Keysight U1241C, User Manual

Page 1: ...Keysight U1241C U1242C Handheld Digital Multimeter User s Guide ...

Page 2: ... otherwise provide the govern ment rights in excess of these rights customarily provided to the public to use modify reproduce release per form display or disclose commercial computer software or commercial com puter software documentation No additional government requirements beyond those set forth in the EULA shall apply except to the extent that those terms rights or licenses are explicitly req...

Page 3: ...e taken to maintain safe operation of the instrument Caution risk of danger refer to this manual for specific Warning or Caution information Earth ground terminal Equipment protected throughout by double insulation or reinforced insulation CAT III 1000 V Category III 1000 V overvoltage protection CAT IV 600 V Category IV 600 V overvoltage protection ...

Page 4: ...particular attention to the insulation surrounding the connectors Inspect the test leads for damaged insulation or exposed metal Check the test leads for continuity Replace damaged test leads before you use the multimeter Do not operate the multimeter around explosive gas vapor or wet environments Do not apply more than the rated voltage as marked on the multimeter between terminals or between ter...

Page 5: ...n as the low battery indicator appears and flashes Comply with local and national safety requirements when working in hazardous areas and use proper protection equipment CAUTION Disconnect circuit power and discharge all high voltage capacitors before testing resistance continuity diodes or capacitance Use the proper terminals function and range for your measurements This multimeter is for use at ...

Page 6: ...tools and similar equipment Measurement CAT III Measurements performed in the building installation Examples are measurements on distribution boards circuit breakers wiring including cables bus bars junction boxes switches socket outlets in the fixed installation and equipment for industrial use and some other equipment including stationary motors with permanent connection to the fixed installatio...

Page 7: ...le below shows the general environmental requirements for this instrument Environmental condition Requirement Temperature Operating condition 20 C to 55 C 0 to 80 RH Storage condition 40 C to 70 C 0 to 80 RH without batteries Humidity Up to 80 RH for temperature of up to 30 C decreasing linearly to 50 RH at 55 C Altitude Up to 3000 m Pollution degree 2 ...

Page 8: ...g safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC compliances Safety compliance IEC EN 61010 1 IEC EN 61010 2 033 Canada CAN CSA C22 2 No 61010 1 CAN CSA C22 2 No 61010 033 USA ANSI UL Std No 61010 1 ANSI UL Std No 61010 033 EMC compliance IEC 61326 1 EN 61326 1 Canada ICES NMB 001 Australia New Zealand AS NZS CISPR 11 ...

Page 9: ...stralia This signifies compliance with the Australia EMC Framework regulations under the terms of the Radio Communication Act of 1992 This instrument complies with the WEEE Directive 2002 96 EC marking requirement This affixed product label indicates that you must not discard this electrical or electronic product in domestic household waste This symbol indicates the time period during which no haz...

Page 10: ... Control Instrument product The affixed product label is as shown below Do not dispose in domestic household waste To return this unwanted instrument contact your nearest Keysight Service Center or visit http about keysight com en companyinfo environment takeback shtml for more information Sales and Technical Support To contact Keysight for sales and technical support refer to the support links on...

Page 11: ...ategory 10 Sales and Technical Support 10 1 Introduction About This Manual 22 Documentation map 22 Safety notes 22 Preparing Your Multimeter 23 Check the shipment 23 Install the batteries 24 Turn on your multimeter 26 Automatic power off 26 Enabling the backlight 27 Selecting the range 27 Alerts and warnings during measurement 28 Adjusting the tilt stand 30 Remote communication 31 Power on options...

Page 12: ...ing Frequency 75 Using the low pass frequency filter function for frequency measurements 78 Measuring Temperature 79 Scanning temperature measurements U1242C only 84 Measuring AC or DC Current 85 Scale of 4 20 mA or 0 20 mA 91 3 Multimeter Features Detecting AC Voltage Presence Vsense U1242C only 96 Making Relative Measurements Null 98 Capturing Maximum and Minimum Values MaxMin 100 Freezing the D...

Page 13: ...timeouts 121 Changing the backlight and flashlight brightness 123 Changing the recording option 124 Changing the sample interval duration 125 Changing the thermocouple type or setting the mV measurement 126 Changing the temperature unit 128 Changing the beep frequency 129 Changing the startup sound 130 Changing the continuity type 131 Changing the continuity alert type 132 Changing the battery typ...

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Page 15: ...uring AC voltage 54 Figure 2 3 Harmonic ratio measurement 56 Figure 2 4 DC voltage display 57 Figure 2 5 Measuring DC voltage 58 Figure 2 6 DC mV display 60 Figure 2 7 ZLOW display 62 Figure 2 8 Resistance display 63 Figure 2 9 Measuring resistance 64 Figure 2 10 Testing for continuity 68 Figure 2 11 Diode display 69 Figure 2 12 Open diode display 70 Figure 2 13 Testing a forward bias diode 71 Fig...

Page 16: ... Figure 3 5 MaxMin display 100 Figure 3 6 Manual log display 105 Figure 3 7 Interval log display 106 Figure 3 8 Event log display 108 Figure 3 9 Export log display 109 Figure 3 10 View display 110 Figure 3 11 Empty view display 110 Figure 4 1 AH display 119 Figure 4 2 tiME display Smooth 120 Figure 4 3 AoFF display 122 Figure 4 4 bLit display 122 Figure 4 5 tLit display 122 Figure 4 6 b L display ...

Page 17: ...Keysight U1241C U1242C User s Guide 17 Figure 4 18 UPd display 136 Figure 4 19 inPU mV display 137 Figure 4 20 LPF display DC 139 Figure 4 21 PErC display 140 ...

Page 18: ...18 Keysight U1241C U1242C User s Guide THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...

Page 19: ...ts 55 Table 2 3 Rotary switch position allowing DC voltage measurements 57 Table 2 4 Rotary switch position allowing AC or DC mV measurements 59 Table 2 5 Rotary switch position allowing ZLOW measurements 61 Table 2 6 Rotary switch position allowing resistance measurements 63 Table 2 7 Rotary switch position allowing continuity tests 66 Table 2 8 Threshold resistance values 67 Table 2 9 Rotary swi...

Page 20: ...ble 2 15 scale measurement range 92 Table 3 1 Data logging maximum capacity 104 Table 3 2 Event log trigger conditions 107 Table 4 1 Setup menu key functions 114 Table 4 2 Setup menu item descriptions 116 Table 4 3 Typical characteristics of the DC filter 138 ...

Page 21: ...ists the package contents for this multimeter and it teaches you how to set up your multimeter for the first time An introduction to all the features of the multimeter is also given This introduction does not cover all of the capabilities of the multimeter but gives basic examples to help you perform basic operations on your multimeter NOTE The model U1242C appears in all illustrations in this man...

Page 22: ... used throughout this manual Familiarize yourself with each of the notes and its meaning before operating your multimeter More pertinent safety notes for using this product are located under the Safety Symbols section CAUTION A CAUTION notice denotes a hazard It calls attention to an operating procedure practice or the like that if not correctly performed or adhered to could result in damage to th...

Page 23: ...oning material that indicates signs of unusual stress or compacting Save the packaging material in case the multimeter needs to be returned 2 Carefully remove the contents from the shipping container and verify that the standard accessories and your ordered options are included in the shipment according to the standard shipped items list found in the printed copy of the U1241C U1242C Quick Start G...

Page 24: ...e batteries CAUTION Before you proceed with the battery installation remove all cable connections to the terminals and ensure that the rotary switch is at the OFF position Use only the batteries provided with your multimeter 1 Lift the tilt stand as shown on the right 2 Loosen the two screws with a suitable Phillips screwdriver as shown on the right 3 Lift and remove the battery cover as shown on ...

Page 25: ...its original position and tighten the screws Table 1 1 Battery level indicator Indication Battery capacity Primary battery 4 2 V to 6 V Secondary battery rechargeable 4 5 V to 5 4 V Full capacity 2 3 capacity 1 3 capacity Flashing periodically Almost empty NOTE When the battery voltage is 3 8 V the multimeter will shut down automatically regardless of whether the auto power off function has been d...

Page 26: ... 1 1 Start up display To power OFF your multimeter turn the rotary switch to the position Automatic power off Your multimeter automatically turns off after 15 minutes default if the rotary switch is not moved or a key is not pressed or dynamic recording mode is disabled CAUTION To avoid damage from battery leakage Always remove dead batteries immediately Always remove the batteries and store them ...

Page 27: ...es manual ranging while pressing for 1 second enables autoranging It also cycles through the available multimeter ranges when manual ranging is enabled Autoranging is convenient because the multimeter automatically selects an appropriate range for sensing and displaying each measurement However manual ranging results in better performance since the multimeter does not have to determine which range...

Page 28: ...displayed when the input signal exceeds the limitation of measuring circuit as frequency dependence Hazardous current indication The multimeter will display the symbol as an early precaution when the measured current has reached the maximum fuse rating as follows Range Auto Measurement DC AC V mV 30 V or OL voltage overload 30 V or OL 30 V or OL Measurement DC AC A 11 A or OL current overload 11 A...

Page 29: ...fter 5 seconds even if the test lead is not removed Figure 1 2 Example of wrong terminal input CAUTION To avoid circuit damage and possibly blowing the multimeter s current fuse do not place the probes across in parallel with a powered circuit when a lead is plugged into a current terminal This causes a short circuit because the resistance through the multimeter s current terminals is very low 2 1...

Page 30: ...on but no lead is inserted into its respective input terminal the multimeter emits a continuous beep and the red LED indicator lights up The secondary display will show and the warning alert will stop after 3 seconds approximately Figure 1 3 LEAd input warning display Adjusting the tilt stand To adjust the multimeter to a 60 standing position pull the tilt stand outward to its maximum reach Figure...

Page 31: ...ger for Android or iOS devices Using an IR to USB cable The U1173B IR to USB cable included in the shipment can be used to connect your multimeter to your PC via the IR communication link IR communication port located at the rear panel Ensure that the Keysight logo on the IR to USB cable that connects to the multimeter is facing up Firmly push the IR head into the multimeter s IR communication por...

Page 32: ...er s IR communication port Figure 1 5 Bluetooth adapter connection Refer to the U1117A IR to Bluetooth Adapter Operating Instructions downloadable from http www keysight com find U1117A for more information on how to set up the U1117A with a Windows PC an Android device or an iOS device Bluetooth adapter ...

Page 33: ...motely perform data logging operations and transfer the contents of your multimeter s memory to a PC Refer to the Handheld Meter Logger Software Help File for more information on the IR communication link and the Handheld Meter Logger software Figure 1 6 Handheld Meter Logger software You can download the Handheld Meter Logger software and its supporting documents from http www keysight com find h...

Page 34: ...ey Description Accesses the multimeter s Setup menu Press this key for 1 second to exit the Setup menu Simulates the APO auto power off mode Press any key to turn the multimeter back on and resume normal operation Tests the LCD All LCD annunciators are lit Use this mode to verify that there are no defective LCD annunciators Press any key to exit this mode Turns on the flashlight Press or to change...

Page 35: ...Multimeter in Brief Overview Front panel Figure 1 7 Front panel Table 1 3 Front panel parts Legend Description Learn more on 1 Vsense red LED indicator page 96 2 Display screen page 42 3 Keypad page 39 4 Rotary switch page 37 5 Input terminals page 47 2 3 4 1 5 ...

Page 36: ... Rear panel Figure 1 8 Rear panel Table 1 4 Rear panel parts Legend Description Learn more on 1 Flashlight page 34 and page 41 2 IR communication port page 31 3 Test lead probe holders 4 Battery and fuse access cover page 24 5 Tilt stand page 30 2 1 3 4 5 ...

Page 37: ...TE Some rotary switch positions have a shifted function printed in orange Press to switch between the shifted and regular functions See page 41 for more information on Shift Esc View Shift Esc View WARNING Remove the test leads from the measuring source or target before changing the rotary switch position Table 1 5 Rotary switch functions Legend Description Learn more on a Low impedance AC or DC v...

Page 38: ...citance measurement page 69 and page 73 AC or DC current measurement up to milliamperes page 85 AC or DC current measurement page 85 Temperature T1 T2 a or T1 T2 a measurement or AC DC mV measurement when enabled from the Setup menu refer to Changing the thermocouple type or setting the mV measurement on page 126 page 59 and page 79 a U1242C only Table 1 5 Rotary switch functions continued Legend ...

Page 39: ...the low pass frequency filter voltage current measurement and frequency Hz measurement Starts the dynamic Max Min Avg recording Press again to cycle through maximum Max minimum Min average Avg and present MaxMinAvg readings Stops and exits the dynamic Max Min Avg recording page 75 and page 100 Sets the Null Relative mode The displayed value is saved as a reference to be subtracted from subsequent ...

Page 40: ...is mode Stores a record of the measured signal and exports it via the multimeter s optical communication port Restarts the dynamic Max Min Avg recording Starts and stops data logging If data logging is set as manual data logging pressing for 1 second will log the present reading into the memory The display will return to normal after a short while 1 second To manually log another reading press aga...

Page 41: ...ogging data Press or to view the first or last logged data respectively Press or to scroll through the logged data Press for 1 second to clear all the logged data for the selected logging mode Press to clear the last logged data only Press for 1 second to sanitize the log memory when data of all logging modes have been cleared Exits the or mode Press while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on ...

Page 42: ...om of your display screen General display annunciators Figure 1 11 Display screen Table 1 7 General annunciators Legend Description Learn more on Remote control enabled Averaging sense measurements for sine waves a page 53 page 55 page 59 page 75 and page 85 Scan a T1 T2 a and T1 T2 a for temperature measurements page 79 Low pass filter for frequency measurements page 78 Data logging in progress p...

Page 43: ...urrent exceeding the fuse rating page 28 and page 96 Trigger hold enabled page 102 Auto hold enabled page 102 and page 119 Maximum reading shown on primary display page 100 Minimum reading shown on primary display Averaged reading shown on primary display Dynamic recording mode for Max Min Avg and present MaxMinAvg display Relative Null enabled page 98 Audible continuity test selected page 66 page...

Page 44: ...96 Capacitor is charging during capacitance measurement Open continuity page 66 and page 73 Capacitor is discharging during capacitance measurement Short continuity Analog bar graph and measurement range page 27 and page 46 Autoranging enabled page 27 Diode test selected page 69 Tone enabled Battery capacity indication page 24 Auto power off APO enabled page 26 page 34 and page 121 Overload the re...

Page 45: ...on M Mega 1E 06 1000000 k kilo 1E 03 1000 n nano 1E 09 0 000000001 μ micro 1E 06 0 000001 m milli 1E 03 0 001 mV V Voltage units for voltage measurement A mA μA Ampere units for current measurement nF μF mF Farad units for capacitance measurement Ω kΩ MΩ Ohm units for resistance measurement MHz kHz Hz Hertz units for frequency measurement Percent unit for the scale proportional to DC 0 20 mA Perce...

Page 46: ...bar graph represents the voltage or current value not the frequency value Another example is when the 4 20 mA scale or 0 20 mA scale is displayed on the primary display the bar graph represents the current value and not the percentage value The or sign indicates whether the measured or calculated value is positive or negative Each segment represents 250 counts based on 10000 counts depending on th...

Page 47: ... multimeter Observe the rotary switch position of your multimeter before connecting the test leads to the connector terminals Figure 1 12 Connector terminals WARNING Ensure that the terminal connections are correct for that particular measurement function before starting any measurement CAUTION To avoid damaging this multimeter do not exceed the rated input limit ...

Page 48: ...ns Rotary switch position Input terminals Overload protection 1000 Vrms 1000 Vrms for short circuit 0 3 A a a Also includes the AC DC mV function when enabled from the Setup menu Refer to Measuring AC or DC mV on page 59 440 mA 1000 V fast acting fuse 11 A 1000 V fast acting fuse ZLOW 1 V COM V V 1 2 2 mA mA COM A A COM ...

Page 49: ...r off and remove the test leads 2 Turn the multimeter over and shake out any dirt that may have accumulated in the terminals 3 Wipe the case with a damp cloth and mild detergent do not use abrasives or solvents Wipe the contacts in each terminal with a clean swab dipped in alcohol WARNING To avoid electrical shock or damage to the multimeter ensure that the insides of the casing stay dry at all ti...

Page 50: ...1 Introduction 50 Keysight U1241C U1242C User s Guide THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...

Page 51: ...2C only 55 Measuring DC Voltage 57 Measuring AC or DC mV 59 Using ZLOW for Voltage Measurements U1242C only 61 Measuring Resistance 63 Testing for Continuity 66 Testing Diodes 69 Measuring Capacitance 73 Measuring Frequency 75 Measuring Temperature 79 Measuring AC or DC Current 85 The following sections describe how to take measurements with your multimeter ...

Page 52: ...at full scale For non sinusoidal waveforms add 0 5 reading 0 3 full scale typically Voltage range Crest factor Maximum input Vpeak 100 mV 3 300 mV 600 mV 1 5 900 mV 1000 mV 3 3000 mV 10 V 3 30 V 100 V 3 300 V 1000 V 1 5 1500 V Crest factor Peak value True rms value WARNING Exceeding the crest factor limit may result in an incorrect or a lower reading Do not exceed the crest factor limit to avoid i...

Page 53: ...C V true rms Cycles between AC V averaging sense a Harmonic ratio a with AC V averaging sense Harmonic ratio a with AC V true rms or AC V true rms a U1242C only The averaging sense AC measurement applies for sine wave inputs only It provides more accurate readings for linear loads measurement such as standard induction motors resistance heating and incandescent lights Shift Esc View V NOTE AC volt...

Page 54: ...ress to enable the frequency test mode for voltage measurements Refer to Measuring Frequency on page 75 Hz MaxMin 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc AC 1 3 2 V 4 Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 55: ...o set up your multimeter to measure harmonic ratio first set up your multimeter to measure AC voltage as shown in Figure 2 2 Probe the test points and read the display Table 2 2 Rotary switch position allowing harmonic ratio measurements Legend Default function Function when is pressed AC V true rms Cycles between AC V averaging sense a Harmonic ratio a with AC V averaging sense Harmonic ratio a w...

Page 56: ...2 Making Measurements 56 Keysight U1241C U1242C User s Guide Figure 2 3 Harmonic ratio measurement Press Shift Esc View ...

Page 57: ...e display CAUTION If you are measuring a signal which includes AC components and the peak value is exceeding the measurement range you will need to lock a range that is greater than the peak of voltage Use the maximum range of 1000 V to check the signal condition and manually select a suitable range for the signal As the DC voltage measurement has the Normal Series Mode Rejection Rate NMRR capabil...

Page 58: ...ress to enable the frequency test mode for voltage measurements Refer to Measuring Frequency on page 75 Hz MaxMin 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc DC 1 3 4 2 V Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 59: ...measure voltage as shown in Figure 2 2 or Figure 2 5 Probe the test points and read the display NOTE When this Setup item is enabled the original temperature functions offered in this rotary switch position are disabled and replaced by AC or DC mV measurements Table 2 4 Rotary switch position allowing AC or DC mV measurements Legend Default function Function when is pressed DC mV Cycles between AC...

Page 60: ... DC mV measurements the measurement range is fixed at 100 mV or 1000 mV and the input impedance can be set as 10 MΩ by default or 1000 MΩ Refer to Setting the input impedance on page 137 Press to enable the frequency test mode for voltage measurements Refer to Measuring Frequency on page 75 Hz MaxMin ...

Page 61: ...wn in the primary display and the DC voltage measurement is shown in the secondary display NOTE Use the low input impedance ZLOW function to remove stray or induced voltages from your measurements Stray ghost voltages are voltages present on a circuit that should not be energized Stray voltages can be caused by capacitive coupling between energized wiring and adjacent unused wiring ZLOW can remove...

Page 62: ...ed battery s voltage shown in the ZLOW function is declining gradually this means that the capacity of the battery under test is not enough to support regular functions Use this simple and quick test to determine if a battery has enough voltage capacity to support regular activities NOTE During ZLOW measurements autoranging is disabled and the multimeter s range is set to 1000 V in the manual rang...

Page 63: ...splay Figure 2 8 Resistance display CAUTION To avoid possible damage to your multimeter or to the equipment under test disconnect the circuit power and discharge all high voltage capacitors before measuring resistance Table 2 6 Rotary switch position allowing resistance measurements Legend Default function Function when is pressed Resistance measurement Ω Continuity test Shift Esc View ...

Page 64: ...41C U1242C User s Guide Figure 2 9 Measuring resistance 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc 1 3 4 2 Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 65: ...ts To test the leads touch the probe tips together and read the resistance of the leads To remove lead resistance from the measurement hold the test lead tips together and press Now the resistance at the probe tips will be subtracted from all future display readings Be aware that the resistance function can produce enough voltage to forward bias silicon diode or transistor junctions Vsense ...

Page 66: ...he equipment under test disconnect circuit power and discharge all high voltage capacitors before measuring continuity Use the DC voltage function to confirm that the capacitor is fully discharged Table 2 7 Rotary switch position allowing continuity tests Legend Default function Function when is pressed Resistance measurement Ω Continuity test Shift Esc View NOTE The continuity test features a bee...

Page 67: ...hort or more than or equal to open the threshold resistance Refer to Changing the continuity type on page 131 Normal open The circuit is normally open the beeper will sound and the LED indicator will light up when a short is detected Normal closed The circuit is normally closed the beeper will sound and the LED indicator will light up when an open is detected The audible continuity will be locked ...

Page 68: ...uide Figure 2 10 Testing for continuity 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc ON closed OFF open 1 4 3 Shift Esc View 2 5 Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 69: ... Rotary switch position allowing diode tests Legend Default function Function when is pressed Diode test Capacitance measurement Shift Esc View NOTE Use the diode test to check diodes transistors silicon controlled rectifiers SCRs and other semiconductor devices A good diode allows current to flow in one direction only This test sends a current through a semiconductor junction and then measures th...

Page 70: ...eeps repeatedly A diode is considered open if the multimeter displays OL in both forward and reverse bias modes Figure 2 12 Open diode display NOTE Your multimeter can display diode forward bias of up to approximately 2 1 V The forward bias of a typical diode is within the range of 0 3 V to 0 8 V however the reading can vary depending on the resistance of other pathways between the probe tips If t...

Page 71: ...42C User s Guide 71 Figure 2 13 Testing a forward bias diode 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc 1 3 4 2 Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 72: ...U1242C User s Guide Figure 2 14 Testing a reverse bias diode 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc 1 3 2 4 Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 73: ...before measuring capacitance Use the DC voltage function to confirm that the capacitor is fully discharged Table 2 10 Rotary switch position allowing capacitance measurements Legend Default function Function when is pressed Diode test Capacitance measurement Shift Esc View NOTE The multimeter measures capacitance by charging the capacitor with a known current for a known period of time measuring t...

Page 74: ...er and leads For measuring capacitance values 1000 μF discharge the capacitor first and then select a suitable range for measurement This will speed up the measurement time and also ensure that the correct capacitance value is obtained Vsense 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc 1 4 3 Shift Esc View 2 5 Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III ...

Page 75: ... set the voltage or current range if you want to measure frequencies 20 Hz Table 2 11 Rotary switch positions allowing frequency measurements Legend Default function Function when is pressed AC V true rms Cycles between AC V averaging sense a Harmonic ratio a with AC V averaging sense Harmonic ratio a with AC V true rms or AC V true rms a U1242C only DC V DC A Cycles between AC A true rms AC A ave...

Page 76: ...er these neutral currents are the result of unbalanced phases or non linear loads Frequency is the number of cycles a signal completes each second Frequency is defined as 1 Period Period is defined as the time between the middle threshold crossings of two consecutive like polarity edges as shown in Figure 2 17 The multimeter measures the frequency of a voltage or current signal by counting the num...

Page 77: ...the primary display The voltage or ampere value of the signal is shown in the secondary display The bar graph does not indicate frequency but indicates the voltage or ampere value of the input signal Press to cycle through the low pass frequency filter function see page 78 voltage current measurements and frequency measurements Hz MaxMin ...

Page 78: ...asuring voltage current via the selected averaging sense or true rms function but now the signal diverts through a filter that blocks unwanted frequency of 1 kHz The filter with the averaging sense circuit can improve measurement performance on composite sine waves that are typically generated by inverters and variable frequency drives During frequency measurement press to enable the low pass freq...

Page 79: ... open thermocouple message may be due to a broken open probe or because no probe is installed into the input terminals of the multimeter WARNING Do not connect the thermocouple to electrically live circuits Doing so will potentially cause fire or electric shock CAUTION Do not bend the thermocouple leads at sharp angles Repeated bending over a period of time can break the leads Table 2 12 Rotary sw...

Page 80: ... unit on page 128 2 Range Auto CAUTION The option to change the temperature unit is locked for certain regions Always set the temperature unit display per the official requirements and in compliance with the National laws of your region NOTE Shorting the terminal to the terminal or the terminal to the terminal will display the temperature T1 or T2 at the multimeter s terminals respectively To chan...

Page 81: ...e other than the J or K type you may use the DC 60 mV range with a 1 μV resolution and the ambient temperature in your application The bead type thermocouple probe is suitable for measuring temperatures from 40 C to 204 C 399 F in PTFE compatible environments Above this temperature range the probe may emit toxic gas Do not immerse this thermocouple probe in any liquid For best results use a thermo...

Page 82: ...ion to view the temperature variation of the thermocouple sensor The compensation assists you in measuring relative temperature immediately 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc 1 3 4 2 2 1 Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA Type K thermocouple probe ...

Page 83: ... the relative reference temperature 4 Touch the surface to be measured with the thermocouple probe and read the display Figure 2 22 Temperature measurement without ambient compensation Dual temperature measurement for refrigeration applications You can perform T1 and T2 temperature measurements to measure the efficiency of a condensor for an air conditioning unit as follows 1 Plug the adapter with...

Page 84: ...ning temperature measurement function allows you to measure and display temperature T1 T2 and T1 T2 sequentially 1 Press to step to the Scan mode 2 In the Scan mode the multimeter will scan through and display the values of T1 T2 and T1 T2 periodically Figure 2 23 Scan mode for temperature measurements Shift Esc View ...

Page 85: ...er s fuses before measuring current Use the proper terminals function and range for your measurement Never place the probes across in parallel with any circuit or component when the leads are plugged into the current terminals Current can be measured at 440 mA continuously and 440 mA to 600 mA for 20 hours maximum After measuring 440 mA current cool down the multimeter for twice the measuring time...

Page 86: ...rrent you must open the circuit under test and then place the multimeter in series with the circuit Turn off power to the circuit Discharge all high voltage capacitors Insert the black test lead into the terminal Insert the red test lead in an input appropriate for the measurement range If you are using the terminal set the rotary switch to If you are using the terminal set the rotary switch to fo...

Page 87: ...tion on the alerts the multimeter uses for hazardous current or when leads are not used correctly during current measurement Placing the probes across in parallel with a powered circuit when a lead is plugged into a current terminal can damage the circuit you are testing and blow the multimeter s fuse This happens because the resistance through the multimeter s current terminals are very low resul...

Page 88: ...242C User s Guide Figure 2 25 Measuring DC current 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc LOAD 3 DC 1 4 2 mA Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 89: ... Guide 89 Figure 2 26 Measuring AC current 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc 1 5 2 3 Shift Esc View A LOAD 4 AC Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 90: ... FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc mA Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc mA Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA Current A measure...

Page 91: ...A true rms AC mA or μA averaging sense a or DC mA or μA a U1242C only mA Shift Esc View mA NOTE The 4 20 mA current loop output from a transmitter is a type of electrical signal that is used in a series circuit to provide a robust measurement signal that is proportional to the applied pressure temperature or flow in process control The signal is a current loop where 4 mA represents the 0 signal an...

Page 92: ... the scale range 4 20 mA or 0 20 mA by accessing the multimeter s setup Refer to Changing the scale range on page 139 Use the scale with a pressure transmitter a valve positioner or other output actuators to measure pressure temperature flow pH or other process variables Table 2 15 scale measurement range scale of 4 20 mA or 0 20 mA DC mA measurement range 999 99 1000 mA a a Applies to both autora...

Page 93: ...3 Figure 2 29 Measuring DC current using the 4 20 mA scale 2 1 Vsense 1 U1242C True RMS Multimeter mA A COM V A V V mA ZLOW Hz Range Shift Hold Esc 1 5 4 2 3 Shift Esc View mA Vsense MaxMin Auto Log View 2 600V CAT III 1000V CAT IV MAX FUSED 10A MAX FUSED 440mA ...

Page 94: ...2 Making Measurements 94 Keysight U1241C U1242C User s Guide THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...

Page 95: ...nse U1242C only 96 Making Relative Measurements Null 98 Capturing Maximum and Minimum Values MaxMin 100 Freezing the Display TrigHold and AutoHold 102 Recording Measurement Data Data Logging 104 Reviewing Previously Recorded Data View 110 The following sections describe the additional features available in your multimeter ...

Page 96: ...e present even if there is no Vsense alert indication Do not rely on the Vsense detector with shielded wires Never touch live voltage or conductor without the necessary insulation protection or power off the voltage source The Vsense detector may be affected by differences in socket design insulation thickness and insulation type CAUTION You are advised to measure voltage by using test leads throu...

Page 97: ...Vsense indicator close to a conductor when sensing for AC voltages as low as 24 V in the setting The low sensitivity setting can be used on flush mounted wall sockets or outlets and various power strips or cords The high sensitivity setting allows for AC voltage sensing on other styles of recessed power connectors or sockets where the actual AC voltage is recessed within the connector itself ...

Page 98: ...g the leads is also particularly important prior to making capacitance measurements 1 To activate the relative mode press The measurement value at the time that when Null is enabled is stored as the reference value Figure 3 3 Null display 2 Press again to view the stored reference value flashes The display will return to normal after 3 seconds 3 To disable the Null function press while the stored ...

Page 99: ...he resistance of these leads Use the null function to zero adjust the display For DC voltage measurements the thermal effect will influence the accuracy of the measurements Short the test leads and press when the displayed value is stable to zero adjust the display Vsense Display returns to normal after 3 seconds Press to enable the Null function Vsense Press again to disable the Null function Vse...

Page 100: ...eter also calculates an average of all readings taken since the MaxMin mode was activated From the multimeter s display you can view the following statistical data for any set of readings Max highest reading since the MaxMin function was enabled Min lowest reading since the MaxMin function was enabled Avg average or mean of all readings since the MaxMin function was enabled MaxMinAvg present readi...

Page 101: ... since the start of recording The average reading is useful for smoothing out unstable inputs calculating power consumption or estimating the percentage of time a circuit is active Hold Log NOTE Changing the range manually will also restart the recording session The multimeter beeps when a new maximum or minimum value is recorded If an overload is recorded the averaging function will be stopped OL...

Page 102: ... the AutoHold mode only if the AH AutoHold Setup menu entry is enabled refer to Changing the variation count on page 119 the multimeter is not in the MaxMin or data logging recording modes To exit press again or press for 1 second The AutoHold operation monitors the input signal and updates the display and if enabled emits a beep whenever a new stable measurement is detected The icon flashes befor...

Page 103: ...e 103 The reading value will not be updated if the reading is below the following threshold counts Voltage 50 counts Resistance OL or Open Capacitance 50 counts NOTE If the reading value is unable to reach a stable state the reading value will not be updated ...

Page 104: ... measured signal each time is pressed for 1 second See page 105 An interval log stores a record of the measured signal at a user specified interval See page 106 An event log stores a record of the measured signal each time a trigger condition is satisfied See page 107 An export log stores a record of the measured signal and exports it via the multimeter s optical communication port each time is pr...

Page 105: ...umber are displayed at the top of the display The display will return to normal after a short while 1 second Figure 3 6 Manual log display 2 Repeat step 1 to save the next input signal value The maximum number of readings that can be stored for the manual log is 100 entries When all entries are occupied will be shown when is pressed for 1 second See Reviewing Previously Recorded Data View to revie...

Page 106: ... the multimeter s memory Start the interval log mode 1 Press for 1 second to start the interval log mode and the log entry number are displayed at the top of the display Subsequent readings are automatically recorded into the multimeter s memory at the interval specified in the Setup menu Figure 3 7 Interval log display 2 Press for 1 second to exit the interval log mode The maximum number of readi...

Page 107: ...ing page 100 Event records are triggered by the measured signal satisfying a trigger condition set by the measurement function used in the following modes NOTE Auto power off APO is disabled during the recording session Table 3 2 Event log trigger conditions Mode Trigger condition The input signal value is recorded TrigHold Each time is pressed for 1 second AutoHold When the input signal changes m...

Page 108: ...mory every time the trigger condition specified in Table 3 2 is satisfied Figure 3 8 Event log display 3 Press for 1 second to exit the event log mode The maximum number of readings that can be stored for the event log is 2000 entries When all entries are occupied will be shown when is pressed The event and interval log share the same memory buffer Increased usage of the event log entries will lea...

Page 109: ...ill return to normal after a short while 1 second Figure 3 9 Export log display 2 Repeat step 1 to save the next input signal value The maximum number of readings that can be stored for the export log is 100 entries When all entries are occupied will be shown when is pressed See Reviewing Previously Recorded Data View to review or erase the recorded entries NOTE Auto power off APO is disabled duri...

Page 110: ... or AutoHold must be disabled during this mode 1 Press for 1 second to enter the multimeter s View mode Press again to cycle through the manual H interval A event E or export previously stored records Figure 3 10 View display If nothing has been recorded the secondary display will show horizontal lines instead Figure 3 11 Empty view display Shift Esc View Shift Esc View Shift Esc View ...

Page 111: ...og memories You have the option to sanitize the log memories of your multimeter This operation erases the log memories of your multimeter thoroughly The data stored in the multimeter s memory will not be able to be reconstructed in any way after the data sanitization operation Prior to sanitizing the log memories ensure that all manual H interval A event E or export entries have been cleared see s...

Page 112: ...3 Multimeter Features 112 Keysight U1241C U1242C User s Guide THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...

Page 113: ...Handheld Digital Multimeter User s Guide 113 4 Multimeter Setup Options Using the Setup Menu 114 Setup Menu Summary 116 Setup Menu Items 119 The following sections describe how to change the preset features of your multimeter ...

Page 114: ... 2 Table 4 1 Setup menu key functions Legend Description Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu Press for 1 second to exit the Setup menu While the menu item is flashing press to discard your changes Press or to step through the menu items Press or to edit the selected menu item The menu item s value will flash to indicate that you can now change the...

Page 115: ...rsor is positioned over a digit use and to change the numerical digit Press to increment the digit and Press to decrement the digit When you have completed your changes save the new numerical value by pressing Alternatively if you wish to discard the changes you made press NOTE The Setup menu mode will automatically return to normal operation after 30 seconds if there is no activity Hz MaxMin Rang...

Page 116: ...tes You can also disable this feature d Default is 15 minutes 15 E page 121 01 d to 99 d seconds 01 E to 99 E seconds Set the LCD and keypad backlight timeout period from 1 to 99 seconds You can also disable this feature d Default is 15 seconds 15 E page 121 Lo 02 03 ME 05 06 and Hi Set the LCD and keypad backlight brightness level of low Lo 2 3 medium ME 5 6 or high Hi Default is high Hi page 123...

Page 117: ...eep frequency from 3200 Hz to 4267 Hz You can also disable this feature oFF Default is 3840 Hz page 129 bEEE MELo or oFF Set the multimeter s startup sound to melody MELo or beep bEEE You can also disable this feature oFF Default is beep bEEE page 130 SHor oPEn or tonE Set the multimeter s continuity type to short SHor open oPEn or tone tonE Default is short SHor page 131 bE rL bE rL or Set the mu...

Page 118: ...nce for mV measurements to 10 MΩ or 1000 MΩ Default is 10 MΩ page 137 on or oFF Enable the DC filter LPF for DC coupling of voltage measurements Default is oFF page 138 0 20 mA 4 20 mA or oFF Set the multimeter s scale selection 0 20 mA or 4 20 mA You can also disable this feature oFF Default is 4 20 mA page 139 a U1242C only Table 4 2 Setup menu item descriptions continued Legend Available settin...

Page 119: ...10 which means setting 001 to 1999 is equivalent to setting 10 to 19990 counts respectively To change the variation count 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display Figure 4 1 AH display 3 Press or and or to set the variation count To enable variation count change the last digit shown from d disabled t...

Page 120: ...e range is changed or after a multimeter function or feature is enabled The variation count is set to the value used for the AutoHold feature see Changing the variation count on page 119 You can permanently enable or disable Smooth from the Setup menu To enable Smooth 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary...

Page 121: ...rs to determine when to turn off the backlight and flashlight and when to automatically turn the multimeter off You can enable or disable these features from the Setup menu To change the APO backlight or flashlight timeout period 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until or is shown on the secondary display Vsense Hz MaxMin Range Auto...

Page 122: ...42C User s Guide Figure 4 3 AoFF display Figure 4 4 bLit display Figure 4 5 tLit display 3 Press or and or to change the timeout period To disable the timeout feature change the last digit shown from E enabled to d disabled Vsense Hz MaxMin Range Auto ...

Page 123: ...klight and flashlight features must be enabled To change the backlight or flashlight brightness 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until or is shown on the secondary display Figure 4 6 b L display Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View NOTE If the Vsense detector is enabled the brightness level for both the backlight and flashlight w...

Page 124: ...he recording option The recording options are used with the multimeter s data logging feature see page 104 To change the recording option 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display and the icon appears to the left of the secondary display Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View Parameter Range De...

Page 125: ... the multimeter s interval data logging feature see page 106 The multimeter will record a measurement value at the beginning of every sample interval To change the sample interval duration 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display and the icon appears to the left of the secondary display Vsense Hold L...

Page 126: ... with temperature measurements see page 79 or for performing mV measurements see page 59 Select a thermocouple type that matches the thermocouple sensor you are using for temperature measurements or set the mV measurement function for the T1 input To change the thermocouple type or to set the mV measurement function 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setu...

Page 127: ...isplay Figure 4 10 CoUP display 3 Press or to change the thermocouple type or to set the mV measurement function 4 Press to save your changes or to discard your changes 5 Press and hold until the multimeter restarts to return to normal operation Hz MaxMin Range Auto Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View ...

Page 128: ...switch between C and F Fahrenheit only Temperature measured in F To change the temperature unit 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display CAUTION This setup item is locked for certain regions Always set the temperature unit display per the official requirements and in compliance with the National laws...

Page 129: ...per alerts you to the presence of circuit continuities operator errors such as incorrect lead connections for the selected function and newly sensed values for MaxMin recordings To change the beep frequency 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View Parameter Range Default setting bEEP 4267 Hz 4151 Hz 4042 ...

Page 130: ...d until the multimeter restarts to return to normal operation Changing the startup sound During startup the multimeter emits a sound and displays the model number and the installed fimware version You may change the sound or disable it To change the startup sound 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu Hz MaxMin Range Auto Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc ...

Page 131: ... return to normal operation Changing the continuity type This setting is used to indicate the circuit type at which the alert sounds You may choose the alert type under Changing the continuity alert type on page 132 To change the continuity type 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu Hz MaxMin Range Auto Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc Vie...

Page 132: ...old until the multimeter restarts to return to normal operation Changing the continuity alert type This setting is used to define the continuity alert You may choose among the beeper the red LED or both or disable the alert To change the continuity alert type 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu Hz MaxMin Range Auto Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View...

Page 133: ... changes 5 Press and hold until the multimeter restarts to return to normal operation Changing the battery type This setting is used to change the battery type The battery capacity indication is based on this setting If you are using rechargeable batteries to power your multimeter change the battery type from Pri to SEC for the multimeter to accurately reflect the battery capacity indication Hz Ma...

Page 134: ... on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display Figure 4 16 bAt display 3 Press or to change the battery type 4 Press to save your changes or to discard your changes 5 Press and hold until the multimeter restarts to return to normal operation Shift Esc View Hz MaxMin Range Auto Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View ...

Page 135: ...ning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display Figure 4 17 rSt display 3 Press or to select 4 Press to perform the reset or to discard your changes Reset will not affect the temperature unit option 5 The multimeter will beep once and return to the first setup menu item Parameter Range Default setting rSt YES or no no Shift Esc View...

Page 136: ...rform high speed measurements of voltage current resistance and diode set the data refresh rate to 40 times per second This will produce more than double the measurement speed for these measurements CMRR and NMRR rejections are not applicable for this high speed measurement mode Under this specialized condition this mode provides reduced accuracy results at 40 readings per second In applications w...

Page 137: ... impedance This setting is used with mV measurements You can manually set the impedance for a 10 MΩ or 1 GΩ reading To change the input impedance 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display Figure 4 19 inPU mV display Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View Parameter Range Default setting inPU mV ...

Page 138: ...se The filter is dependent on both frequency and range as shown below To enable the DC path filter 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the secondary display Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View Parameter Range Default setting LPF oFF or on oFF Table 4 3 Typical characteristics of the DC filter Range Typical ...

Page 139: ...multimeter converts DC current measurements to a percentage scale readout of 0 to 100 based on the selected range in this menu For example a 25 readout represents a DC current of 8 mA on the 4 20 mA scale or a DC current of 5 mA on the 0 20 mA scale To change the scale range 1 Press and hold while turning the rotary switch from OFF to on to access the Setup menu 2 Press or until is shown on the se...

Page 140: ...re 4 21 PErC display 3 Press or to change the scale range Select to disable the scale readout 4 Press to save your changes or to discard your changes 5 Press and hold until the multimeter restarts to return to normal operation Vsense Hold Log Shift Esc View Shift Esc View ...

Page 141: ...Multimeter User s Guide 141 5 Characteristics and Specifications For the characteristics and specifications of the U1241C U1242C Handheld Digital Multimeter refer to the datasheet at http literature cdn keysight com litweb pdf 5992 0848EN pdf ...

Page 142: ...5 Characteristics and Specifications 142 Keysight U1241C U1242C User s Guide THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...

Page 143: ...ct to change without notice Always refer to the English version at the Keysight website for the latest revision Keysight Technologies 2015 2017 Edition 3 June 23 2017 Printed in Malaysia U1241 90105 U1241 90105 www keysight com ...