Question on Clamp style Meters:

What are the features to look for and the defects to be cautious about when buying a low cost Clamp Meter say from Harbor Freight or Amazon?

Here are 2 examples of what I'm talking about:

https://www.amazon.com/Clamp-Multim...916&sprefix=clamp+meters,aps,158&sr=8-18&th=1

https://www.harborfreight.com/digital-clamp-meter-96308.html

 

My main feature for these types of cheap testers and meters that are OK for basic electrical work but not for electronics.

Will it still work after you drop it for the first time.

 

Check out the feedback posted in the AD.

 

My main feature for these types of cheap testers and meters that are OK for basic electrical work but not for electronics.

Will it still work after you drop it for the first time.

Why won't they work for electronics?

 

One important point about amp clamp meters – some (most?) work for measuring AC current. To measure DC current, a Hall Effect sensor is required and the meter will have a pot to zero-out the magnetic field.

 

Why won't they work for electronics?

Measurement ranges, real precision and real accuracy mainly are the limiting factors. If you need a meter for electronics, buy a meter designed for that.
A 30 YO fluke 73 specifications for example: https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/electrical-testing/digital-multimeters/fluke-73-77

These guys are still selling for ~ $80 on ebay.

 

Measurement ranges, real precision and real accuracy mainly are the limiting factors. If you need a meter for electronics, buy a meter designed for that.
A 30 YO fluke 73 specifications for example: https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/electrical-testing/digital-multimeters/fluke-73-77

These guys are still selling for ~ $80 on ebay.

I'm talking about Clamp Meters only.

That ad only shows regular multimeters.

 

I have never owned or used a clamp meter.
The ones shown measure AC current and might be useful to electricians. You wouldn't use these for regular electronics work.
As for measuring DC current, it is not often that I need to do that. I can get by with just measuring DC voltages.

 

Question on Clamp style Meters:

What are the features to look for and the defects to be cautious about when buying a low cost Clamp Meter say from Harbor Freight or Amazon?

Intended use is everything !

Exactly what are your requirements ?
Voltages/isolation ?
Current range and sensitivity ?
Frequency ?

 

I have never owned or used a clamp meter.
The ones shown measure AC current and might be useful to electricians. You wouldn't use these for regular electronics work.
As for measuring DC current, it is not often that I need to do that. I can get by with just measuring DC voltages.

A clamp meter was recommended for electronics by a member on this forum.

That is why I am looking around at some possibilities.

 

A clamp meter was recommended for electronics by a member on this forum.

That is why I am looking around at some possibilities.

The member is entitled to their opinion. I wouldn't waste money buying a clamp meter. You would be better off learning how to correctly use a regular DMM.

 

The member is entitled to their opinion. I wouldn't waste money buying a clamp meter. You would be better off learning how to correctly use a regular DMM.

Fat lot of good a cheap clamp meter or DMM is for measuring HF current pulses !

Until we know the OP's actual requirements good advice cannot be given.

 

My clamp on is AC/DC and is an option I bought for my fluke meter which it works in conjunction with.

 

Fat lot of good a cheap clamp meter or DMM is for measuring HF current pulses !

Until we know the OP's actual requirements good advice cannot be given.

I take back what I said about never having used a clamp current meter. I used a clamp meter extensively when I was trouble shooting magnetic core memory boards. In such a situation, I needed to measure 200mA current pulses at nanosecond pulse widths. This was a Hewlett-Packard clamp current probe hooked up to an oscilloscope. This is certainly not what the TS is considering.

 

The member is entitled to their opinion. I wouldn't waste money buying a clamp meter. You would be better off learning how to correctly use a regular DMM.

The concept from that member was that with a clamp meter, you don't have to break the circuit
to insert an ammeter in series.

 

The concept from that member was that with a clamp meter, you don't have to break the circuit
to insert an ammeter in series.

Read the specifications carefully. The low cost clamp meters measure AC current, not DC.

 

The concept from that member was that with a clamp meter, you don't have to break the circuit
to insert an ammeter in series.

The easiest way to determine current in an electronics project is to measure the voltage across a resistor.
If you always do this you can avoid the risk of blowing the fuse or the meter.

 

A clamp meter was recommended for electronics by a member on this forum.

That is why I am looking around at some possibilities.

There are clamp meters usable for general and electronics work. I have and use one.
https://www.aemc.com/userfiles/files/resources/datasheets/Clamp-On-Meter/7000-02.pdf

https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/...c-controlled-battery-array.32879/post-1457747

 

Read the specifications carefully. The low cost clamp meters measure AC current, not DC.

Thanks, that is an important point.

What is the price for the one you linked?

 

A clamp meter was recommended for electronics by a member on this forum.

That is why I am looking around at some possibilities.

You asked for a recommendation for a meter, which I gave, but I didn't really suggest using them instead of calculating current from the voltage drop on a resistor.


The meter I have gives a terrible accuracy specification (+/-3%+50mA), but I checked it and found that it's accurate to within a mA, or so, for currents less than 100mA.

The last time I check, it was going for around $1000.