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Many up-and-coming electricians have trouble understanding how to use the various electrical testers out on the market. All of the dials, characters, and options can get a bit confusing if you don’t have experience using a multi-meter. In this episode, I talk about how to use a commonly used tester, the Fluke T5-600.

Technically the fluke T5 is not a “multi-meter.”  Fluke’s website lists it as a “tester,” while their Multimeter section shows only digital multimeters with no separate jaw-type ammeter.  However, a multi-meter is simply a “multi-use meter” – something that can test several different electrical units of measure. The T5 measures voltage, amperage, resistance, and continuity.  There are other multi-meters out there that have extra functions but the T5 is for the basic 4 that most electricians will use every day. So how do we use it?

 

VOLTAGE

What you’re doing when you’re testing for voltage is testing the difference of potential between two points. “Voltage” is a difference of potential between two points in an electrical system.  It is not a reading of one conductor, it’s reading a difference between two. It can even be a difference between one wire and a piece of metal that’s bonded to earth. But keep in mind that you’re trying to get a value that shows “the difference in potential” between TWO things.

Flip the dial of the T5 to the “V” and take the leads out of the slide-in slots on the back.  Ensure that you’re wearing proper PPE such as insulated “hot-gloves,” and a flash suit if you’re working in an electrical panel.  Take one lead and touch it to a known hot conductor or terminal. Take the other lead and touch it to that same conductor or terminal.  Notice you get a reading of 0v. This is because this conductor is at the same potential as itself. To get a voltage reading you have to test between two different objects.

Next, leave one lead on this conductor, and move the next lead to a different conductor. If you’re working in an electrical panel this can be a different colored conductor. You should notice a reading of around 240v (volts) if you’re in a single-phase panel. If you’re in a 3-phase panel you may get a measurement from anywhere around 208-240v. This means you have a difference in potential between these two conductors.

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