"Err 1" on Fluke 1652

[JohnW2]

Hi Folks,

Use of my Fluke 1652 is necessarily fairly 'occasional', but when I last used it, a few weeks ago, it was working fine. However, when I switch it on today I get an "Err 1" message, which translates as "Return the tester to a Fluke Service Center" - which is clearly a non-starter option with the aged item.

Unless anyone has any ideas, I presume that there is nothing I can do about this (other than by confirming that the problem persists) and that I simply have to regard it as 'dead'? It has been in a (often very cold) cellar since last used, so I just wondered whether 'bringing it into the warm' might conceivably change things?

On the assumption that it is dead .... This is the second 1652 I've had (both 'used' from eBay), over a good number of years, and I've been very happy with them. It looks as if (as before) I should be able to pick up a used and working (but not necessarily calibrated, which does not really worry me) one for £200 - £240, and that's maybe what I'll have to do.

However, I wonder if I should be at least considering the possibility of going for something (in a similar price ball-park) other than a used Fluke 1652 ?

Any thoughts/suggestions would be very welcome!

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Check fuse holder for tightness and good contact.

 

[JohnW2]

Check fuse holder for tightness and good contact.

Thanks.

I should have mentioned that, not the least because it was really the only 'thing' I could easily get at, checking that was the first (and only) thing I did. Unfortunately, it seemed fine.

I recall that there is at least one other fuse inside. I therefore suppose that nothing is to be lost (apart from time) by opening it up (which is as bit of a mission!) to make sure that there is no problem with it/them - but certainly without any 'expectations'. It's now 'in the warm', just in case!

Any other thoughts/ideas?

What about the question of a replacement, if, as seems probable, that is going to be necessary? What would you did if/when your 1652 died - go for another, or something different (or maybe not bother at all, in your retirement?!)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

I have no other suggestions for Error 1.

I hope warming (or drying?) it revives it.


As for a replacement, I would buy the same (if I needed one) but I am just like that - not very adventurous.

If I find something I like and which works well I will tend to stick with it.

Presumably 1652s are relatively cheap now - don't need newer types.

 

[JohnW2]

I have no other suggestions for Error 1. ... I hope warming (or drying?) it revives it.

So obviously do I, but my hopes are not very high

As for a replacement, I would buy the same (if I needed one) but I am just like that - not very adventurous. If I find something I like and which works well I will tend to stick with it.

Exactly the same with me - which is why that's probably what I will do. I just wondered whether anyone perhaps thought I was was being foolish by not considering alternatives (in a similar price bracket).

Presumably 1652s are relatively cheap now - don't need newer types.

One might have thought/hoped so - but it doesn't seem as if they are appreciably cheaper than when I last bought one, a good few years back (around 2015/2016, I think). As always, although I don't know whether people ever pay such prices, there are a good few on offer for what seem like unrealistic asking prices (£400+).

I obviously need to wait a bit, and I'll let you know if it springs back to life!

Kind Regards, John

 

[conny]

Don't know if this is any help to you,

Error Codes - Fluke 1652C User Manual [Page 24] | ManualsLib

It says it failed the Self Test and return it, (as you say), but maybe keeping it in a warm, dry atmosphere for a few days may help to dry out any potential internal condensation. Worth giving it a go. Do they have internal batteries? Not the same thing but I have found if I leave any measuring gauges, (Vernier's, angle gauges etc), in my shed during winter the batteries quickly die and need replacing.

 

[JohnW2]

Don't know if this is any help to you, ... It says it failed the Self Test and return it, (as you say) ...

Thanks for your interest. Indeed, I have the manual and, as I said, I got as far as understanding that to be the meaning of the "Err 1" code!

... but maybe keeping it in a warm, dry atmosphere for a few days may help to dry out any potential internal condensation. Worth giving it a go.

As I said, that's my hope, but I'm certainly not holding my breath! For what it's worth, it's lived in the same, often cold and always damp, cellar for a good few years (with only very occasional use) without this problem having previously arisen.

Do they have internal batteries? Not the same thing but I have found if I leave any measuring gauges, (Vernier's, angle gauges etc), in my shed during winter the batteries quickly die and need replacing.

I have, needless to say, tried replacing the 'main' batteries, with no effect. It's a long time (years) since I last had one of these apart - I don't recall there being any 'internal batteries', but it's not impossible that there is some 'button cell' or suchlike (e.g. to service some memory).

Knowing myself, I very much doubt that I will 'give up and replace' this one without first taking it apart for 'a look' - so if there are any such fairly obvious internal issues, I hopefully will notice them!

Kind Regards, John

 

[SFK]

Tear down video here.
Shows why they are expensive.
And not an easy unit to identify faults.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Do they have internal batteries?

I don't recall there being any 'internal batteries', but it's not impossible that there is some 'button cell' or suchlike (e.g. to service some memory).

A teardown video for a 1652C here (not the best! ):

@13:18 there's a super cap apparent on the top PCB, next to an unpopulated battery connection.

Not that it may be of much help, but my experience of (hundreds of!) simple Fluke multimeters, is that they occasionally benefit from a liberal spray of contact cleaner on the range selector contacts.

My experience with PATesters, is that they fail self tests with sticky relays!

Take it with a pinch of salt, but from another forum (possibly posted by a calibration technician?):

Post in thread 'Fluke err 1 message' https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/fluke-err-1-message.46603/post-1153451

EDIT:
Ahhh, @SFK beat me to it! I really shouldn't watch the whole of these vids before posting

 

[JohnW2]

A teardown video for a 1652C here (not the best! ):
EDIT: Ahhh, @SFK beat me to it! I really shouldn't watch the whole of these vids before posting

He did - but there's nothing wrong with great minds thinking alike, and I'm grateful to both of you for your interest and assistance. However, in turn, I've already seen that video (and at least one other like it). Unfortunately, that is a 1652C and I remember from the past that, although the general concepts of the innards of a 1652C are similar to my 1652, the details are very different.

I must say, I did not note/remember (from either the video or vague memories of my real-life dissection of my previous 1652) your observation that ...

... @13:18 there's a super cap apparent on the top PCB, next to an unpopulated battery connection. ....

However, even in terms of the video, I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to as the 'super cap' or the 'unpopulated battery connection' - can you perhaps somehow 'point me towards' what you are talking about?

In any event, you have given me at least two thoughts:

Firstly, I had forgotten that, me being me, I will almost certainly still have the innards of my previous 1652 lying around in a dusty box somewhere (probably the same cellar) - so I'll see if I can hunt it down and get some insight into what's inside it before I open up the 'new one' (assuming that I will eventually get driven to doing that!).

Secondly, throughout the life (with me) to date of my current 1652, I have removed the battery pack whenever it has been left for appreciable periods of non-use (because I nearly had a disaster with it's predecessor when one of the batteries started 'leaking' during a period of non-use!).

That being the case, if there is capacitor storage of electricity (or, indeed, a rechargeable cell) in there, then that would undoubtedly have lost its charge during a long period without batteries, which might possibly explain its inability to work. I'm therefore going to keep it for a while, not only in the 'warm and dry', but also with its battery pack (with new batteries!) installed, just in case some 'recharging' is needed before it will work (if that happens, I can but presume that it can when it is 'switched off'). However, again, I'm certainly not holding my breath! Indeed, even if retained charge (in capacitor or battery) were needed, say, to retain calibration data etc. in some sort of memory, it's far from certain that it would be able to work (recover that data) even after 're-charging'! Anyway, we'll see!!

Take it with a pinch of salt, but from another forum (possibly posted by a calibration technician?): Post in thread 'Fluke err 1 message' https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/fluke-err-1-message.46603/post-1153451

Thanks again but, also again, I've already seen that, and a good few other discussion threads about "Err 1" on these machines - there are countless such discussions out there! Unfortunately, none of them seem to be particularly helpful and, as always, there are a good few people talking about 'solutions' which are essentially beyond belief - like the guy saying he got rid of an "Err 1" by cleaning the lead sockets with a cotton bud!

Have said that, the post to which you link says: "... Non clicking Err1's testers which have lost their Calibration constants. These require a small electronic repair and long recalibration procedure.". Since what I have is a 'non-clicking' Err 1, then I suppose that would be consistent with my speculation about about calibration data having been (perhaps irrecoverably) 'lost'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[RandomGrinch]

However, even in terms of the video, I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to as the 'super cap' or the 'unpopulated battery connection' - can you perhaps somehow 'point me towards' what you are talking about?

An unpopulated 'BT2'

Though as you say, this is the 1652'C' - good luck!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Just tried to watch the teardown video but could not stand the voice.

Wherever does he come from? Next door to Peston?

 

[JohnW2]

Just tried to watch the teardown video but could not stand the voice. Wherever does he come from? Next door to Peston?

Goodness knows! I felt compelled to watch the whole thing, which was very painful. Other than providing views of the inside, and a small number of tips about opening up, he really says nothing particularly useful!

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

An unpopulated 'BT2' ... Though as you say, this is the 1652'C' - good luck!

Ah, right -not sure how I missed that.

However, as expected, I have now found the innards of my previous 1652, and there is nothing remotely like that!

After well over 12 hours with the battery pack in, the 'new' one is still showing the Err 1, so I'm shortly going to open it up, at which point I will discover what is inside this one. Watch this space!

Kind Regards, John

 

[RandomGrinch]

Watch this space!

I for one will definitely subscribe, if you were to start posting teardown videos on YouTube!
I'm sure flameport wouldn't mind the competition