Clamp Meter info required please..

[neilsukwg]

I heard these mentioned quite a few times now on these forums, been in whitegoods servicing since 1981 but never used one, don’t own one.

I understand they are used for measuring current draw and are a usefull tool for fault finding and yet, apart from sales pages there is very little in the way of training information available on google (or youtube)

Would anyone be able to enlighten me on their benifits, applications and usage… ❓

Neil

[Washman]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Hi

I have always used a clamp meter, to check when heater/elements are energised. Also if motors are drawing to much current.
Just check heater for continuity as usual then place clamp over one wire to heater and read amps, you can then tell when heater switches on/off without need to use probes on multimeter to read voltage. Multimeter only tells you if voltage is at the heater not if the it is working.

Mike

[Specialist01269]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Excellent piece of kit for Fault finding on appliances & if you buy a good 1 saves carrying a Multimeter as well. If your thinking of buying a clamp meter you need to stear clear of the cheapies, they won’t last long in every day use. For more convenience you could buy 1 with an open jaw.
If you take a look at somewhere like http://www.cpc.co.uk they do a fair selection at good prices.

[eastlmark]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

I have long been a champion of these, after the megger the most used piece of test equipment in my bag.

customer complains washing machine not heating? Prove otherwise by hooking up a clamp meter. Tumble drier not working on full heat? then you can test the operation of both heaters by monotoring the current drawn. or just want to check for your own peace of mind that a diswhasher is heating once its back in its housing without waiting and opening the door every few minutes to feel the water. Testing defrost heaters on fridges, checking multi function ovens are working on all elements….the pissabolities are enless. 😮
its also useful to make a short extension lead with the very outer sleeving removed, exposing the 3 coloured wires. You can then plug the appliance into your lead and monitor the machine in situ without removing the lid and also read any earth leakage by clamping around the earth lead. Dont forget to remove your lead before leaving the house though!

Try and find one that works within our current range though, My one has a 40A range which is fine right down to very low currents but some read stupidly high 200amp+ and may not be so great on the low currents.
and remember that you can only clamp a single conductor.

[Specialist01269]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Hi Neil: If your looking to buy a clamp meter, take a look on Fleabay. There’s a lot of them on there including a few open jaw, the Draper open jaw is on at the minute for £24.99. Has been selling for £49.00 with a few of them.

Andy

[Martin]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

neilsukwg wrote:Would anyone be able to enlighten me on their benifits, applications and usage… ❓

Being as you brought the subject up (and I thank you for that :D)

I have produced a .pdf downloadable file on the very subject. Simply click HERE and you can access the download entitled“Basic Clamp Meter Use”

Enjoy! 😀

[Specialist01269]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Nice 1 Martin, Straight & to the point as allways. That should help out a lot of people.

Andy

[funkyboogy]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

remember to go to ebay , or watch what you search

of you type clamps into google you would be amazed of what comes up ..

lol

[goosegreen]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Toolstation has one for £11.55 Inc Vat & PP item No: 61650. I have got one myself and it works fine.

Goose

[johnmac11]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

I use a Robin digital clamp meter that has been bounced about for the past 6 years and keeps on working but am waiting patiently for it to break so I can buy one of these Megger MMC850

The good part is it will save the hassle of finding a single core to clamp on to and the bad part is the price, but hey ho if you use it all the time it would be worth it…

John

[neilsukwg]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Wow

Thanks to all for replies, glad I asked!

I imagine there must be some calculating to do to figure out what amps motors, heaters should be pulling when they are working normally.

I only just got in so it will take me a while to study all these replies but big thanks to all and especially Martin :lesson: for a brilliant pdf. guide to getting started.

[Specialist01269]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Hi Neil: If you buy a good clamp that has Decent Voltage, Resistance, Capacitance & Temp Ranges as well you can leave your DMM in the van & just use the clamp, you don’t have to pay a fortune for 1. Both Ideal & Uni-T make some nice clamps at good prices.

[Steven]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Hi Neil

If you come along to the WTA meeting at Coventry Friday, there will be a company called ACT training and calibration.
They will be bringing along a range of test equipment.
There you will be able to get advice on the up to date regs and use of equipment.

HTH

Steven

[iadom]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

Will they be doing any calibration of our existing test equipment if required Steven ?

Jim.

[spimps]

Re: Clamp Meter info required please..

neilsukwg wrote:Wow

Thanks to all for replies, glad I asked!

I imagine there must be some calculating to do to figure out what amps motors, heaters should be pulling when they are working normally.

I only just got in so it will take me a while to study all these replies but big thanks to all and especially Martin :lesson: for a brilliant pdf. guide to getting started.

This might be of help also.

[Author]

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