How to Use a Clamp Meter
Vložit
- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- AC Clamp Meter Uni-T UT202A toolboom.com/en/digital-clamp...
AC/DC Clamp Meter Uni-T UT203 toolboom.com/en/digital-clamp...
First let's find out what is clamp meter. It is a meter device capable of measuring current in a non-contact way. That is a main advantage of a clamp meter compared to traditional amperemeters or multimeters. You don't need to break the circuit to conduct measurements - you may actually conduct measurements of the line under voltage, as well as measuring high currents. Operation safety is one more advantage - you may measure current of the insulated conductor.
Measuring current with these meters is simple. You should switch to the required current measurement range (in our case it is 600 Amperes), press the trigger to open the jaws, and place the conductor under test inside and close the jaws. The display will show the measurement results.
The main element of a clamp meter is currents sensor. There are two types of sensors used: a current transformer or a Hall sensor. Depending on the sensor used the meter may measure either alternate current, or direct and alternate current.
So, the clamp meter with a current transformer:
In this meter, under this plastic lid, there is a magnetic core. If you open the jaws you may see parts of it. The role of a primary winding is played by the conductor that measures current, and the secondary winding is placed under the platic lid, we can not see it.
The main advantage of such kind of design is a rather low price and simplicity. The drawback is that it is a transformer, so you may measure alternate currents only.
Another type of design is a clamp meter with a Hall sensor. There is no magnetic core, if you open the jaws you may notice that. The advantage is that the Hall sensor is sensitive to both alternate and direct currents. And the disavantage is a higher price.
So, let's start with alternate current measurements. The main condition for measuring current is that you have to clench exactly the conductor that you need to measure. Like this. So if we clench both wides at a time or the wole cable, we will get a zero result beacause the meter will detect the difference between the currents. As both these conductors carry the same current - the difference will be a zero. So if you have a cable consisting of several wires and you need to measure each of them, you don't need to strip it like we have here, you just need to find a place where the cable is divided into separate wires, for example somewhere in the electric cabinet, and than start measuring.
And the second important condiition is setting the correct measurement range. If you are not sure about what is the current of the network, you have to start with the maximum range.
I will demonstrate this. Now I'll measure the current used to power the electric kettle. Let's imagine I don't know what current is used, but it has to be lower than 600 Amperes. I turn the kettle on and switch the meter to alternate current measurements within 600 Amperes range. Now I clench the wire. The kettle uses some current about 7 Amperes. I switch to a lower range - 200 Amperes, I get 7.6 Amperes. And to measure the current with the best accuracy I switch to 20 Ampere range - the meter shows 7.73 Amperes. If I clench both wires I'll get something about zero. You have to follow the rule of clenching one certain conductor.
Now I take the meter with a Hall sensor - the measurement procedure is similar. One difference is that you have to set the readings to zero before starting the new measurement, as the Hall sensor is magnetic sensitive. So I zero the display readings and measure - we've got a current slightly less than 8 Amperes.
Now I will use UT203 Clamp Meter to measure current in real-time conditions un a three-phase circuit.
And now I'm demonstrating the direct current measurements. We have a power supply unit providing 3 Ampere current in the circuit. I switch the meter to 40 Ampere range. As the Hall sensor is very sensitive we need to zero the display readings. And now we measure the conductor - it shows 3.15 Amperes. The absolute accuracy is about 150-170 milliAmpere, but it is not much taking into account that our measuring range is 40 A. AC clamp meter can not measure DC current at all.
These two models, as most of the modern clamp meters, apart from current, are capable of measuring AC/DC voltage, resistance, they have a continuity buzzer and diode test functions. These are fully functional multimeters with a non-contact current measurement function. I recommend you to watch the video “How to Use a Multimeter” where you may find a detailed demonstartion of these functions.
In this review I tried to answer the main questions that appear while using digital clamp meters. Thank you for attention and take care! - Věda a technologie
That background tune fading in and out just blew my mind. What genius thought it would be a great addition to the already mismatched audio of this video?
Probably missed the point that should be made that per the instruction manual "Make sure the conductor to be tested is placed at the center of the transformer jaw, otherwise it will cause +1.0% deviation based on the stated accuracy"
I am not an English speaking guy..Unlike other You tube videos, yours have text or printed explanations. That really helps a lot..
Your New subscriber..
Hello! We tried to make the video as clear and simple as possible. Glad you liked it, stay with us, there will be many new interesting videos.
thank you! just use the one wire! perfect
Thank you for posting this video it helped me.
thanks for explaining, was very helpful !!
Great video! Thank you for explaining in detail!
Hello! Thank you for your comment! We try to be brief, but with all the necessary details.
Exactly the explanation I needed. Thanks man
You're welcome!
Awesome i just learned a lot from this. Thank You.
Hello! We're glad you liked our videos. Stay tuned!
thanks, really helpful this is
Thankyou for explaining you need to measure single wire at a time, I couldn’t work out why I was getting zero on my cable
Thank you! I hade problems using this clampmeter. Now I understand! 👍😊
Hello! We're glad we helped you!
2:23 ..and this is the thing I forgot again - was wondering why the clamp didn't work, thanks!
I learned something, Thank you
We are glad to help! Thank you for watching us!
Thank you for the video
Hello! We're glad you liked our video. Stay tuned!
Useful info, thanks.
Hello! Thank you!
Appreciate the video. If I wanted to measure a house's main panel TOTAL amperage draw, would it be just the reading of 1 hot feed wire or do I add the value of both feed wires together (for standard meter service with two 120V feeds)?
great video, bravo!!
Hello! Thank you!
Thank you for this informative video
Thank you! Glad to hear that!
its good job my friend
I'm wondering if you can help! Can you use a clamp sensor on a 5 port meter to measure the total load from the grid?
Very useful informations 👍
thank you sir, for your explanation
Hello! We're glad you liked our videos. Stay tuned!
What do you have the power supply unit connected to? That would be helpful to know, so others can do a similar accuracy/verification test of their clamp meter.
So if I'm welding with D.C current I need one that reads ac/dc?
Great Video👍👍
Thanks!
What should I buy I want one that will read my amperage while I'm welding with direct current
Thanks for this video. I actually want to know how much amperes an electric engine consumes in a three phase system. Do you need to measure all three phases separately and sum the values up to get the total consumption? Or should you still divide by 3 to get the average? Keep up the good vids ;)
The rated current of the induction motor will be In = 1000Pn / √3 • (η • U • cosφ). Pn is the power of the electric motor, measured in kW. U is the voltage at which the motor is running. η is the efficiency, usually 0.9
Thank you for your clear explanation of clamp meters. I am just starting with them, so this helped get the gist of them, but I have to say that it is annoying that when selecting which clamp meters is best for you, you encounter these annoying differences in accuracy. In your video here these 2 meters of the same brand (albeit different design) end up with 2 different measurements of the water cooker's AC current, namely 7.61 amp and 7.92 amp. That is so annoying. Which one is then the most accurate and why is that ? I am at the moment having several 30 to 90 dollars models from Amazon to compare and select and most of them give non comparable readings on something basic as this AC current. I would almosts say "I hate them all !" ;-p
Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult to say which device will be more accurate, especially considering the fact that at different times and under different conditions they will always show different values. There are many factors influencing this. One way to test this is to measure something nominal and known and compare the value to the nominal. Thanks for the detailed comment!
@@ToolBoomVideo Thank you for replying ! I am somewhat intense when looking into something I want or need, but today I got lucky in finding what seems to be the right clampmeter for me. A Meterk MK06 that is ridiculously cheap, but measures DC current over the clamp up to 400 amps and from the looks of it, is accurate enough. I decided to try my luck overnight and today it arrived and in all it's "el cheapo" simplicity I am just gobsmacked so to speak.
appreciate video, would be useful to be able to more clearly seeing reading on tool when measuring larger gauge wires.
Hello! We're glad you liked our video. In our next reviews we will try to take into consideration your comments.
Thx didn't know that on AC I have to take each wire separately to measure. In school we didn't measure AC current neither used a clamp multimeter
Thanks mate
Thanks. Can I use this to test an ignition coil pack or spark plug wires?
Hello! To measure inrush currents, you can use Clamp Meter UNI-T UT203: toolboom.com/en/822362-digital-clamp-meter-uni-t-ut203/
Thanks, but you didn't discuss how the meter determines/reads -out current polarity.
Hi! Great video. If my multimeter says 00.00 every time even though electricity is clearly running through the wire, what does this mean? Is it too high or too low to read? Thanks.
Hello! Please measure AC only on 1 core wire (as shown in the video, 2.20 - czcams.com/video/Bc_EQea0mKY/video.html ).
ty for sharing dis video
Thank you for the feedback!
06:17 I could not find the video that you adviced, named "how to use multimeter". Can you please give the link of it.
Thanks
I just did my truck alternator. It bounced from 2.13 to 1.80. At 20 A. So how many amps i have
Can they be used to find an open circuit as in a broken wire?
in AC when clamping the entire cable (both conductors) it would read a Zero, as the alternativing current is out of phase: but my question is can it read the DC current when both DC conductors run through it ? you were so close to showing this in your demo...
fantastic
For current measuring, are Hall sensor meters less accurate than current transformers, or about the same? Also, does it matter where, within the circle of the clamp, the conductor is? Will the meter be more accurate if the conductor is placed exactly within the center of the clamp?
Hello! In terms of accuracy, both options will be approximately the same. In the center, the readings will be a little more accurate.
I bought a clamp multimeter UNI-T UT204+ . But I did not understand the REL/ZERO button function. I looked around internet but not able to find how to use that button. Can you please tell the functions of that button. Thank you in advance. Best regards.
Informative video, mate. Thanks. But the audio is in sync. I feel like I'm watching a godzilla movie from the 1950's
Thank you
Great video!
Thanks!
What is the meter you can measure current in dc
Ahaha thanks so much, I was getting a reading of zero and almost returned the thing. Manual could have made it clearer 😅
Would this be the difference in a true RMS meter and a non true rms meter
Cool - what can i search for to find AC wires that are separated like that already? or must i make my own.. seems dangerous to risk a DIY at my novice level
Hello! If you are a beginner, you should not do this. And the presence of alternating current can be checked with the help of current clamps, which have a mode of measuring alternating current
Hi guys, what is “LIVE” option on clampmeter for?
If the meter shows zero amps on a single wire conductor while using the amp clamps, am I to safely assume that the electrical circuit is off or switched off?
No, this does not mean, since the load on each phase is not distributed symmetrically or evenly.
I clamped the jaws directly onto the insulated power cable running 220 volts to a domestic bar heater pulling 800 watts and got a reading of 0.7 amps on the 20 amp setting. Is this just a nonsense reading and what is causing the reading?
look 2.30 min onwards,
Well according to you which one is better then other please?
+Shahid Ali Never mind. I got it from last portion of your video. Thanks buddy.
Can this be used to test battery volt?
Hello! Typically, most clamp meter models have a voltage measurement function. That is, you can measure the voltage across the battery terminals.
For example, such a device: toolboom.com/en/834634-digital-clamp-meter-uni-t-ut204a/
But to check the capacity, you will need other devices - battery analyzers.
why when I use the ut203 on DC, I can get two different readings depending on the direction of the + on the meter. If it is facing the battery positive or facing the battery negative it reads differently
that due to the one way flow of a dc current. assuming that your getting a positive reading one way and negative reading when you turn the clamp the other direction.
Dear Kindly share knowledge about UNI T 203+ CLAMP METTER
Are you lip syncing or is your video lagging? Either way, it's something to look into fixing. Channel is great otherwise! Loved your review on the UNI-T139C
The Creatures HM Thank you for your attention. This is not a problem of synchronization of audio and video. The fact that we are an international online store, and translate our videos in different languages.
ToolBoom Supermarket I thought that was possibility as well - thanks for clearing it up!
@@WildWombats didn't lag at all for me, sounds fine
It's like watching an old Kung Foo movie
nice and educating video
how can we use this clamp meter to measure direct current from solar panel....?
can we use probes to measure current like we do to measure voltage.
Solar Panels output DC not AC ~ so you would need to have a meter that can read DC
Megger teast risestad test
So the "clamps" on the meters can only measure amperage? They cannot measure voltage or resistance without using the + or - probes??
Hello. Yes, clamps usually measure only amperage, and with the help of probes, all other values.
I notice the leads are not installed ..can I use the clamp with my leads still attached to the meter?
Hello! Thank you for your question! In theory - yes, but the device will show indicators only from the clamp (measurement of current) or from test leads, so the measurement should be done separately.
I have this multi meter and have measured just one wire off of a 3 phase generator but only get between .013 or .054 amps from the wires. In any wire in my home after getting to just the hot wire or neutral I read .008 amps as the highest going to a 1kwh electric stove top. So I can see current just not anywhere close to accurate. Is this common? ( I started high and have gone to the lowest setting of 2/20A)
Hello! Please measure again. Measure only one wire (active or neutral). Set the current measurement mode to "AC". Be sure to connect the load to the mains - any household appliances, electric kettle or something else.
We are confident that the measurements will be correct.
So what is the best DC clamp meter?
Hello! It all depends on the accuracy class, required parameters and number of functions. Buy the model that will meet your requirements.
Here's a hypothetical ... I have two feed lines (wires), both are power side (not common). Neither power wire is energized at one time. I would like to be able to measure current without having to clamp and re-clamp. Can I clamp both lines, and still read current (amps) on the energized wire, with no current in the other wire? Why? I want to have a helper watching the meter, while I energize and de-energize in a remote location.
Yes, you can, but you should reset the value (button "zero") with each new measurement.
@@ToolBoomVideo Thanks!
Hey what happens if you use the clamp meter on the NEUTRAL wire while appliance is on?
If you test the neutral wire with a clamp, you will see the value of the current in the circuit. (Not to be confused with ground wire)
@@ToolBoomVideo Can you kindly make a 10 sec clip to show this concept. I believe neutral wire don't carry current (under normal conditions and single phase system). But this concept violates the principle of using a neutral wire in the first place so I am really confused.
Can it be used above 700 range
Hello! You can choose model UNI-T UT206A - only for АС up to 1000A, or UNI-T UT207A - for АС and DC up to 1000A.
toolboom.com/en/822365-digital-clamp-meter-uni-t-ut206a/
toolboom.com/en/digital-clamp-meter-uni-t-ut207a/
Preciso desse manual em português brasileiro
Infelizmente, o fabricante fornece principalmente instruções em inglês.
Just bought a one dollar clamp meter brand new. It claims to be able to measure up to 300 volts ac and dc and up to 400 amps. When I set it to the specific modes I want to test out. It wont read any voltage or amps on those test. Its a chepo hyper tough from walmart. Not sure why it wont do any readings. Or is it just to cheap. How cheap can you go without sacrificing safety and accuracy?
Hello! One dollar? :)
We have never tested such a cheap clamp meter. Uni-t are safe enough.
if you don't get 0 net current in live and neutral this is likely due to an electrician wiring error in your house, as some current is not returning and going along another circuit (another neutral or ground, potentially even riding out on a water pipe); this is important as you are generating a net magnetic field in your house due to unbalanced net current, creating a health hazard as health effects are reported above 1 milligauss magnetic field, especially an AC field generated from AC currents
in fact learn about gaussmeter testing (walking around your house with a gaussmeter) to look for correctly wired circuits
would there be any reason someone would get a multimeter over a clamp meter since a clamp meter can measure so many more amps?
Hello. For each task, you need to choose a specific device. If it is a question of measuring high current, then it is necessary to measure using current clamps. The multimeter, in turn, usually has more advanced functionality, but the current measures within 10-20 A
You didnt explaint the last two choise
👍
Thanks!
Me idiot was trying measure voltage, voltage not current, clamping a fully isolated lead, after getting weird readings or nothing at all started googling how it's used, here I am, lol.
Hello! It's good that you understand how to use measuring instruments and take measurements. Was our video useful for you?
@@ToolBoomVideo Yes, it helped me to understand it right away.
@@ambientblue-eyedmonkey8849 We're glad you liked our video. Stay tuned!
Unity 203 model
Shoot. I thought I can just hang this to an AC wire and get the ampere value.
Your not alone there.
Start ripping wires apart lol
nice but better get something has true rms feature
Hello!
The video was shot as far back as 2015. In the meantime, Uni-T put out upgraded True RMS versions of the clamps (such as UT203+).
This is like a bad Japanese movie where the language spoken does not match up with lip/mouth movements.
Hello. Thank you for your feedback! Initially, we shoot one video, and only then we translate into several languages. We try to avoid this problem. :)
En français svp
man, what's up with your knuckes? you must get really angry at those amps.
The CE on these meters stands for "China Export" instead of meaning that it conforms to European Standards. Tricky Tricky.
What's up with that tune? It just distracts people
Annoying music
Thanks for the feedback, we will take it into account when we make the next videos
Horrible video. I enjoyed it! Useless. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!