Unwell Fluke 1652

[JohnW2]

Ha ha. That presumably is supposed to signify it works.

Nearly all the eBay listings show them with "LEAd" showing in the display - presumably because they want to show that the display is working, but don't plug in any leads!

I suppose could try selling mine on eBay, with a genuine photo just like that one "to show that it works"

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Were it not for the fact that one has to totally disassemble the machine to get at the fuse, I'l probably ask you to find out for me.

I did think about it but, better not.

 

[JohnW2]

I did think about it but, better not.

Very wise!

I do think that it's rather 'naughty' that they have hidden that fuse so well. I presume that (like me until yesterday) very few users even know that it exists! I wonder how many people have paid Fluke £xxx for replacing that fuse (probably a 10-minute job)?!

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

that fuse seems a little 'naughty'. Unlike the one which is easily accessible (and replaceable) within the battery compartment (which I suspect is also effectively in series with the L lead), one cannot even see, let alone replace, this second one unless one completely dismantles the machine. ... it would appear that if that second fuse blows, most people would end up having to return the machine to Fluke for 'repair' (at whatever cost!).

They would, because, AIUI, opening up the instrument like that invalidates any calibration which it has.

 

[JohnW2]

I did think about it but, better not.

You may be happy to try the following (without having to open up the machine!). I don't think it's going to help me, but it would be interesting and, if you do it, I'll explain why ...

1... Starting with the machine off. Hold down the F2 key whilst switching it on. Keep holding the F1 F2 key until something appears on the screen and report what that is (it may only appear on the screen briefly).

2&3 ... Repeat (1) using F3 and F4 keys respectively.

4... Repeat (1) using F1 key, but this time, if the initial "display test screen" appears and persists, release the F1 after a few seconds.

As for other continued playing/pondering ....

I have now realised at least one reason why the internal fuse is 'hidden'. Since it's in series with the L-lead, and is in just a bare 'skeleton' fuse holder, it would be 'live' if an L-lead were plugged in and connected to the L of an installation. In contrast, the user-accessible fuse (in the 'battery compartment') is in series with the PE lead, and hence will usually be safe to touch. This illustrates another difference between the N and L+PE lead sockets - the N is not fused, but the other two are, and the fact that only L and PE ones have 'lead present detection' might be in some way related to this.

If I remove the PE fuse and then switch on, whether I have leads plugged in or not I still get the "LEAd" message (not the Err1 I get if I remove the L-fuse with leads unplugged). However, if I unplug the PE lead (but not if I unplug only the L-lead), I do get the 'relay click' which I get when the Err1 message appears (with L-fuse removed). You tell me

Kind Regards, John
Edit: Typo corrected

 

[boringoldcodger]

Deleted - no longer relevant.

 

[JohnW2]

Living down to my moniker, I wonder when John says (in Test 1) "Keep holding the F1 key" he might mean F2. I remember that he's occasionally admitted to his fingers not typing what his brain tells them to.

Yep, typo admitted, and corrected. Thanks.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I remember that he's occasionally admitted to his fingers not typing what his brain tells them to.

I wonder if Braille readers sometimes find that their brain doesn't do what their fingers tell it to?

 

[EFLImpudence]

You may be happy to try the following (without having to open up the machine!). I don't think it's going to help me, but it would be interesting and, if you do it, I'll explain why ...

Are these with leads unplugged?

 

[JohnW2]

Are these with leads unplugged?

Good question. With my meter in its present state, it makes little, if any, difference - since it thinks that there are no leads whether leads are plugged in or not!

I suppose you ought to try it both ways. With leads unplugged, you will probably eventually get the "LEAd" message, but you may well see something else in the display before that - which may or may not be the same as what you see (assuming you see something!) with the leads plugged in.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Ah, yes of course.

1... Starting with the machine off. Hold down the F2 key whilst switching it on. Keep holding the F1 F2 key until something appears on the screen and report what that is (it may only appear on the screen briefly).

Leads in - PSC 10kA then normal screen
Leads out - PSC 10kA then click then LEAd

2&3 ... Repeat (1) using F3

in - L-n above n-L upon release of F3 then normal screen
out - L-n above n-L - only upon release of F3 click then LEAd

and F4

in - UL 50 - the 50 i.e. voltage varies with setting upon release of F4 normal screen
out - UL 50 - only upon release of F4 click then LEAd

4... Repeat (1) using F1 key, but this time, if the initial "display test screen" appears and persists, release the F1 after a few seconds.

in - full display - upon release of F1 1.7 above 1.1 ??? then normal screen
out - full display - upon release of F1 1.7 above 1.1 then click then LEAd

 

[JohnW2]

Right - many thanks. Whilst I don't pretend to understand what they all mean, your results without leads are essentially identical to what I'm getting, and the interesting thing is that you get essentially the same results with leads plugged in.

This, of course, simply adds to my frustration. It looks as if my machine is probably functioning more-or-less 'normally', other than it cannot get it out of its head that there are no leads plugged in. In other words, if only I could disable the 'leads present' checking, it might well work as normal!

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Pages 18 and 19 of the manual explain L-n and UL50/25 and kA

I have edited the above to include reverting to normal screen after release when leads are in.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Right - many thanks. Whilst I don't pretend to understand what they all mean, your results without leads are essentially identical to what I'm getting, and the interesting thing is that you get essentially the same results with leads plugged in.

Yes, it's just that without the leads it doesn't go to usage screen.

This, of course, simply adds to my frustration. It looks as if my machine is probably functioning more-or-less 'normally', other than it cannot get it out of its head that there are no leads plugged in. In other words, if only I could disable the 'leads present' checking, it might well work as normal!

Yes.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Note with leads in the relay doesn't click when it goes to usage screen.