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CAN - en Fluke Thermometer Selection Guide
Selecting the Right Fluke Thermometer
Step 1- Determine your temperature range
Consider whether you’ll need to measure internal, ambient, or surface temperatures and the maximum temperature required. Infrared thermometers are designed to measure surface temperatures but many models accept temperature probes for other types of measuring. You may need an IR tool to measure both high-temperature materials and to check equipment sensors such as in chemical processing. Or will you always use your thermometer for a lower temperature range—like cold or warm air from a vent or motor housing?
Step 2 - Determine your maximum distance to the objects you will measure
There are two primary considerations in selecting the right IR thermometer with correct distance to spot ratio (D:S)—the distance from the target, and the size of that target. Choose a high D:S to measure smaller objects or distant targets, such as, ceiling vents or roofs, in dangerous areas, or where equipment might block access.
Step 3 - Consider any special needs that require specific features
If you need to measure internal temperatures, you’ll want an IR thermometer with contact capabilities, compatible with your thermocouples. • In predictive maintenance applications, consider whether you’ll need on-board memory for trending and accurate reporting, or a model that allows hands-free, real-time temperature monitoring with a PC. • Need photographic documentation? The Fluke 576 takes time-stamped photos along with temperature measurements.
Other special application considerations
In electronics, you may need a Close Focus model to accurately measure a 6 mm (¼ in) spot from about 0.3 m (1 ft) away. • For hazardous locations, we have models that are specially FM-approved for safe operation near explosive gases.
| Models | Fluke 51 Series II | Fluke 52 Series II | Fluke 53 Series II | Fluke 54 Series II | Fluke 61 | Fluke 62 | Fluke 561 | Fluke 566 | Fluke 568 | Fluke 68IS |
| Recommended uses | Quality assurance, process calibration, food safety, HVAC | Laboratory, quality assurance, process calibration, food safety, HVAC |
Short-range troubleshooting, electrical, HVAC, industrial | Short-range troubleshooting, electrical, HVAC, industrial, automotive |
Plant/General Maintenance, HVAC | Electrical, mechanical, plant, diesel, HVAC in indus- trial environments | Electrical, mechanical, plant, diesel, HVAC in industrial environments, temporary process and equipment monitoring | Hazardous locations for maintanenace | ||
| Infrared/noncontact | Fluke 51 Series II | Fluke 52 Series II | Fluke 53 Series II | Fluke 54 Series II | Fluke 61 | Fluke 62 | Fluke 561 | Fluke 566 | Fluke 568 | Fluke 68IS |
| Temperature range | — | — | — | — | -18 °C to 275 °C (0 °F to 575 °F) |
-30 °C to 500 °C (-20 °F to 932 °F) |
-40 °C to 650 °C (-40 °F to 1200 °F) |
-40 °C to 650 °C (-40 °F to 1200 °F) |
-40 °C to 800 °C (-40 °F to 1470 °F) |
-32 °C to 760 °C (-25 °F to 1400 °F) |
| Accuracy | — | — | — | — | greater of 2 % or ± 2 °C (4 °F) | greater of ± 1.5 % or ± 1.5 °C (3.0 °F) | greater of ± 1 % or ± 1 °C (2 °F) | greater of ± 1 % or ± 1 °C (2 °F) | ||
| Distance to Spot (D:S) | — | — | — | — | 8:1 | 10:1 | 12:1 | 30:1 | 50:1 | 50:1 |
| Sighting | — | — | — | — | Laser point | Laser point | Laser point | |||
| Typical distance to target | — | — | — | — | Up to 2 m (6 ft) | Up to 2.5 m (7 ft) | Up to 4.5 m (15 ft) | Up to 7.5 m (25 ft) | Up to 7.5 m (25 ft) | |
| Close-focus (6 mm/0.24 in spot) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Contact | Fluke 51 Series II | Fluke 52 Series II | Fluke 53 Series II | Fluke 54 Series II | Fluke 61 | Fluke 62 | Fluke 561 | Fluke 566 | Fluke 568 | Fluke 68IS |
| Probe type | Thermocouple K, J, T, E | Thermocouple K, J, T, E, N, R, S | — | — | Thermocouple K | RTD | ||||
| Number of inputs | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | ||
| Temperature range | J-type: -210 °C to 1200 °C (-346 °F to 2192 °F) K-type: -200 °C to 1372 °C (-328 °F to 2501 °F) T-type: -250 °C to 400 °C (-418 °F to 752 °F) E-type: -150 °C to 1000 °C (-238 °F to 1832 °F) |
J-type: -210 °C to 1200 °C (-346 °F to 2192 °F) K-type: -200 °C to 1372 °C (-328 °F to 2501 °F) T-type: -250 °C to 400 °C (-418 °F to 752 °F) E-type: -150 °C to 1000 °C (-238 °F to 1832 °F) N-type: -200 °C to 1300 °C (-392 °F to 2373 °F) R and S-type: 0 °C to 1767 °C (32 °F to 3212 °F) |
— | — | -40 °C to 550 °C (-40 °F to1022 °F) |
-270 °C to 1372 °C (-454 °F to 2501 °F) |
-40 °C to 260 °C (-40 °F to 500 °F) |
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| Data storage and download | Fluke 51 Series II | Fluke 52 Series II | Fluke 53 Series II | Fluke 54 Series II | Fluke 61 | Fluke 62 | Fluke 561 | Fluke 566 | Fluke 568 | Fluke 68IS |
| Number of on-board memory locations | — | — | 500 | — | — | — | 20 | 99 | 12 | |
| PC download and software | — | — | Yes, with FlukeView® Forms | — | — | — | — | Yes, with FlukeView® Forms |
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| Photographic data capture | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Special features | Fluke 51 Series II | Fluke 52 Series II | Fluke 53 Series II | Fluke 54 Series II | Fluke 61 | Fluke 62 | Fluke 561 | Fluke 566 | Fluke 568 | Fluke 68IS |
| Time stamp | Relative | Time of day | — | Time of day | — | |||||
| Soft-key feature menu navigaton | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | |||
| MIN/MAX/AVG/DIFF | MIN / MAX / AVG | MIN / MAX / AVG / DIF | MIN / MAX / AVG | MIN / MAX / AVG / DIF | — | MAX | MIN / MAX / DIF | MIN / MAX / AVG / DIF | MIN / MAX / AVG / DIF | |
| English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, German user interface | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | |
| Material type adjustment (emissivity) | — | — | — | Preset to 0.95 | HI / MED / LO | Material table or 0.1 to 1.00 by 0.01 | 0.1 to 1.00 by 0.01 | |||
| Two levels of backlight | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | |
| High and low alarms | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | High and low alarms | High and low alarms | |
| Hazardous location approval | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | FM approved intrinsically safe |
| Hands-free logging | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | |
| Bar graph display of last ten measurements | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Battery | 3 AA | 9 V | 9 V | |||||||
| Included case | — | — | — | — | — | Soft case | Hard Case (Except 561/R and 561/P) | Hard case | Hard case | |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | |||||