Fluke has now developed FieldSense technology that takes the open fork functionality of the T5 Electrical Tester and adds AC voltage measurements. Electricians can now take simultaneous voltage and current measurements without test leads.

Contacting electrical conductors with test leads or alligator clips needs metal-to-metal contact, which carries the potential for arc flash – FieldSense technology now eliminates that step.

The measurement tool and the voltage source under test are isolated which means the person performing the test is safer from potential electrical shock. This is done with the use of galvanic isolation which separates the functions of an electrical current to prevent current flow.

FieldSense takes a measurement of voltage without voltage flowing through the meter. Any tools used to take readings sense an electromagnetic field in the open fork to make the measurement.

Since the measurement is done through the cable’s insulation, the user has reduced exposure to metallic conductors.

While the technology in the T5 picks up a magnetic field to derive an AC current measurement, FieldSense Technology detects an electromagnetic field.

First, Fluke engineers developed the open-fork voltage sensing technology which calculates a known signal that allows measurements to be taken for the source voltage. This was done by designing the device to generate amplitude and frequency signals which is detected by an electronic sensor built into the tester. After amplification, processing, and digital calculations, voltage and frequency measurements are produced.

Fluke engineers then combined magnetic field sensing and electrical field sensing into the one device. The result is that for the first time in a Fluke meter, voltage and current can be measured and displayed at the same time without metallic contact.

With FieldSense Technology, electricians are now safer as they won’t spend as much time with open distribution panels, take measurements a lot faster which translates into their work being carried out in a more efficient manner.