fluke 1653 leads with kewtech lightmates

[MTI]

Hi all, got a problem and wondered if anyone can confirm if they have come across the same.

I have a fluke robin 1653 and just purchased a set of kewtech lightmates. Basically as im sure you have seen, the lightmates have female sockets (like on a test meter itself) and my fluke leads are fused with changeable crocs or probes as most are. Given this, i cannot plug them into my leads as the tips are simply not long enough. Also, if i did have the correct leads then how are they fused to meet regs????

Id imagine you would need these which cant be fused? how do you carry out live tests without fused leads?



cheers for your advice in advance!

 

[MTI]

Light Fitting Adaptors

so here are the leads that come with these ones. almost same as the kewtech ones. How are these fused?

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi MTI, Fluke claim that fused leads are not required with their MFTs due to their internal protection system. Below is the text of an Email I received from Fluke's Technical Department in reply to questions about GS38 protection.

[FONT=&amp]It is Fluke's opinion that in applications using Fluke name brand instruments, fused test probes provide little if any added protection. Fluke's primary concern is that fused test probes may result in serious shock hazard due to a false voltage reading. A more effective solution is a meter properly designed to handle overload conditions. For the Amp and milliamp functions, Fluke meters incorporate a specifically designed and tested fuse that is effective to 1000 Volts as the full breaking capacity of the system which limits the energy in a manner that is as effective as a fuse located within a test probe.

It is additionally Fluke's position that a fused test probe is potentially more hazardous when used with any DMM or MFT for the following reason. It is estimated that over 90% of most electrician measurements use the AC VOLTS functions of a meter. Current measurements are generally less than 10%. If the fuse in the test probe is damaged and not noticed or properly corrected, then false voltage measurements will occur which potentially create a shock hazard for the user. [/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]For Fluke meters, a damaged fuse within the amps function of the meter does not affect voltage measurements, so the potential of shock hazard due to false readings is eliminated. Note that for the other meter functions such as ohms, Fluke meters are designed to prevent hazard for overload conditions equivalent to the maximum AC volts input as stated on the meter. These functions limit the energy by impedance. This opinion on fused test leads is limited to, and only applies to their use when used with Fluke brand test instruments.

[/FONT]I personally use Robin fused probes with my Fluke MFT, these have a fused extention barrel into which a an unfused 4mm plug test lead attaches, this allows me to remove the extention when using 4mm socketed accessories like the Kewtech, but I must say I'm less than comfortable with this from a GS38 stand point.

 

[MTI]

Sorry been away for a bit. Thank you massively for this info matey and the email from fluke is most appreciated! ill have to print this off for the record. thanks for digging this out! i bet this could cause massive debates......

I think fluke are US based/other than uk from a design point of view. Im not sure where we go from here with their email and ill defo have to bring it up on my assessment - especially if i intend on using my lightmates with non fused leads! Surely bottom line is like in any appliance, the fuse is there to protect the flex and sod the appliance! yes fluke claim it can protect itself from fault/excesive currents etc but i bet those fluke leads cant carry masses of load!

I just cant understand why many of us claim to have different oem fluke leads to others when none seem to have been revised! They all seem to just have different points where they join the probe.
i cant see it a wise idea to proceed with my kewtechs on assessment day!
funnily, it seems the kewtech meters have the same setup as the fluke so i cant see how they would be fused when using the lightmates as the fuse is always after the 4mm plug surely

the hunt continues...

 

[MTI]

So im considering buying these:
FLUKE SureGrip Extension Lead Set for Test Leads 171066 | eBay

not bothered for the couplers particularly but im sure they will come in at some point.

Having looked at the socket & see and kewtechs sites, no definitive answer is given as to the leads to be used but gauging from pics, its 4mm plug to 4mm plug as per the link here. This is clearly not to GS38 - especially as they are to be used live for loop tests!

im feeling conned a bit as this is a tricky situation and i think the manufacturers need to step up and confirm. A polite and well structured letter in order!

 

[MTI]

And again! look at the connecting leads (no fuses) and note description says for use of detecting voltages!
Kewcheck R2 Socket Adaptor - R2 - Test Without Removing Wall Socket

Am i been stupid and missing something?

 

[grandfortune]

no need for the R2 socket adaptor, just use your plug in lead as you do for loop test

 

[MTI]

Hi, agreed no need for the R2 socket adapter and i do use my plug in lead but all i was getting at was the method of plugging in lightmates and the R2 socket adapter to the MFT are via 4mm plug to 4mm plug leads. these are un-fused and it is the probe part that is fused which plugs into the 4mm plug. This means they cannot meet GS38. The manufacturers just state 'plug in your appropriate leads'???

 

[MTI]

the leads are not fused and even if you used longer and thinner probes, a good connection is not guaranteed. Surely the idea of the 4mm sockets is to give a hands free approach once plugged in or we may aswell just take the fitting to bits!