VOLTCRAFT Digital Multimeters User Guide

VOLTCRAFT Digital Multimeters

General Warranty

We warrant that the product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 3 years (1 year for accessories) from the date of purchase of the product by the original purchaser from our company. This warranty only applies to the original purchaser and is not transferable to a third party.

If the product proves defective during the warranty period, we will either repair the defective product without charge for parts and labour, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the defective product. Parts, modules and replacement products used by our company for warranty work may be new or reconditioned like new. All replaced parts, modules and products become the property of our company.

In order to obtain service under this warranty, the customer must notify our company of the defect before the expiration of the warranty period. Customer shall be responsible for packaging and shipping the defective product to the designated service center, a copy of the customers proof of purchase is also required.

This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caused by improper use or improper or inadequate maintenance and care. We shall not be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting from attempts by personnel other than our company representatives to install, repair or service the product; b) to repair damage resulting from improper use or connection to incompatible equipment; c) to repair any damage or malfunction caused by the use of not our supplies; or d) to service a product that has been modified or integrated with other products when the effect of such modification or integration increases the time or difficulty of servicing the product.

Please contact the nearest Sales and Service Offices for services.
Excepting the after-sales services provided in this summary or the applicable warranty statements, we will not offer any guarantee for maintenance definitely declared or hinted, including but not limited to the implied guarantee for marketability and special-purpose acceptability. We should not take any responsibilities for any indirect, special or consequent damages.

Safety Information

Safety Terms and Symbols

Terms in this Manual. The following terms may appear in this manual:

Warning: Warning indicates the conditions or practices that could result in injury or loss of life.

Caution: Caution indicates the conditions or practices that could result in damage to this product or other property.

Terms on the Product: The following terms may appear on this product:
Danger: It indicates an injury or hazard may immediately happen.
Warning: It indicates an injury or hazard may be accessible potentially.
Caution: It indicates a potential damage to the instrument or other property might occur

Safety Symbols

Symbols on the Product. The following symbol may appear on the product:

General Safety Requirements

Before any operations, please read the following safety precautions to avoid any possible bodily injury and prevent this product or any other products connected from damage. In order to avoid any contingent danger, this product is only used within the range specified.

• Check AC power input setting according to the standards in your own country.
• Use Proper Power Cord. Use only the power cord supplied with the product and certified to use in your country.
• Product Grounded. This instrument is grounded through the power cord grounding conductor. To avoid electric shock, the grounding conductor must be grounded. The product must be grounded properly before any connection with its input or output terminal.
• Limit operation to the specified measurement category, voltage, or amperage ratings.
• Check all Terminal Ratings. To avoid instrument damage and the risk of electric shock, check all the Measurement Limits and markers of this product. Refer to the user’s manual for the Measurement Limits before connecting to the instrument. Do not exceed any of the Measurement Limits defined in the following section.
• Do not operate without covers. Do not operate the instrument with covers or panels removed.
• Use Proper Fuse. Use only the specified type and rating fuse for this instrument.
• Avoid exposed circuit. Do not touch exposed junctions and components when the instrument is powered.
• Do not operate if in any doubt. If you suspect damage occurs to the instrument, have it inspected by qualified service personnel before further operations.
• Use your instrument in a well-ventilated area. Inadequate ventilation may cause increasing of temperature or damages to the device. Please keep well ventilated and inspect the intake regularly.
• Do not operate in wet conditions. In order to avoid short circuiting to the interior of the device or electric shock, please do not operate in a humid environment.
• Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.
• Keep product surfaces clean and dry.
• Only the qualified technicians can implement the maintenance.

Measurement Limits

The protection circuitry of the multimeter can prevent damage to the instrument and protect against the danger of electric shock, when the Measurement Limits are not exceeded. To ensure safe operation of the instrument, do not exceed the Measurement Limits shown on the front panel, it is defined as follows:

The user-replaceable 10 A current-protection fuse is on the front panel. To maintain protection, replace fuse only with fuse of the specified type and rating. About the specified type and rating of the fuse, please refer to “7 Current Terminal Fuse” in “Front Panel Overview” on page 7.

Main Input Terminals (HI Input and LO Input) Measurement Limits

The HI and LO input terminals are used for voltage, resistance, continuity, frequency (period), capacitance, diode, and temperature test measurements. Two Measurement Limits are defined for these terminals:

• HI Input to LO Input Measurement Limit
  The Measurement Limit from HI Input to LO Input is 1000 VDC or 750 VAC, which is also the maximum voltage measurement. This limit can also be expressed as 1000 Vpk maximum.

• LO Input to Ground Measurement Limit
  The LO input terminal can safely “float” a maximum of 500 Vpk relative to ground, where ground is defined as the Protective Earth Conductor in the AC mains power cord connected to the instrument.

As implied by the above limits, the Measurement Limit for the HI input terminal is a maximum of 1500 Vpk relative to ground when LO Input is at its maximum of 500 Vpk relative to ground.

Current Input Terminal (I) Measurement Limits

The Measurement Limit from the current input terminal (I) to the LO Input terminal is 10 A (DC or AC). Note that the current input terminals will always be at approximately the same voltage as the LO Input terminal, unless a current protection fuse is open.

Sense Terminals (HI Sense and LO Sense) Measurement Limits

The HI and LO sense terminals are used for four-wire resistance measurements.
The Measurement Limit from HI Sense to LO Input is 200 Vpk.
The Measurement Limit from HI Sense to LO Sense is 200 Vpk.
The Measurement Limit from LO Sense to LO Input is 2 Vpk.

Note: The 200 Vpk limit on the sense terminals is the Measurement Limit. Operational voltages in resistance measurements are much lower – up to ± 12 V in normal operation.

Measurement Category

The safety rating of the multimeter:
1000 V, CAT I
IEC Measurement Category I. The maximum measurable voltage is 1000 Vpk in the HI -LO terminal.
600 V, CAT II
IEC Measurement Category II. Inputs may be connected to AC mains power (up to 600 VAC) under Category II overvoltage conditions.

Measurement category definition

Measurement CAT I applies to measurements performed on circuits not directly connected to the AC mains. Examples are measurements on circuits not derived from the AC mains and specially protected (internal) mains- derived circuits.
Measurement CAT II applies to protect against transients from energy- consuming equipment supplied from the fixed installation, such as TVs, PCs, portable tools, and other household circuits.
Measurement CAT III applies to protect against transients in equipment in fixed equipment installations, such as distribution panels, feeders and short branch circuits, and lighting systems in large buildings.
Measurement CAT IV applies to measurements performed at the source of the low- voltage installation. Examples are electricity meters and measurements on primary over current protection devices and ripple control units.

General Inspection

After you get a new multimeter, it is recommended that you should make a check on the instrument according to the following steps:

1. Check whether there is any damage caused by transportation.
   If it is found that the packaging carton or the foamed plastic protection cushion has suffered serious damage, do not throw it away first till the complete device and its accessories succeed in the electrical and mechanical property tests.

2. Check the Accessories
   The supplied accessories have been already described in the Appendix A: Enclosure of this Manual. You can check whether there is any loss of accessories with reference to this description. If it is found that there is any accessory lost or damaged, please get in touch with our distributor responsible for this service or our local offices.

3. Check the Complete Instrument
   If it is found that there is damage to the appearance of the instrument, or the instrument cannot work normally, or fails in the performance test, please get in touch with our distributor responsible for this business or our local offices. If there is damage to the instrument caused by the transportation, please keep the package. With the transportation department or our distributor responsible for this business informed about it, a repairing or replacement of the instrument will be arranged by us.

Dimensions

Foot Stool Adjustment

Unfold the foot stool on the bottom of the multimeter.

Front Panel Overview

1. LCD
2. Menu selection Keys
3. Operation Keys
4. HI and LO Sense Terminals
5. HI and LO Input Terminals
6. Range/Direction Keys
7. Current Terminal Fuse
8. AC/DC Current Input Terminals
9. Power button
10. Measurement Function Keys
11. Graph
12. Dual
13. USB Connector

Rear Panel Overview

1. External Trigger Input
2. Auxiliary Output Connector
3. RS232
4. USB (type B) Connector
5. Local Area Network (LAN) Connector
6. Line Fuse
7. AC Mains Input
8. Chassis Ground Screw
9. Instrument Cable Lock

User Interface

Power On

1. Connect the instrument to the AC supply using the supplied power cord.
   Warning: To avoid electric shock, the instrument must be grounded properly.

2. Press down the power button at the front panel, the screen shows the boot screen.

Measurement Connections

After selecting the desired measurement function, please connect the signal (device) under test to the multimeter according to the method below. To avoid instrument damage, do not discretionarily switch the measurement function when measuring.

Data Record Function

Data record function includes manual record and auto record. You can use any or both functions to record the data.

Manual record: Press the front panel key to save current reading to internal memory. The maximum number of readings is 1000. Once you have finished collecting data, you can view it in table, and export it to external memory.

Auto record: After setting memory, number of readings, sample interval, press the Start softkey to start recording. You can view the data in internal memory in table or graph.

Manual Record

1. Collect data: The instrument saves current reading in internal memory each time the front panel key is pressed. The instrument beeps, and the icon will show up on the top of the display.
   Note: The measurement function can be switched during manual record. When the dual display is enabled, both readings can be recorded.

2. View the manual record: Press the front panel key, press the Manual record softkey to display the data table. Press keys to turn the page. (When the data table is shown, you can still save current reading by pressing the Save)

Note:

• When the recording data exceeds the current range, the data will be marked as “overload”.
• “rel” in the table indicates the relative operation is turned on.
• Export to USB memory: Connect a USB memory to the front panel USB connector. Press the Export softkey to export the manual record in internal memory to USB memory as a CSV file. The file will be saved in \Record\Manual folder in USB memory. The file name is Data_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS, YYYYMMDD is the data recording start date, HHMMSS is the start time, e.g. Data_20160804_095622.csv.
• Clear the manual record: Press the Clear softkey to clear current manual record.

Auto Record

1. Configure the parameters: Press the front panel key, press the Auto record softkey.
   Press the Memory softkey to select internal or external memory
   Press the Points softkey to specify the total number of readings to record. The range is 1 to 1 M for internal memory, 1 to 100 M for external memory.
   Press the Interval softkey to specify the time interval between readings. The range is 5 ms to 1000 s.

2. Record data: Press the Start softkey to start auto record. The icon will show up on the top of the display. Press the Stop softkey to stop recording, the data will be saved in the specified memory as a CSV file. If the external memory is selected, the file will be saved in \Record\Auto folder in USB memory. The file name is Data_ YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS, YYYYMMDD is the data recording start date, HHMMSS is the start time, e.g. Data_20160804_095622.csv.
   Note:

   • When the auto recording mode is running, press another measurement function key, the instrument will display a message “Press the key again to switch function and stop recording.”.
     If you want to continue auto recording, just wait until the message disappears.
     If you want to stop auto recording and switch to the function, press the function key again when the message is still displayed. The recording data before switching the function will be saved.

   • In auto range, the relay switch may cause jitter, the data at this time is invalid. It will last about a few hundred milliseconds, and the data acquired in this period will be marked as “invalid”.

   • When the dual display is enabled, only the reading of main display function can be saved.

3. Read and view the auto recording file: Press the front panel key, press the View record softkey.
   Memory can only be internal memory.
   Press the Display softkey to select Table or Graph to display the readings.
   Press the Read softkey to read and view the auto record file in the internal memory.
   (If the data is viewed in table, press keys to turn the page.)

Troubleshooting

1. The instrument is powered on but no Display.

2.  Check if the power is connected properly.

3. Check if the line fuse which is below the AC Mains Input is used appropriately and in good condition (see page 17, Appendix C: Line Fuse Replacement).

4. Restart the instrument after the steps above.

5. If the problem still exists, please contact us for our service.

6. The reading does not change when a current signal is input.

7. Check whether the test lead is correctly inserted into the current input terminals (I terminal and LO Input terminal).

8. Check whether the current terminal fuse at the front panel is burned out.
   Please refer to “7 Current Terminal Fuse” in “Front panel overview” on page 7.

9. Check whether the DCI or ACI measurement function is enabled.

10. Check whether the DCI measurement function is used to measure AC current.

If you encounter other problems, try to reset the settings or restart the instrument. If it still cannot work properly, please contact us for our service, and provide your device information. ( → Next → System Info)

Appendix

Appendix A: Enclosure

Appendix B: General Care and Cleaning

General Care
Do not store or leave the instrument where the liquid crystal display will be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Cleaning
To clean the instrument exterior, perform the following steps:

1. To prevent electrical shock, disconnect the instrument from AC mains power and disconnect all test leads before cleaning.
2. Clean the outside of the instrument using a wet soft cloth not dripping water. Do not make any scuffing when cleaning the LCD screen. To avoid damage to the instrument, do not use any corrosive chemical cleaning agent.

Caution: To avoid any damage to the instrument, do not exposed it to any sprays, liquids, or solvents.

Warning: Before power on again for operation, it is required to confirm that the instrument has already been dried completely, avoiding any electrical short circuit or bodily injury resulting from the moisture.

Appendix C: Line Fuse Replacement

The line fuse is in the plastic fuse box below the power line input on the rear panel.

Warning: Disconnect the line cord at the rear panel and remove all test leads connected to the instrument before replacing the line fuse. Failure to do so could expose the operator to hazardous voltages that could result in personal injury or death.

Use only the correct fuse type. Failure to do so could result in personal injury or instrument damage.

To perform the line fuse replacement, follow these steps:

1. Turn off the multimeter, remove all measurement leads and other cables from the instrument, including the power cord.
2. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to remove the fuse box.
3. Replace the fuse with a new one, which should match with the voltage; install it into the fuse box, and push the fuse box back on to the rear panel.

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