Fluke 1630 Operating Manual

Earth Ground Clamp

Users Manual

®

1630

PN 2729710
October 2006

© 2006 Fluke Corporation, All rights reserved. Printed in China
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 one year 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 end­user 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.

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

11/99
To register your product online, visit register.fluke.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

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

Standard Accessories............................................................................ 1

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

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

Symbols ................................................................................................ 3

Getting Acquainted with the Clamp...................................................... 4

Using the Clamp ................................................................................... 6

Ground Resistance Measurements .................................................... 6

Ground Leakage Current Measurement............................................ 8

Memory and Alarm Functions.............................................................. 9

Using the High and Low Alarms ...................................................... 9

Setting the Sampling Interval............................................................ 10

Logging Data .................................................................................... 11

Reading Data Stored in Memory....................................................... 12

Clearing Memory.............................................................................. 12

Canceling Auto-Power Off ............................................................... 12

Maintenance.......................................................................................... 12

Cleaning the Clamp .......................................................................... 13

Replacing the Battery........................................................................ 13

Specifications........................................................................................ 14

Electrical Specifications.................................................................... 14

General Specification........................................................................ 14

Ground Loop Resistance................................................................... 15

Ground Leakage Current mA............................................................ 15

Ground Leakage Current A............................................................... 15

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List of Tables

Table Title Page

1. 1630 Earth Ground Clamp Features...................................................... 4

2. Display Features ................................................................................... 5

List of Figures

Figure Title Page

1. 1630 Earth Ground Clamp Features...................................................... 4

2. Display Features ................................................................................... 5

3. Ground Resistance Measurement Principles......................................... 7

4. Ground Leakage Current Measurement................................................ 8

5. Alarm Functions ................................................................................... 9

6. Setting the Sampling Interval................................................................ 11

7. Stored Data Display.............................................................................. 12

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1630

Earth Ground Clamp

Introduction

The Fluke 1630 Earth Ground Clamp (hereafter called the “the Clamp”) is a
hand-held battery-operated clamp that measures the ground resistance of a
ground rod without using auxiliary ground rods. The Clamp can be used in
multi-grounded systems without disconnecting the ground under test.

The Clamp can be used in the following applications:

• Earth resistance testing of high voltage pylons, buildings, cell phone

substations and RF transmitters

• Inspection of lightning protection systems

Standard Accessories

The following standard accessories are provided with the Clamp:

1 9-V alkaline battery (type IEC 6F22, NEDA 1604 installed)

1 Resistance test/check loop

1 1630 Users Manual

1 Carrying Case

1

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Users Manual

Contacting Fluke

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

USA: 1-888-44-FLUKE
Canada: 1-800-363-FLUKE
Europe: [phone]
Japan: [phone]
Singapore: [phone]
Anywhere in the world: [phone]

USA Service: 1-888-99-FLUKE (1-888-993-5853)

Or, visit Fluke's Web site at www.fluke.com
To register your product, visit register.fluke.com

Safety Information

XWRead First: Safety Information

To ensure safe operation and service of the 1630 Earth
Ground Clamp, follow these instructions:

• Read the operating instructions before use and follow

all safety instructions.

• Use the Clamp only as specified in the operating

instructions, otherwise the Clamp’s safety features
may not protect you.

• Adhere to local and national safety codes. Individual

protective equipment must be used to prevent shock
and arc blast injury where hazardous live conductors
are exposed.

• Before each use, inspect the Clamp. Look for cracks or

missing portions of the Clamp housing or output cable
insulation. Also look for loose or weakened
components. Pay particular attention to the insulation
surrounding the jaws.

• Never use the Clamp on a circuit with voltages higher

than 600 V CAT II or 300 V CAT III.

2

Earth Ground Clamp
Symbols

• 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
appliances.

• 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.

• Use extreme caution when working around bare

conductors or busbars. Contact with the conductor
could result in electric shock.

• Use caution when working with voltages above 60 V dc

or 30 V ac. Such voltages pose a shock hazard.

Symbols

The following symbols are found on the Clamp or in this manual.

, May be used on hazardous live conductors
W Risk of danger. Important information. See Users Manual.
X Hazardous voltage. Risk of electric shock.

T Double insulation

M Battery

P Conforms to relevant European Union directives

~

Do not dispose of this product as unsorted municipal waste.
Contact Fluke or a qualified recycler for disposal.

) Complies with Canadian and US Standards

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Users Manual

Getting Acquainted with the Clamp

Refer to Figures 1 and 2 and Tables 1 and 2 to become more familiar with the
Clamp’s features.

1

EARTH GROUND CLAMP

1630

HOLD

OFF

mA

A

CAT

7

300 V

FUNC REC

68

2

3

4

59

eht01f.eps

Figure 1. 1630 Earth Ground Clamp Features

Table 1. 1630 Earth Ground Clamp Features

Number Description

A Jaws. Used to enclose electrode or ground wire.

B HOLD button. Press to hold the displayed value.

C Rotary Switch for power on and function selection.

D LCD

E REC button. Press to start data logging.

F Down arrow used to decrement value.

G Up arrow used to increment value.

H FUNC button. Press to select HI (high alarm), LO (low alarm),

SEC (seconds), or stored memory locations.

I Jaw release.

4

Earth Ground Clamp
Getting Acquainted with the Clamp

3 4 5 6 7

REC NO.

H

2

1

A P

NOISE

m A

8

9

10

11

eht02f.eps

Figure 2. Display Features

Table 2. Display Features

Number Description

A Indicates the Clamp will Autopower off in 4 to 6 minutes.

B Low battery indicator - the batteries are low and need to be

changed.

XWWarning

To avoid false readings, which could lead to
possible electric shock or personal injury,
replace the batteries as soon as the battery
indicator appears.

C Indicates data logging is in progress.

D Indicates memory location.

E Indicates the jaw is not closed properly. This symbol appears on

the display.

F Indicates noise present in ground electrode or ground rod.

G Indicates the rotary switch is in the alarm function.

H Displays current selected function or current memory location.

I Displays value from 0 to 9999 with decimal point.

J Indicates ohms and alarm functions.

K Indicates current in mA or A.

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Users Manual

Using the Clamp

Ground Resistance Measurements

To perform ground resistance measurements:

1. Open the jaws and make sure the surfaces fit together properly and

are free of dust, dirt, or any foreign substances.

2. Turn the Clamp on by moving the rotary switch to the Ω function.

Note

Do not attach the Clamp to a conductor or open the jaws now or
during self-calibration or calibration will be interrupted.

3. After power is turned on, the Clamp self-calibrates for better

accuracy. Wait for self-calibration to finish before making
measurements. During the self-calibration, the display will show
CAL7, CAL6,…..CAL2, CAL1. The Clamp beeps when self-calibration is
completed.

4. Attach the Clamp to the electrode or ground rod to be measured.

5. Read the value of Rg (ground resistance) from the display. Figure 3

illustrates the ground resistance measurement principles.

Note

• If self-calibration does not stop, check the jaw surfaces for

dust or dirt and power up the Clamp again.

• If there is more than 3 A or 30 V in the ground rod, the jaw

icon and the word NOISE flash on the display and the
Clamp beeps. When noise is present the Clamp reading is
not valid.

• If the jaw assembly is opened during measurement, the jaw

icon appears on the display.

6

Earth Ground Clamp
Using the Clamp

Ground resistance measurements principle:

16
30

E
A

R
TH
G
R
OUND

CLA
M

P

m
A

H
OLD

C

OFF

A
30
T

A

0
V

F
U

N
CRE

C

.....R

.....R

n

n

Equivalent circuit diagram:

1630

EA
RTH GROUND CLAMP

m
A

HOLD

C

OFF

A

300

T

A

V

FUNC REC

R

g

R

1

R

1

R

2

R

2

R

3

R

g

1630

EA
RTH GR

OUND CLAMP

mA

HOLD

C

OFF

A

300

T

A

V

F
UN

C

REC

R

g

eht03f.eps

Figure 3. Ground Resistance Measurement Principles

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Users Manual

Ground Leakage Current Measurement

To perform a ground leakage current measurement test:

1. Open the jaws and make sure the surfaces fit together properly and

are free of dust, dirt, or any foreign substances.

2. Turn the Clamp on by moving the rotary switch to the

M or

A function.

3. Attach the Clamp to the electrode or ground rod to be measured.

Figure 4 shows a connection for a ground leakage current
measurement.

4. Read the value of the leakage current on the display.

1
6

3
0

E
A

R
T

H

G
R

O
U

N
D

C

L
A

M
P

m

A

H

C

O

A

3

L

T

O

0

A

D

0

F

V

F

F
UN

C

RE

C

Figure 4. Ground Leakage Current Measurement

eht05f.eps

8

Earth Ground Clamp
Memory and Alarm Functions

Memory and Alarm Functions

Using the High and Low Alarms

1. Press F to select the HI or LO alarm, although this describes the

ohms function high and low alarms can be set in any of the other
functions. The current value of High or Low alarm will appear on the
display. Figure 5 shows alarm function displays.

2. Press the E or E button to increment/decrement the value by 1 Ω.
The value can be incremented or decremented from 0 Ω to
1510 Ω and then OL. Hold down the up or down buttons to quickly
increment/decrement to the desired value.

3. When the value is set, press

F until you return to the main display.

4. When the rotary switch is set to the U position, the Clamp compares
the current value with the high and low values. If the current
measurement is larger than the HI value, the Clamp beeps and shows
HI-- in the upper display. If the measurement is less than the LO
value, the Clamp will beep and LO-- appears in the upper display.

Figure 5. Alarm Functions

eht06.eps

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Note

• If the HI value is set at OL, or the LO value is set at 0, the

ALARM function will be disabled.

• The HI value can’t be smaller than the LO value and the

LO value can’t be larger than the HI value. HI value will be
adjusted to the LO value when a rollover occurs. The
maximum LO value is the HI value.

• If data logging is progressing, the beeper is disabled to

save battery power but the display will still show the
warning letters HI-- or LO--.

• The values of the high and low alarm are stored in memory.

They are restored when the Clamp is turned on.

Setting the Sampling Interval

1. Press the FUNC button until SEC appears in the upper display. Figure

6 shows the sampling interval display.

2. The Clamp shows the current sampling interval in seconds.

3. Press E or D to increment/decrement the sampling interval by 1

second. The sampling interval can be incremented or decremented
from 0 to 255 seconds. Hold down the up or down buttons to quickly
increment/decrement to the desired value.

4. Press

10

F until you return to the main display.

Earth Ground Clamp
Memory and Alarm Functions

Figure 6. Setting the Sampling Interval

eht07f.eps

Logging Data

1. Press R; REC appears in the upper display.

2. Data is recorded at the sampling interval you specified. Data logging
will stop when memory is full, the Clamp detects a low battery, or
you press the

If the sampling interval is set at 0 seconds, only one data point is
recorded. To record the next data point press the REC button again.
The memory location is also displayed for about 1 second.

R button again.

Note

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Reading Data Stored in Memory

1. Press F until NO. appears on the display. The current memory

location appears on the upper display and the stored data appears on
the lower display. Figure 7 shows the stored data display.

2. Press E or D to go to the next or previous memory location. The

memory location rolls over when the first or last record is reached.

NO. NO.

Figure 7. Stored Data Display

Clearing Memory

eht08f.eps

To clear the memory press and hold R and then turn the Clamp on. The letters
CL appear on the display and indicate that memory is cleared.

Canceling Auto-Power Off

When the Clamp is turned on, the letters AP appear on the display and indicate
that Auto-Power Off is turned on. To cancel Auto-Power Off, press
then turn the Clamp on. The letters AP will no longer appear on the display.

F and

Maintenance

XWWarning

To avoid possible electric shock or personal injury, repairs
or servicing not covered in this manual should be
performed only by qualified personnel.

12

Earth Ground Clamp
Maintenance

Cleaning the Clamp

WCaution

To avoid damaging the Clamp, do not use aromatic
hydrocarbons or chlorinated solvents for cleaning. These
solutions will react with the plastics used in the Clamp.

Clean the instrument case with a damp cloth and mild detergent.

Replacing the Battery

XWWarning

To avoid false readings that could lead to possible electric
shock or personal injury, replace the batteries as soon as
the low battery indicator (M) appears.

To replace the battery:

1. Turn the rotary switch to OFF.

2. Use a Phillips screw driver to remove the bottom case screws.

3. Lift and remove the bottom case.

4. Remove the old battery.

5. Replace the battery with a new 9-V battery.

6. Install the bottom case and tighten the screws.

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Specifications

Electrical Specifications

Display.................................................................9999 digit liquid crystal display with

Operating Humidity..............................................Less than 85% RH

Storage Temperature ..........................................-20 °C to 60 °C (-4 °F to 140 °F)

Storage Humidity.................................................Less than 75% RH

Reference Temperature ......................................23 °C ± 5 °C (73 °F ±9 °F)

Temperature Coefficient......................................0.1 % X (specified accuracy)/ °C

Operating Temperature .......................................0 °C to +50 °C (+32 °F to +122 °F)

Protective Type ...................................................IP23 according to

Category Rating ..................................................300 V CAT III/pollution degree 2 and

EMC (Emission) ..................................................IEC 61000-4-1, IEC 61326-1 class B

EMC (Immunity) ..................................................IEC 61000-4-2 8 kV (air) criteria B,

Range Selection ..................................................Auto

Overload Indication .............................................OL

Measurement Frequency ....................................3.333 kHz

Power Requirement.............................................9 V alkaline (type IEC 6F22, NEDA

Power Consumption ............................................ Approx. 40 mA (in Ω function)

Low Battery Indicator...........................................M

Maximum Non-destructive Current......................100 A continuous, 200 A (< 10 sec)

Accuracy of Calibration Plate ..............................+/- 0.5%

Data Logging Capacity ........................................116 records

Data Logging Interval ..........................................1 to 255 seconds

special symbols

(< 18 °C or > 28 °C)

IEC 60529/EN 60529

600 V CAT II

IEC 61000-4-3 V/m perf. Criteria A

1604)

50/60 Hz

General Specification

Conductor Size....................................................35 mm (1.38 in) approximately

Dimensions..........................................................276 mm (L) x 100 mm (W)

Weight .................................................................750 g (1.65 lbs)

14

X 47 mm (H)

10.8 in (L) x 3.9 in (W) x 1.9 in (H)

Earth Ground Clamp
Specifications

Ground Loop Resistance

[1]

Range

0.025 to 0.250 Ω ± 1.5 % + 0.02 Ω

0.250 to 1.000 Ω ± 1.5 % + 0.002 Ω

1.000 to 9.999 Ω ± 1.5 % + 0.01 Ω

10.00 to 50.00 Ω ± 1.5 % + 0.03 Ω

50.00 to 99.99 Ω ± 1.5 % + 0.5 Ω

100.0 to 200.0 Ω ± 3.0 % + 1.0 Ω

200.1 to 400.0 Ω ± 5.0 % + 5.0 Ω

400.0 to 600.0 Ω ± 10.0 % + 10.0 Ω

600.0 to 1500.0 Ω ± 20.0 %

[1] Loop resistance with no inductance, external field
< 200 A/m, external electrical field < 1 V/m,
conductor centered.

Accuracy

(± % of reading + Ω)

Ground Leakage Current mA

Autorange 50/60 Hz, True rms, crest factor CF <3.5

Range

0.300 to 1.000 mA

1.00 to 10.00 mA

10.0 to 100.0 mA

100 to 1000 mA

Accuracy

± 2.0 % rdg ± 0.05 mA
± 2.0 % rdg ± 0.03 mA

± 2.0 % rdg ± 0.3 mA
± 2.0 % rdg ± 3.0 mA

Ground Leakage Current A

50/60 Hz, True rms, crest factor CF <3.5

Range

0.200 to 4.000 A

4.00 to 35.00 A

15

Accuracy

± 2.0 % rdg ± 0.003 A

± 2.0 % rdg ± 0.03 A

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