Clamp meter

[little harry]

Hi guys can any one point me in right direction as to what i should be looking for,
with regards to purchasing a clamp meter that will check the amps on my 140A ac buzz box , and possibly a dc machine.
I don't want to spend more than £30-00 or am l flogging a dead horse
Any advise gratefully received.
Little Harry

 

[Barking Mat]

I'd just dial in your machine when you find it welds well.

I've never paid much attention to amps, just find that sweet spot for whatever rods you're using.

 

[BrokenBiker]

why? are you worried the indicated ampoerage isnt correct?

 

[little harry]

why? are you worried the indicated ampoerage isnt correct?

No their is no amperage on it !
I'm trying to vertical weld and it's crap and thought if I had a correct dialed in amps it would be a starting point
Thanks LH

 

[JOEPRO]

No their is no amperage on it !
I'm trying to vertical weld and it's crap and thought if I had a correct dialed in amps it would be a starting point
Thanks LH

Here is one I have used- within your budget and does both AC & DC

https://amzn.eu/d/7IvlPWw

 

[BrokenBiker]

got a picture of the adjusment on the machine?

having a meter to tell you what amps you are using could be helpful, but then you have to use it every time...personally i would turn it all the way down, then all the way up so you get an idea of the range of adjustment...set it half way through the range and you should be able to light up a 2.5mm 6013...or atleast be close enough that you know its a bit low if its sticking, or a bit hot if the weld appears hot...then micro adjust til its where it needs to be. my father has a 90 amp buzz box and the adjustment scale is waaayyyyy off...will run a 2.5mm rod barely hot enbough when the dial says 90 amps, but it will keep turning past the max so i use the above method to dial it in by feel

 

[Brad93]

Buzzbox is the problem. They get worse as they get older especially if kept in damp conditions.

 

[Guineafowl]

Uni-T UT204A is a reasonable budget clamp meter.

Vertical welds are tricky. Go uphill with the rod angled upwards as well, keep the arc tight and use a lower current.

@ajlelectronics do we like the word ‘amperage’?

 

[ajlelectronics]

do we like the word ‘amperage’?

There is no such word, except in the minds of Septics.

 

[BrokenBiker]

collins dictionary likes to think there is...as does cambridge and oxford

 

[ajlelectronics]

collins dictionary likes to think there is...as does cambridge and oxford

They are "popular usage" references, not an authority on the King's English though.

 

[BrokenBiker]

They are "popular usage" references, not an authority on the King's English though.

but still...if it didnt exist, it couldn't be used

 

[ajlelectronics]

but still...if it didnt exist, it couldn't be used

If Septics didn't exist, we wouldn't have a lot of linguistic maulings. Travesties like "Train station" come to mind.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Amperage - Etymology, Origin & Meaning

Originating in 1889 from "ampere," this term means the strength of an electric current, modeled after "voltage."

www.etymonline.com

been in use since 1889...apparently

 

[little harry]

Uni-T UT204A is a reasonable budget clamp meter.

Vertical welds are tricky. Go uphill with the rod angled upwards as well, keep the arc tight and use a lower current.

@ajlelectronics do we like the word ‘amperage’?

Thanks I'll have a look

 

[little harry]

got a picture of the adjusment on the machine?

having a meter to tell you what amps you are using could be helpful, but then you have to use it every time...personally i would turn it all the way down, then all the way up so you get an idea of the range of adjustment...set it half way through the range and you should be able to light up a 2.5mm 6013...or atleast be close enough that you know its a bit low if its sticking, or a bit hot if the weld appears hot...then micro adjust til its where it needs to be. my father has a 90 amp buzz box and the adjustment scale is waaayyyyy off...will run a 2.5mm rod barely hot enbough when the dial says 90 amps, but it will keep turning past the max so i use the above method to dial it in by feel

Thanks marks are mine for rough guide
will try your idea thanks

 

[daleyd]

They are "popular usage" references, not an authority on the King's English though.

Can you point us to one?

 

[daleyd]

Thanks marks are mine for rough guide
will try your idea thanks

Can you borrow one and make some accurate marks that correspond with amp settings?

 

[Seadog]

If Septics didn't exist, we wouldn't have a lot of linguistic maulings. Travesties like "Train station" come to mind.

Going alight, normalcy...
I'll stop there

 

[BrokenBiker]

Can you borrow one and make some accurate marks that correspond with amp settings?

That's a good idea...if borrowing one isnt an option though a bit of tape or a paint mark where a 2.5 and a 3.2 run well would be a good ball park