clamp meters

[BrokenBiker]

i don't have one, never really needed one but i can see why i might do, so had a quick browse.

any opinions of this? Is there a reason it is half the price of a fluke?

i have a fluke true rms multi meter and a megger insulation resistance meter and both are good bits of kit. Is there any reason this clamp meter wont do what i want it to reliably?

 

[BrokenBiker]

forgot the link here

 

[daleyd]

If you are doing factory stuff then true rms is a good feature to have. Measuring funny waveform current can be a bit hit and miss without it, eg the outputs from thyristers or inverter drives.

I used to work for pilkington about 10 years ago and one of the most useful bits of kit we had were clamp meters (we had some in the workshop that went up to 5000 amps !!) which we used day in day out setting current limits on heating circuits, checking motor current etc

 

[rtbcomp]

Bear in mind the cheap ones won't measure DC, so no good for measuring DC welding current.

There's loads on Ebay too.

 

[tlovatt]

You can but the Megger DCM310 for not much more but as others have said true RMS is a good facility to have. You can also get some that will measure the current flowing in a multi core cable without having to split them (at the sacrifice of some accuracy

 

[daleyd]

If you just want an ac one there's a true rms fluke one on ebay for not much more.

As said above, dc measurement is handy for welding current, and the occasional dc motor you may come across, but they tend to be a bit spendy.

I got a Metrix one off ebay last year (ac only, but true rms) for 35 quid. For my occasional use it's fine, if I was using it every day I'd probably look at a fluke.

 

[Shox Dr]

I bought a Uni Trend 400amp AC/DC clamp for £40ish

I've tested it side by side with Fluke gear and it was on the money

 

[brightspark]

get one with ac and dc along with inrush current otherwise u will be buying twice u can get a decent one for £100 ish

 

[BrokenBiker]

right, will get a true rms one then. Probably fluke to be honest. Ive only ever needed one once, and that was on a big 3 phase motor. We couldn't reach to get at the connections. Never needed one since

 

[BrokenBiker]

hows this one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-M..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item19d50a7261

 

[wheresmejumper]

hows this one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-M..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item19d50a7261

I reckon its worth a punt

 

[BrokenBiker]

I thought that. think I might order it next payday. for that price it wont exactly hurt if its crap, just bung it back on ebay lol

on a similar not what mutlimeters are we all using? I am currently using a fluke 113 true-rms utility meter, but as it doesn't measure current I am using a cheapo one from wickes for any current measurements but want to know what else is out there

I want to hit this hard now so want decent kit that will do everything I need

 

[brightspark]

I thought that. think I might order it next payday. for that price it wont exactly hurt if its crap, just bung it back on ebay lol

on a similar not what mutlimeters are we all using? I am currently using a fluke 113 true-rms utility meter, but as it doesn't measure current I am using a cheapo one from wickes for any current measurements but want to know what else is out there

I want to hit this hard now so want decent kit that will do everything I need

the clamp meter has leads as well so u can do ac and dc voltage. i use a fluke 334 along with another clamp meter that covers millivolts for earth leakage and an avo m 2005 multimeter .apart from measuring motor current there good for testing circuits for overload and making sure breakers arent tripping under the value there rated at

 

[daleyd]

What do you envisage using it for? Factory use you would perhaps want some fancy features like duty cycle/ freq measurement for encoders etc, for more general use you wouldn't need those features.

If you are earning your living from them, then it's hard to look past fluke, but other big names are also good, ie robin, chauvin arnoux etc. ISO tech from RS are also ok. If you are an infrequent user then perhaps a cheaper model would suffice but personally if I'm sticking probes into 400volts then I would spend a bit extra and go for a brand.

For me another important feature in a multimeter is milliamp current measurement as I do a lot with control signals which are generally 4 to 20ma (you can of course get all sorts, but this is quite a common one)

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers, will have to start looking around. I know im not going to get one that does everything. im happy with my megger MIT220 insulation meter, my fluke is good for voltage so I may just use the clamp meter for current if it works well.

 

[Sidewinder]

I am a real fan of Fluke, but I do have CA, Megger, AVO, Amprobe, Peak, & Ideal also.
Fluke DMM's, 87 mk3, 87 mkV, 189, 289, 8060A & a 867b, as well as 123 & a 125 digital scopes.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I think I will do the old trick of browsing the manufactures site for the one I want then hitting ebay with a part number

 

[daleyd]

To be honest with your meter, insulation tester and a clamp meter you would pretty much have everything covered. As I said it may be worth investing in a meter with current measurement if you get into testing control loops . If you get a bit flush the fluke scope meters are great for drives and encoder problems.

I'd love an old avo mk8 - I used to use those in the navy. Proper old solid bits of kit and they came in a big leather case. They even smelled great!

 

[BrokenBiker]

think I might just buy the clamp meter payday (providing I make it that far) then test it out on my welder (well, its gotta be done). still very much in the domestic side of things at the moment so trying to get all the kit I need before I need it, always be prepared and all that

 

[brightspark]

[quote="daleyd,

I'd love an old avo mk8 - I used to use those in the navy. Proper old solid bits of kit and they came in a big leather case. They even smelled great![/quote]old school then . there verry acurate and ok for bench work but are no use out on site. u need small gear and fast readout in dark conditions. thats where digital scores