Sparks Electrical News May 2016

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SPARKS
ELECTRICAL NEWS MAY 2016
15 DISTRIBUTION BOARDS, SWITCHES, SOCKETS AND PROTECTION
HOW TO CHOOSE A DIGITAL MULTIMETER
Hydraulic
crimper for
demanding
jobs
Multimeters have been described as mod-
ern-day tape measures but what exactly
is a digital multimeter (DMM) and what
can you do with it? How do you make measure-
ments safely? What features do you need? What is
the easiest way to get the most out of your meter?
Which meter is best suited to the environment you’re
working in?
Technology is rapidly changing our world. Elec-
trical and electronic circuitry seems to permeate
everything, and continues to get more complex
and smaller in size. The communication industry
booms with cell phones and pagers, and Inter-
net connections have put more pressure on the
electronics technician. Servicing, repairing, and
installing this complex equipment in these envi-
ronments requires diagnostic tools that provide
accurate information.
A DMM is simply an electronic tape meas-
ure for making electrical measurements. It may
have any number of special features, but mainly
a DMM measures volts, ohms, and amperes.
DMMs measure faster, more efficiently and with
greater accuracy, almost any job in any industry.
The three watch words when selecting your DMM
are ‘safety’, ‘quality’, and ‘performance’.
Fluke models include handheld trouble-shoot-
ers to ultra-smart instruments packed with fea-
tures, including the ability to log and graph data,
as well as high-precision bench units.
Choosing your DMM
Choosing a DMM for the job requires not only look-
ing at basic specifications, but also looking at fea-
tures, functions, and the overall value represented by
a meter’s design and the care taken in its production,
reliability and robustness. Reliability, especially under
tough conditions, is more important than ever today.
Fluke DMMs undergo a rigorous testing and evalua-
tion program. User safety is a primary consideration
in the design of Fluke’s DMMs, providing adequate
component spacing, double insulation and input
protection helps prevent injury and meter damage
when they are used improperly. Fluke designs its
DMMs to the latest, most demanding safety stand-
ards, with your safety in mind. Fluke offers many
DMMs with different combinations of features like
Touch Hold Auto Hold analogue bar graphs, and en-
hanced resolution. Accessories for high current and
temperature measurements are available to extend
the capabilities of DMMs.
The range comprises:
• 280 Series DMMs – for advanced diagnostic and
logging functionality for maximising productivity.
• 233 Remote display multimeter – for ultimate
flexibility with removable display.
• 80 Series V DMMs – performance and accuracy
for maximum industrial productivity.
• 170 Series DMMs – versatile meters for field ser-
vice or bench repair.
• 110 Series DMMs – compact design for ergo-
nomic one-handed operation.
• 27II/28II rugged industrial meters – designed to
survive water, dust and rough handling trouble-
shooting most electrical problems.
• 88 V automotive meter – for auto-electric diag-
nosis.
Enquiries: +27 10 595 1821
When you decide that it’s time to buy the decent
heavy-duty crimper you’ve been promising yourself
for years, an excellent choice would be the hydraulic
crimper from Rennsteig, a subsidiary of KNIPEX. This
quality German-made two-hand tool crimps copper
and aluminium conductors with cross-sections from
10 to 400 mm2. The crimper is 600 mm long and
boasts a 180° rotating head; and its 80 KN crimp force
makes it the ideal tool for electricians – even for the
most demanding crimp jobs. A comprehensive range of
crimp dies is also available.
Enquiries: +27 11 396 4065