Sparks Electrical News June 2022

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

6

Keeping electrical workers out of harm’s way

I t is the foundation of any electrical safety pro gramme: limiting the exposure of workers to the electrical hazards of shock and arc flash. Using test leads and clamps to probe inside a live panel when troubleshooting and performing rou tine maintenance always exposes workers to dan ger. Electrical personal protective equipment (PPE) is a last line of defense and must never be relied upon as the primary method of protecting electri cians and technicians. Safe work practices, includ ing the use of non-contact test tools that do not require electrical workers to place themselves in harm’s way, must first be considered when it comes to electrical safety. Fluke Connect®, introduced in 2014, added a level of efficiency and effective collaboration for mainte nance and troubleshooting, in all kinds of manufac turing, commercial, and retail facilities. Technicians can monitor real time results from more than 20 different Fluke test tools from a smart phone (up to 10 at a time on iPhone and six on Android). This in formation can also be securely shared, in real time, with authorised team members in other locations. In addition, test results and maintenance data can be collected through the Fluke Connect app and stored by asset in secure Fluke Cloud™ storage. That means that troubleshooting and maintenance

and sync it to a smartphone with the Fluke Connect app, close the panel, re-energise it, and take meas urements from a safe distance. The Fluke 376 FC True-rms ac/dc Clamp Meter with iFlex features: • Integrated VFD LowPAS filter for low driver measurements. • True RMS voltage and current for non-linear signals. • Measureable to 1000 Amps dc and > 25 000 Amps ac. • Finds and logs intermittent faults, and estab lishes base-line and trends. • Creates and transmits results in report-form wirelessly via Fluke Connect® Measurements app from site. The Fluke 902 FC True-rms HVAC Clamp Meter features: • Dual rated – CAT III, 600 /CAT IV, 300 V. • Microamps for testing pilot light sensors. • Resistance up to 60 kilohms. • AC current, ac/dc voltage. • Capacitance and contact temperature .

staff can access that data in the field to compare new measurements to baseline measurements and identify problems more quickly. The end result is that technicians can use Fluke Connect to quickly identify and diagnose problems while securely sharing the related data, when they want and with the specific people they have given permission to view it. Fluke released clamp meters – the Fluke 376 FC True RMS AC/DC Clamp Meter with iFlex and the Fluke 902 FC True-rms HVAC Clamp Meter allow technicians to access tight places and work around large, awkward conductors. They can trans mit measurements to a smartphone or tablet for later, detailed analysis. Those measurements can be uploaded to the cloud. Technicians can combine measurement data from multiple Fluke Connect test tools to create and share reports from the job site via email and collaborate in real time with other colleagues with ShareLive™ video calls or email, in creasing productivity in the field. The 376 and 902 clamp meters also decrease the number of times technicians will need to wear personal protective equipment when working on high voltage/current panels. Technicians simply turn off the panel, verify the panel is de-energized using standard safety procedures, place the clamp

Enquiries: +27 (0)010 595 1821. For further product information, visit https://bit.ly/3rm9KIg

Greater precision and improved safety for bolted connections

Ultra compact infrared camera for the metal industry

Instrotech is offering the OPTRIS PI 1M IR cam era, especially suited to measuring the tempera ture of metals, as these exhibit a distinctly higher emissivity at the short measurement wavelength of 1μm than at measurements in the previously conventional wavelength range of 8-14μm. The advantage of temperature measure ments with the new infrared camera lies in the large amount of information in an IR picture/IR video and the short reaction time of 1 ms for the output of temperature information of freely se lectable individual pixels. The use of these image sensors allows a large dynamic range for temperature measurement so that the previously necessary use of rela tively many and narrowly defined sub-ranges is no longer required. Intelligent measuring with a pyrometer is now possible thanks to the two dimensional temperature recording of the Op tris PI 1M. With the large measurement temperature range of 450-1800 °C, that the Optris PI 1M IR camera offers, it satisfies practically all demands in the fields of metal production and processing. Pertinent features of the Optris PI 1M IR cam era: • Highly flexible CMOS detector with an opti cal resolution of up to 764 x 480 pixels. • Very large temperature measurement range (without sub-ranges) of 450 °C to 1800 °C. • Frame rates of up to 1 kHz for fast processes. • Real-time output of middle pixel at a set-up time of 1 ms. • Includes license-free analysis software and full SDK.

requirements. The integrated DOCU module, with a reliable counting mode for life and maintenance cy cles, enables the accurate recording of over 10 000 bolt connections. The data is transferred via USB interface for archiving completed bolting work. This module and software allow pre-defining of different bolting operations and are available as optional fea tures for certain models. For even more precise tightening of bolts, the LDA Solution offers the torque-angle function. After a tight torque has been reached, the bolt is retightened by the previously determined further angle of rota tion, to guarantee a perfectly defined bolt connection. BMG’s fasteners, tools and equipment portfolio encompasses hand and power tools, cutting and drilling tools, lifting and rigging equipment, hydraulic tools and abrasives, as well as workshop and weld ing equipment and locks and lock-out systems. The division also supplies and supports a full range of fasteners and fastening components. BMG’s Fasteners, Tools & Equipment team works closely with customers throughout Africa to source quality branded products that meet exact require ments. The team’s commitment to customers is to assist in optimising inventory investment and reduce production and maintenance costs, at the same time minimising downtime in every operation.

high-performance aluminium, offer a continuously adjustable torque range from 90 to 13 000 Nm. These tools are equipped with double patented screwdriving control and powerful 90 Watt-Hour Lithium-Ion batteries, that operate at constant peak performance until they are completely discharged. The optional torque rotation angle offers users even higher torque precision and ensures perfectly de fined bolted connections that comply with stringent quality standards. “A sunlight-readable, intuitively operated digital colour display visually represents the entire work process. Other advanced features include a high performance gearbox, low maintenance brushless technology and microprocessor-controlled switch off electronics. For greater safety, there is an auto matic switch-off when the correct torque is achieved. The wrench slacken-function (auto release) is auto matically activated as soon as torque is applied, to allow safe and easy removal of the tool after the re quired torque has been achieved. “These tools have been designed for operator comfort and safe handling. The ergonomic grip is non-slip and fatigue-free, while the 360° rotating drive unit prevents injuries and allows the operator to work in confined spaces.” The LDA Solution is equipped with process-reli able documentation software that ensures quality operation and assists with service and recalibration

BMG’s Fasteners, Tools & Equipment division has ex tended its range of wrenches to include a new genera tion of cordless torque wrenches from Gedore Torque Solutions, with optional process reliable documenta tion software and advanced features for higher torque, greater precision and improved safety. “Our new Gedore LDA/LAW Solution series for bolted connections – which ensures the highest quality and safety standards – is critical in many applications, particularly where bolting connections need to be precise and where bolting procedures must be documented for safety or maintenance requirements,” says Jeremy Pieters, Business Unit Manager – Fasteners, Tools & Equipment Division, BMG. “Typical applications in mining are for open cast and above-ground pipe assemblies, conveyor idlers and specific bolting requirements in materi als handling. These high-precision cordless torque wrenches are well suited for vibrator screens in mills and all motors in different plants. They are designed for safe and efficient operation in earthmoving and construction equipment, wind turbines, vehicle chas sis and specific bolting applications in the automo tive sector. These tools are widely used in the con struction industry for pipeline assembly and all plant environments that are not spark-free. “BMG’s new lightweight LDA Solution (straight version) and LAW Solution (angled version) cord less torque wrenches, which are manufactured from

Enquiries: sales@instrotech.co.za. For further product information, visit https://bit.ly/3pFqkSI

Enquiries: www.bmgworld.net

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JUNE 2022