Application Note

3 Fluke Corporation The power of a waveform: Expanded troubleshooting options with the Fluke 345 Power Quality Clamp Meter
Swanson, who has responsibility for a large
number of VFDs as well as all those UPSs, says
that the Fluke 345 would help him keep the
motor drives performing well and protect against
problems the drives might cause in the rest of the
facility. “The scope function on the 345 gives me
an opportunity to look at waveforms, which can
show me irregularities,” Swanson notes. “I could
detect any kind of distortion that may be coming
in on the power line or harmonics that could be
generated by the drive itself and going back onto
the grid. I need to know if the drive is creating
anything that could be detrimental to other equip
-
ment.” With the low-pass filter, the 345 can accu
-
rately read VFD output without interference.
The Fluke 345 is also useful for low-power
applications. “I’m often looking at the low-power
end of things,” Swanson acknowledges, “and
asking, ‘What noise is hitting my electronics?’ If
something affects my alarm system or my essential
computer systems, I’ve got problems. That’s my
primary concern.”
Adding new loads
Whenever a facility brings in new pieces of pro-
duction or process equipment, that adds new loads
to existing electrical supply systems. Because the
Fluke 345 can take power measurements (watts,
VA, VAR, volts, amps, and power factor) in both
single-phase and balanced three-phase power
systems, the instrument allows users to determine
circuit loading and thereby judge whether it is safe
to add more load or if a new circuit is required
Fluke Corporation
PO Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206
Fluke Europe B.V.
PO Box 1186, 5602 BD
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
For more information call:
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In Europe/M-East/Africa
[phone] or
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In Canada (800)-36-FLUKE or
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From other countries [phone] or
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Web access: http://www.fluke.com
©2007 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved.
Specifications subject to change without notice.
Printed in U.S.A. 4/2007 3034574 A-EN-N Rev A
Fluke. Keeping your world
up and running.
®
Then, while connecting the new equipment, the
electricians can use the Fluke 345 to measure the
loading of the equipment as it is installed. Finally,
they can check post-installation harmonics to see
whether the new equipment is operating as pre
-
dicted or if it is producing new, possibly harmful
harmonics or contributing to other problems. For
initial installations of new plant and equipment,
plant personnel will want to look at current wave
-
forms and voltage waveforms to how the installed
equipment is affecting supply components and
other equipment.
Power measurements are also essential for
identifying and correcting low power factor, a
cause of high utility bills. In fact, the Fluke 345
offers the ease of use, portability and flexibility
needed to solve most electrical problems in com
-
mercial, industrial, and residential settings, when
standard instruments do not provide answers.