Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Lazy Daze Forums => Lazy Daze Technical => Topic started by: 73gitane on January 10, 2022, 03:12:49 pm

Title: Looking for a current clamp meter
Post by: 73gitane on January 10, 2022, 03:12:49 pm
I’ve gotten along fine with a voltmeter over the years but would like to add a current clamp to the toolbox.

Anyone have a recommendation they are happy with? I’ve been looking at this one:

BSIDE ACM91 Digital Clamp Meter 1mA AC/DC Current True RMS Auto-Ranging 6000... (https://www.amazon.com/BSIDE-ACM91-Auto-Ranging-Temperature-Capacitance/dp/B07G84XDWH/ref=asc_df_B07G84XDWH/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312111908090&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5789470166948942066&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033246&hvtargid=pla-581003875167&th=1)

Thanks,
Steve
Title: Re: Looking for a current clamp meter
Post by: Dave Katleman on January 10, 2022, 04:51:49 pm
The meter looks very nice, but I have no experience with it.

Was amused watching their video, they show it coming with a cheap Phillips screwdriver, then seconds later showing a DIFFERENT Phillips screwdriver to open up the meter to insert the batteries…
Title: Re: Looking for a current clamp meter
Post by: Larry W on January 10, 2022, 09:09:24 pm
With so many Chinese clamp meters on the market, none from known brands, it's tough to recommend one in particular.
Buying from Amazon does make returning one you do not care for somewhat easy. Reading the reviews can sometimes help narrow the choices but not always. Legitimate, long-term reviews rarely appear.

If you are looking for a brand recommendation, you can't go wrong with a Fluke, they are a good product for the professional that uses it every day. You probably will not like the prices.

Larry
Title: Re: Looking for a current clamp meter
Post by: 73gitane on January 11, 2022, 12:19:13 am
Yes, Fluke is nice, I’ve been carrying a Fluke 75 DMM for the last 25 years.

Steve
Title: Re: Looking for a current clamp meter
Post by: hbn7hj on January 12, 2022, 12:36:11 am
No one can match the price of the item you listed. Extech is a good compromise. I, too, am still using a Fluke bought 40 years ago.

Extech MA445-NIST 4.91 Clamp Meter, TRMS, AC/DC with NCV | Zoro.com (https://www.zoro.com/extech-clamp-meter-trms-acdc-with-ncv-ma445-nist/i/G0937369/)
Title: Re: Looking for a current clamp meter
Post by: JonS on January 12, 2022, 08:35:35 am
I'm with the others on Fluke, you get what you pay for, I used one for many years. One bit of advice, get something that will also read DC amperage as well as AC amperage.

Jon
Title: Re: Looking for a current clamp meter
Post by: 73gitane on January 12, 2022, 11:45:22 am
After some research I got this on order:

UNI-T UT210E Pro Mini Digital Clamp Meter, Auto Ranging TRMS Backlit VFC NCV... (https://www.amazon.com/UNI-T-Digital-Frequency-Resistance-Capacitance/dp/B08PP15B87/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3TZ426CG7VWTR&keywords=Ut210e+pro&qid=1642005551&sprefix=ut210e+pro%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVUVTRlAwNVc2VTNRJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTA0ODkwTFRUU1VINUVCRU5ZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MDEzOTJFQVg5NzMzR0xDWTcmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl)

It has some good reviews. It’s also gotten good reviews on eevblog.com which is a great site for electronic design and measurement. Lots of electronic nerds hang out there and I trust their opinions.

I’ll give it a chance and will not be getting rid of my Fluke 75 anytime soon.