Fluke 568-2 Infrared Thermometer 500 Series

Fluke 568-2 Infrared Thermometer 500 Series: Precision Thermal Control for Production Line Efficiency

The Fluke 568-2 is a dual-mode infrared and contact thermometer engineered for industrial environments where energy efficiency, equipment uptime, and process reliability are non-negotiable. As part of Fluke’s trusted 500 Series, the 568-2 delivers accurate, non-contact surface temperature measurement across a wide range of −40°C to +800°C, making it an indispensable tool for energy auditors, maintenance engineers, and automation technicians working to reduce operational downtime and extend equipment service life.

In modern manufacturing facilities, undetected thermal anomalies in motors, drives, switchgear, and control panels are among the leading causes of downtime and excessive energy consumption. The Fluke 568-2 addresses this directly by enabling rapid, repeatable thermal scanning without interrupting production — a critical advantage in high-throughput environments where every minute of downtime translates to measurable energy and productivity loss.

Product Specification Table

System Compatibility and Application

The Fluke 568-2 integrates naturally into a layered industrial automation architecture designed around energy visibility and control. At the field level, it works alongside devices such as the Fluke 435-II Power Quality Analyzer to correlate thermal readings with real-time power consumption data — enabling engineers to identify whether a motor running hot is also drawing excess current or operating at poor power factor.

In drive-intensive applications, the 568-2 is routinely used to inspect Siemens SINAMICS G120 variable frequency drives and ABB ACS880 series drives during commissioning and scheduled maintenance. Elevated enclosure temperatures in these units often signal cooling fan failure, blocked ventilation, or impending IGBT degradation — all of which directly impact drive efficiency and energy throughput. Early detection with the 568-2 allows maintenance teams to intervene before a fault condition forces an emergency shutdown.

At the motor control layer, the thermometer is used to assess thermal performance of Siemens SIMOTICS servo motors and standard induction motors connected to Schneider Electric Altivar Process ATV630 drives. By trending temperature data over time, engineers can detect winding insulation degradation and bearing wear — two of the most common causes of motor inefficiency and unplanned energy spikes.

For PLC-based control systems, the 568-2 is a standard inspection tool for thermal audits of Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5580 and Siemens S7-1500 controller racks. Overheating in these enclosures can cause CPU throttling, communication errors on PROFINET or EtherNet/IP networks, and ultimately, unplanned line stoppages. Regular thermal scanning with the 568-2 ensures that control hardware operates within its rated thermal envelope, preserving both processing performance and network stability.

At the I/O and power distribution level, the 568-2 is used to inspect terminal blocks, circuit breakers, and bus bars within Beckhoff EtherCAT I/O panels and Phoenix Contact QUINT power supply units. Loose connections and overloaded circuits generate localized heat that, if undetected, leads to insulation failure and energy loss through resistive heating. The 568-2’s adjustable emissivity setting ensures accurate readings across metallic bus bars, plastic terminal housings, and painted enclosure surfaces alike.

Maintenance and Replacement Notes

In automotive body-in-white welding lines, the Fluke 568-2 is used during shift changeovers to perform rapid thermal sweeps of robot servo drive cabinets and weld controller enclosures. Identifying a drive running 15°C above its nominal operating temperature during a planned break — rather than discovering it during a production run — can prevent a multi-hour unplanned shutdown and the associated unplanned downtime of restarting a cold line.

In food and beverage processing, where continuous refrigeration compressors and conveyor drive motors run 24/7, the 568-2 enables maintenance teams to implement condition-based maintenance schedules rather than fixed-interval replacements. A compressor motor bearing trending upward in temperature over three consecutive weekly scans is a clear signal for proactive intervention — avoiding both the energy penalty of a degraded bearing and the cost of an emergency replacement during peak production.

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, where cleanroom HVAC systems must maintain precise environmental conditions, the 568-2 is used to verify that fan motor drives and air handling unit components are operating within thermal limits. An overheating drive in an AHU can cause airflow reduction, forcing the building management system to compensate with additional energy draw from backup units — a cascading inefficiency that the 568-2 helps prevent through regular thermal inspection.

The 568-2’s data hold and MAX/MIN temperature tracking functions allow technicians to capture peak thermal readings during high-load production cycles without requiring continuous observation — a practical advantage in noisy, high-activity production environments. Combined with Fluke’s Fluke Connect wireless measurement ecosystem, thermal data from the 568-2 can be logged and trended alongside electrical measurements from compatible Fluke clamp meters and power analyzers, building a comprehensive energy and condition monitoring dataset for each critical asset.

Every Fluke 568-2 unit supplied by ZYPLC is sourced through verified industrial supply channels, undergoes pre-shipment functional verification, and is Warranty terms are confirmed during quotation. Availability and shipment timing are confirmed by RFQ, supporting urgent maintenance and energy audit requirements without extended lead times.

Product Sourcing FAQ

Q1: How does the Fluke 568-2 contribute to measurable operational stability in an industrial facility?
The 568-2 enables proactive identification of thermal anomalies in motors, drives, and electrical distribution equipment. By detecting overheating components before they fail or degrade in efficiency, maintenance teams can address root causes — such as blocked cooling, loose connections, or bearing wear — that directly increase energy consumption. Facilities using systematic thermal inspection programs typically report reductions in downtime and measurable improvements in motor and drive operating efficiency.

Q2: Is the Fluke 568-2 compatible with modern industrial automation systems and drive enclosures?
Yes. The 568-2’s wide temperature range and adjustable emissivity make it suitable for inspecting virtually all industrial enclosure types, including VFD cabinets, servo drive panels, PLC racks, motor control centers, and power distribution boards. It is compatible with inspection workflows for systems from Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Rockwell Automation, Beckhoff, and other major automation vendors.

Q3: Can the Fluke 568-2 replace a fixed thermal imaging camera for condition monitoring?
The 568-2 is a spot thermometer optimized for targeted, point-measurement thermal inspection rather than full-scene thermal imaging. For applications requiring wide-area thermal mapping, it is best used in conjunction with a thermal imager such as the Fluke Ti480 PRO. For routine spot-check maintenance and energy audits of specific components, the 568-2 offers a cost-effective, portable, and highly accurate solution.

Q4: What does the warranty and support terms confirmed before quote cover, and what is the pre-shipment testing process?
Every Fluke 568-2 unit from ZYPLC is functionally tested prior to shipment to verify measurement accuracy, mode switching, and display operation. The warranty and support terms confirmed before quote covers manufacturing defects and functional failures under normal operating conditions. Our technical team is available to support warranty claims, provide replacement units from RFQ-confirmed availability, and assist with calibration documentation requirements for quality-managed facilities.