Fluke Instrumentation
Fluke products are synonymous with reliable accuracy and durability, the main traits that make their electrical testing products popular among a wide range of users, from electricians and industrial maintenance crews working in all kinds of environments to engineering students in classroom settings. Their brand reputation and the slogan "the best for the best" aptly fit this product line catering to the upper echelon of electrical test and measurement tools. Their lineup of products spans from standard digital multimeters to more advanced diagnostic tools like power quality analyzers that measure the performance of the power system loads.
All of Fluke test products are designed to deliver reliable and precise readings with a high degree of safety. For jobs where not only the duration of the overload conditions are tested but also the type of force that circuits can withstand, Fluke products deliver the kind of reliability that any potential user can appreciate. Fluke devices are rigorously tested and built to a quality standard that's more common in military and aerospace applications.
FAQs
What are Fluke instruments used for?
Fluke instruments are used for electrical testing, troubleshooting, diagnostics, and measurement in industrial, commercial, and residential environments.
Why do professionals prefer Fluke over other brands?
Technicians trust Fluke for its unmatched accuracy, rugged durability, precise readings under load, and industry-leading electrical safety ratings.
Are Fluke digital multimeters safe for high-voltage applications?
Yes, many Fluke meters meet CAT III and CAT IV safety ratings, making them suitable for high-energy circuits and industrial equipment.
Can Fluke tools integrate with mobile devices?
Many instruments support Fluke Connect, enabling wireless data logging, trend analysis, and real-time sharing with maintenance teams.
Where are Fluke instruments commonly used?
You’ll find them in electrical contracting, industrial maintenance, HVAC, manufacturing, energy, utilities, and electronics troubleshooting.
Analog and Digital Control Signals: The Basics
Digital Signals
Digital signals are represented in either a true or false. There is no gray area with digital signals. An example of this might be a light switch. A light switch is either on or off. Another example of this might be a motor that is running or not running. Digital signals can be generated with both AC and DC circuits with varying voltages, currents and resistance. Some practical examples of using digital signals in an industrial environment might be if a pump is running or not running or a whether a valve is open or closed.
Analog Signals
Analog signals convey information in the form of a range. A light switch might be on or off as a digital signal, but a dimmer switch would be an analog signal. It can be on or off, but it can also be somewhere in between. A practical example of using analog signals in an industrial environment would be if there is a need to measure the level of a tank; whether it's full, empty or somewhere in between. Analog signals can take many different forms with some of the more common being a 4 to 20 milliamp signal or a 0 to 5 or 0 to 10 volt signal.
Communication
Communication in a device can either be sent or received. Whether that data is sent or received depends on the type of information. Is there a need to monitor the status of something? If so, an input needs to be received about that information. Is there a need to control something? If so, an output needs to be sent about what needs to occur. Receiving inputs and setting outputs are both things that can be accomplished by using both digital and analog signal types. Therefore, the signals are referred to as analog outputs (AO), analog inputs (AI), digital inputs (DI) or digital outputs (DO).