Fluke T5-1000, T5-600 Service Guide

When things are tight,
reach for the Fluke T5

Application Note

No matter what the electrical
dilemma is, the solution always
depends on basic electrical prin­ciples: Ohm’s Law and V = IR,
where V is voltage, I is current,
and R is resistance. Enter the
Fluke T5-1

000.

Yes, the T5 is a general pur­pose volts-ohms-amps electrical
tester that measures ac and dc
voltage, and resistance values up

,000

to 1
stationary open jaws slide around

Ω. However: Onc

e its

a conductor, the T5 safely
measures ac current up to 100 A
without clamping the jaws shut
or breaking the circuit.

That “OpenJaw” technolog

allows the T5 to make highly

curate measurements in envi-

ac
ronments that would drive other
clampmeters into early retirement.

y

No extra hands needed

The T5 is one very compact little
meter. Easily cradled in one
hand, the T5 has a test lead slot
in its back, making the meter an
“extended handle” for the probe
and leaving the technician’s
other hand free to place the other
lead. It also features a large,
easy-to-read digital display and a
hold feature for checking the
value away from the “reading”
position. And like other Fluke
tools, the T5 automatically shuts
off after 45 minutes, prolonging
battery life, and is built to with­stand falls. According to Duane
Smith, Senior Product Spec
at Fluke, “While we k
can handle falling off a ladder,

ive g

e is ver

ific Ltd

v

., a lumb

’t want to carry

emmer sa

’ve seen it sur

we
drops than that in the real
world.”

Convenienc
to Dale K
ber and head electrician at
Crow
in Mar
of in-plant troubleshooting. I own
several Fluke meters but there
one I carr
the time: the T5-1000. It’s an
awesome meter for a trouble­shooter who doesn
a lot of tools around a large facil­ity like our mill,” K

emmer, FlukePlus mem

ac

n P

ille, WA USA. “I do a lot

ysv

y in my hip pocket all

ialist

now the T5

reater

y important

er mill

’s

.

ys

-

Using the tester as an extended “handle” for either probe allows convenient two-hand operation.

From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library

The “rocket,” as he calls his
T5, can be used almost every­where in this facility, which has
a wide variety of electrical
devices from computers to large
horsepower motors. Most of the
machiner
planers, kilns, etc) is large.
Controls range from computers to
standard PLCs. “I end up using
the ‘rocket’ 90 % of the time,” he
adds. “I can operate it with one
hand and switch from volts to
amps to continuity with my
thumb. Being able to switch
measurements so easily speeds
up the troubleshooting proc

wrights at the Crown Pacific
fac
guys. I use the T5 in my training
to illustrate how to make basic
electrical measurements. It’s a
great teaching tool,” he says.

y (debarkers, saws,

ess.”

Mr. Kemmer also trains mill-

ility. “These are real hands-on

Fixed jaws go where
others can’t

The T5 can check current up
to 100 A without breaking the
circuit, simply by sliding its
fixed jaws around the connector.
It does this by measuring the flux
density around the conductor.

As Paul Knapp, electrical
foreman at Minneapolis-St. Paul
Airport (MSP), puts it, “All the
electrician needs to do is pull the
wire away from the wall far
enough to get it between the
jaws. Nothing needs to open or
close. The T5 works no matter
how much moisture, mud, dirt, or

ol from de-ic

glyc
encounters on the wires in the
airport’s lighting manholes or
taxi bases
proved troublesome when their
jaw ends corroded, often render­ing them difficult to use or
entirely inoperative. This has
never been a problem with the
Fluke tool — it

ing operations it

. Moveable-jaw meters

’s impressive.”

Applications

The T5 does everything a standard clampmeter does, except measure dc current.

General applications

Check if a circuit is live before beginning work

•

Check individual voltages (either ac or dc)

•

Determine component resistances up to 1000 ohms.

•

Check circuit continuity

•

Residential applications

Measure loads on a branch circuit at a service panel

•

Measure the load side voltage of a circuit breaker or fuse

•

Map outlets to breakers

•

Industrial applications

Check circuit loading at panelboards (including feeder cables, branch circuits, and

•

neutrals) and the integ
Check for leakage currents in branch c

•

supply wire are placed in the T5’s jaws the reading should be zero. A reading other
than zero indicates that leakage current is returning on another path and, therefore, a

y load or poor insulation condition exists

leak
Motor measurements including loading value, current balance and for troubleshooting

•

control circuitry

The T5 is also handy when it comes to checking control functions during large
machinery installations. According to Kevin Gallimore, owner of Gallimore Services,
“When installing a machine and checking its sequencing, the small stationary jaws of
the T5 make it easy to check current flow and verify operation. Troubleshooting large
machines and distributed installation like HVAC systems can require two men on walkie
talkies, but with a T5, I can do much of it from the control panel.”

rity of a grounding circuit

ircuits. When both a neutral and corresponding

In order to make accurate current measurements using the T5, the
conductor should pass through the throat of jaws and parallel to its
axis as shown, in this example from the Minneapolis Airport. When
testing for the presenc
prior to b
the jaws is slightly less critical since no reading is expected for a
non-energized circuit.

2 Fluke Corporation When things are tight, reach for the Fluke T5

inning electrical repairs, plac

eg

e of power in a c

ircuit to verif

ement of the c

y that it is off

onductor in