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Clamp On DC Multimeters...

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gregcampbellusa(at)gmail.
Guest

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:42 am Post subject: Clamp On DC Multimeters...

I stumbled across this clamp on DC ammeter at:

 http://www.powerstream.com/DC-clamp.htm

  

 Does anybody have any experience with these

 or similar ones?

  

 Thanks in advance,

 Greg

  [quote][b]

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frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:10 am Post subject: Clamp On DC Multimeters...

Your first clue is that it is expensive...that tells you  its about what you should pay.

  

 But answer me this...Why on Earth would you want to spend  that kind of money?...HArbor freights $2.50 multimeter has a 10A shunt (namely  will measure up to 10 amps) . This should be adequate for 1/100th of the  cost.

  

 Incidently the HF multimeter is very accurate...at least  mine is.

  

 Frank



   From:  owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Greg  Campbell

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 11:42 AM

To:  aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Clamp On  DC Multimeters...

 

 I stumbled across this clamp on DC ammeter at:

 http://www.powerstream.com/DC-clamp.htm

  

 Does anybody have any experience with these

 or similar ones?

  

 Thanks in advance,

 Greg

[quote]



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[b]

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jetboy

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 233

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: Clamp On DC Multimeters...

Greg,

        You might find a similar one for your needs at Newark / Farnell / Radiospares catalogues. ISO - Tec is a nice small  low cost type or go for a Fluke. My one is 400 amps DC Sanwa and works well. If you are going to measure starter currents you will need this range. This is a required item for diagnosing Rotax 912 problems as described in their SB. Clamp meters are very handy for checking current drain and charging systems. A normal DMM with 20A range can do most things but many of the clamp meters include the DMM functions too.



Ralph

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_________________
Ralph - CH701 / 2200a

klehman(at)albedo.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:21 am Post subject: Clamp On DC Multimeters...

For starter current diagnoses, I find that a very cheap automotive store 

magnetic meter is sufficient. Not very accurate but for a couple of 

dollars, good enough to detect excessive draw. You just hold it beside 

the wire and the meter is directly deflected by the magnetism.  With 

$20. ac clamp on meters from China around now, I keep expecting to see a 

cheap clamp on dc hall effect meter but I haven't seen one yet.

Ken



jetboy wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Greg,

        You might find a similar one for your needs at Newark / Farnell / Radiospares catalogues. ISO - Tec is a nice small  low cost type or go for a Fluke. My one is 400 amps DC Sanwa and works well. If you are going to measure starter currents you will need this range. This is a required item for diagnosing Rotax 912 problems as described in their SB. Clamp meters are very handy for checking current drain and charging systems. A normal DMM with 20A range can do most things but many of the clamp meters include the DMM functions too.



Ralph

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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:26 am Post subject: Clamp On DC Multimeters...

At 07:08 PM 4/20/2007 +0000, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  Your first clue is that it is expensive...that tells you its about what 

you should pay.



But answer me this...Why on Earth would you want to spend that kind of 

money?...HArbor freights $2.50 multimeter has a 10A shunt (namely will 

measure up to 10 amps) . This should be adequate for 1/100th of the cost.



Incidently the HF multimeter is very accurate...at least mine is.



Frank


	


     The snap on ammeter permits a quick-n-convenient

     look at the current in a wire (or multiples of wires)

     without breaking into them.



     It's true that the least expensive of multimeters

     is more accurate for a small fraction of what

     it cost us for the basic multimeter of 40 years

     ago. But one can still go more dollars for features

     and robustness.



     I spent about $60 a few years back to acquire a

     multimeter that reads capacitors. I already had

     a dozen such instruments in various tool boxes

     but I had a task that required the matching of

     some capacitors. I needed the feature, bought

     the instrument and finished the task. I don't

     think I've needed that feature again since but

     the critter is there . . . if I need it again.



     I found a 400A snap-on Fluke adapter for multimeters

     on Ebay a few months ago. Got it for about 2/3 the

     cost of new. I've already used it to ease the

     $time$ to do several tasks. I've replaced the

     banana plugs with a BNC connector on it so that

     I can go to my 'scope. I've got a bunch of BNC

     to dual banana adapters so I can still stick the

     critter onto a multimeter for single value

     measurements.



     I've got a job coming up at work where I'll use

     my 'scope and the DC snap on ammeter to get some

     sense of the dynamics in a current path on an

     airplane.



     The short answer is that one tailors a purchase

     to present and future needs. I buy $3 multimeters

     at HF by the dozens to give away at my seminars.

     "Who in this room does NOT yet own a multimeter?"

     Everybody leaves my seminars owning at least one

     multimeter. But if the $3 feller lacks a feature

     or general robustness/reliability, then one digs

     deeper into the pockets. I don't pack a $3 HF meter

     to go on a troubleshooting trip. The 20 year-old

     Fluke is my travel companion.



     Bob . . .



        ----------------------------------------

        ( IF one aspires to be "world class",  )

        ( what ever you do must be exercised   )

        ( EVERY day . . .                      )

        (                  R. L. Nuckolls III  )

        ----------------------------------------

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