Clamp meters

[television]

The new generation of clamp meters now resolve at 1ma DC and only cost circa £45.

Only a short time ago these thing could not measure down this far of were very expensive if they could even get to 100ma.DC

They have their advantages that if you suspect a drain somewhere, the the battery or power circuit does not have to be interrupted with the risk of loosing the path of the drain.

Unlike an inline ammeter that will fluctuate with the drain,the clamp meters do not do that, and to update you remove it, press zero and re clamp to update, it all takes seconds to do and very useful.

They also measure Ohms,volts and current both AC and DC also Htz by using the leads provided.

I tested mine in the lab and it is like it says on the tin and measure down to 1ma DC.
AC current is old hat and easy to measure.

 

[Jay Gee]

Looks a useful bit of kit.Wasn't it not that long ago that a DC clamp meter was very pricey?Do you have details of a supplier,please,Malcolm? One question-what does the Hz/% position do? I realise that it measures frequency,but it's the % bit that's got me thinking.

 

[dragon]

Hope you enjoy your new toy.

 

[television]

Hi Jay, the hand book is not the best English in the world.

It does measure frequency direct and the % bit is to do with measuring a duty cycle, but that is something that I have never needed or used.

From CPC, either £39 or £41 + vat, I do not have the receipt handy

To get the accuracy that low it only has a 12.5 mm opening, but that covers all car use, the max amps is 80 AC/DC

 

[television]

Hope you enjoy your new toy.

Not a toy for me,, I have around 12 meters plus loads of other test gear, I am still working at times

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Nice bit of kit, mine only does AC, so i think i may have to update mine, as you say Malcolm very handy and convenient for monitoring battery drain.
Makes me want one.

 

[Jay Gee]

Thank you,Malcolm. Will have a look now.Regarding the handbook,aren't some of them absolute masterpieces? Perhaps we should start a thread? Doubtless you've been on some of the Russian Mercedes forums with Google translation-Ifind some of them totally hilarious,although there are some undoubted experts on there

 

[television]

Hi Andy,,I will take it with to the meet coming up. The way the prices fall on these things,,I have a bench meter by Fluke,,cost me £1800 to measure down to 5 decimal places in 1980 and blows up at the slightest over load, I can replace that for £50 now,and bullet proof at that

 

[television]

Thank you,Malcolm. Will have a look now.Regarding the handbook,aren't some of them absolute masterpieces? Perhaps we should start a thread? Doubtless you've been on some of the Russian Mercedes forums with Google translation-Ifind some of them totally hilarious,although there are some undoubted experts on there

You are right,, maybe I can copy a few pages, or then, will it read better in the morning

 

[Jay Gee]

Sorry to go off thread(again!),but be careful with your next post,Malcolm-number23456- make it a special one,if i'm not too late.

TOO LATE.

 

[television]

Sorry to go off thread(again!),but be careful with your next post,Malcolm-number23456- make it a special one,if i'm not too late.

TOO LATE.

Sorry I missed that one, that will take years to come round again:sad::sad:

 

[Jay Gee]

Sorry I missed that one, that will take years to come round again:sad::sad:

Months,maybe. Still,to get back on thread-so,CPC is Farnell,eh? just shows how out of touch I've become. Your meter is Part No. IN 05265 ,and costs £41-55 ex Vat (£48-82 inc.VAT),if others want to order.Saves having to dig the receipt out anyway. Do check before shelling out though,just in case I've made a mistake.

 

[mikestrivens]

Can anybody recommend a beginners guide to using multimeters? I want one for my 15 year nephew.

 

[Blakey]

Hello Mike,

RA Penfold was THE electronics author in my time.

How about this...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Most-Your-Multimeter-BP/dp/0859341844

Enjoy!

Chris.

 

[Blakey]

Errm, I just read the reviews of that particular book and all 3 reviewers slated it! Maybe not the best choice then.

 

[Blakey]

Actually this tells you all you need to know...

http://www.doctronics.co.uk/meter.htm

 

[television]

Actually this tells you all you need to know...

http://www.doctronics.co.uk/meter.htm

That looks fine for a starter,,its hard to think back 62 years ago when I first started

 

[drmw]

Have to confess when I saw the thread title I thought this was going to be about some diabolical new system for parking fines !!:Oops::Oops::Oops:

 

[mikestrivens]

Errm, I just read the reviews of that particular book and all 3 reviewers slated it! Maybe not the best choice then.

Yes I noticed that as well

 

[television]

Have to confess when I saw the thread title I thought this was going to be about some diabolical new system for parking fines !!:Oops::Oops::Oops:

I love it and it could have been