had to crawl under a vehicle, at times having one
person hold the meter while I checked for voltage in some
obscure location and having to fumble with limited length
wires. This totally solves my problem of even having to use
another person! Keep up the good work.” B.N., New Jersey
“This tool would be helpful when checking transmission
solenoid problems. It would eliminate the tedious process
of running long wires from under the car, or the front of the
car, putting an end to wondering if the length of the wires
is affecting the results. It would be very helpful when check-
ing the signals for all sorts of switches and sensors while
driving down the road. The meter could be in the engine
compartment and there wouldn’t be any wires hanging out
of the vehicle to be damaged. Another benefit would be
able to check electrical systems without having to ask some-
one to turn on the system or to read the meter for you.”
H.S, California
6
Automotive

7
Cranes

Cranes
9
“I would use the Fluke 233 on overhead bridge and gantry
cranes. There are many times a reading must be taken on a
moving crane. The only way to get such a reading is to have
a man “ride” the crane, which is very unsafe. Also, there are
many times when the control panel is in a location that pre-
vents the operating technician to see the moving equipment,
also very unsafe. This meter could very possibly save lives.”
T.T., Texas
“It would be nice to hook the Fluke 233 up to an overhead
hoist, remove the display and be a safe distance away from
the high voltage in the relay box. I could hook the meter up
to check the amperage draw on the contactor coils to find
intermittent problems when the coils get warm. Right now I
have been using my Fluke 87V with 25 foot extension leads
to perform this task. Not the safest, but the only way I can
do the testing that needs to be done. Another great applica-
tion is testing the electrical circuits and coils on the mobile
cranes. Most of the time there is no operator to run the unit
while I watch the meter. With this meter that problem would
be solved.” R.A., North Dakota
“This meter would be great when working on Tower Cranes.
It would allow the operator to monitor the power coming
into the crane as he is operating the crane. We sometimes
have issues with the power supply on our cranes and this
would be an easy way for us to monitor the power supply.”
C.E., Wisconsin
“Sometimes taking motor current readings on an overhead
crane can be very troublesome. With this meter I could attach
a current probe and then attach the probe to a motor lead in
the electrical panel. Then when I am clear of the crane, I can
run the crane. With the remote display I can safely monitor
the current readings from a safe location. Whether a crane
runs on AC or DC power the risk of electrocution is always a
present hazard. Thank you for creating the tools I need to do
my job safer.” L.M., Indiana

“I repair overhead traveling electric cranes. There are many
times when I am electrically troubleshooting the crane in
tight and cramped situations. Many of the panels do not have
any room inside to lay a large meter down, so you have to
try and find somewhere outside the panel. However, there
is often no spot outside for a large meter either. To be able
to detach the display and set it in a small area would be
awesome.” F.P., Illinois
“The Fluke 223 will allow our Maintenance Technicians to
monitor overhead crane parameters while the crane operates
without having to “ride the crane”. This will enhance safety
on our cranes with catwalks. We will now be able to monitor
cranes without catwalks, which we previously couldn’t moni-
tor during operation.” B.F., Nebraska
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Cranes

11
Electronics

Electronics
13
“What an excellent idea the remote display multimeter is!
This would be an ideal tool for working in the back of elec-
tronic equipment racks. When working on rack-mounted
equipment, you often have to attach probes in awkward
locations in the rack, and trying to read a meter inside the
rack, sometimes sideways or upside-down, is difficult at best
- especially when you are holding the leads with both hands!
The ability to place the display in a convenient location and
then have your hands free for the probes would be a terrific
capability, as good as an additional person.” D.E., Florida
“I am a broadcast engineer. I work primarily in radio and
most of my work is with transmitters. Troubleshooting trans-
mitters is often a dangerous and time consuming process.
Modern transmitters (and of course older ones too) still use
vacuum tubes. These tubes are often large and use very high
voltages. Everything between 3,000 and 12,000 volts DC.
Furthermore these tubes are mounted in enclosures which
must be closed when operating. It is often very difficult
to diagnose a problem by measuring voltages inside this
enclosure. You can’t see the meter! And often stringing leads
through a door on the enclosure doesn’t work because the
door won’t close all the way. This causes voltage interlocks
and air interlocks to be open. The 233 opens up countless
opportunities for this kind of troubleshooting. I can hardly
wait to get my hands on one and have the ability to remotely
look at filament voltages, grid bias voltages, screen voltages
and even very high plates voltage using a high voltage probe.
What a great invention!” J.B., Oregon
“Our engineers have designed automated test racks that look
great: all the cables are inside the cabinet and there’s only
one connection on the front to attach the unit under test.
Unfortunately for me, when I have to calibrate the power
supplies I often have to be in two places at once; at the back,
inside the cabinet where the connections are, and in the
front where the controls are. With one of these multimeters I
could eliminate the back and forth, and be far more produc-
tive.” R.S., California

“Determining the test point values in a transmitter is difficult
since reading them requires the access door to be closed. You
could override safety and keep the door open, but that can
be lethal. Verifying values while our transmitter is working
correctly would be very helpful especially on the audio side
so we would have accurate information to troubleshoot in the
event of a transmitter failure.” J.J., South Carolina
“As a collector of vintage computing equipment, I often need
to test and repair aging electronic circuits. Fluke 233 would
ease the troubleshooting of display driver circuitry of an
HP-35. With a detachable display, I would be able to monitor
the outputs I’m testing without having to divert my attention
to a meter at the side of my workbench, thus eliminating the
risk of my probes slipping and shorting out a hard-to-find
obsolete component.” T.M., Ohio
“Having a remote display would allow me to go up front in
my shop and deal with a customer, while monitoring a
voltage (or, more likely, a current) in a piece of gear cooking
on the bench while waiting for an intermittent to show up.
I work exclusively on vacuum tube gear (I build/repair/modify
tube guitar amps for rock stars), some of which is nearly
50 years old, so being able to see what’s happening from a
distance without resorting to my usual method, i.e., seeing
or smelling the magic smoke, would be a definite plus.”
W.W., Colorado
14
Electronics

15
Facilities

Facilities
17
“Doing maintenance in a nursing home, I get into all kinds
of situations where the Fluke 233 would be of great value.
Examples are working on overhead lights, rooftop HVAC
units, PTAC units, or simply lighting in the hallways. Since we
almost always work alone this meter would be invaluable in
enabling me to see readings while accessing hard to reach
contact points. It is certainly a great innovation in the world
of test equipment.” D.L., New York
“I work alone at night on concourses where the security doors
I need to check are twenty or more feet away from the door
controllers. Your product would make checking them so much
easier that I am going to try to get my boss to buy one regard-
less of whether I win one or not.” T.B., Colorado
“My family operates an irrigated farm. I think the biggest
advantage would be when you have to start the well from
the main panel and take an amp reading at the pivot panel
10-20 feet away. With the remote display this could be
accomplished with 1 person instead of having to get a second
person to help, saving time and payroll expense. Another
advantage is when you would need to check the amp draw
on a center drive motor. You could hook the remote display
multi meter on the center drive motor and then be at the
tower box on the pivot tower with the display when you
turned it on and watch the draw on the remote display. For
these reasons I think this would be a great addition to our
tool box for safety and cost saving reasons.” S.C., Nebraska

Facilities
18
“I would use this when I am in the ceiling trying to check
voltages or checking for shorts and unable to hold both
the leads and meter and flashlight at same time. Sometimes
I have to climb over ductwork to the junction boxes.
With Fluke 233 I could hook up leads and take the display
into the ceiling with a flashlight sometimes having to”
W.B., Florida

19
Hospitals