Fluke 1630-2 FC Stakeless Earth Ground Clamp

The Fluke 1630-2 FC is a stakeless earth ground clamp designed for testing grounding systems where conventional auxiliary-stake methods are impractical.

Its dual-clamp jaw method measures earth ground loop resistance on multi-grounded systems without disconnecting the earth electrode from the system. This makes it particularly useful for grounding systems inside buildings, on power pylons, in paved areas and other locations where driving auxiliary test stakes is difficult or impossible.

Key Features

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  Stakeless earth ground loop resistance testing
  
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  Measures earth ground resistance without auxiliary ground rods
  
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  Designed for multi-grounded systems
  
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  AC leakage current measurement
  
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  Measures leakage current without disconnecting the grounding system
  
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  True-RMS leakage current measurement
  
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  Fluke Connect® wireless connectivity
  
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  Stores up to 32,760 measurements
  
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  Adjustable data logging interval from 1 second to 59 minutes 59 seconds
  
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  User-defined high/low alarm thresholds
  
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  Selectable band-pass filter for AC leakage measurements
  
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  Heavy-duty clamp jaw
  
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  Approximately 40 mm conductor capacity
  
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  CAT IV 600 V / CAT III 1000 V
  
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  IP30 protection with jaw closed
  

Stakeless Earth Ground Testing

The primary advantage of the Fluke 1630-2 FC is its stakeless measurement method.

Traditional earth resistance testing may require auxiliary ground rods and sufficient open soil for electrode placement. The 1630-2 FC instead uses a clamp-based method for multi-grounded systems, allowing technicians to test ground loop resistance without disconnecting the ground under test.

This is particularly useful for:

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  Buildings
  
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  Power pylons
  
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  Industrial facilities
  
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  Telecommunications sites
  
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  RF transmitter sites
  
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  Paved areas
  
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  Indoor grounding systems
  
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  Difficult-to-access grounding points
  

Earth Ground Loop Resistance

The Fluke 1630-2 FC measures earth ground loop resistance over a range from 0.025 Ω to 1500 Ω, depending on the measurement range.

Selected accuracy specifications include:

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  0.025–0.249 Ω: ±(1.5% + 0.02 Ω)
  
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  0.250–0.999 Ω: ±(1.5% + 0.05 Ω)
  
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  1.000–9.999 Ω: ±(1.5% + 0.10 Ω)
  
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  10.00–49.99 Ω: ±(1.5% + 0.30 Ω)
  
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  50.00–99.99 Ω: ±(1.5% + 0.50 Ω)
  

Higher resistance ranges have corresponding specified accuracy limits.

AC Leakage Current Measurement

The 1630-2 FC also functions as an AC leakage current clamp meter.

It can identify leakage current without disconnecting the earth ground stake from the grounding system, making it useful for troubleshooting electrical equipment and grounding systems while keeping the installation connected.

The True-RMS leakage current measurement covers:

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  0.200 mA to 3.999 mA
  
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  4.00 mA to 39.99 mA
  
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  40.0 mA to 399.9 mA
  
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  0.400 A to 3.999 A
  
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  4.00 A to 39.99 A
  

The measurement frequency range is 40 Hz to 1 kHz with the filter off.

Fluke Connect Wireless Connectivity

The 1630-2 FC supports the Fluke Connect Wireless System, allowing measurements to be transferred wirelessly to a compatible smartphone or tablet.

Technicians can use the connected system to:

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  View measurements remotely
  
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  Save measurement results
  
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  Store measurement images
  
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  Access historical data
  
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  Share results with maintenance teams
  
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  Support asset-based maintenance records
  

Fluke notes that Fluke Connect availability varies by region.

Data Logging

The built-in logging function can automatically record measurements at predefined intervals.

The instrument stores up to 32,760 measurements, with logging intervals from 1 second to 59 minutes 59 seconds.

This makes it useful for monitoring changing grounding or leakage conditions over time rather than relying only on a single spot measurement.

Adjustable Alarm Thresholds

Users can configure high and low alarm limits to quickly identify measurements outside the desired range.

This is particularly useful for maintenance inspections where technicians need to determine whether ground resistance or leakage current has exceeded an established limit.

Band-Pass Filter

A selectable band-pass filter is available for AC leakage current measurement.

The filter helps remove unwanted electrical noise and can improve the usefulness of leakage current measurements in electrically noisy industrial environments.

Rugged Clamp Design

The heavy-duty clamp jaw is designed to maintain alignment and calibration during demanding industrial use.

The approximate conductor capacity is 40 mm (1.57 in), allowing the clamp to be used on a wide range of grounding conductors.

Safety Rating

The Fluke 1630-2 FC is rated:

• 
  CAT IV 600 V
  
• 
  CAT III 1000 V
  

The clamp has an IP30 rating with the jaw closed.

Applications

The Fluke 1630-2 FC is suitable for:

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  Earth ground loop testing
  
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  Grounding system inspection
  
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  AC leakage current measurement
  
• 
  Industrial electrical maintenance
  
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  Utility grounding inspection
  
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  Power transmission equipment
  
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  Power pylons
  
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  Telecommunications sites
  
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  RF transmitter grounding
  
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  Lightning protection system inspection
  
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  Building grounding systems
  
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  Preventive electrical maintenance
  
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  Grounding system troubleshooting
  

Important Application Limitation

The Fluke 1630-2 FC is intended for multi-grounded systems where the grounding system is fully operational.

It is not designed to independently test a single isolated earth rod without connection to a multi-grounded system. Fluke specifically recommends the 1623-2 GEO Earth Ground Resistance Meter or 1625-2 GEO Earth Ground Tester when testing individual earth rod connections.

This distinction is important for product-page SEO and customer selection because 1630-2 FC and 1625-2 are not interchangeable earth-ground testers.

General Specifications

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  Earth ground loop resistance: 0.025 Ω to 1500 Ω
  
• 
  AC leakage current: 0.200 mA to 39.99 A
  
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  Frequency range: 40 Hz to 1 kHz
  
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  Conductor size: approximately 40 mm
  
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  Display: 9999-count digital LCD
  
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  Data logging: 32,760 measurements minimum
  
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  Logging interval: 1 second to 59 minutes 59 seconds
  
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  Maximum voltage to earth ground: 1000 V
  
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  Battery: 4 × AA alkaline
  
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  Battery life: more than 15 hours under specified conditions
  
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  Operating temperature: -10 °C to +50 °C
  
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  Storage temperature: -20 °C to +60 °C
  
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  Dimensions: 283 × 105 × 48 mm
  
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  Weight: 880 g
  
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  Safety rating: CAT IV 600 V / CAT III 1000 V
  
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  Warranty: 1 year
  

What's Included

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  Fluke 1630-2 FC Earth Ground Clamp
  
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  Hard carrying case
  
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  Loop resistance standard
  
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  4 × AA batteries
  
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  Safety information guide
  
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  Quick reference guide
  

FAQ

What is the Fluke 1630-2 FC used for?

It is used to measure earth ground loop resistance and AC leakage current on multi-grounded systems without disconnecting the grounding system or using auxiliary ground stakes.

Is the Fluke 1630-2 FC a stakeless earth ground tester?

Yes. It uses a clamp-based stakeless method for earth ground loop resistance testing on multi-grounded systems.

Can the Fluke 1630-2 FC test a single earth rod?

Not as an isolated earth rod measurement. The instrument requires a fully operating multi-grounded system. For individual earth rod testing, Fluke recommends the 1623-2 or 1625-2 GEO Earth Ground Testers.

Does the Fluke 1630-2 FC measure leakage current?

Yes. It provides True-RMS AC leakage current measurement without requiring the earth grounding system to be disconnected.

Does the Fluke 1630-2 FC support wireless data transfer?

Yes. The FC version supports Fluke Connect wireless connectivity for compatible smartphones and tablets. Availability may vary by region.

How much data can the Fluke 1630-2 FC store?

It can store at least 32,760 measurements, with configurable logging intervals from 1 second to 59 minutes 59 seconds.