DC clamp ammeter - recommendations please !

sarabande

sarabande

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 May 2005
Messages
36,182
Visit site
I need a clamp ammeter to read mainly DC, but also some AC. I want to track down where the 'lecky is going to out of a fairly simple 2 domestic + 1 engine battery system. I'm pretty convinced that the charging side is OK, as it's handled by an Adverc controller, and a 1-2-Both-Off battery switch

Lots of highly expensive and intelligent devices from e.g. Fluke, but what does your proper pragmatic boating electrician recommend please ?

I'd like it to be digital, pretty robust, decent set of ranges, memory, auto-shut off; it would be 'nice' to have a download/PC connection.

There are a few meters out there with probes, which can act as as a voltmeter too, so is it worth buying a universal meter which does everything, or keeping the volt- and amp- meters separate ?

Oh, and under a tenner too ? ;)
 
don't know of anything that comes in at less than about £70 for a clap meter, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong. See RS, and Sterling make one too.

could you make your own, a couple of bits of iron or steel that can be held/ cable tied in place round wire of interest, with a some enameled wire (from a dead motor?) coiled round, and read off voltage with a normal multi meter. calibrate your device with number of turns so that a certain number of mV measured on coil equated to a sensible number of A.
 
I believe there are DC clamp meters that output a DC voltage for input into a standard meter. When I looked these were the cheapest option. Never got round to buying one though. What put me off was the sensitivity. If, say, you're looking for current leakage from a battery then, from what I can see, it will be nowhere near sensitive enough.
 
at a very rough guess, I'm trying to track something which is using between 5 and 10 amps 12v. Now that's quite a size draw, but it would be very useful to know and confirm what it is that eating that much electricity. The boat's wiring diagram is a bit out of date, so it's not a question of just listing all the kit and the power of each item and finding the answer.

Prime suspects are radar, fridge, nav instruments, or a secret discotheque in the most remote depths of the forepeak.

I should add that the boat is new to us, and this is part of the due diligence task to find out what we have got, and where, to make sure that it all works as it should.
 
I bought one from ebay last year. Under £30, it measures voltage and resistance as well.It seems well built and has worked well. I think it was this one ''UNI-T UT203 AC/ DC AMP clamp current meter ut-203''.

Martin
 
sarabande said:
I need a clamp ammeter to read mainly DC, but also some AC. I want to track down where the 'lecky is going to out of a fairly simple 2 domestic + 1 engine battery system. I'm pretty convinced that the charging side is OK, as it's handled by an Adverc controller, and a 1-2-Both-Off battery switch

Lots of highly expensive and intelligent devices from e.g. Fluke, but what does your proper pragmatic boating electrician recommend please ?

I'd like it to be digital, pretty robust, decent set of ranges, memory, auto-shut off; it would be 'nice' to have a download/PC connection.

There are a few meters out there with probes, which can act as as a voltmeter too, so is it worth buying a universal meter which does everything, or keeping the volt- and amp- meters separate ?

Oh, and under a tenner too ? ;)
Click to expand...
CPC do an excellent dc clamp meter under £30.00 .It doubles as digital meter too & I use all the time with good results . Dont forget that a failed alternator diode can also discharge batteries whilst you are away: easily detected by disconnecting the alternator output feed & checking discharge
 
I would second CPC for clamp meters. They currently have one with 40A & 400A DC ranges for £24.97 inc. (stock number IN0511018). It will also measure AC and DC volts and has a resistance range for checking continuity. www.cpc.co.uk is there web site.
 
sarabande said:
at a very rough guess, I'm trying to track something which is using between 5 and 10 amps 12v. Now that's quite a size draw, but it would be very useful to know and confirm what it is that eating that much electricity. ... ....
Click to expand...

You should be able track currents of that order with the deflection on a handheld compass. Obviously you won't be able to measure the current but at least you should be able follow where it's going!
 
that's very true but some of the wires under suspicion are under bulkheads and at the back of lockers, where my big head can't get in !

The compass idea is a useful one for emergencies though, thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top