DC clamp meter recommendation

Wild Card wrote:
Never known of a clamp style dc amp meter. Check dc amperage by running through meter leads. Am i wrong?

Besides the inconvenience of disconnecting wires you may cause equipment to reset and get a different reading when reconnected.

I have an Extech clamp meter that will do dc on the clamp, and will measure peak inrush current.
I don't have it in front of me or I'd list the model.

mchero wrote:
Boon Docker, have you personally used the meter your post linked?
Also see 3 DC clamp meter at Harbor Freight but not sure of the wuality.
Thanks

Yes I own that one, it is a well built, accurate meter for the price.

wa8yxm wrote:

Tom_M wrote:
Several people like the Craftsman clamp meter which sells for about $60.

Craftsman AC/DC clamp meter


The Harbor Freight clamp meters do not measure DC amps. Most cheap clamp meters do not have a DC amp range so check carefully.

I have an older Tenma clamp meter that works well.

I was going to grab my meter and post the model number but I see that TOM beat me to it.. Thanks Tom.. oh and I second your suggestion.

This is the one I have, ordered on line on sale for store pick up. Temp probe doesn't work but not something I need.

The sears meter is not true rms, or if it is they do not think it a feature worthy of advertising.

It does not measure inrush peak amps.

It reads out of whack with Nimh aaa batteries I for get if it is high or low, use alkaline AAA instead.

I recently replaced the alkalines with duracell lithium aaa and the amperage readings seem to be higher than before, by 2 amps at 40.

The lithium AAA seem to have higher resting voltage or do not drop as low under load, or something, but I am less confident in my clamp Meter's reading than before with normal alkaline AAA.

Uni T, is exactly like the one I have. Hahahahahaha it is more accurate than the hundred dollar Triplett that ended up Seppuku after a hurricane. I use a 4 terminal 5-1/2 digit Kelvin meter and a Manganin shunt to qualify my ampere meters. They all come from the land of the Great Wall (even Fluke?).

Wild Card wrote:
Never known of a clamp style dc amp meter. Check dc amperage by running through meter leads. Am i wrong?

That is fine for 2 or maybe 8 amps.
Clamp-on usually goes 200+ amps. And no need to disconnect a wire.

Wild Card wrote:
Never known of a clamp style dc amp meter. Check dc amperage by running through meter leads. Am i wrong?

You are wrong. Most clamp meters do not measure DC amps but some do. The DC version does not couple inductively, but uses a solid state Hall effect device.

Boon Docker wrote:
Uni-T Clamp Meter

I have a Uni-T UT210 which looks very similar to this one. It works, and didn't cost an arm and a leg. I just wanted something that would measure DC amperage and didn't cost an arm and a leg. This fills the bill. The only real issue is the fact that when you're using it your hand tends to cover up the display.

Fluke accurate YES

Fluke inexpensive GULP

Fluke grow six legs and haul --- YES