NEHS0678

July 1997

TOOL
OPERATING
MANUAL
146-4080 Digital Multimeter (Operation Manual)

SMCS Code 0784

 NOTICE! Refer to the user’s
Introduction manual before using this multimeter.
This multimeter is an autoranging true RMS digital
multimeter with a RS-232 (DB9) serial interface. It
Double Insulation (Protection Class II)
is a handheld, battery powered instrument. It can
measure Voltage, current, resistance, duty cycle,
temperature, and total harmonic distortion on an
AC power line. It can check continuity and diode
Fuse
junctions and can be programmed to compare
measurements to a desired reference.

This manual provides a brief description of the

operation of the 146-4080 Multimeter. For a
complete description of the operation, as well as
specification and maintenance information, refer to
NEHS0682.
Operation
1

2 Caterpillar 146-4080

Safety Considerations
Before using this multimeter, read the following
safety information carefully. In this manual, the
word "WARNING" is used for conditions and 3 RS-232 TRUE RMS MULTIMETER
6
actions that pose hazard(s) to the user; the word Total Harmonic Distortion
4 HOL
D CMP EDIT GE 7
RAN
"NOTICE" is used for conditions and actions that HI/L
O
TRIG
REL
5 REC DC/A
C

may damage this meter. ˚C/˚F

% 11, 12
8
9 v
Hz
mV
DUTY
10A
10
International Symbols mA

A
TEMP

OFF
14
Dangerous Voltage (risk of electric OFF

13
shock)
15
MAX
10A MAX
AC 750V
FUSED
400mA MAX DC 1000V
FUSED
TEMP
Alternating Current (AC) MAX
600V

A mA A COM V Hz
REMOVE INPUTS BEFORE SWITCHING RANGES
18
16
Direct Current (DC) 17 19

Illustration 1. 146-4080 Digital Multimeter.

Either DC or AC

1. Digital Display
4000 counts, 4 updates/ second. Display
segments and symbols appear briefly during
Diode
self-test.

2. Bar Graph
Analog representation of readings, illuminates
Capacitor
from left to right as input increases. If input
equals or exceeds 4000 counts, bar graph
displays an arrow at far right for positive input
and an arrow at the far left for negative input.
Ground (Allowable applied Voltage
range between the input terminal and
earth)

2
3. Display Back-Light 8. REC←
Press HOLD for 2 seconds to turn ON. Press Maximum, Minimum and Average
HOLD for 2 seconds to turn OFF. Turns OFF Recording: Press REC ("R" appears) to
automatically after 60 seconds. record Maximum, Minimum, and Average
values for a series of measurements on same
4. Hold function and range. Beep emits each time new
Beeps and holds reading. Freezes reading in maximum or minimum is recorded. Press REC
Record, Compare, Relative, or Percent mode. to scroll through stored MAX, MIN, and AVG
values. When an overload is captured, a beep
5. ↑ CMP emits and "OFL" appears. Can record for 24
Enables GO-NO GO test in Compare mode: hours. In Record mode, Auto Power Off is
Press CMP to compare reading with stored disabled and automatically switches to Standby
high (HI) reference and stored low (LO) after 1 hour, unless Standby is disabled by
reference. "C" appears. selecting rotary switch from OFF to any
"-Hi-" appears if reading is higher than high function (ON) while pressing HOLD. If an
(HI) reference and "-LO-" appears if reading is ineffective button is pressed, 2 beeps emit
lower than low (LO) reference. If reading is indicating button is disabled. Press REC for 2
between high (HI) reference and low (LO) seconds to exit and erase recorded readings.
reference, " PASS " appears. When in Edit
mode: Press arrow↑ to increase blinking Left-Shift button in Edit mode: Press arrow to
number displayed by 1 digit. shift blinking number position to the left 1
decimal point.
6. EDIT
Reference Values. EDIT to program
Press 9. →REL
value using arrows (↑ ↓ ← →) when in Relative Readings in Relative mode: Press
Compare, Relative, or Percent mode. Press REL. "REL" symbol appears and bar graph
EDIT and use arrows to enter high (HI) pointer will be at center. Press EDIT and use
reference. arrows to enter reference. Press EDIT to exit.
Press HI/LO to recall stored value. Difference
Note: Both HI and LO values must be entered. between stored value and measured value
Press HOLD to select " — " sign. Press HI/LO appears. Push REL to exit.
and enter low (LO) reference. Select another
function with rotary switch to exit. Right Shift in Edit mode: Press arrow to shift
blinking number position to left by 1 decimal
7. Range HI/LO point.
Selects Manual Range in Non-Edit mode:
Press RANGE to select Manual Range and turn 10. %↓
OFF "AT" (autoranging). Each time RANGE is Readings in Percent mode: Press % and
pressed, range increases and a new value "%" appears and bar graph pointer is at zero.
appears. To exit and return to autoranging, Press EDIT and use arrows to enter reference.
pressRANGE for 2 seconds. Press EDIT to exit. Press HI/LO to recall
"AT" appears. When range is changed stored value. Difference in percent between
manually, Record, Percent, Compare, Relative, reference and measured value appears.
and Hold modes are disabled. Enables high Press % to exit.
(HI) reference or low (LO) reference in
Compare mode. Press HI/LO to recall stored Edit mode: Press arrow to decrease blinking
reference in Compare, Relative, or Percent number by 1 digit.
mode.
11. DC/AC
Toggles between DC and AC when measuring
amps or Volts (except mV). Toggles between
°C (Centigrade) and °F (Fahrenheit) when
TEMP is selected.

3
12. THD-F @ 50/60 Hz 19. COM (Common Terminal)
Total Harmonic Distortion: Total Harmonic Connect black test lead for all measurements.
Distortion as percent of total rms (THD-R).
Select AC Volts or Amps. For 50 Hz or 60 Hz Units: (make exponential, powers of ten)
power, press DC/AC for 2 seconds to select % = Percentage Annunciation in Percentage ,
THD @ 50/60 Hz. "%" and decimal point THD @ 50/60 Hz, and Duty Cycle modes,
3
appear. After 2 seconds, the value of THD-R mV = Millivolts (1 x 10 Volts),
appears. To exit, press DC/AC for 2 seconds. A = Amperes (Amps),
3
mA = Milliamperes (1 x 10 Amps),
THD-F @ 50/60 Hz: Total Harmonic Distortion µA = Microamperes (1 x 106 Amps),
as percent of fundamental frequency. Ω = Ohms,
KΩ = Kilohm ( 1 x 10 Ohms),
3
Indicates rms of 3rd harmonic as % of rms of
MΩ = Megohm (1 x 10 Ohms),
6
fundamental frequency in 50 Hz or 60 Hz and
110/220 VAC. For THD levels above 5%, to Hz = Hertz (1 cycle/sec),
3
convert THD-R to THD-F: F(%) = 100 x R(%)/ KHz = Kilohertz (1 x 10 cycles/sec)
2
Square Root of [1000-R (%)], where
F = THD-F and R = THD-R. Standby Mode: If inactive for 30 minutes (1
hour in Recording mode), automatically
13. OFF switches to Standby. "BAT" will blink and
Power to meter is turned OFF. power is reduced to save battery life. To
resume, press any button. To disable
14. Rotary Switch Standby, press HOLD and turn rotary switch
Select functions. from OFF to any function.

Test Leads: Only use test leads which are

NOTICE rated for 1200 Volts.

Always remove inputs before turning the rotary

switch.

15. Safety Shutter To avoid risk of electrical shock and instrument

Prevents inadvertent connections to current damage, input Voltage must not exceed 1000V
terminals. DC or 750V AC (RMS).

16. A (Amperes Input)

Connect red test lead to measure current on
4A or 10A. DC/AC Volts: Select DC vOlts (or AC Volts)
and range when in manual mode. For
unknown voltage, start with highest range and
17. mAµA (Milliamp/Microamp Input)
reduce range to obtain good reading.
Connect red test lead to measure µA or mA.
Connect red lead to VΩHz and black lead to
COM. Touch probes to circuit to be tested.
18. VΩHz
Voltage appears. Remove probes.
Connect red test lead for all AC Volts, DC
Volts, Ohms, continuity test, diode test,
frequency, and duty cycle. To measure
Three-Phase AC Volts: 3-phase line-to-line
Volts is higher than rated line-to-ground
temperature, connect a thermocouple adapter
3-phase Volts. Do not to exceed 750V AC
to this terminal and COM.
(RMS). To find RMS Volts line-to-line on a
3-phase power line, multiply rated
line-to-ground Volts by 1.732. (i.e., 480V
line-to-ground, Volts line-to-line is 480 x
1.732=832V RMS).

NOTICE
Severe damage and dangerous shock hazard can
result by exceeding rating of meter.

4
NOTE: Some DC and AC Volt ranges with test DC (or AC) Amps: Select desired DC A or AC
leads disconnected, may display fluctuating A. For unknown current, start with highest
readings. range and reduce setting to obtain a good
reading. Disconnect power. Connect red lead
Resistance (ohms): Turn OFF power to to mAµA (A for 4A or 10A ranges) and black
circuit. If any Voltage is in test circuit, an lead to COM. Open circuit. Connect test leads
erroneous reading will result. Meter may be in series with current. Apply power. Read
damaged if AC Volts above 600V is present. current. Disconnect power. Disconnect test
Set rotary switch to W. Connect black test leads.
lead to COM and red test lead to VΩHz.
Connect test leads. Read ohms. Duty Cycle: Defaults to negative trigger slope.
Press RANGE to select (>) for positive slope
and (<) for negative trigger slope.

Temperature: Select "TEMP". Connect

thermocouple adapter to COM and TEMP
(observe polarity). Connect K-type
Damage to the meter or serious personal injury
thermocouple probe to thermocouple adapter.
could result if AC Volts above 600V is present.
NOTE: Defaults to Centigrade. With rotary switch
in TEMP, press DC/AC for Fahrenheit.
Continuity Test: Value of approximately 100
Internal fuses: Select the diode position. For
or less a continuous beep emits.
F2, connect test lead toVΩHz. Touch probe to
A. "0.000V" appears. "OFL" appears,
If
Diode Test: Select rotary switch to the diode
replace fuse. For F11, touch probe to mAµA.
position.
Approximately "1.2V" should appear. If "OFL"
appears, replace fuse. If another value
appears, have meter serviced.
NOTICE
Never connect the test leads to a Voltage. Replace fuses: Select OFF . Remove 3
screws and back cover. Separate front and
rear housing. Remove 4 screws and separate
boards.
Connect black test lead to COM and red test
lead to VΩHz. Touch red test lead to Anode
(+) and black test lead to Cathode (-). If diode
NOTICE
is good, 0.3V to 0.8V appears. Reverse red
and black leads on diode, if "OFL" appears, Do not move position of rotary switch’s contact
diode is good. NOTE: For a defective diode,
disk or meter will not operate correctly.
"OFL" or "0.00" appears no matter how leads
are connected.
Replace fuse:

Current (Amps): F2: 9U-6004 Fuse (15A, 600 V RMS) (Buss-

Fast-Acting KTK-15)

NOTICE F11: 3N-5612 Fuse (1A, 600V RMS) (BUSS-

Never connect test leads across Voltage source BBS-1).
with rotary switch set to Amps and never measure
current sources having open circuit Voltages Connect boards. Install screws. Snap
greater than 600V DC or AC, to prevent damage to housings together. Install screws.
circuit or meter.
NOTE: For additiional information on changing
fuses, refer to NEHS0682.

5
NOTES

6
NOTES

7
 For information on service tools or shop supplies
contact Caterpillar Service Technology Group on:

Caterpillar Service Technology

100 N.E. Adams Street
Peoria, Illinois 61629-9110
1-800-542-8665 (USA)
1-800-541-8665 (Illinois)
1-800-523-8665 (Canada)
404435 (Telex)
1-309-675-6618 (Fax)

or

Caterpillar Service Technology

Caterpillar Overseas S. A.
P.O. Box 456
1211 Geneva 6
Switzerland
41 (22) 849 40 36 (Geneva Phone)
41 (22) 849 45 44 (Geneva Fax)
413323 (Geneva Telex)
CATOVERSEA (Geneva Cable)
36CSTG (COSA E-Mail Address)

©1997 Caterpillar NEHS0678

All Rights Reserved Printed in U.S.A.