BT521 Battery Analyzer Users Manual March 2014 © 2014 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice. All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
LIMITED WARRANTY AND 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.
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Title Product Overview and Specifications ................................................. 1-1 Introduction .............................................................................................. Contact Fluke ........................................................................................... Product Overview..................................................................................... Standard Equipment ..................................................
BT521 Users Manual Load a Profile When Switched to Sequence Mode......................... Make Measurements ............................................................................... Test Battery Resistance and Voltage .................................................. Battery Test Probes ......................................................................... View Test Readings on the Screen ................................................. Set Measurement Range .....................................
Contents (continued) Install or Replace the Battery Pack ......................................................... Replace the Fuse ..................................................................................... Clean the Product .................................................................................... Charge the Battery ................................................................................... Parts and Accessories .................................................................
BT521 Users Manual iv
List of Tables Table Title Page 1-1. Standard Equipment .................................................................................... 1-3 1-2. Symbols ....................................................................................................... 1-5 1-3. Keys of the Product...................................................................................... 1-6 4-1. Elements of the Handle ............................................................................... 4-2 4-2.
BT521 Users Manual vi
List of Figures Figure Title 1-1. I/O Terminals of the Product ........................................................................ 2-1. Tilt Stand, USB Port and Battery Charger Input. ........................................ 3-1. Test Battery Resistance and Voltage .......................................................... 3-2. Connect Test Lead to Battery Pole ............................................................. 3-3. Measure DC Voltage ......................................................
BT521 Users Manual viii
Chapter 1 Product Overview and Specifications Introduction This chapter supplies information about the Product, safety information, contact information, and specifications.
BT521 Users Manual strings. Before a task starts, users can configure a profile for the task for data management and report generation. 1-2 • Discharge Volts – The Discharge mode collects the voltage of each battery several times at a certain interval during a discharge or load test. Users can calculate the time a battery takes to drop to the cut-off voltage and use this time to determine the capacity loss of this battery.
Product Overview and Specifications Standard Equipment 1 Standard Equipment The items listed in Table 1-1 are included with the Product. Table 1-1. Standard Equipment Item No. Description Quantity Remarks 1 BT521 Meter 1 2 BP500 (battery) 1 7.
BT521 Users Manual Safety Information A Warning identifies conditions and procedures that are dangerous to the user. A Caution identifies conditions and procedures that can cause damage to the Product or the equipment under test. Warning To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, or personal injury: 1-4 • Carefully read all instructions. • Read all safety information before you use the Product. • Use the Product only as specified, or the protection supplied by the Product can be compromised.
Product Overview and Specifications Safety Information • Use only current probes, test leads, and adapters supplied with the Product. • Install the CAT III protective cap of test lead when you use the product in CAT III environment. The CAT III protective cap decreases the exposed probe metal to < 4 mm. • Do not operate the Product with covers removed or the case open. Hazardous voltage exposure is possible. 1 See Table 1-2 for a list of symbols used in this manual and on the Product. Table 1-2.
BT521 Users Manual Keys and I/O Terminals of the Product Table 1-3 identifies and describes the keys. Table 1-3. Keys of the Product 1 9 2 8 3 7 6 5 4 hsz001.eps 1-6 Item Key Function 12 34 L Enables connection between the Product and nearby mobile devices for data transmission. M Switches between Meter and Sequence measurement modes. For details, see Chapter 3. Switches between Meter and Sequence memories. For details, see Chapter 4.
Product Overview and Specifications Keys and I/O Terminals of the Product 1 Figure 1-1 shows the terminals of the Product. Figure 1-1. I/O Terminals of the Product hpo002.
BT521 Users Manual General Specifications Fuse Protection for Resistance ...................... 0.44 A (44/100 A, 440 mA), 1000 V FAST Fuse, Fluke specified part only Power Supply Battery power ...................................................... BP500 smart battery pack: double cell lithium-ion, 7.4 V, 3000 mAh Battery life ........................................................... >8 hours in continuous full-load operation Battery charging time ..........................................
Product Overview and Specifications Accuracy Specifications 1 Accuracy Specifications Accuracy is specified for a period of one year after calibration, at 18 °C to 28 °C (64 °F to 82 °F), with relative humidity to 80 %. Accuracy specifications are given as: ±([% of reading] + [number of least significant digits]). Accuracy specification assumes ambient temperature stable ±1 °C. Function Range Resolution Accuracy 3 mΩ 0.001 mΩ 1%+8 30 mΩ 0.01 mΩ 0.8 % + 6 300 mΩ 0.1 mΩ 0.
BT521 Users Manual 1-10
Chapter 2 Basic Operation and Setup of the Product Introduction This chapter describes the basic operation and setup of the Product. Tilt Stand The Product has a tilt stand that lets you see the screen at an angle when placed on a flat surface. See Figure 2-1. This figure also shows the locations of the USB port and the battery charger input. This port allows communication with bundled software. USB Port Figure 2-1. Tilt Stand, USB Port and Battery Charger Input hsz007.
BT521 Users Manual Adjust Display Contrast To adjust display contrast: 1. Push to open the Setup menu. Contrast is already highlighted. 2. Push the – softkey to lighten contrast, or push the + softkey to darken contrast. Note If – is pushed too far, the display is blank. 3. Push the Back softkey to return to normal operation. Set Language The default display language is English. To select another language: 1. Push to open the Setup menu. 2.
Basic Operation and Setup of the Product Turn On/Off Beep 2 Turn On/Off Beep To turn on or turn off beep: 1. Push to open the Setup menu. 2. Use L to highlight Beep, and push the Select softkey. 3. Use and L to highlight Off or On, and push the Confirm softkey. AutoHold and AutoSave Modes Note AutoHold and AutoSave are only available for the Battery Resistance & Voltage and the Discharge functions. When AutoHold is turned on, the "heart beat" icon shows on the display.
BT521 Users Manual Set Auto Power Off Time The Product has an auto power off function to save power. It enables or disables auto power off. It also allows users to set the time between last operation and auto power off. To set the time for auto-power off: 1. Push to open the Setup menu. 2. Use L and to highlight General and push the Select softkey. 3. Use L and to highlight Power off, and push the Select softkey. 4. Use L and to highlight 5 Minutes, 15 Minutes, 30 Minutes, or Never. 5.
Use the Product Introduction 3 Chapter 3 Use the Product Introduction This chapter provides information about how to use the Product. The Product provides two modes for different measurement purposes: Meter mode and Sequence mode. Meter mode lets you perform easy and fast measurements and save the measurement readings and timestamp to the Product memory. In this mode, the Product measures battery resistance and voltage, dc voltage, ac voltage, and ripple voltage.
BT521 Users Manual hpo002.jpg hpo001.jpg To switch back to Meter mode: 1. Push M. 2. When the Back to METER mode? screen shows, push the Continue softkey. The measurement screen of Meter mode shows. Note All measurements taken in Sequence mode will be saved to the memory. hpo003.jpg 3-2 hpo005.
Use the Product Use a Profile in Sequence Mode 3 Use a Profile in Sequence Mode In Sequence mode, the Product lets you manage, categorize, and analyze data by profiles. The figure below shows a typical profile. hpo006.jpg Manage Profiles Each Product stores up to 100 profiles. A profile describes the battery maintenance environment in a tree view.
BT521 Users Manual hpo012.jpg hpo004.jpg 3. Use and L to select Create by default or String+1. 4. Push the Create softkey. The New Profile menu shows on the screen. 5. When necessary, push the Edit softkey, and then use the arrow keys and softkeys to edit the field values. 6. Push the Done softkey to exit the edit status. 7. Push the Start softkey to enter the measurement screen. • Note Once a profile is created, the battery number cannot be changed. Other data values are editable.
Use the Product Make Measurements 3 The Profile info screen shows. 2. Push the Modify softkey. The Edit profile screen shows. 3. Use and L to highlight the data field to be edited. 4. Use the method in the “Edit a profile during creation” section to edit the profile. Load a Profile In Sequence mode, the Product can load a previously saved profile during measurement or when it is switched to Sequence mode. Load a Profile When Switched to Sequence Mode To load a profile when switched to Sequence mode: 1.
BT521 Users Manual Battery Test Probes To connect test probes to the battery pole: 1. Use the inner tip of the test probe to touch the target surface. 2. Push the test lead to set-back the inner tip, until both the inner tip and the outer tip are fully connected to the target surface. This will ensure a proper 4-wire connection to the battery terminal. Note Stable and correct readings are shown only when both the inner tip and the outer tip of the test lead are fully connected to the target surface.
Use the Product Make Measurements 3 This is a typical display of battery test in Sequence mode: hpo031.jpg Battery number: The number to the left of / indicates the number of the battery that is being tested. The number to the right of / indicates the total number of batteries in the profile. Progress bar: The progress bar is generated according to the total number of batteries in the profile. Each cell corresponds to one battery. An empty cell indicates the corresponding battery is not tested yet.
BT521 Users Manual Note The battery voltage measurement is in auto ranging mode, and the range cannot be changed. Caution In this function, the voltage between the positive and negative poles of a battery must be < 60 V. A voltage >60 V exceeds the rating of the fuse in the Product and causes an open circuit. Save Battery Test Readings In Meter mode, push the Save softkey to save the current resistance, voltage and time. All saved data is stored in chronological order.
Use the Product Make Measurements 3 Set Measurement Thresholds The Product can define upper and lower measurement thresholds or tolerance ranges. These defined threshold values are then compared to the measured values to automatically identify and prompt the user with a PASS, FAIL or WARN indicator of battery out of tolerance conditions. The threshold function is disabled by default. You can set up to 10 set of thresholds and select one threshold as needed. To set and select measurement thresholds: 1.
BT521 Users Manual To disable measurement thresholds: 1. On the measurement screen, push the Threshold softkey to open the Select Threshold menu. The value of No. is already highlighted. 2. Use to set No. to ---. 3. Push the Confirm softkey. The T-X icon no longer shows on the display. How the Thresholds Work When a threshold set is applied, the Product compares each resistance reading with the resistance reference in the current threshold set.
Use the Product Make Measurements 3 Measure DC Voltage The Product can measure dc voltage. It also shows the polarity on the display. To measure dc voltage, turn the rotary switch to . See Figure 3-3 for connections. The link ed image cannot be display ed. The file may hav e been mov ed, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location. Figure 3-3. Measure DC Voltage hsz019.eps Set Measurement Range In this measurement mode, auto range is used by default.
BT521 Users Manual Measure AC Voltage The Product supplies two independent readings to show the rms and frequency of ac voltage. To measure ac voltage, turn the rotary switch to . See Figure 3-4 for connections. Vac Figure 3-4. Measure AC Voltage UPS hsz021.eps Measurement Range The ac voltage measurement has only one range: 600 V. The frequency measurement uses auto ranging. This cannot be changed.
Use the Product Make Measurements 3 Measure Ripple Voltage The Product can measure the ac component on a dc voltage, which is also known as ac ripple. A high ac ripple may result in a battery overheat and negatively impact the battery life. In addition, it may cause extra energy loss to the system. To measure ripple voltage, turn the rotary switch to RIPPLE VOLTS. Set Measurement Range In ripple voltage function, both ac voltage and dc voltage use auto range by default.
BT521 Users Manual Typical Display This is a typical display of discharge voltage measurement. hpo052.jpg Battery number: The number to the left of / indicates the number of the battery that is being tested. The number to the right of / indicates the total number of batteries in the profile. Progress bars: The upper progress bar has eight cells. Each cell corresponds to one round of discharge voltage measurement. The Product can store up to eight sets of voltage test data as well as the intervals.
Chapter 4 Use the Handle and Probes Introduction This Product is shipped with an interactive handle. This chapter provides the information about how to use the interactive handle and the test probes. BTL21 Overview Warning To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, or personal injury, hold the handle behind the tactile barrier (). Figure 4-1 shows the interactive handle. Table 4-2 describes the elements. 6 2 3 1 7 1 5 4 Figure 4-1. Interactive Handle hsz022.
BT521 Users Manual Table 4-1. Elements of the Handle Item No. Name Function Display Shows information such as measurement readings. LED Indicates the status of a measurement. Green means Pass; orange means Warning; red means Fail. Save button Manually saves a measurement reading. Power key Turns on or turns off the handle. Backlight key Turns on or turns off the backlight for the handle. Speaker Plays audio reminders when enabled.
Turn On/Off the Handle Power (BTL20/BTL21) 4 Turn On/Off the Handle Power (BTL20/BTL21) The interactive handle is powered by the Product. The handle powers on when it is connected to the Product. Push the power key below the display to turn on or turn off the handle power. When the handle is connected to the Product, the handle automatically turns on. To conserve product battery power, push the power key below the handle display.
BT521 Users Manual Interchange Long and Short Probes Figure 4-2 shows how to interchange the long and short probes. 1 3 2 Figure 4-2. Interchange the Long and Short Probes Note To get accurate readings, the connectors between the handle and probes should be fully fastened. 4-4 hsz024.
Replace the Probe Tips 4 Replace the Probe Tips Figure 4-3 shows how to replace the probe tips. Warning To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, or personal injury, use correct tip covers (CAT II or CAT III) in different CAT environments. Figure 4-3. Replace the Probe Tips hsz026.eps Use the Attachable Torch The handle is provided with an attachable torch accessary for illumination. The torch accessory uses two changeable 3-volt watch batteries and has a battery life of 10 hours.
BT521 Users Manual Zero Calibration Each time before a probe is replaced, a zero calibration is required. To do zero calibration: 1. Locate the zero calibration board on a flat surface horizontally. 2. Insert the red and black probe tips to the calibration holes. 3. Turn the rotary switch to mΩ and enter Meter mode. Then push F4 to enter zero calibration mode. The product starts zero calibration for all function ranges.
Chapter 5 View Memory Introduction This chapter provides information about how to view measurement data that is manually or automatically saved to the Product memory. The Product has an internal memory that stores measurement data that can be viewed. Measurement data in Meter mode and Sequence mode shows separately. View Data Saved in Meter Mode To view measurement data that is saved in Meter mode: 1. Turn the rotary switch to VIEW memory. 2.
BT521 Users Manual View Profiles Saved in Sequence Mode To view measurement data that is saved in Sequence mode: 1. Turn the rotary switch to VIEW memory. 2. Push M until MEMORY – SEQUENCE MODE shows on the upper left corner of the display. The Load profile menu shows on the display. 3. Use and to highlight a profile, and push the View softkey. 4. View the memory items, and push the Next softkey to view next page as required. 5. Use 1 to cycle through these four data sets: mΩ.V, Dis.
Chapter 6 Connection to PC or Mobile Device Introduction This chapter contains information about how to connect the Product to a PC or mobile device. Connect the Product to PC The Product has a USB port that lets you connect the Product to a PC through a USB cable. The USB port is located at the lower right side of the Product, as shown in Figure 2-1.
BT521 Users Manual 6-2
Chapter 7 Maintenance Introduction This chapter covers basic maintenance procedures. Warning For safe operation and maintenance of the Product: • Use only specified replacement parts. • Use only specified replacement fuses. • Have an approved technician repair the Product. • The battery door must be closed and locked before you operate the Product. • Batteries contain hazardous chemicals that can cause burns or explode. If exposure to chemicals occurs, clean with water and get medical aid.
BT521 Users Manual 7-2 • Remove the batteries if the Product is not used for an extended period of time, or if stored in temperatures that exceed the specification of the battery manufacturer. If the batteries are not removed, battery leakage can damage the Product. • Connect the battery charger to the mains power outlet before the Product. • Use only Fluke approved power adapters to charge the battery. • Keep cells and battery packs clean and dry. Clean dirty connectors with a dry, clean cloth.
Maintenance Install or Replace the Battery Pack 7 Install or Replace the Battery Pack Warning Never operate the Product with the Battery Cover removed. Hazardous voltage exposure may occur. To install or replace a Battery Pack: 1. Make sure the Product is off. 2. Remove all probes and/or test leads. 3. Unlock the battery cover at the rear of the Product. Turn the screw a quarter turn counter clockwise. 4. Install the battery pack. 5. Put the battery cover back on the unit. 6. Tighten the screw.
BT521 Users Manual Replace the Fuse Warning To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, or personal injury: • Use only specified replacement fuses. • Replace a blown fuse with exact replacement only for continued protection against arc flash. To replace the fuse: 1. Make sure the Product is off and any test leads are disconnected. 2. Install the new fuse. 3. Use a screwdriver to loosen the captive screw on the fuse cover at the upper end of the Product. 4. Install the new fuse. 5.
Maintenance Clean the Product 7 Clean the Product Warning For safe operation and maintenance of the Product, disconnect the Product and its accessories from all voltage sources during cleaning. Clean the Product with a damp cloth and a mild soap. Do not use abrasives, solvents, or alcohol. These may damage the Product markings and labels. Charge the Battery When the Product is powered by the battery, the battery charge symbol in the screen header informs you about the charge condition.
BT521 Users Manual Parts and Accessories Table 7-1 lists the user-replaceable parts and accessories. To order replacement parts or additional accessories, contact your nearest Fluke Service Center. See the “Contact Fluke” section. Table 7-1.
