clamp meters

[brightspark]

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

get the one with inrush current or u will regret it like i did and had to buy 2

 

[Sidewinder]

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!

I have one, I carry it on the van at all times, it still has it's place for electrical fault finding even today.

 

[Welderpaul]

so trying to get all the kit I need before I need it, always be prepared and all that

If your going in to business, learn to hang on to your money has long as you can (within reason). How long would it take you to get the meter once you find out you REALLY need it...couple of days?..: buy it then. If you need it.
Don't risk buying stuff you don't need - you are tying up money better spent on other things.

 

[daleyd]

[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!

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[/quote]
Oh yeah, you wouldn't want want to be carrying one around with you day in day out. I'd like one just for nostalgia but they were great for fault finding on small signal stuff where you would never see a fast "blip"on a digital meter.

 

[BrokenBiker]

If your going in to business, learn to hang on to your money has long as you can (within reason). How long would it take you to get the meter once you find out you REALLY need it...couple of days?..: buy it then. If you need it.
Don't risk buying stuff you don't need - you are tying up money better spent on other things.

I understand what you are saying, and for most of the things I will eventually need this will be the way I will be doing it, although I have quite a bit of the main tools and stuff, but every now and then out on a job I cant help but think life would be easier with a clamp meter. its not all the time, as I say ive never really needed one to the extent where I have bought one, but if I have one then I know I have it. and at the price it is on ebay its hardly going to break the bank. plus it will be coming out of my personal account and not my business account for now

 

[Jim Davey]

I use a Yu-Fong cheapish clamp, does all I need AC, DC and if I have a blonde moment and fry it with HF, or some toe rag nicks it out of my toolbox then I won't cry too hard about it. My meters I've had for years and I must admit although they are dear it don't think you can beat Fluke for reliability and toughness. I have a 110 and 177 series for calibrating and general work. For scoping gate pulses etc I had a Fluke 123 Scopemeter, unfortunately that died recently and I haven't settled on a suitable replacement yet.

 

[eil]

I have the Amprobe http://isswww.co.uk/ACDC-Digital-TR...rce=googleps&gclid=CIisueqCyr0CFZShtAod8hIABA Handy little thing if you are testing motors, as it can display the voltage at the same time as the current useful when checking capacitors under load.

 

[BrokenBiker]

get the one with inrush current or u will regret it like i did and had to buy 2

I take it by inrush current you mean what I was taught as start up current I.e. the initial current drawn by a device when power is first applied?

 

[eil]

I take it by inrush current you mean what I was taught as start up current I.e. the initial current drawn by a device when power is first applied?

Yes, that little Amprobe has that feature.

 

[Jim Davey]

If your going in to business, learn to hang on to your money has long as you can (within reason). How long would it take you to get the meter once you find out you REALLY need it...couple of days?..: buy it then. If you need it.
Don't risk buying stuff you don't need - you are tying up money better spent on other things.

Speaking of which, do you need those torches?

 

[daleyd]

I take it by inrush current you mean what I was taught as start up current I.e. the initial current drawn by a device when power is first applied?

Peak hold is what some manufacturers call it, ie it will display the highest current

 

[BrokenBiker]

Yes, that little Amprobe has that feature.

at 59 quid it is the right price. does it do dc current? it says about the ac current up to 400A but only mentions dc voltge on the spec list

 

[wheresmejumper]

Or hotstart on a stick welder

 

[eil]

at 59 quid it is the right price. does it do dc current? it says about the ac current up to 400A but only mentions dc voltge on the spec list

Unfortunately no, you have to spend a bit more to get DC current, as with everything the cheap ones are cheap for a reason.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

We were asked to do a survey of the current draw of all the IT and telecoms kit on various sites for a customer, I bought the Megger MMC850 multicore clamp meter to do the job and it performed admirably.
Customer was really pleased as we didn't have to power down any of the critical kit.
Haven't used it since! Not complaining as the customer paid for it.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/megger-mmc850-en-multicore-ac-digital-clamp-meter/29485

 

[BrokenBiker]

just had another read through the one I linked to on ebay and it saya it does ac/dc voltage, ac/dc current 40-400A, capacitance, resistance, diode test, frequency and has peak hold and relative value.

so im assuming this peak hold does the inrush current?

 

[daleyd]

Yeah, you just turn the meter on set it to peak hold and start the motor/ switch the breaker on. It will then display the highest current seen by the meter.

 

[brightspark]

just had another read through the one I linked to on ebay and it saya it does ac/dc voltage, ac/dc current 40-400A, capacitance, resistance, diode test, frequency and has peak hold and relative value.

so im assuming this peak hold does the inrush current?

dont be fooled by peak hold and inrush current there 2 diffrent things. peak hold will tell u the highest amps that are measured but the meter will not act fast enoughto measure the inrush current .there 2 diffrent things heres mine as u can see one says hold one says inrush. the one on the left will not measure start up current
[quote=

 

[BrokenBiker]

so the 334 does inrush, does it do dc current? if im going to buy a clamp meter I may as well buy a good one

 

[BrokenBiker]

so the 334 does inrush, does it do dc current? if im going to buy a clamp meter I may as well buy a good one

the one in the link to ebay has value hold and peak value hold