New Fluke 117 Digital

Multimeter drives the

ghosts out of the attic
(and the electric circuits) Application Note

As an electrician, Eldon
Walstad’s job can be like that
Testing of a radar operator when it
comes to detecting the invisible.
Functions He has to be able to determine
Case what is real and what is not,
and separate what is dangerous
Study from what only appears to be.
Now Walstad has a new tool
that can help him make those
critical decisions—the Fluke 117
Digital Multimeter (DMM).
In an average week Wals-
tad, a journeyman electrician
with Rodgers Electric in Everett,
WA., handles all kinds of issues
related to electrical installa-
tion, maintenance and repair. A
frequent challenge is to deter-
mine why a device isn’t operat-
ing, and track down the faulty
contact, fuse, relay or broken
wire that’s preventing current
from flowing.
Tool: Fluke 117 Electrician’s But occasionally a digital
Multimeter multimeter will show voltage
present, even on a circuit that
should not be energized. Is it the wet, dirty plant environ-
real and potentially danger- ment, the potential problems
Profile: Eldon Walstad, were many. “It should have
Rodgers Electric ous voltage, or merely “ghost
voltage” caused by capacitive been either 110 volts, or
coupling between energized nothing.”
Measurements: High impedance for wiring and adjacent unused
wiring? Hunting down the ghosts
troubleshooting sensitive electronic or “The other day I had a situ- In the past, tracking down such
control circuits, and low impedance for ation where I had 73 volts a voltage indication could send
detecting ghost voltages showing up on a circuit,” says the technician off on a time-
Walstad, a second-generation wasting wild goose chase, look-
electrician with more than 30 ing for a problem connection
years experience. The circuit in that was never there. He could
question: a control circuit on a ferret out the ghost voltage with
concrete transfer cart used to a low-impedance analog meter
move material from the mixer to or a solenoid tester, or ‘wiggy’ -
the molds in a factory making but that would require packing
precast concrete light poles. In or fetching an extra tool.

From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library

 But Walstad had extra help. How impedance affects The best of both worlds
The Fluke 117 Digital Multi- testing With dual impedance meters,
meter he was using that day
Most digital multimeters for technicians can safely trouble-
has dual impedance capabil-
testing industrial, electrical and shoot sensitive electronic or
ity; incorporating both regular
electronic systems have high control circuits, as well as
high impedance test capabilities
impedance input circuits greater circuits that may contain ghost
and low impedance functions
than 1 megohm. This means voltages, and can more reliably
for detecting ghost voltages.
that when the DMM is placed determine whether voltage is
By switching to the meter’s
across a circuit for a measure- present on a circuit.
Auto-V/LoZ (low impedance)
ment, it will have little impact On the Fluke 114, 116 and
test setting, Walstad could see
on circuit performance. This is 117 DMMs, the meter’s regu-
instantly that the 73 volts was
the desired effect for most volt- lar Vac and Vdc switch posi-
only a ghost. “It saved me a trip
age measurement applications, tions are high impedance. Use
back to the truck to get another
and is especially important for these switch positions for most
meter,” Walstad says.
sensitive electronics or control troubleshooting scenarios and
Ghost voltage can circuits. especially on sensitive elec-
look real Older troubleshooting tools tronic loads.
such as analog multimeters The Fluke low impedance
Ghost voltages are caused when and solenoid testers gener- function is called Auto-V/LoZ.
energized circuits and non- ally have low impedance input • Auto-V stands for automatic
energized wiring are located in circuitry around 10 kilohms or volts. This feature automati-
close proximity to each other, less. While these tools aren’t cally determines whether the
such as in the same conduit or fooled by ghost voltages, they measured signal is ac volt-
raceway. This condition forms a should only be used for testing age or dc voltage, selects the
capacitor and allows capacitive power circuits or other circuits correct function and range,
coupling between the energized where the low impedance and displays the correct infor-
wiring and the adjacent unused will not negatively impact or mation.
wiring. alter circuit performance. They
When you place your multi- • LoZ stands for Low Imped-

rarely comply with the current ance (Z). This feature presents
meter leads between the open IEC 61010 safety standards a low impedance input to
circuit and the neutral conduc- and North American regulatory the circuit under test. This
tor, you effectively complete requirements. reduces the possibility of
the circuit through the input false readings due to ghost
of the multimeter. The capaci- voltages and improves
tance between the connected, accuracy when testing to
hot conductor and the floating determine absence or pres-
conductor forms a voltage ence of voltage.
divider in conjunction with the
multimeter input impedance.
The multimeter then measures
and displays the resulting volt-
age value.
Most digital multimeters
today have an input impedance
that’s high enough to show
this ghost voltage, giving a false
impression of a live conductor.
The meter is actually measuring
voltage coupled into the discon-
nected conductor. But at times,
these voltages can be 80-85 %
of what the “hard” voltage
should be. If not recognized as
a ghost voltage, additional time,
effort and money will be lost
troubleshooting circuit problems.

 Fluke Corporation New Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter drives the ghosts out of the attic
Use the Auto-V/LoZ switch Four user groups,
position on the DMM when four meters
readings are suspect (ghost
voltages may be present) or The new Fluke DMMs include
when testing for the presence four distinct models, each aimed
of voltage. When the leads are at a specific group of users. The
placed on an open circuit that 114 Electrical Multimeter is
contains a ghost voltage, the ideal for electrical troubleshoot-
low input impedance will cause ing and straightforward ‘go/no
the ghost voltage to dissipate go’ testing in the residential
and the meter will display a electrical setting, and also is
reading near zero volts indicat- designed for use in electric util-
ing no voltage present. When ity applications to test circuits
the leads are placed on a live before turning power back on
circuit, however, the input at the meter. The 115 Multi-
senses the presence of “hard” meter is optimized for electrical
voltage and then displays the and electronic testing by field
actual voltage present. service technicians. The 116
Multimeter features temperature
Non-contact voltage and microamps measurements
useful for heating, ventilation,
detection
air conditioning and refrigera-
The Fluke 117 DMM also tion (HVAC/R) technicians. And
includes the built-in VoltAlert™ the 117 Electrician’s Multime-
non-contact voltage func- ter tested by Eldon Walstad is
tion. Located on the top of the designed for commercial electri-
meter above the LCD display, cians. All are rated for use in
it’s another feature handy for 600 V CAT III environments,
detecting the invisible. The and all except the 115 include
VoltAlert function detects the the LoZ low impedance test
presence of ac voltage, sounds capability.
an audible tone and activates “I like it,” Walstad says of
a red LED indicator light on the the 117. “When you’re trying
top center of the LCD display. to prove something, you’ve got
Using this feature before to know whether you’ve got
making a contact measurement real power there or not. If you
can add an extra layer of safety. think you’ve got power but
Users should, of course, still don’t, then you can go off in a
test for the presence of voltage different direction trying to find
using test leads with the meter problems when you really need
in the volts setting. to be back here working on
something. You’re not wander-
ing aimlessly, looking for it.”
And there are no ghosts
in sight.
Fluke. Keeping your world
up and running.™

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:
In the U.S.A. (800) 443-5853 or
Fax (425) 446-5116
In Europe/M-East/Africa +31 (0) 40 2675 200 or
Fax +31 (0) 40 2675 222
In Canada (800)-36-FLUKE or
Fax (905) 890-6866
From other countries +1 (425) 446-5500 or
Fax +1 (425) 446-5116
Web access: http://www.fluke.com
©2006 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved.
Printed in U.S.A. 9/2006 2747091 A-EN-N Rev A

 Fluke Corporation New Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter drives the ghosts out of the attic