Case Studies

Application Note
From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library
Testing
Functions
Case
Study
Electric utility plays
it safe with Fluke T
+
Electrical Tester
tool for the job, the safety-rated
Fluke T+PRO Electrical Tester. It
all started with an incident that
could have had tragic conse-
quences: A service rep tested a
meter socket, but the solenoid
tester in use did not detect that
there was continuity present.
Someone had tampered with
the service. The continuity
caused a short.
“Our safety department got
involved,” the supervisor said,
“and they told us the solenoid-
based tester was old technol-
ogy and not reliable.” As they
looked for a replacement tool,
the team determined that the
digital multimeters used else-
where in the company were too
sensitive and had more features
than the service reps needed.
Then they heard about a new
device, the safety-rated Fluke
T+PRO Electrical Tester, that
was specifically designed to
do the job of the old solenoid-
based testers, but more accu-
rately and safely.
The Fluke T+PRO tester is
safety rated for use in IEC CAT
IV 600 V (including outside
facilities, service entrance and
electric meters) and CAT III
1000 V settings and complies
with the National Fire Protec-
tion Association (NFPA) stan-
dard 70E when used properly
per Article 110.9. It looked like
it could meet the team’s need
for a safety-rated test tool of
compact size, capable of testing
meter sockets without picking
up stray or “ghost” voltage.
There’s a lot at stake when
electric utility field service
representatives turn the electric
power on or off. Their safety,
and that of their customers,
comes first.
So each time they remove
or install an electric meter for
one of 300,000 customers, field
reps for this Electric Co. test the
meter socket for voltage.
“My guys aren’t electricians,
they are strictly field service
employees,” said the supervisor
of field service and collections.
“They use a tester to determine
if voltages are correct, and if
there’s load being drawn from
inside the house when they
restore service. They’re also
trying to determine if there’s
tampering.”
The company won’t acti-
vate service if a device in the
home is drawing current. The
load could be an appliance,
such as a hair dryer, heater or
power tool, that would cause a
hazard or even start a fire if left
on unattended. Another prob-
lem is tampering with electric
service, which involves rewir-
ing to bypass the meter and get
power for free. Of course that’s
illegal, but a greater concern
is the fire and shock hazard
tampering with circuitry can
cause for residents and utility
workers.
In the past, the service repre-
sentatives used a solenoid-based
electrical tester or “Wiggy
™”
device to detect voltage and load
(see sidebar). But recently, the
supervisor had them try a new
Operator: Electrical utility field
service team
Measuring tools: Fluke T+PRO
Electrical Tester
Tests conducted: Voltage, load,
continuity, tampering
Quote: “Our safety department got
involved,” the supervisor said, “and
they told us the solenoid-based tester
was old technology and not reliable.”