Wayne Dohnal wrote:
Even if somebody has real numbers I don't think you can put a lot of faith in them. AFIAK there's no standard definition for a surge measurement. When a motor starts, the first AC cycle generally draws the most current and it tapers down from there over a second or two. Does a surge measuring meter capture the peak at an individual cycle level? Does it sample over a certain time window and report the average? Is it reporting peak, average, or RMS values? I don't think there's much if any standardization between meters. Just as trivia I've measured the eu2000i peaking out at around 43 amps which it can sustain for only a couple of AC cycles.
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
SURGE CURRENT? BEWARE!
Many DIGITAL meters are inaccurate thus unacceptable for testing for surge maximums.
The reason is the display update is FAR TOO SLOW to capture the peak surge limit. There are fast or capture now display later DIGITAL ammeters on the market but they are out of my price range. PEAK HOLD only displays what a SLOW meter may see. The meter may not see nearly enough to be useful.
Try to find a clamp on ANALOG (needle-type) AC ammeter for your use. For your use (single time) heck I'd even offer an older tech 20 dollars to borrow his.
vermilye wrote:
2X. There are meters that are capable of reading & holding a peak measurement short enough to be useful when checking AC loading, but I doubt you will find them at Harbor Freight!
I understand everybody’s point about the importance of sampling rate/time/type (average, RMS, peak, etc.). Without knowing these specific parameters I realize this could seriously skew a reading.
However, what about various clamp-on multimeters advertised as “inrush” capable (i.e., capable of reading surge currents of motors and compressors). It would seem this would at least give me an accurate baseline surge (inrush) current reading that could be used for comparison purposes (assuming the same make/type meter was used for comparison readings).
Supposedly these two clamp-on multimeters are “inrush” capable:
http://www.amazon.com/Sinometer-MS2108-True-RMS-Current-Measurement/dp/B0017WRH7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367612773&sr=8-1&keywords=inrush+clamp-on+multimeter
http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Corporation-322-Clamp-Meter/dp/B00012Z0ZM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367612773&sr=8-2&keywords=inrush+clamp-on+multimeter
