Digital Multimeter Has USB & Cable Adapters

Fluke Corporation announced enhancements to its bench digital multimeters. The Fluke 8808A 5.5 digit Digital Multimeter and the 8845A/8846A 6.5 digit Multimeters will now include a USB to RS232 Cable Adapter as well as FlukeView Forms Basic software.

www.fluke.com

Dual Range Portable Pressure Calibrators

DH-Budenberg says the H542 / P542 family of Bench-top, Portable Calibrators are available as single range or dual range units, which can be optimised to suit individual requirements.

According to the company, the Portable Pressure Calibrators a powerful range of instruments providing optimum features for industrial users, whilst being user friendly and rugged enough for industrial environments.

The H542 / P542 instruments are suitable for high accuracy measurement of pressure, along with built-in means of raising and adjusting the pressure. On both models, up to two internal sensors can be fitted for a wide operating range, with storage of test data for download and printing of certificates.

DH-Budenberg says the H542 Hydraulic unit features a pressure control which enables rapid priming at low pressure, as well as fine adjustment at high pressure, without the need for additional priming pumps. Hydraulic Pressure ranges from 0 to 100bar and various ranges up to 2,500bar (250MPa).

The P542 Pneumatic unit is said to require gas supply slightly in excess of the maximum test pressure, the gas supply should be clean and dry, such as nitrogen. Pneumatic Pressure ranges are from vacuum to 2.5bar / 250kPa, up to 100bar /10,000kPa.

High Resolution Digitizer for Defense Markets

Agilent Technologies introduces its Acqiris product line’s highest-resolution VME/VXS digitizer. The SVM4800 is an eight-channel 14-bit digitizer with more than 300 MHz input signal bandwidth, achieving sampling of up to 125 MS/s. This new digitizer is ideal for applications in radar, Electronic Warfare (EW) and Synthetic Instrumentation (SI).

The Agilent SVM4800 builds on the modular U1083A VME/VXS base card with an analog digitizer mezzanine that includes two DC-coupled 14-bit, 125 MS/s quad-ADCs. Agilent know-how in digitizer development combined with extensive use of state-of-the-art technology allow reaching outstanding analog performance, including spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of up to 82 dBc, total harmonic distortion (THD) of 82 dBc, and signal to noise ratio (SNR) over 70 dBc, leading to an effective resolution of more than 11.2 bits (ENOB) at 125 MS/s. The mezzanine also includes a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA that provides data MUX function and static data gain and offset correction.

The base card provides high-performance, real-time data processing by means of two very large Xilinx Virtex- 4 FPGAs, one SX55 and one FX100. The board supports eight 3.125 Gbps serial links on the VXS backplane and two optical links on the front panel supporting up to 3.125 Gbps, providing a substantial aggregate data bandwidth of more than 3.5 GB/s. Its fully compliant VME64x interface supports the 2eSST protocol.

An optional firmware development kit (FDK) is available to help application firmware implementation on the SX55 and FX100 FPGAs. The FDK includes a set of cores to easily interface to the underlying hardware, a base design for each family member to provide very simple, ready-to-use designs, and a test-bench environment for design and simulation.

This product is intended benefit those charged with closing the gaps in emerging threats through new technology or by refreshment of fielded Electronic Support (ES), Electronic Attack (EA) and Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) systems, the majority of which are based on the ubiquitous VME architecture. Longer emitter identification standoff ranges, more precise direction finding in dense emitter environments, and shorter defensive engagement cycles are possible with relatively low incremental development cost. Wideband radar and intelligence-gathering systems are also expected to benefit, with better clutter rejection, range and target differentiation now attainable without massive reinvestment.

Multimeter Works Two Places at Once

For the first time, a multimeter will allow electricians and electronic technicians to work in two places at once, says Fluke Corp., provider of portable electronic test and measurement technology. Fluke introduced what it calls the industry’s first digital multimeter with a detachable wireless display.

Designed by Fluke engineers and manufactured at the Fluke Worldwide headquarters in Everett, WA, the Fluke 233 Digital Multimeter uses a 2.4 GHz ISM Band wireless transmitter to send measurements to the detached display, improving safety and increasing productivity for today’s busy industrial and commercial electricians and electronic technicians.

In addition to functioning as a highly capable multimeter, the new Fluke 233 Remote Display Multimeter gives users flexibility in unusual test situations. By sliding the wireless display out of the meter body, the user can place the display where it is most easily seen-up to 10 meters (33 feet) from the point of measurement- while putting the meter in the best position to take measurements. There’s no more juggling of leads and the meter while stretching into tight spots. Fluke provides a video demonstration.

Designed for both convenience and safety, the Fluke 233 makes it easier to take measurements in hard-to-reach places, or make measurements in machines or panels that are physically separated from a limit or isolator switch. It is ideal in areas where the operator can’t be close to the active measurement point, Fluke says, like clean rooms or hazardous areas. Making measurements without holding the meter can help users improve their visual focus on their test probes and work more safely.

Fluke says the detachable wireless display lets the user:

- Find a comfortable position to view and record test data, even when the test location is hard to reach or in a dirty or noisy environment.

- View readings when the test point is across the room-or in the next room.

- See test results even when the meter is hidden behind an equipment enclosure.

- Run tests and read results at a safe distance from shock and arc flash hazards, moving machinery and other dangers.

- Separate the tasks of positioning the meter and reading test results, allowing full attention on each job for increased safety.

The low-power, 2.4 GHz-ISM Band wireless signal that transmits measurement data is resistant to electromagnetic interference. The radio transmitter automatically turns on when the display is removed from the meter and off when the display is reattached. The removable display is magnetic and has a flat bottom, so it can be conveniently mounted or placed on a flat surface where it can easily be seen. When the display is attached, the Fluke 233 operates as a conventional multimeter.

The Fluke 233 will measure up to 1000 V ac and dc and up to 10 A. It features a 10,000 μF capacitance range, measures frequencies to 50 kHz and captures min/max and average readings automatically. It features a 6,000-count display and includes a built-in thermometer that enables users to take temperature readings easily without carrying a separate instrument. The meter body is powered by three AA batteries; the display has two AA batteries. Average battery life is 400 hours. An auto-off feature maximizes battery life.

The Fluke 233 is safety rated for use in CAT IV 600V/CAT III 1000 V working environments.

Optical Testing Device from Yokogawa

Yokogawa has released the AQ2200 multi-application test system, designed for measuring and evaluating a wide range of optical devices and optical transmitters.

The AQ2211 and AQ2212 frame controllers are central to the system and incorporate a variety of measurement functions and applications.

According to the company, remote monitoring and measurement is available via the included USB, Ethernet or GP-IB ports. A macro programming function allows users to build up auto-measurements systems, available for call up at any time.

Remote viewer software for controlling frames and modules is also included.

A variety of measurement modules are available, including: high-stability light sources, wideband tunable light sources, high-speed optical sensors with low PDL and high-resolution variable optical attenuators.

Measurement modules can be inserted or removed without turning off the power.