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Fluke 8010/8012
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Description
The
Hardware
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Fluke 8010 / 8012 Interface

Specifications

Processor used:

Micronas CCU3000

Software version:

V1.0

Year of development:

1997

Supported meter models:

Fluke 8010 and Fluke 8012
Only the 50Hz models at the
moment.

Main features:

SB-Bus connection
Take readings on the
computer
Automatically log up to 701 samples

Flexible sample interval time setting
Stores
Minimum, Maximum and Mean values

Have fun with this project, but I can't emphasize it often enough:
please be careful with high
voltages.

Introduction

For many years I felt the desire to connect my ancient Fluke meter
models 8010 and 8012 to the computer. At long last I succeeded in
developing an interface to the SB-Bus.

In the past I often thought about the ideal interface system for these
Fluke meters. Some ideas could never be realized though, and I stripped
down the wish list to those things that could easily be implemented. It
took me exactly one month to build and program the current version of the
interface, and I must say that I'm quite satisfied with the end result. I
started the job at 25 April 1997 and the 2nd meter was finally closed at
24 May of the same year. All together it took me 57 hours to finish this
project and I had to start the assembler 384 times to complete the
software.

The basic plan was to be able to read the display on command. I decided
to read only the value, and forget about the actual range and function.
Reading the range and function would require too severe modifications
because there are not enough free switch contacts available to read all
possible switch positions.
Such a program is relatively simple to
implement, but during programming new ideas surfaced and the basic plan
was somewhat extended. I wanted to implement a log function that could
store as many values as possible in the available memory. Such a log
function could come in handy if you want to measure the discharge
characteristics of a battery for instance. If the meter can log the values
by itself, it won't be necessary to keep a log program running on the host
computer all the time.
At first the meter could store 600 readings in
the available memory, but with some compression it is now possible to
store up to 701 readings.
On the other hand it would also be nice to
be able to make it remember the maximum, minimum and average measured
values, so that function was added too.
I also wanted to use the
BT indicator of the meter's display to indicate that the log
function was active. This was not possible anymore because all I/O lines
were used up. I could free some I/O lines by implementing an I²C EEPROM
memory to store the SB-Bus address instead of using a set of jumpers. All
together the wish list was growing again, but all new items to the list
could be realized.

Like I said, I'm very satisfied with the end result, if I may say so
myself. Both meters can now be connected to the SB-Bus, and can store
measurements in their log file autonomously. The results in the log file
can be read at any convenient time by giving a simple command to the
meter.

Last Updated: 21 May 2011
© 2002, San Bergmans, Oisterwijk, The
Netherlands
http://www.sbprojects.com/