Fluke 1587, 1577 Operating Manual

1587 FC/1587/1577

Insulation Multimeter

Users Manual

005 Rev.3, 9/15

April 2

© 2005-2015 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Each Fluke product is warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service. The warranty period is
three years and begins on the date of shipment. Parts, product repairs, and services are warranted for 90 days. This warranty extends only
to the original buyer or end-user customer of a Fluke authorized reseller, and does not apply to fuses, disposable batteries, or to any
product which, in Fluke's opinion, has been misused, altered, neglected, contaminated, or damaged by accident or abnormal conditions of
operation or handling. Fluke warrants that software will operate substantially in accordance with its functional specifications for 90 days and
that it has been properly recorded on non-defective media. Fluke does not warrant that software will be error free or operate without
interruption.

Fluke authorized resellers shall extend this warranty on new and unused products to end-user customers only but have no authority to
extend a greater or different warranty on behalf of Fluke. Warranty support is available only if product is purchased through a Fluke
authorized sales outlet or Buyer has paid the applicable international price. Fluke reserves the right to invoice Buyer for importation costs of
repair/replacement parts when product purchased in one country is submitted for repair in another country.

Fluke's warranty obligation is limited, at Fluke's option, to refund of the purchase price, free of charge repair, or replacement of a defective
product which is returned to a Fluke authorized service center within the warranty period.

To obtain warranty service, contact your nearest Fluke authorized service center to obtain return authorization information, then send the
product to that service center, with a description of the difficulty, postage and insurance prepaid (FOB Destination). Fluke assumes no risk
for damage in transit. Following warranty repair, the product will be returned to Buyer, transportation prepaid (FOB Destination). If Fluke
determines that failure was caused by neglect, misuse, contamination, alteration, accident, or abnormal condition of operation or handling,
including overvoltage failures caused by use outside the product’s specified rating, or normal wear and tear of mechanical components,
Fluke will provide an estimate of repair costs and obtain authorization before commencing the work. Following repair, the product will be
returned to the Buyer transportation prepaid and the Buyer will be billed for the repair and return transportation charges (FOB Shipping
Point).

THIS WARRANTY IS BUYER'S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AND IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. FLUKE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR
LOSSES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY.

Since some countries or states do not allow limitation of the term of an implied warranty, or exclusion or limitation of incidental or
consequential damages, the limitations and exclusions of this warranty may not apply to every buyer. If any provision of this Warranty is
held invalid or unenforceable by a court or other decision-maker of competent jurisdiction, such holding will not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision.

Fluke Corporation
P.O. Box 9090
Everett, WA 98206-9090
U.S.A.

11/99

Fluke Europe B.V.
P.O. Box 1186
5602 BD Eindhoven
The Netherlands

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1

Contacting Fluke ............................................................................................................ 2

Safety Information .......................................................................................................... 2

Unpack List .................................................................................................................... 5

Accessories ................................................................................................................... 5

Hazardous Voltage ........................................................................................................ 6

Test Lead Alert .............................................................................................................. 6

Battery Saver (Sleep Mode) .......................................................................................... 6

Rotary Switch Positions ................................................................................................. 7

Buttons .......................................................................................................................... 9

Display ........................................................................................................................... 11

Input Terminals .............................................................................................................. 14

Power-Up Options ......................................................................................................... 15

AutoHold Mode .............................................................................................................. 16

MIN MAX AVG Recording Mode.................................................................................... 16

Manual Ranging and Auto Ranging ............................................................................... 17

AC Zero Input Behavior of True RMS Meters ................................................................ 17

VFD Low-Pass Filter (all 1587 Models) ......................................................................... 17

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1587 FC/1587/1577

Users Manual

Basic Measurements ..................................................................................................... 18

AC and DC Voltage ................................................................................................... 19

Temperature (all 1587 Models) ................................................................................. 20

Resistance ................................................................................................................ 21

Capacitance (all 1587 models) .................................................................................. 21

Continuity .................................................................................................................. 22

Diodes (all 1587 models) .......................................................................................... 23

AC or DC Current ...................................................................................................... 24

Insulation ................................................................................................................... 26

Frequency (all 1587 Models) ..................................................................................... 28

Fluke Connect™ Wireless System ............................................................................ 30

How to Clean ................................................................................................................. 31

Battery Test ................................................................................................................... 31

Fuse Test ....................................................................................................................... 31

Battery and Fuse Replacement ..................................................................................... 32

General Specifications ................................................................................................... 33

Electrical Specifications ................................................................................................. 35

ii

List of Tables

Table Title Page

1. Symbols ................................................................................................................................ 4

2. Unpack List ........................................................................................................................... 5

3. Accessories .......................................................................................................................... 5

4. Rotary Switch Selections ...................................................................................................... 7

5. Buttons .................................................................................................................................. 9

6. Display Indicators ................................................................................................................. 11

7. Error Messages .................................................................................................................... 14

8. Input Terminal Descriptions .................................................................................................. 14

9. Power-Up Options ................................................................................................................ 15

10. Fuse and Battery Replacement ............................................................................................ 32

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iv

List of Figures

Figure Title Page

1. VFD Low Pass Filter ............................................................................................................. 18

2. Measuring AC and DC Voltage ............................................................................................. 19

3. Measuring Temperature ........................................................................................................ 20

4. Measuring Resistance .......................................................................................................... 21

5. Measuring Capacitance ........................................................................................................ 21

6. Testing for Continuity ............................................................................................................ 22

7. Testing Diodes ...................................................................................................................... 23

8. Measuring AC or DC Current ................................................................................................ 25

9. Testing Insulation .................................................................................................................. 27

10. Measuring Frequency ........................................................................................................... 29

11. Fluke Connect™ ................................................................................................................... 30

12. Testing the Fuse ................................................................................................................... 31

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vi

Introduction

The Fluke 1587 FC, 1587, 1587T, and 1577 are
battery-powered, true-RMS insulation multimeters (the
Product or Meter) with a 6000-count display. Although this
manual describes the operation of all models, all
illustrations and examples assume use of Model 1587 FC.

The Meter measures or tests:

• AC / DC voltage and current

• Resistance

• Continuity

• Insulation resistance

• Voltage and current frequency

• Diodes (all 1587 models)

• Temperature (all 1587 models)

• Capacitance (all 1587 models)

The 1587 FC supports the Fluke Connect™ Wireless
System (may not be available in all regions). Fluke
Connect™ is a system that wirelessly connects your Meter
with an app on your smartphone or tablet. The app shows
the Meter measurement on your smartphone or tablet
screen. You can save these measurements with Fluke
Connect™ to share with your team.

More information about how to use Fluke Connect is on
page 30.

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1587 FC/1587/1577

Users Manual

Contacting Fluke

To contact Fluke, call one of the following telephone
numbers:

• Technical Support USA: 1-800-44-FLUKE

(1-800-443-5853)

• Calibration/Repair USA: 1-888-99-FLUKE

(1-888-993-5853)

• Canada: 1-800-36-FLUKE (1-800-363-5853)

• Europe: [phone]

• Japan: [phone]

• Singapore: [phone]

• Anywhere in the world: [phone]

Or, visit Fluke’s website at www.fluke.com.

To register your product, visit http://register.fluke.com.

To view, print, or download the latest manual supplement,
visit http://us.fluke.com/usen/support/manuals.

Safety Information

A Warning identifies conditions and procedures that are
dangerous to the user. A Caution identifies conditions and
procedures that can cause damage to the Product or the
equipment under test. See Table 1 for a list of symbols
used on the Meter and in this manual.

Warning

To prevent possible electric shock, fire, or
personal injury:

• Read all safety information before you use
the Product

• Examine the case before you use the
Product. Look for cracks or missing
plastic. Carefully look at the insulation
around the terminals.

• Do not use test leads if they are damaged.
Examine the test leads for damaged
insulation and measure a known voltage.

• Do not use the Meter around explosive gas,
vapor, or in damp or wet environments.

• Do not touch voltages >30 V ac rms,
42 V ac peak, or 60 V dc.

• Only use probes, test leads, and
accessories that have the same
measurement category, voltage, and
amperage ratings as the Product.

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Insulation Multimeter

Safety Information

• Keep fingers behind the finger guards on
the probes.

• Do not exceed the Measurement Category
(CAT) rating of the lowest rated individual
component of a Product, probe, or
accessory.

• Use the Product only as specified, or the
protection supplied by the Product can be
compromised.

• Comply with local and national safety
codes. Use personal protective equipment
(approved rubber gloves, face protection,
and flame-resistant clothes) to prevent
shock and arc blast injury where
hazardous live conductors are exposed.

• Do not work alone.

• Do not apply more than the rated voltage

between the terminals or between each
terminal and earth ground.

• Limit operation to the specified
measurement category, voltage, or
amperage ratings.

• Use Product-approved measurement
category (CAT), voltage, and amperage
rated accessories (probes, test leads, and
adapters) for all measurements.

• Measure a known voltage first to make
sure that the Product operates correctly.

• Use the correct terminals, function, and
range for measurements.

• Measure for hazardous voltage without the
Low-Pass Filter.

• Do not use the Product if it operates
incorrectly.

• Replace the battery when the low battery
indicator () shows to prevent incorrect
measurements.

• Remove the batteries if the Product is not
used for an extended period of time, or if
stored in temperatures >50 °C. If the
batteries are not removed, battery leakage
can damage the Product.

• The battery door must be closed and
locked before you operate the Product.

• Remove all probes, test leads, and
accessories before the battery door is
opened.

• Do not use the Product if it is damaged.

• Disable the Product if it is damaged.

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1587 FC/1587/1577

Users Manual

Table 1. Symbols

Symbol Description Symbol Description

 WARNING.RISK OF DANGER. 

WARNING. HAZARDOUS VOLTAGE. Risk of electric
shock.

 Consult user documentation.  Battery (Low battery when shown on display.)

 AC (Alternating Current)  Earth
 DC (Direct Current)  Fuse

 Double Insulated  Conforms to relevant South Korean EMC Standards.

 Conforms to relevant Australian EMC standards. 

Certified by CSA Group to North American safety
standards.

 Conforms to European Union directives.  Certified by TÜV SÜD Product Service.









Measurement Category II is applicable to test and measuring circuits connected directly to utilization points (socket outlets
and similar points) of the low-voltage MAINS installation.

Measurement Category III is applicable to test and measuring circuits connected to the distribution part of the building’s
low-voltage MAINS installation.

Measurement Category IV is applicable to test and measuring circuits connected at the source of the building’s low-voltage
MAINS installation.

This product complies with the WEEE Directive marking requirements. The affixed label indicates that you must not discard
this electrical/electronic product in domestic household waste. Product Category: With reference to the equipment types in
the WEEE Directive Annex I, this product is classed as category 9 “Monitoring and Control Instrumentation” product. Do not
dispose of this product as unsorted municipal waste.

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Insulation Multimeter

Unpack List

Unpack List

Table 2 is a list of accessories included with your Product.

Table 2. Unpack List

Accessory

1587, 1587T, 1587 FC 1577

Leads TL224 TL224

Probes TP74 TL74

Clips AC285 AC285

Holster Yes Yes

Hard Case Yes Yes

K Type
Thermocouple

Remote Probe Yes Yes

Yes No

Model

Accessories

Table 3 is list of optional accessories that are available for
the Product.

Table 3. Accessories

Accessory Part Number

ToolPakTM Magnetic
Meter Hanger Kit

AC 400A Clamp I400

go to www.fluke.com/tpak

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1587 FC/1587/1577

Users Manual

Hazardous Voltage

To alert you to the presence of a potentially hazardous
voltage, when the Meter detects a voltage ≥30 V or a
voltage overload (), the Z symbol is displayed.

Test Lead Alert

To remind you to check that the test leads are in the
correct terminals,  shows momentarily when you move
the rotary switch to or from the c position.

 Warning

To prevent possible electric shock, fire, or
personal injury, use the correct terminals,
function, and range for measurements.

Battery Saver (Sleep Mode)

The Meter enters “Sleep mode” and blanks the display if
there is no function change or button press for 20 minutes.
This is done to conserve battery power. The Meter comes
out of Sleep mode when a key is pressed or when the
rotary switched is turned.

To disable Sleep mode, hold down the blue button while
you turn on the Meter. Sleep mode is always disabled in
the MIN MAX AVG recording mode, AutoHold mode, or
when the insulation test is active.

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Insulation Multimeter

Rotary Switch Positions

Rotary Switch Positions

Turn the Meter on by selecting any measurement function.
The Meter presents a standard display for that function
(range, measurement units, modifiers, etc.). Use the blue
button to select any rotary switch alternate functions
(labelled with blue letters). Rotary switch selections are
shown and described in Table 4.

Table 4. Rotary Switch Selections

Switch

Position

B

K

C

E

Measurement Function

AC voltage from 30.0 mV to 1000 V.

AC voltage with 800 Hz VFD low-pass filter.

DC voltage 1 mV to 1000 V.

DC mV 0.1 mV to 600 mV.

bav02f.eps

1587 FC

1587

1587T

1577

• • • •

• • •

• • • •

• • • •

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