DC Clamp meter recommendation.

Allan

Allan

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I need a new electrical meter and a DC clamp meter would help on a number of projects coming up. When I started looking the list is endless. Many say AC and DC current but only do AC current and AC and DC voltage. Others are much more than I can afford.
Has anyone bought a meter recently that they are happy with?
At present my needs are, accurate 12-14vdc and dc clamp meter 0-20A (higher would be nice, to check alternator output).
In future it will be used for general things so 240v would good too. Resistance and continuity would be a bonus.
Allan
 
A common budget choice if you need DC clamp reading is the UNI-T UT210E. Widely available via Amazon and eBay for about £30. DC clamps are always going to be a little pricier than basic meters.

I got one recently and it seems ok; my main complaint is that the DC voltage measurement is exclusively auto-ranging and takes a couple of seconds to decide on a range. So if I'm testing say a 24v circuit I'd prefer to set it to a specific range and then get an immediate reading of whether the power is on or not. As it is, when the power comes on it flashes a "wait" sequence while it auto-ranges, before displaying the value.

When I first got it I did test the DC clamp ammeter against another meter inserted in series. Not a very scientific test as it was only against one load (hence one current) but the two meters did agree.

It's quite compact and a good shape to slide into a tool roll.

Pete
 
I've got one similar to this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ISO-TEH-I...349730?hash=item2835aef2e2:g:TQkAAOSwX61ZAfJw
The DC current is not what you'd call accurate to lots of decimal places. But It's helped diagnose alternators and starter motor issues.
I can measure 20A well enough with a normal multimeter. Big currents are easier with a clamp meter, they are not usually accurate with small currents, although sometimes you can loop the wire through the jaws a few turns to get better sensitivity.
See if you can download the manual for that model and if the accuracy will meet your needs.

Mostly I don't need better than 10% accuracy to find faults and check things are working as expected.
I think, if you're ever going to look at a starter motor, you want the meter to be within its range (maybe its overload range rather than display range?) even for the initial current surge, so 600A is not a silly rating. If you try to measure say a 50A starter motor current with a 60A range, the surge current might well overload the meter or knock it out of calibration?
Yacht starters, windlasses, bowthrusters are a lot of amps.

Iso-tech stuff isn't Fluke quality, but I have had a couple of their meters for a few years now, they've survived normal use around the workshops.
I've used them on higher voltages and lived FWIW.
 
It looks like the Hall effect clamp meters are coming down in price but are very inaccurate with DC. The pricey ones will be Hall effect but a lot more accurate with DC but you pay for the privilege.

Richard
 
Last edited:
prv said:
A common budget choice if you need DC clamp reading is the UNI-T UT210E......

Pete
Click to expand...
Good value but a lot of ebay listings stating one model with a picture of a different variant, not all of which do DC Clamp.
Is 100A enough?
 
prv said:
A common budget choice if you need DC clamp reading is the UNI-T UT210E. Widely available via Amazon and eBay for about £30. DC clamps are always going to be a little pricier than basic meters.

I got one recently and it seems ok; my main complaint is that the DC voltage measurement is exclusively auto-ranging and takes a couple of seconds to decide on a range. So if I'm testing say a 24v circuit I'd prefer to set it to a specific range and then get an immediate reading of whether the power is on or not. As it is, when the power comes on it flashes a "wait" sequence while it auto-ranges, before displaying the value.

When I first got it I did test the DC clamp ammeter against another meter inserted in series. Not a very scientific test as it was only against one load (hence one current) but the two meters did agree.

It's quite compact and a good shape to slide into a tool roll.

Pete
Click to expand...

I see it has "data hold" what happens when you hold one reading, put probes on next point and cancel data hold? Does it still auto-range?
 
Allan said:
Many thanks for the, very quick, replies. Just to confuse things I've just found this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluke-325-...ywords=fluke+dc+clamp+meter#detail_bullets_id
Still more than I'd hoped to pay but now a contender. I'll have a think over the weekend.
Allan
Click to expand...

Unless you have a professional use, £35 - £45 are as good as you need, I have 4 of various prices in the workshop and all read to the first decimal place on amps okay. If not mentioned already look at www.CPC.co.uk, retail arm of Farnell components they have a number of choices.

Brian
 
Allan said:
Many thanks for the, very quick, replies. Just to confuse things I've just found this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluke-325-...ywords=fluke+dc+clamp+meter#detail_bullets_id
Click to expand...

Can't argue with Fluke :)

Before I got my cheapie one, I borrowed a meter from an electrician at work. It was a Fluke clamp meter with a detachable clamp that could be fitted around a cable in an awkward space with the body of the meter outside on a short cable for easy reading. Brilliant bit of kit but I think they're about £200.

Pete
 
prv said:
Can't argue with Fluke :)

Before I got my cheapie one, I borrowed a meter from an electrician at work. It was a Fluke clamp meter with a detachable clamp that could be fitted around a cable in an awkward space with the body of the meter outside on a short cable for easy reading. Brilliant bit of kit but I think they're about £200.

Pete
Click to expand...

You can get separate clamp sensors which will feed an oscilloscope or a voltmeter. From about £60.

The trouble with Fluke is the price. I have a Fluke DMM, which is nice, but I don't lend it to people and I don't take it on boats.
Something that can be replaced for under £50 gets trashed, i'll survive. £300 would be upsetting.
 
lw395 said:
That's a classic. The description says it does DC current, the image shows it only has AC current ranges. CPC/Farnell are usually better than that!
Click to expand...
I think, like many of the adverts for cheaper ones, it does AC using the clamp and DC like other meters. That is, you have to put the meter into the circuit.
Allan
 
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