Installing and Controlling Third-Party Devices
Fluke 289 and 189 Multimeters: Installation

Device Type:

Multimeter

Device Drivers:

Fluke: 289 Multimeter

Fluke: 189 Multimeter

Supported Hardware Options:

 

No special options available.

 

What is required?

License:

Timebase Class 1

Connection:

Fluke 289: Fluke IR-USB Rev. II Cable

Fluke 189: Fluke IR-USB Optical Serial Cable (Fluke P/N IR189USB) or Fluke RS-232-IR Optical Serial Cable

Hardware
Prerequisites:

  • A free USB port (if using a USB cable).

  • A free RS-232 port (if using a Fluke 189 Multimeter and a Fluke RS-232-IR cable)

  • Probes to connect the multimeter to the target

 

Hardware Installation

Device Connection:

Fluke 289:

  1. Stop the Chromeleon server, if it is running.

  2. Plug the Fluke IR-USB Rev. II Cable into a USB port on your computer. The Windows Found New Hardware Wizard starts.

  3. Complete the wizard, selecting these options:

When asked if Windows can search for software, select Yes, this time only.

When asked to choose an installation type, select Install automatically.

  1. When the wizard is finished, a new USB serial port will be listed in the computer's Hardware Properties. To see the port, go to My Computer, select Hardware on the File menu. Select the Properties tab and click Device Manager. The port is listed under Ports (COM & LPT).

  2.  Restart the Chromeleon server.

Fluke 189:

If you are using the Fluke IR-USB Optical Serial Cable:

  1. Stop the Chromeleon server, if it is running.

  2. Connect the cable’s IR connector to the multimeter and connect the USB adapter to a free USB port on your PC.

  3. Follow the instructions provided with the cable to install the cable driver and create a virtual COM port (if one is not already assigned by Windows).

  4. Restart the Chromeleon server.

If you are using the Fluke RS-232-IR Optical Serial Cable:

  1. Stop the Chromeleon server, if it is running.

  2. Connect the cable’s IR connector to the multimeter.

  3. Connect the RS-232 connector to a free serial port on your PC.

  4. Restart the Chromeleon server.

Device Settings:

No device settings required. Communication parameters are fixed (not configurable).

 

Software Installation

Install the Device Driver in the Chromeleon Server Configuration. (For more information about the program, refer to Software Installation and Communication  The Server Configuration Program.)

  1. Start the Chromeleon server, if it is not running.

  2. Start the Server Configuration program.

  3. Add the multimeter to the timebase. Select the timebase. Select Add Device on the Edit or context menu, and then select Fluke from the Manufacturers list box. Select either 289 Multimeter or 189 Multimeter from the Devices list box.

  4. The following settings are required:

On the General tab page, select the COM port to which the Fluke cable was assigned in the Windows Device Manager. Note: If you created a virtual COM port and it is not appearing in the list, verify that the Chromeleon server is running. The Chromeleon server must be running in order to see the virtual COM port.

The Error Levels tab page classifies the severity of any errors that occur. It is generally not necessary to change the default settings.

Application

The multimeter digitally transmits data to Chromeleon via symbols in the Fluke device driver. If you need only instantaneous (real-time) readings (for example, when running an EG validation), no further configuration is required. If you need to record continuous readings, configure a virtual channel to capture the data. Install a Virtual Channel Driver (VCD) in the Chromeleon Server Configuration as described below.  

Recording Readings

To use a virtual channel to record multimeter readings in a program, first assign the multimeter to a virtual channel:

  1. In the Server Configuration program, select the Virtual Channel Driver and select Properties on the Edit or context menu.

  2. On the Signals tab page, select the check box next to a virtual channel name and click Change.

  3. (Optional) Enter a new name for the channel (for example, VirtualChannel_Fluke).

  4. Select Type: Analog.

  5. Click OK to close the Signal Configuration dialog box and click OK again to save the configuration changes.

Program Example

In the example program commands shown below, VirtualChannel_Fluke is the name of the virtual channel and Multimeter is the default device name of the Fluke 289 or 189 Multimeter.

 

; Assign Virtual Channel Parameters

 VirtualChannel_Fluke.Formula Formula=Multimeter.Reading

 VirtualChannel_Fluke.Type = Analog

 VirtualChannel_Fluke.Step = Auto

 VirtualChannel_Fluke.Average = On

 

; Start Acquisition of Multimeter Readings

0.000 VirtualChannel_Fluke.AcqOn

 

Further Information

 

For an overview of manufacturers whose instruments can be controlled by Chromeleon, refer to  Installing and Controlling Third-Party Devices.

For more information about configuring a virtual channel, refer to Installing Special Drivers  Virtual Channel Driver (VCD).