I am need to measure DC current. I was looking at a split core unit like this:

Although the description for the majority of these that I come across only refer to AC Current.

What is the difference between units that can do AC Current and units that can do DC or is there a difference?

 

difference between units

About 10:1 in price. lol

This one only does AC. It is built for 50/60 cycle power line.

 

You need a changing current to be able to measure it with a coil. A coil can only measure AC.
To measure DC you need a Hall sensor.

 

To measure DC you need a Hall sensor.

I somewhat understand that, but I keep thinking how does a Clamp-On meter read DC Current? I really need a “non-destructive" means of measuring the DC Current of a motor. Is there a way to do it with something like this and / or hooking the a coil up to a Hall Effect Sensor?

 

How is a coil going to measure a constant magnetic field?

 

How is a coil going to measure a constant magnetic field?

That is what I am not sure about. Although it is done somehow with Clamp-On multimeters like this:

 

YouTube is full of "Hall sensor" videos. Simply it is a semiconductor that can see magnets. DC current in a wire makes a elector magnet which a Hall sensor can measure. It also works on low frequency AC currents.
Can not find the picture I wanted but here is a loop of ferrite that goes around a wire. The circle of ferrite is cut and the Hall sensor is inserted in the gap.

Here is a picture of 1/2 of the clamp and the two Hall sensors.

Make a probe video