ACCORDING to Fluke, its 189 and 179 digital multimeters are ensuring that Australian deep-space telescopes stay operational during the long Antarctic winters.
Astronomers from the University of New South Wales have deployed deep-space telescopes on a site 1000km from the coast and 3269m above sea level. The astronomical viewing conditions are said to be nearly as good as the Hubble space telescope orbiting earth.
However temperatures can reach -80 degrees Celsius during winter, meaning astronomers are only able access the telescopes during summer. The units must produce reliable and accurate measurements unattended for most of the year.
According to Fluke, the telescopic equipment combine analogue and digital electronics developed to withstand extreme, fluctuating winter temperatures.
The Fluke 189 and 179 digital multimeters play a key role in the installation and maintenance of this equipment.
The UNSW researchers use their Fluke 189 and 179 digital multimeters to test and set up the astronomical instruments and supporting electronic and electrical systems. Voltage, resistance and temperature measurements are also carried out.
According to the researchers, cheaper multimeters are can be affected by radio frequency interference from switchmode power supplies. Additionally, battery life degrades quicker in cold temperatures, meaning cheaper units are less accurate as the batteries decline.
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