September 2000 Rev. 1, 11/00
© 2000 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in USA
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
®
1520
MegOhmMeter
Users Manual
i
Table of Contents
Title Page
Unpacking the Meter ......................................................................................... 1
Safety Information and Symbols........................................................................ 3
Key functions..................................................................................................... 6
Display........................................................................................................... 8
Using the Meter................................................................................................. 10
Connecting to the Circuit Under Test............................................................. 10
Auto-Shut-Off................................................................................................. 12
Measuring Insulatio n Resista nce................................................................... 12
Measuring Low Resistance............................................................................ 16
Measuring Resistance................................................................................... 18
Measuring Voltage......................................................................................... 18
Checking the Battery ..................................................................................... 19
Maintaining the Meter........................................................................................ 20
Cleaning ........................................................................................................ 20
Replacing and Disposing of the Batteries...................................................... 21
Testing and Replacing the Fuse.................................................................... 24
Replacement Parts and Optional Accessories................................................... 27
Principle of Measurement for Resistance.......................................................... 28
Service Centers................................................................................................. 28
Specifications.................................................................................................... 29
ii
List of Tables
Table Title Page
1. Key and Switch Descriptions ..................................................................... 6
2. Display Description.................................................................................... 8
List of Figures
Figure Title Page
1. Shipment Content...................................................................................... 2
2. Display....................................................................................................... 9
3. Connecting to the Circuit Under Test......................................................... 11
4. Display Example........................................................................................ 19
5. Replacing the Batteries.............................................................................. 23
6. Replacing the Fuse.................................................................................... 26
1
Fluke 1520
Unpacking the Meter
The Fluke Model 1520 MegOhmMeter (hereafter, “the meter”) is a handheld instr ument
designed primarily to make resistanc e/insulati on resistance measurements.
The MegOhmMeter includes the following i tems, see Figure 1:
2 test leads, red and black, 1.5 m
2 test probes, r ed and black
2 alligat or clips, red and bl ack
Hand strap
Carrying case
CD ROM (Not Pictured)
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
2
acf02f.eps
Figure 1. Shipment Content
MegOhmMeter
Safety Informat ion and Symb ols
3
Safety Information and Symbols
A Caution identifies co nditions and actions that may damage the Meter . A
W
Warning
identi fies con ditions and acti ons that pose hazard(s) to the us er. I nternational symbols on
the Meter and in the manual are explai ned below.
YRisk of electric shock JEarth
WSee manual IFuse
TEquipment prot ect ed by double or
reinfo r ce d In su lation DAC or DC
MBattery Recycling information
Conforms to CSA C22.2 No 1010.1-92 +
Amendment 2 1997, UL 3111 and
ANSI/ISA SP82. 01 1994 VDE Conforms to VDE
EN61010 (Pending)
PConforms to EU directives tConforms to UL 3111.1
CAT III
OVERVOLTAGE (Installation) CATEGORY
,,,
, Pollution Degree 2 per IEC1010-1
refers to the level of Impulse Withstand Voltage protection provided. Equipment of
OVERVOLTAGE CATEGORY
,,,
is equipment in fixed installations (e.g., electricity
meter and primary over-current protection equipment.
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
4
W
Safety Information
Use of inst rument i n a manner not specified by t he manufact urer may im pair
safety f eatures/ protection provided by the equipment. Read t h e following safety
information carefully befor e using or servicing the instru ment. To avoid electric
shock or f ire, do the f ollowing:
Avoid working alone.
Inspect the test leads for dama ged insul ation or exposed metal. Check t est
lead conti nuity. Damaged lea ds must be replaced. Do not use the Met er if it
looks damaged.
Be careful when working above 30 V ac rms, 42 V ac p eak and
60 V dc. Such voltag es pose a shock hazar d.
When using the probes, ke ep your f ingers away from probe cont acts. Keep
your fi ngers behind the finger guards on t he probes.
Measurements can be adversel y affected by impedances of additional
operati ng circuits connect ed in parallel or by transient currents.
Verify oper ation prior t o measuring hazardous voltages (voltages above 30 V
ac rms, 42 V ac peak and 60 V dc) .
MegOhmMeter
Safety Informat ion and Symb ols
5
W
Safety Information (cont.)
Place test l eads in proper input term inals.
Disconnect the live test lead before di sconnecting the neutral test lead.
Do not use the Meter if the battery indicator (
G
) shows a battery empty
condition.
Use only Fluke recommended batteries and fu se.
Do not use the Meter with any parts or cover remove d.
Do not use the Meter around explosi ve gas, vapor or dust.
Disconnect the test leads from power sourc es and from the Meter before
changing the batteries or fuse.
Do not use the Meter in a wet environment.
Use only Fluke specif ied test leads.
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
6
Key functions
Table 1. Key and Switch Descriptions
Rotary switch
To select a measurement function.
T
Used for the Insulat i on Resistance and Low Resistance test funct i ons.
Press and hold this button until the main reading is stabl e.
L
Locks the test i n Insul ation Resistance or Low Resistance function.
To lock: press and hold TEST, then press LOCK and simultaneously release
both buttons. The ic on V LOCK appears on the display.
Insul ation Resi stance- this mode continuously applies the test voltage
to the circuit to be tested. The beeper sounds every 2 seconds to
remind you that you are in the Lock mode.
Low Resistance- this mode continuously applies the test current to the
circuit to be tested.
To unlock: press LOCK or TEST again.
MegOhmMeter
Key functions
7
Table 1 (continued)
N
Resistance Beeper function
Turns the Beeper function ON and OFF. When ON, the
R
icon appears on
the display and the Meter beeps at short ci rcuit.
Z
Low Resistance function
Turns the test lead resistance compensati on ON.
The
X
icon appears on the display. To compensate, touch the probe tips
together, then press and hold ZERO until the Meter beeps. The main display
indicates 0.00.
C
Backlight button
Turns the display backlight ON and OFF.
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Users Manual
8
Display
Table 2 and Figure 2 describe the display.
Table 2. Display Description
1 Voltage applied to the probes in Insulation Resistance functi on.
2 Low Resistance/Resi st ance function indicator.
3 Resistanc e reading held from the last measurement i n Ins ulati on Resist ance or Low
Resistance function.
4 Beeper symbol shows if beeper funct i on is tu rned on in Resist ance function.
5 Zero symbol is on if test leads are z eroed out.
6 Main reading display for all functi ons.
7 Analog bar graph displays resistance on a logarithmic scale and voltage on a linear
scale. The value always tracks the main reading.
8 High voltage warning symbol flashes if v oltage 30 V ac or dc is present on the probes.
9Batt ery lif e indicator. Displ ays bri efly when the Meter is first switched to a function.
Displays the amount of battery voltage left i n inc rements of 25 %.
10 Lock sym bol is on if the TEST mode is locked in Insul ati on or Low Resistance functions.
MegOhmMeter
Key functions
9
1 32
6
7
9
10
8
45
acf12f.eps
Figure 2. Display
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
10
Using the Meter
Connecting to the Circuit Under Test
Figure 3 shows the proper co nnecti ons.
W
Warning
To prevent electric shock wh en perform ing resistance t ests, remove all
power fr om the circui t to be measured.
W
Warning
To prevent electric shock, first connect the test leads to the Met er inputs
before you make conne ction to the circuit under test.
MegOhmMeter
Using the Met er
11
acf04f.eps
Figure 3. Connecting to the Circuit Under Test
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
12
Auto-Shut-Off
The Meter aut omati cally turns off af ter 15 minutes of non-use. In Lo Ohms mode, the meter
turns off after 5 minutes of non- use. To t urn the met er back on, turn t he rotar y switch to
OFF, then t o the desi red funct ion.
Measuring Insulation Resistance
W
Warning
Measuring insulation resistance requires th e application of potenti ally
dangerous voltag es to the ci rcuit. This may include expo sed bonded
metalwork.
Before proceeding, ensure t hat the in stallation is correctly wired and no
personnel are end angered by any tests.
MegOhmMeter
Using the Met er
13
To measure insulation r esista nce, do th e following:
1. Select t he test voltage.
2. Connect the prob es to the circuit to be measur ed.
The meter automat ically detect s if t he circuit is energized,
and displays the detect ed volt age.
W
Warning
A repeti tive beep and the flashing high vol tage symbol (
Y
)
warn the user if voltage more than 30 V ac or dc is present .
If the voltage is > 30 V ac or dc, remove the volt age from th e
circui t under test befor e proceeding with the next step. acf05f.eps
3. Push and hold the TEST button. The up per lef t display shows the test voltage applied
to the ci rcuit under test. The main display shows t he resist ance.
Note
The display shows - - - - until the TEST button is pushed.
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Users Manual
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The Meter beeps when the reading i s stable. The upper right display shows the same
resist ance reading as the main di splay.
When resistanc e is higher t han the maximum display range, the meter reacts as
follows:
If t he 250V range is selected, the displa y reads >1000 M.
If t he 500V range, i s select ed, the display r eads > 2000 M.
If t he 1000V range, is selected, the display reads >4000 M .
4. While keeping t he probes on the test points, rel ease the TEST button.
The circui t now di scharges through the Meter, while the main reading shows the
decreasi ng volt ag e.
Keep the probes t ouched to the test points until the circuit is completely discharge d
(the mai n display s hows - - - -).
The upper right display holds the resist ance reading u ntil a new test is start ed or a
diff erent f unction is select ed.
MegOhmMeter
Using the Met er
15
Using the LOCK Function to Measure Insulation Resistance
The LOCK f unction h olds th e test voltage on t he probes. Use LOCK to make long duration
measurements without having to push and hold the TEST but ton.
To use the LOCK f unction:
1. Press the TEST butt on, t hen press t he LOCK button, and then rel ease both
simultaneously.
W
Warning
In this mode a potentially dangerous voltage is continuously applied to the
probes.
In thi s mode, if the probes are disconnected from the circuit, the Meter
cannot discharg e any potent ially dangerous capacitive voltages left on the
circuit. Caution
In thi s mode the Meter cannot indicate if the circuit is li ve.
Ensure that the cir cuit is de-energized befor e connecti ng the test probes in
this mode.
2. Press LOCK or TEST to disengage the l ock funct ion.
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
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Measuring Low Resistance
To measure l ow resistance:
1. Zero out the test lead resistance (see T able 1).
2. Connect the prob es to the circuit to be measur ed.
If vol tage is pr esent on t he probes, the volt age is displayed.
W
Warning
A repeti tive beep and the flashing high vol tage
symbol (
Y
) warn the user if voltage more th an 30 V ac
or dc is pr esent. If the voltage is > 30 V ac or dc,
remove the vol tage from the circuit under test befor e
proceeding with the next step.
acf06f.eps
3. Press and hold th e TEST butt on. A single beep indicates a stable readi ng. The
resist ance shows on the mai n display. If the resistance i s higher t han 40 , >40 is
displayed.
4. Release the TEST but ton. Th e upper right display holds the r esist ance readi ng unti l a
new test i s start ed or a different function is sele cted.
MegOhmMeter
Using the Met er
17
5. Exchange the red ( +) and bla ck (-) probes on the circuit and repeat steps 3 and 4 to
reverse the polarit y of the test curr ent. The r eading should be the same as t he
previous. This test is useful to detect corroded conn ection s, which c an cause different
readings for both polar ities.
Using the LOCK Function to Measure Resistance
The LOCK f unction is used to continuousl y supply t he test c urrent to the circuit to be tested.
This is useful for making several measurements in successi on wit hout havi ng to push and
hold the TEST button for each measurement.
1. Press the TEST butt on, t hen press t he LOCK button, then relea se both si multaneo usly.
2. You can now probe the desired test locations in suc cession.
3. Press LOCK or TEST to disengage the l ock funct ion.
Caution
The Meter cannot indicate if the circuit is live in this mode.
Ensure that the circuit is de-energized befo re connect ing the test probes i n
this mode or the fuse may bl ow.
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
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Measuring Resistance
1. Connect the prob es to the circuit to be measur ed.
Measure voltag e first to ensur e that no ha zardous voltage is
present, then swi tch to Ohms.
2. If t he resist ance is appr oximately 30 or less, the Meter
beeps. To turn off the bee per, pr ess the beeper button. I f the
resist ance is hi gher than 4000 , >4000 is displayed.
acf07f.eps
Measuring Voltage
1. Connect the prob es to the circuit to be measur ed.
2. If t he voltage is higher t han 660 V, >660 V is displayed.
W
Warning
The Meter i ndicates either ac or dc volt age. If the
voltage bei ng measured has both an ac and dc
component, the Meter displays only the largest
component of the measured signal . acf08f.eps
MegOhmMeter
Using the Met er
19
Checking the Battery
This funct ion t ests the bat tery u nder simulated l oad per
EN61557. Discon nect all test leads from any circuit.
acf09f.eps
Full
Empty
Empty
100% - Full
0% -
acf13f.eps
Figure 4. Display Example
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
20
Maintaining the Meter
This section provides b asic mai ntenance informati on, including f use and battery
replacement i nstruct ions. Caution
Do not att empt to r epai r or service your Meter unless you ar e qualified to do
so and have the relevant calibration, perfo rmance test , and service
information.
Cleaning
Clean only with soap and water. Remove any resi due aft erwards.
Periodi cally wipe the case with a damp cloth and mil d detergent .
Do not use abrasi ves or sol vents.
MegOhmMeter
Maintaining the Meter
21
Replacing and Disposing of the Batteries
W
Warning
To avoid electric shock, disconnect the test leads fr om the inputs before
opening the Meter for bat tery replacement.
To avoid fal se readi ngs, which could lead to possible electric shock or
personal injury, replace the batteries as soon as the battery empty indicator
G
appears.
Note
This Meter contains alk al i ne batteries. Do not dispose of thes e batt eri es with other s olid
waste. Us ed batteries should be disposed of by a qualified recycler or hazardous
materials handl er. Contact your authorized Fluk e Service cent er for recyc ling
information.
The Meter uses four alkaline C cell batter ies (sup plied). To repl ace the bat teries, do the
following (see Figure 5):
1. Turn the r otary swit ch to the OFF position.
2. Disconnect test leads f rom any power source.
3. Remove the holster.
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Users Manual
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4. Place the Met er face down on a nonabrasive surface and loosen the two screws with a
flat -blade scr ewdriver .
5. Lift the battery access lid away from the Meter.
6. Replace the C cells as shown i n Figure 5. Observe the battery pol arity shown in t he
batter y compartment.
7. Secure the battery access lid back in position with the t w o screws.
MegOhmMeter
Maintaining the Meter
23
acf10f.eps
Figure 5. Replacing the Batteries.
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
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Testing and Replacing the Fuse
W
Warning
To avoid electric shock, disconnect the test leads fr om the inputs before
opening the Meter for fuse r eplacement .
To prevent personal injury or damage t o the Meter, inst all ONLY Fluke
specifi ed fuse ide ntif ied in the “Replacement Parts and Optional
Accessories” section.
Before replacing the fuse, test it as de scribed in the next secti on.
Testing the Fuse
Use the fol lowing procedure to test the i nternal fuse of t he Meter.
1. Turn the rotary switch to the Lo
e
Function.
2. Connect the test leads t o the input terminals and short them
together . Press T EST.
3. The display should indi cate appr oximately 0.5 . If the
display r eads >40 , repl ace the fuse as described next and
test agai n. acf06f.eps
MegOhmMeter
Maintaining the Meter
25
Replacing the Fuse
W
Warning
To avoid electric shock, personal injury or damage to the Meter, use ONLY
the specif ied fuse, and in accor dance with the following procedur e.
If t he previous f use test indicates that the fuse i s defect ive (r esistan ce > 40 ), r eplace the
fuse as fol lows:
1. Turn the r otary swit ch to the OFF position.
2. Disconnect test leads f rom any power source.
3. Follow St eps 2 - 5 t o remove the bat tery access lid as descr ibed under "Replacing and
Disposi ng of the Batteries".
4. Unscrew th e bottom co ver as shown in Figur e 6.
5. Remove the f use as shown i n Figure 6.
6. Replace wi th a new fuse.
7. Place the bottom cover on and secur e the scr ews.
8. Insert the batteries. Observ e the batt ery pol arit y shown in t he batter y compartment.
9. Secure the battery access lid.
10. Test the f use as describe d under "Testing the Fuse".
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
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acf11f.eps
Figure 6. Replacing the Fuse
MegOhmMeter
Replacement Parts and Optional Accessori es
27
Replacement Parts and Optional Accessories
Replacement Part Part Number
Battery 1.5 V Alkaline Size C 423582
Test Lead set 669058
Test Probe, 1 kV, lantern tip, red 803459
Test Probe, 1 kV, lantern tip, black 803467
Alligator Clip, red 803434
Alligator Clip, black 803442
Carrying Case 603115
Holster 670643
Hand Strap 669069
Fuse, 6 mm x 32 mm (0.25 x 1.25 inch), 0.5 A, 660 V, Fast Acting 50 A
Minimum Interrupt rating 1554431
Optional Accessories Part Number
Harness 669074
Tool Pack 669903
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
28
Principle of Measurement for Resistance
The Meter measures r esist ance by in ducing a current in t he circuit under t est, measuring
the resul tant pot enti al acros s the cir cuit, and then cal culat ing the resista nce of the ci rcui t.
The resist ance is then establi shed by performing the following calcul ation:
I
V
R= (Ohm’s Law)
Service Centers
To locate an authorized service center , visit us on the World Wi de Web:
http://www.fluke.com
or call Fluke usin g any of t he phone numbers listed bel ow:
USA: 1-888- 99-FLUKE ( 1-888-993-5853)
Canada: 1-800-3 6-FLUKE (1-800-363-5853)
Europe: +31 402-6 78-200
Japan: +81-3-3 434-0181
Singapore: +65-738-5655
Anywhere in the wor ld: +1-425-446-5500
MegOhmMeter
Specifications
29
Specifications
Environmental
Operating Temperat ure -10 °C to +50 °C
Storage Temperature -40 °C to +70 °C
Temperature Coeffi cient 0.10 x (specified accuracy)/ °C
(< 18 °C or > 28 °C)
Relative Humidity:
Non condensing (< 10 °C)
90 % RH (10 °C to 30 °C)
75 % RH (30 °C to 40 °C)
45 % RH (40 °C to 50 °C)(Without Condensation)
Dust/ water res ist ance IP42 per IEC 529
Operating Altitude 2000 m
Storage Altitude 12000 m
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
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Mechanical Specifications
Size 23,4 x 10 x 6,4 cm
(9.2 x 3.9 x 2.5 in)
Weight 1 kg (2.2 lbs.)
Drop requirement Per IEC 1010-1
Shock and
Vibration Conforms to MIL-PREF-28800F class 3 & 4
Safety Specifications
Electri cal Safety Meets all requirem ents of EN61010-1, 1995 and EN61557, 1997
Maximum
Operating Voltage 600 V ac or dc between any terminal and earth ground
Protecti on Levels CAT
,,,
, 600 V, Pollution Degree 2 per EN61010-1
Electromagnetic Compatibili ty (EMC)
Immunity &
Emmissions EN 61326-1
(Unspecified for Field strength in excess of 2V/m)
ESD EN61000-4-2 Satis fies Criteria B
MegOhmMeter
Specifications
31
Electrical Specifications
Battery C Size 1.5 V alkaline, ANSI/NEDA-14A, IEC-
LR14 (4 pieces)
Fuse 6 mm x 32 mm (0.25 x 1.25 inch), 0.5 A 660 V,
Fast Acting, 50 A Minimum Interrupt rating
Insulation Resistance
Display Ranges 4.000 M, 40.00 M, 400.0 M, 4 000 M
Measurement Range (per E N61557-2) 0.250 M to 4000 M
Resoluti on 0.001 M to 10 M
2 % + 2 counts
0.250 M to 100.0 M
Accuracy
10 % + 2 counts + 1 %/1000 M
100.0 M to 4000 M
Analog Bar Graph 0 to
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
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Test Voltages 250 V, 500 V, 1000 V
Accuracy +20 %, -0 %
Nominal Current 1 mA
Number of measurements 5,000
Circuit ry Prot ection test inhi bit ed if 30 V ac or dc at inputs
Lo
Display Range 40.00
Measurement Range 0.10 to 40.00
Accuracy 2 % + 2 counts
Resoluti on 0.01
Analog Bar Graph 0 to 100
Open Circuit Volt age 6 V typical
Short Circui t Current 200 mA minimum, (0. 2 to 2.0 for >20%
battery c apaci ty rem aining).
Test Leads Zero 2
Number of measurements 5,000
Circuit ry Prot ection test inhi bit ed if 30 V ac or dc at inputs
MegOhmMeter
Specifications
33
Voltage
Range 600 V, dc, 50/60 Hz
Resoluti on 1 V
Accuracy 2 % + 2 counts
Analog Bar Graph 0 to 1000 V
Resistance
Range 4000
Accuracy 2 % + 2 counts
Resoluti on 1
Analog Bar Graph 0 to 10 k
Beeper On at 30 or less
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
34
Limited Warranty & Limitation of Liability
Each Fluke product is warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use
and service. The warranty period is three years and begins on the date of shipment. Parts, product
repairs and services are warranted for 90 days. This warranty extends only to the original buyer or end-
user customer of a Fluke authorized reseller, and does not apply to fuses, disposable batteries or to any
product which, in Fluke’s opinion, has been misused, altered, neglected, contaminated, or damaged by
accident or abnormal conditions of operation or handling. Fluke warrants that software will operate
substantially in accordance with its functional specifications for 90 days and that it has been properly
recorded on non-defective media.
Fluke authorized resellers shall extend this warranty on new and unused products to end-user
customers only but have no authority to extend a greater or different warranty on behalf of Fluke.
Warranty support is available if product is purchased through a Fluke authorized sales outlet or Buyer
has paid the applicable international price. Fluke reserves the right to invoice Buyer for importation costs
of repair/replacement parts when product purchased in one country is submitted for repair in another
country.
Fluke’s warranty obligation is limited, at Fluke’s option, to refund of the purchase price, free of charge
repair, or replacement of a defective product which is returned to a Fluke authorized service center
within the warranty period.To obtain warranty service, contact your nearest Fluke authorized service
center to obtain return authorization information, then send the product to that service center, with a
description of the difficulty, postage and insurance prepaid (FOB Destination), to the nearest Fluke
authorized ser vi ce cent er. Flu ke as sumes no risk for dama ge in tra ns it . Follow ing warran ty repair, the
product will be returned to Buyer, transportation prepaid (FOB Destination). If Fluke determines that the
failure was caused by neglect, misuse, contamination, alteration, accident or abnormal condition of
operation or handling, including overvoltage failures caused by use outside of the product’s specified
rating, or normal wear and tear of mechanical components, Fluke will provide an estimate of repair costs
and obtain authorization before commencing the work. Following repair, the product will be returned to
MegOhmMeter
Specifications
35
the Buyer transportation prepaid and the Buyer will be billed for the repair and return transportation
charges (FOB Shipping Point).
THIS WARRANTY IS BUYER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY AND IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. FLUKE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR
ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, INCLUDING LOSS
OF DATA, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY.
Since some countries or states do not allow limitation of the term of an implied warranty, or exclusion or
limitation of incidental or consequential damages, the limitations and exclusions of this warranty may not
apply to every buyer. If any provision of this Warranty is held invalid or unenforceable by a court or other
decision-maker of competent jurisdiction, such holding will not affect the validity or enforceability of any
other provision.
Fluke Corporation
P.O. Box 9090
Everett, WA 98206-9090
U.S.A.
Fluke Europe B.V.
P.O. Box 1186
5602 BD Eindhoven
The Netherlands
11/99
Fluke 1520
Users Manual
36