Fluke 421D Operating Manual

421D

Distance Meter

Users Manual

September 2009

© 2009 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 two 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	Fluke Europe B.V.
P.O. Box 9090	P.O. Box 1186
Everett, WA 98206-9090	5602 BD Eindhoven
U.S.A.	The Netherlands

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Table of Contents

Title	Page
Introduction ....................................................................................................................	1
How to Contact Fluke.....................................................................................................	1
Use of the instrument .....................................................................................................	1
Permitted use ............................................................................................................	1
Prohibited use ...........................................................................................................	1
Limits of use ..............................................................................................................	2
Areas of responsibility ...............................................................................................	2
Responsibilities of the manufacturer (Fluke).........................................................	2
Responsibilities of the manufacturer of non-Fluke accessories ............................	2
Responsibilities of the person in charge of the instrument....................................	2
Hazards in use...........................................................................................................	3
Precautions ...............................................................................................................	3
Safety Instructions..........................................................................................................	3
Symbols.....................................................................................................................	3
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) ........................................................................	4

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FCC statement (U.S.A only) ..........................................................................................	4
Laser classification....................................................................................................	5
Integrated distance meter ....................................................................................	5
Laser Class 2 products: .......................................................................................	5
Start-up..........................................................................................................................	6
Inserting/replacing batteries......................................................................................	6
Changing the reference point (multifunctional endpiece) ..........................................	7
Keypad......................................................................................................................	8
Display ......................................................................................................................	9
Menu functions ..............................................................................................................	10
Settings.....................................................................................................................	10
Navigation in the menu ........................................................................................	10
General description ..............................................................................................	10
Setting the unit for distance measurements..............................................................	12
Setting the unit for tilt measurements........................................................................	12
Beep (BEEP).............................................................................................................	12
Continuous laser ( )..............................................................................................	12
Measuring with the tripod (TRIPOD) .........................................................................	12
Display - keypad illumination ( )..............................................................................	13
Reset - returning the instrument to the factory settings (RESET) .............................	13
Operation.......................................................................................................................	13
Switching on and off..................................................................................................	13
CLEAR button...........................................................................................................	13
Display / keypad illumination.....................................................................................	13
Reference setting......................................................................................................	13
Measuring......................................................................................................................	14
Single distance measurement...................................................................................	14
Minimum/maximum measurement ............................................................................	14
Functions .......................................................................................................................	15

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Contents (continued)
Addition / subtraction .................................................................................................	15
Distance measuring ..............................................................................................	15
Area...........................................................................................................................	15
Volume ...........................................................................................................................	15
Tilt measurement ...........................................................................................................	16
Tilt sensor calibration.................................................................................................	16
Indirect horizontal distance........................................................................................	17
Stake out function......................................................................................................	17
Room corner angle function ......................................................................................	18
Indirect measurement................................................................................................	19
Indirect measurement - determining a distance using 2 auxilliary measurements	19
Indirect Measurement - determining a distance using 3 measurements...............	20
Indirect measurement - determining a chain value using 3 measurements ..........	20
Storage of constants/historical storage......................................................................	21
Storage of a constant............................................................................................	21
Recalling the constant ..........................................................................................	21
Historical storage ..................................................................................................	21
Timer (self-triggering) ................................................................................................	21
Appendix ........................................................................................................................	22
Message codes .........................................................................................................	22
Technical data ...........................................................................................................	23
Measuring conditions.................................................................................................	25
Measuring range...................................................................................................	25
Target surfaces.....................................................................................................	25
Care and Cleaning.....................................................................................................	25

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Introduction

Carefully read the Safety Instructions and the User Manual before using this product.

How to Contact 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.

Distance Meter

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

Use of the instrument

Permitted use

•Measuring distances

•Computing functions, e. g. areas and volumes

•Measuring tilts

Prohibited use

•Using the instrument without instruction

•Using outside the stated limits

•Deactivation of safety systems and removal of explanatory and hazard labels

•Opening of the equipment by using tools (screwdrivers, etc.), as far as not specifically permitted for certain cases

•Carrying out modification or conversion of the product

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•Use of accessories from other manufacturers without the express approval of Fluke

•Deliberate or irresponsible behavior on scaffolding, when using ladders, when measuring near machines which are running, or near parts of machines or installations which are unprotected

•Aiming directly into the sun

•Pointing the laser directly at people or animals in light or dark conditions.

•Inadequate safeguards at the surveying site (for example, when measuring on roads, construction sites, etc.)

Limits of use

Note

See section “Technical Data”.

The Fluke 421D is designed for use in areas permanently habitable by humans, do not use the product in explosion hazardous areas or in aggressive environments.

Areas of responsibility

Responsibilities of the manufacturer (Fluke)

Fluke is responsible for supplying the product, including the User Manual and original accessories, in a completely safe condition.

Responsibilities of the manufacturer of non-Fluke accessories

The manufacturers of non-Fluke accessories for the 421D are responsible for developing, implementing and communicating safety concepts for their products. They are also responsible for the effectiveness of these safety concepts in combination with Fluke equipment.

Responsibilities of the person in charge of the instrument

W Warning

The person responsible for the instrument must ensure that the equipment is used in accordance with the instructions. This person is also accountable for the deployment of personnel and for their training and for the safety of the equipment when in use.

The person in charge of the instrument has the following duties:

•To understand the safety instructions on the product and the instructions in the User Manual.

•To be familiar with local safety regulations relating to accident prevention.

•To inform Fluke immediately if the equipment becomes unsafe.

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Distance Meter

Safety Instructions

Hazards in use

W Caution

Watch out for erroneous distance measurements if the instrument is defective or if it has been dropped or has been misused or modified.

Precautions

Carry out periodic test measurements. Particularly after the instrument has been subject to abnormal use, and before, during and after important measurements.

Make sure the 421D optics is kept clean and that there is no mechanical damage to the bumpers.

W Caution

In using the instrument for distance measurements or for positioning moving objects (for example, cranes, building equipment, platforms, etc.) unforeseen events may cause erroneous measurements.

~W Warning

Flat batteries must not be disposed of with household waste. Care for the environment and take them to the collection points provided in accordance with national or local regulations.

The product must not be disposed of with household waste.

Dispose of the product appropriately in accordance with the national regulations in force in your country.

Always prevent access to the product by unauthorized personnel.

Product specific treatment and waste management information can be downloaded from the Fluke home page at http://www.fluke.com or received from your Fluke dealer.

Safety Instructions

Only use this product as a measuring sensor, not as a control device. Your system must be configured and operated in such a way, that in case of an erroneous measurement, malfunction of the device or power failure due to installed safety measures (for example, safety limit switch), it is assured that no damage will occur.

Symbols

The symbols used in the Safety Instructions have the following meanings:

W Warning

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation or an unintended use which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

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421D

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W Caution

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation or an unintended use which, if not avoided, may result in minor injury and/or in appreciable material, financial and environmental damage.

Symbol

Description

Do not dispose of this product as

~unsorted municipal waste. Go to Fluke’s website for recycling information.

*Warning. Laser

WRisk of Danger. Important information. See Manual.

P Conforms to European Union directives.

Note

Important paragraphs which must be adhered to in practice as they enabled the product to be used in a technically correct and efficient manner.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

The term "electromagnetic compatibility" is taken to mean the capability of the product to function smoothly in an environment where electromagnetic radiation and

electrostatic discharges are present, and without causing electromagnetic interference to other equipment.

W Warning

The 421D conforms to the most stringent requirements of the relevant standards and regulations. Yet, the possibility of it causing interference in other devices cannot be totally excluded.

W Caution

Never attempt to repair the product yourself. In case of damage, contact Fluke (www.fluke.com).

FCC statement (U.S.A only)

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.

This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

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