All electrical articles
What is resistance?
Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit.
What is duty cycle?
Duty cycle is the ratio of time a load or circuit is ON compared to the time the load or circuit is OFF.
What is a diode?
A diode is a semiconductor device that essentially acts as a one-way switch for current.
What is true-RMS?
The need for true-RMS meters has grown as the possibility of non-sinusoidal waves in circuits has greatly increased in recent years. Some examples include variable speed motor drives, electronic ballasts, computers, HVAC, and solid-state environments.
Fluke 87V Digital Multimeter vs Fluke 87V MAX Multimeter
Compare IP rating, battery life and other features. What is the difference between the Fluke 87V MAX and the 87V digital multimeter?
The 7 Best Tools for Electricians in 2024
We recently asked electricians what they considered their top 5 essential tools—there were a few ties, so we’re sharing their top 7.
Part 1: Electrical testing safety - Preparing for absence of voltage testing
Placing electrical equipment or systems in an electrically-safe work condition might seem simple, but there are several factors to consider.
Part 2: Electrical testing safety
If you find a circuit that shows voltage when there should be none, be careful what you do next. Creating an arc is unsafe and could get you fired or much worse. Be safe. Determine whether the voltage is induced by nearby, energized cables or if it is being backfed from an unknown source.
9 Things You’ll Love About the Fluke T6-1000 PRO Electrical Tester
Why choose the Fluke T6 Electrical tester? Read 9 things to love about the first electrical tester that performs AC current, AC voltage and frequency up to 1000 V AC without test leads.
What is a digital multimeter?
A digital multimeter (DMM) is a test tool used to measure two or more electrical values—principally voltage (volts), current (amps) and resistance (ohms).
Beyond the basics: Electrical problems at a boat dock
Among the many tools offered by Fluke for testing ac circuits is the model 360 AC Leakage Clamp Meter. This meter can measure up to 60 amps ac in normal use,
30 day load studies with the Fluke 1735 Power Logger
To determine the existing equipment's capacity, factor in the incoming conductor size, the ratings of the equipment, and space for new circuits. To determine present loading, you'll need to either precisely calculate the existing loads, or measure them.
What is capacitance?
Capacitance is the ability of a component or circuit to collect and store energy in the form of an electrical charge.
What is Ohm’s Law?
Ohm’s Law is a formula used to calculate the relationship between voltage, current and resistance in an electrical circuit.
What is frequency?
AC frequency is the number of cycles per second in an alternating current (AC) sine wave.
What is voltage?
Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit’s power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work such as illuminating a light.
Diagnosing power problems at the receptacle
These three measurements, all taken quickly at one outlet, provide you with a solid understanding of the building's electrical supply.
Top 4 features of user-friendly solar tools: why is finding a user-friendly solar tool so important
Case study: Efficient Tests Keep Fluorescent Lights Shining at Commercial Complex
Troubleshooting lights goes from minutes to seconds when using Fluke 1000FLT Light Tester for testing fluorescent light fixtures in a commercial complex
DC services specialist deploys battery analyzer to maintain critical UPS systems
Many services offered by ERS involve maintaining uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.
Case study: From Electric Fish, Two Kinds of Current
Electric fish, like knifefish, produce electrical signals used for sensing where they and their schoolmates are. Electric eels produce, in addition, more powerful currents for hunting and defense.
What is a non-contact voltage tester?
When troubleshooting failed assets, the first tool you’ll reach for is a non-contact voltage detector, also known as a voltage tester. These pocket-sized detectors immediately identify the presence of voltage.
Four methods to conduct earth ground testing
Earth ground testing increases the reliability of equipment performance and reduces safety risk. Why testing is needed, what's a good ground, testing methods.
Maintaining Backup Battery Systems for Maximum Usage and Reliability
Standby battery backup systems play a critical role in keeping essential operations functional in the event of a utility outage. Although most batteries used in modern day UPS systems are “maintenance free,” they are still susceptible to deterioration from corrosion, internal shorts, sulphation, dry-out, and seal failure.
Top 5 Electrical Troubleshooting Tools Every Small Team Needs
Consider investing in these five electrical troubleshooting tools to quickly identify basic electrical issues in HVAC, networks, motors, and electrical panels.
Why insulated tools are important
Insulated electrical tools are critical for electrical safety.
Checking grounding electrode impedance for commercial, industrial and residential buildings
Most facilities have grounded electrical systems, so that in the event of a lightning strike or utility overvoltage, current will find a safe path to earth. A ground electrode provides the contact between the electrical system and the earth.
10 dumb things smart people do when testing electricity
Anyone who makes their living by working with electricity quickly develops a healthy respect for anything with even a remote chance of being "live." Yet the pressures of the getting a job done on time or getting a mission-critical piece of equipment back on line can result in carelessness and uncharacteristic mistakes by even the most seasoned electrician.
Four myths about electrical safety that may surprise you
Following electrical safety regulations in industrial plants is critical. But myths about electrical safety are rampant. Understand the facts vs myths about working in energized systems.
Fluke 500 Series Battery Analyzers increase accuracy and safety, reduce testing time
CAT III rated Fluke Battery Analyzers increase accuracy, safety, efficiency, with intuitive interface, Intelligent Probes, audible cues
What is an oscilloscope?
Basic information about what an oscilloscope is and how the test instruments are used in industrial settings for preventive maintenance and troubleshooting.
Ensuring electrical circuit protection without nuisance tripping
Whether commercial, institutional, municipal, or industrial, sooner or later, nearly every facility will experience some type of overcurrent situation. Unless they're dealt with promptly, even modest overcurrent levels can cause system components to overheat and damage insulation, conductors, and equipment.
Best Non-Contact Voltage Tester
A guide to choosing the best electrical and voltage tester from Fluke for your needs. Built for electricians, maintenance managers, facility technicians and homeowners, learn about which voltage detectors in the Fluke VoltAlert line are right for you.
Fluke Pro Tips
Fluke experts get to the heart of your maintenance and measurement questions with tips and tricks—in less than a minute.
Troubleshooting and collaborating in real time
Fluke Connect for real-time troubleshooting and collaboration; technicians and managers can view same measurement data on smart phones at same time from virtually anywhere.
What is current?
Current is the rate at which electrons flow past a point in a complete electrical circuit.
Maintaining a solid ground
Properly grounding a facility's electrical system ensures a low impedance connection from the electrical system to the earth. However, the effectiveness of the earth ground depends on several factors.
Can you really test electrical bonds adequately using a multimeter?
An active electrical system may have present many small currents and voltages, both dc and ac, as a result of leakages, unbalances, etc. Unfortunately, any residual dc in a system may cause a dmm resistance reading to be higher or lower than its actual value.
How insulated tools work
Insulated hand tools provide critical safety protection for electricians and technicians who work with live electrical equipment.
Safety considerations when selecting a voltage tester
How safe is that voltage tester? Learn about the differences between solenoid and digital voltage testers, and how they impact your safety.
4 things you need to know about Industrial Ethernet
An overview of the four main Industrial Ethernet protocols including modbus TPC/IP, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, PROFINET. How these communication networks differ from the commercial Ethernet LAN environment.
Can you live with the burden?
One of the realities of electrical testing is that you can't measure something without changing it in some way.
Fluke 787 vs 789
See the key differences between the Fluke 787 vs 789 as determined by Fluke engineers. What are the key feature and spec differences? See the comparison here.
Top 10 Changes to 2018 NFPA 70E Safety Standards for Electricians
With the recent release of the 2018 edition of the NFPA 70E standard, many users are finding it challenging to interpret what it says and prioritize where they should focus their attention. The short answer is that the entire 70E standard is important; not just one chapter, article or section.
The volt makes a stop at the Fluke metrology lab
Ensuring a dc volt is the same wherever you go and on whatever device you own is the job of national and international standards organizations with an assist from private industry.
Even at home, Fluke tools stay on the job
When Fluke tool users head for home, they know the workday is far from done. Customers describe how they use their industrial-strength Fluke test tools around the house.
Voltage detectors answer your first electrical test question
When working with electricity, very often the first measurement needs to answer, "Is voltage present or not?" This question is a critical part of electrical testing.
Run 5 essential lighting tests in 30 seconds with Fluorescent Light Tester
Test fluorescent lamp, ballast, pin continuity, voltage, and ballast-type in 30 seconds with the new Fluke 1000FLT fluorescent light tester
Verifying lockout/tagout electrically safe status
Lockout/Tagout procedures specify the steps electricians must follow to remove power from an electrical circuit or panel, and to lock out and tag the panel or circuit, so that no one can re-energize it while work is in progress.
A million and one uses for voltage detectors
Voltage detectors are a quick, inexpensive way to check for the presence of live voltage on ac circuits, switches and outlets before working on them. Also known as voltage wands, sticks, "power sniffers" or pens, they clip into a shirt pocket and beep or glow when they detect voltage on exposed conducting parts or through insulation.
Test and measurements for electrical fire prevention
For the most part industrial and commercial electrical systems are getting safer and more reliable. The U.S. Fire Administration's most recent report, analyzing data from 2001, estimates that 8.7% of the nation's 47,785 non-residential fires were caused by electrical distribution equipment. That's 32% fewer than in 1998.
Understanding capacitive voltage sensors
The capacitive voltage sensor works because when you hold the barrel in your hand and place the tip near a live conductor, you are inserting the high impedance sensing element into a capacitively coupled series circuit. As your hand and body form a relatively large capacitor coupled to the floor. The sensor tip is a small capacitor coupled to the live voltage. The sensing circuit detects the voltage and turns on a light or sounds the buzzer.
Safety considerations for live measurements: keep your eyes on the job at hand
Measuring live voltages and current in today's high energy environments can result in a severe hazard to equipment and users if proper precautions are not applied. Given the risk of transients, surges, and old-fashioned human error, it always pays to follow safe work practices and use test instruments rated for the voltage or current you're measuring.
Electricians worldwide: Most common mistakes, best practices
Electricity is a force of nature, the same around the world.So it's probably no surprise that electricians and maintenance techs from Canada to Australia and Pakistan to the Philippines share many of the same experiences, and learn the same lessons - and sometimes learn them the hard way.
Back to basics: Pre-emptive troubleshooting and testing of class 2 and 3 alarm circuits
HSI Security Systems installs, maintains and monitors electronic life-safety systems throughout Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. We're an electrical contractor that specializes in low voltage systems and rudimentary electrical controls.
101 applications for laser distance meters
The Fluke 416D and 411D laser distance meters measure distance to a target up to 60 m (200 ft) away using the unit's laser spot, and can do a quick calculation of area (square feet/meters) and volume. Accuracy is up to 1.5 mm (1/16 in).
10 ways to hurt yourself on electrical systems
Perhaps you've been an electrician for a while. Or maybe you're just starting out. No matter how much experience you have, it's always good to spend a few minutes thinking about how to end the day in the same shape as you started it—without any injuries.