Fluke 568 EX Infrared Thermometer

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

This Fluke product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for two years from the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover fuses, disposable batteries, or damage from accident, neglect, misuse, alteration, contamination, or abnormal conditions of operation or handling. Resellers are not authorized to extend any other warranty on Fluke's behalf. To obtain service during the warranty period, 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 problem.

THIS WARRANTY IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, SUCH AS FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. FLUKE IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY. Since some states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of an implied warranty or of incidental or consequential damages, this limitation of liability may not apply to you.

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

Introduction

The 568 EX Infrared Thermometer (the Product) is designed for operation in potentially explosive areas of Zones 2 and 1 in accordance with Directive 1999/92/EC respectively 94/9/EC (ATEX).

Contact Fluke

To contact Fluke, call one of the following telephone numbers:

• Technical Support USA: 1-800-44-FLUKE (1-800-443-5853)
• Calibration/Repair USA: 1-888-99-FLUKE (1-888-993-5853)
• Canada: 1-800-36-FLUKE (1-800-363-5853)
• Europe: +31 402-675-200
• Japan: +81-3-3434-0181
• Singapore: +65-738-5655
• Anywhere in the world: +1-425-446-5500

Or, visit Fluke's website at www.fluke.com.

To register your product, visit http://register.fluke.com.

To see, print, or download the latest manual supplement, visit http://us.fluke.com/usen/support/manuals.

Safety Information

The current operating instructions, EC Declaration of Conformity and the Ex-certificate are available for download from the relevant product page under http://www.fluke.com; alternatively they can be requested directly from the manufacturer.

A Warning identifies conditions and procedures that are dangerous to the user.

Symbols used on the Product and in this manual are explained in Table 1. Laser safety markings are shown in Figure 1.

For special safety information for use in ex-hazardous areas, please see the additional Safety Instructions.

⚠️ Warning

To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, eye damage, or personal injury:

• 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.
• Do not use the product if it operates incorrectly.
• See emissivity information for actual temperatures. Reflective objects result in lower than actual temperature measurements. These objects pose a burn hazard.
• Do not look directly into the laser with optical tools (for example, binoculars, telescopes, microscopes). Optical tools can focus the laser and be dangerous to the eye.
• Do not look into the laser. Do not point laser directly at persons or animals or indirectly off reflective surfaces.
• Use the Product only as specified or hazardous laser radiation exposure can occur.

Table 1. Symbols

Figure 1. Laser Safety Markings

This figure shows the Fluke 568 EX Infrared Thermometer with its laser aperture. It includes caution labels regarding laser radiation, specifying output power (<1mW), wavelength (630-670nm), and Class 2 (II) laser product compliance with FDA 21CFR 1040.10, 1040.11 and EN 60825-1:07. It also illustrates distance-to-spot size ratios (D:S = 50:1) at various distances (e.g., 19 mm @ 300 mm, 42 mm @ 1500 mm) and indicates the WEEE recycling symbol.

Features

• Single-spot laser sighting
• Backlight display
• MAX, MIN, DIF, and AVG temperature display
• 80PK-1 K-type thermocouple (KTC) probe
• Adjustable emissivity and predefined emissivity table
• Infrared and thermocouple temperature display
• Celsius or Fahrenheit temperature display
• Tripod mount
• Standard miniature KTC connector input
• 12 or 24 hour clock
• Last reading Hold (20 seconds) and auto off
• Multi-language interface
• High and low temperature alarm
• Data storage and review
• Trigger lock

Display

The Product display can show data in these languages:

• English
• German
• French
• Portuguese
• Simplified Chinese

Menu Overview

Figure 2 shows the LCD and menu interface. Table 2 is a top-level description of the menu.

Figure 2. Menu Navigation

This figure illustrates the device's LCD screen with indicators for HOLD, Hi, Lo, temperature reading, and softkey labels (Save, Menu, Light). It also shows icons representing buttons.

Table 2. Top-Level Menu Description

Save

To save readings:

1. Pull the trigger to take a measurement and release it to stop.
2. Push the Save softkey to enter the Save menu.
3. Push the Yes softkey to save the reading.

The saved reading includes:

• IR temperature
• Thermocouple temperature (if connected)
• Emissivity
• Min/Max/Avg/Dif (if Min/Max or Avg/Dif is enabled)
• Date/Time

You can push the Cancel softkey to stop saving the reading.

Light

The Product has a backlight display with two brightness levels. To toggle the backlight brightness, push the Light softkey. To disable the backlight, use the Setup menu.

Memory

The Product can store up to 99 measurement records. To access records stored in memory, push the Menu softkey until Mem shows as the left softkey, and then push the Mem softkey to access the Memory menu.

Emissivity Menu

Default emissivity is 0.95.

The Emissivity menu includes a list of pre-defined materials and lists their typical emissivity values. See Table 3 for further information.

Table 3. Nominal Surface Emissivity

* Oxidized
** Opaque, over 20 mils
*** Natural
**** Factory Setting
Highlighted items may also be found in the emissivity table built into the Product.

To access the Emissivity menu:

1. Push the Menu softkey until ε shows as the right softkey
2. Push the ε softkey.

To access the Emissivity list:

1. Push the Table softkey. The display shows a list of materials and their suggested emissivity.
2. Use the down arrow ⬇️ to navigate through the list.

To manually type the typical emissivity of a material:

1. Push the No. softkey.
2. Use the down ⬇️ or up ⬆️ arrow softkey to change the entry. Hold down the arrow softkeys to increase the rate of change.
3. Push the Done softkey to return to the main menu.

°C and °F

To toggle between °C and °F measurements, push the Menu softkey until °C or °F shows as the left softkey, and then push the necessary softkey.

Min, Max, Avg, Differential

The Product can measure minimum (MIN), maximum (MAX), average (AVG), or differential (Δ) temperatures. The Product does not show these values if a thermocouple is connected to it.

To turn on the Min/Max and Avg/Diff modes:

1. Push the Menu softkey until MnMx shows as the left softkey and Avg shows as the right softkey.
2. Push the MnMx softkey and the Avg softkey.

Alarm

The Product has a programmable high and low temperature alarm to assign high or low readings. When the alarm level is reached, an alarm sounds and the display flashes orange and white.

To set the high or low alarm:

1. Push the Menu softkey until Alarm shows as the right softkey.
2. Push the Alarm softkey to access the Alarm menu.
3. Push the Hi or Lo softkey as necessary.
4. Push the ON or OFF softkey to turn the alarm on or off.
5. Use the Set softkey to access the Hi or Lo Alarm Set menu.
6. Use the down ⬇️ or up ⬆️ softkeys to change the alarm setting.
7. After the settings are completed, push the Done softkey.

Trigger Lock

The Product trigger can be locked on for continuous measurement.

To lock the trigger:

1. Push the Menu softkey until the lock symbol (?) shows as the left softkey.
2. Push the ? softkey to lock the trigger. The lock symbol shows on the display. When the trigger is locked, the ? softkey changes to ?. Push this softkey to unlock the trigger.

Laser

The Product has a laser for aiming purposes only. The laser turns off when the trigger is released.

To enable or disable the laser:

1. Push the Menu softkey until Laser shows as the right softkey.
2. Push the Laser softkey to enable or disable the laser.

A ? symbol shows on the display when the laser is enabled.

Setup

From the Setup menu, the display language, backlight, and time/date can be changed.

Language

To change the display language:

1. From the main menu, push the Menu softkey until Setup shows as the left softkey.
2. Push the Setup softkey.
3. Use the down arrow ⬇️ softkey to move the indicator to Language, and push the Enter softkey.
4. Use the down arrow ⬇️ to move the indicator to the correct language.
5. Push the Enter softkey to complete the language selection, or push the Back softkey to return to the Setup menu.

Backlight

The backlight is on by default. Turn the backlight off to conserve battery power.

1. Push the Menu softkey until Setup shows as the left softkey.
2. Push the Setup softkey.
3. Push the Enter softkey to enter the backlight menu.
4. Push the OFF softkey to turn the backlight off, or push the ON softkey to turn it on.
5. Push the Back softkey to return to the Setup Menu.

Time/Date

To change the time on the Product:

1. Push the Menu softkey until Setup shows as the left softkey.
2. Push the Setup softkey to enter the Setup menu.
3. Push the down arrow ⬇️ softkey to select Time/Date.
4. Push the Enter softkey.
5. Push the Time softkey to set time.
   1. Push the necessary time format (24hr or 12hr).
   2. Use the up ⬆️ and down ⬇️ softkeys to select the correct hour.
   3. Push Next to select the minutes.
   4. Use the up ⬆️ and down ⬇️ softkeys to select the minute.
   5. When in 12 hour mode, push the Next softkey to highlight the am/pm parameter.
   6. Use the up ⬆️ and down ⬇️ softkey to change to am or pm.
6. Push the Done softkey.

To change the date on the Product:

1. From the Time/Date menu, push the Date softkey.
2. Select the date format: Day/Month/Year (dmy) or Month/Day/Year (mdy).
3. Use the up ⬆️ and down ⬇️ softkeys to select the correct parameter.
4. Push the Next softkey and the arrow ➡️⬅️ softkeys to select the month, date, or year parameters.
5. Use the up ⬆️ and down ⬇️ softkeys to set the necessary parameter.
6. Push the Next softkey to move through each parameter.
7. Push the Done softkey.

Delete Data

To delete stored data from the Product, from the main menu, push the Menu softkey until Mem shows as the left softkey function. The last memory location shows on the display.

To access the Delete menu, push the Delete softkey.

• To delete all records, push the All softkey. At the confirmation screen, push the Yes softkey.
• To delete individual records, push the View softkey and then use the down ⬇️ and up ⬆️ arrow softkeys to access the necessary record. When the correct record is shown, push the Yes softkey to delete the record.
• To cancel data deletion, pull the trigger.

How the Product Works

The Product measures the surface temperature of an object. The Product optics sense emitted, reflected, and transmitted energy, which is collected and focused onto a detector. The Product electronics translate the signal into a temperature measurement which the Product shows on the display (see Figure 3).

Figure 3. How the Product Works

This diagram illustrates the principle of infrared temperature measurement. Energy is emitted from a target, reflected off surfaces, and transmitted. The product's optics collect this energy, focus it onto a detector, and electronics convert it into a temperature reading displayed on the screen.

Product Operation

Temperature Measurement

To measure temperature, point the Product at an object and pull the trigger. You can use the laser pointer to help aiming. You can also insert the KTC probe for contact measurement. Be sure to consider distance-to-spot size ratio and field of view (see "Distance and Spot Size" and "Field of View").

The laser is used for aiming purposes only and is not related to temperature measurement.

The Product automatically powers down after 20 seconds of inactivity. To turn the Product on, pull the trigger.

Find a Hot or Cold Spot

To find a hot or cold spot, aim the Product outside the necessary area. Then, slowly scan across the area with an up ⬆️ and down ⬇️ motion until the hot or cold spot is found (see Figure 4).

Figure 4. Find a Hot or Cold Spot

This figure depicts the process of finding a hot or cold spot by scanning an area with the infrared thermometer. It shows the device being moved across a surface to identify temperature variations.

Distance and Spot Size

As the distance (D) from the object under measurement increases, the spot size (S) of the area measured by the Product becomes larger. The relationship between distance and spot size (D:S) is shown in Figure 5. The spot sizes indicate 90 % encircled energy.

Figure 5. Distance and Spot Size

This diagram illustrates the relationship between the distance (D) from the object and the measurement spot size (S) for the infrared thermometer. It shows that as distance increases, the spot size also increases, with a specified distance-to-spot ratio (D:S = 50:1). Example spot sizes are shown at different distances (e.g., 19 mm @ 300 mm, 42 mm @ 1500 mm).

Field of View

When making measurements, make sure that the target is larger than the Product spot size. The smaller the target, the closer you should be to it (see Figure 6). For accurate measurement, it is strongly recommended that the target size is at least twice as large as the spot size.

Figure 6. Field of View

This figure demonstrates the concept of Field of View in relation to measurement accuracy. It shows two scenarios: one where the target is too small for the spot size (labeled "No"), leading to inaccurate readings, and another where the target is sufficiently large relative to the spot size (labeled "Yes"), ensuring accurate measurements.

HOLD

After the trigger is released, the display retains its last infrared measurement for 20 seconds. At the same time, HOLD shows on the display. With the probe inserted, the contact Product stays on. To freeze the infrared temperature when a probe is not inserted, release the trigger until HOLD shows on the display.

Figure 7. Thermocouple Connection

This figure shows the physical connection of a thermocouple probe to the infrared thermometer. It illustrates the probe being inserted into the device's input port.

External Contact Probe

The Product has a bead KTC probe. The probe attaches to the Product via the probe input located on the top of the Product (see Figure 7).

With the probe installed, the probe symbol (➖) shows on the display. The probe can be used simultaneously when the Product is making non-contact measurements. The probe measurements are shown below the non-contact measurements. The Product stays on when a probe is inserted.

Troubleshooting

See Table 4 for solutions to possible problems during Product operation.

Table 4. Troubleshooting

*For details about battery replacement, please refer to the separate Safety Instructions.

Maintenance

For detailed maintenance information, please refer to the separate Safety Instructions.

Battery Replacement

For detailed information, please refer to the separate Safety Instructions.

Clean the Lens

Use clean compressed air to blow off loose particles. Carefully clean the surface with a water-moistened cotton swab.

Clean the Case

Use mild soap and water on a moist sponge or soft cloth.

Replacement Parts

See Table 5 for a list of replacement parts.

Table 5. Replacement Parts

Accessories

Optional accessories for the Product are 80PK-1 K-type thermocouple probes (PN: 750422).

Specifications

General Specifications

KTC Specifications

Only approved accessories can be used with the Product. For details, please refer to the separate Safety Instructions.