Why The Clamp Meter Is The Only Tester You Need | Pros and DIYers
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
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Over the last 10-15 years clamp meters have come a long way and added a ton of features. So much so that a clamp meter is pretty much all you need for residential electrical work. In this video, I will demonstrate the Klein Tools CL120 and how this one piece of hardware can cover 95% of your testing needs.
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I bought one of these when I first got my house and started stocking up on tools for around the house. Definitely glad I picked it up, but nice to watch videos like this to make sure I'm doing it right and getting the best use out of it. Thanks for the info and upload!
Always something new to learn. When I retired I had to leave my Flukes (87 & T-600) as my govt. employer owned them. I used an old Amprobe at home. I recently upgraded to a Klein CL 700 and hadn't noticed the NCV feature yet. Cool! I still will use my NCV/IR and the monkey eyes because they are so portable. Your videos are interesting and useful.
Sir: May I compliment you on your excellent video ! You speak at a constant level, speaking at a rate easy to understand, & you have good articulation. Your descriptions are absolutely correct, & for a home owner DIY person, it was a delight to see. I have a number of "amp clamps" (all high end") & a selection of DMMs , which I absolutely MUST have ( I am not working on home electrics except my own, but the Klein unit is very good, & I can't disagree that the Klein would satisfy the requirement for the DYI.
Your video eclipses many that I have seen on the internet by a wide margin. Thank you.
If you don't already have one, and if you have the time, would you mind doing a tutorial video about digital multimeters? You seem to explain things really well and that would be awesome!
Agree!
He has one already
He has a couple.
Not only does he have them, as others here point out, but there are literally hundreds of them on CZcams, many of them are excellent and cover every kind of angle from every skill level, child to advanced.
I wouldn’t buy a multimeter or clamp meter that doesn’t test microfarads, because I want to be able to test the capacitor in my air conditioner. You can easily test it yourself after watching a YT video, then change it for $20, rather than paying a tech $400.
Been using one for years. Still keep one in my tool bag now that I'm retired, only mine is a EXTECH EX623. That model probably been upgraded by now. Just went through the house to check all the outlets, found many needing the terminals tightened. All good now.
I bought one of those Klein clamp meters recently and like it, although I do like having a DMM also and use both. I have the Klein in my electrical tool bucket right now.
I agree with you completely, my Kaiweets HT208D (bought as the Habotest brand) clamp meter is very useful as a DIY device, even including capacitor testing. For line splitter use I bought a short, flat "appliance" extension cord and split the wires near each end. This gives you options for measuring inrush current, etc. for refrigerators and airconditioners in tight places. One detail in the video- testing car battery voltages stopped vs running can have one wrinkle. If you have a "smart" alternator the voltage at idle may not immediately go up to 14 volts. I found this out accidently when I got a plug-in temp & voltage monitor and noticed that sometimes the voltage would stay at 12.2-12.4 (under load, engine running) before the alternator would cut in.
I recently bought the HT206D meter. I haven't used my conventional multimeter since. It does everything I need. The ability to read DC current is my most used feature. I like the fact that there are no current ranges via the probes, so no risk of blowing up the meter or device under test
Great video. Thank you for posting. I could also hear you LOUD & Clear through my headphones, without even having them on, and excellent through the P.C. Speakers too ! Usually I am partial to Klein Tools but when you showed the "IDEAL" one, that seemed ideal for me, though I can't do all this work anymore I still love to have all the tools. Videos like this are invaluable and you're doing a great service, sharing your knowledge with people.
Michael, you're a scream! The “IDEAL” one, that seemed ideal for me…😆😂
@@georgedavall9449 I agree, I scream every time I look in a mirror.
@@michaeljavert4635 I try not to look in a mirror; downright scary! 😯 😂✌
I have the Ideal 61-747 400A AC/DC clamp meter and that's my everyday meter while in the field. The diode & capacitance functions are particularly useful for troubleshooting specific pieces of equipment.
Hi I have a question Can you test Central AC capacitors with it?
@@brians1159 yes, you simply place the dial to the capacitance setting, this particular meter is auto ranging, so no need to worry about setting the range. If you need to test a capacitor but only have a basic meter with AC/DC volts, resistance and DC amps (typically up to 10A) a quick and dirty method is to use the resistance function, be sure to discharge the capacitor if necessary, then place the leads across the capacitor. A good capacitor will begin at a low resistance and gradually rise. A shorted capacitor will stay at a low resistance. An open capacitor will stay at a high or infinite resistance. The capacitor could still be bad meaning out of spec as far as the capacitance value, but if it passes the resistance test it's most likely good.
FYI... You can buy a Triplett brand ET200 combination line splitter (for the clamp meter current tester loop) and GFCI outlet/receptacle tester ($20-ish). The outlet tester is just a basic 3 light tester.
Thanks, good to know. Functional consolidation is always happening and it's nice to pack fewer tools.
I bought my first clamp meter, a Sperry Snap 6, almost 50 years ago and I still use it regularly!
You should trash it and buy fluke most pros only trust fluke only brand of meters I'll buy for home or the field
@@dustinhogue6057 Don't ‘trash’ the Man’s comment! 😯🙄😂
Picked up the Klein CL120 based on your review. Couldn't be happier. Thanks for sharing your insights!👌
You bet!
I am a 40 year HVAC Fridge Tech. I own expensive Fluke and Fieldpiece but the Klien CL800 is my daily meter for years with great results.
I just purchased a Klein Tools CL220 meter and didn't know it had the non-contact voltage tester integrated into the clamp jaw. I also didn't know the test leads could take the extra sleeves off so one can insert the leads into an outlet. (This was the one thing that really bothered me, and now I know I can take this off and make the leads like I am use to.) Thanks again for a great video!
I learned the same things in this video 😂
This excellent video will prevent me, a homeowner with basic handyman skills, from burning up some expensive appliance, or burning my house down or me laying on a stainless steel table in the Pinellas County medical officers lab. I cannot thank you enuf! Thx E.H.R.
DIYers can make their own splitter from a short pigtail with male and female AC connectors thus saving some money. I put a 10 turn coil of #14 wire in series with one lead so small currents can be measured by dividing by 10.
Thank you for explaining this Meter so thoroughly. I really enjoyed hearing and watching it.
I appreciate your support 🙌
I'd add one to the list of must-haves... a circuit tracer. Plug the remote into a receptacle or lamp socket and use the tracer to identify the breaker.
BTW... I agree on the usefulness of a clamp meter, but would recommend the CL390 over the CL120. For just a bit more (~$20), you get TRMS and several of the missing functions you mention.
That can be pretty darn handy. Thanks for the feedback!
An AC / DC clamp meter, very useful indeed! Thanks for the suggestion.
I also recommend the CL390 or one of the higher end Klein meters because those can measure 1. DC Amps (for automotive) 2. AC frequency, 3. capacitance (for HVAC/soft-starters), 4. current on non-60Hz AC (speakers and audio systems). An extra $20 well spent.
Does it exist for UK outlets? I can't find it for UK outlets
I absolute love my DC clamp meter. I do a lot of work with electronics, so DC functionality is great for me. It still isn’t my go to for everything else but for measuring current it is extremely handy to not have to break circuits, worry about burden voltages, blown fuses, or mistakes when measuring current.
Yes. Something without DC current is useless.
Last week my 35 year old Fluke gave up. I was going to buy a tester like you suggested here, but I reconsidered and bought a Klein multimeter, mm700. Oh and I still have and use the other testers too.
Great video, you have a nice way of explaining things. I would like a deeper dive into all the features of the Cl390. The Klein meter I just purchased to test Microfarads on a HVAC capacitor. I picked the 390 due to being a new home owner and needing something for the future.
Excellent video! I learned something...the clamp being used as a non-contact tester! Thanks!
You bet!
Thanks. I bought a clamp meter not long ago to use it as a clamp meter. Now I saw you using the non-contact function. I checked my Brymen BM037 and I discovered it also has EF-Detection functions. Good to know.
You can push bad battery to the 12,7 V area, but it will drop to about 10 V when small load is applied = you have one dead cell. As for alternator "charging", increase the load and observe the drops - then you can judge if it's OK/NOK.
Thanks for your video, it kicked me into buying one despite the price. I was looking for a amp meter for DIY car work and I don't like using multimeter in circuit to check the drain ammount, I pulled the trigger on a Klein CL390. Thank to your video I figured it would be worth the price when I become a homeowner, I can only hope Klein name brand will last a very long time!
I had before now thought the clamp meter was optimized for the current side of measurement and a rather useful tool for those in the "HVAC" line of work only... I was so wrong... Nice content 👍
Multimeter is a great tool, but a good voltage tester is super useful too. They seem to get lots of hate but are really good a diagnosing wiring problems in a home or commercial space.
A glowing 2W lamp is a lot harder to argue with than a wiggling meter or a flickering LED that may or may not be reacting to RF.
I think the frequency check feature would be useful for adjusting your (emergency power) generator for power outages, to set the generator's frequency to 60 Hz.
Another model to consider is the Uni-T UT210E clamp meter. It includes all the usual voltage, current, resistance, clamp, NCV, as well as capacitance - and it sells for ~$55. I consider Uni-T to be a lower quality brand than Klein, but I've had the UT210E for a couple years now, and it has worked great.
It can amp check ac and dc which a lot of meters dont do. Most of them only do ac amps.
I have the same tool. DC amps is a must for me. I do a lot of car work.
Uni-T is the top brand in China; better quality than Klein at the same price range.
@@billrimmer5596oh! They have those?! Nice! I need one!
Definitely going to watch this. I've been looking at these for awhile
Clamp Meters have come a long way for sure.
Amazing video. Thank you for your time on this
I have a combination non-contact voltage tester with a receptacle+gfci tester. It is fantastic for basic jobs. You can check for voltage, confirm polarity, grounding and test gfci functionality. Though for trickier troubleshooting issues, I still bring out the multimeter.
You videos are always fabulous. Thank you.
What a great video, thank you so much for all the great info!
Exactly what I needed. THANK YOU!!!
In my 40yrs of electrical work. When I work in a national historical registry home, tracing knob and tube wiring that the customer cannot afford to rewire, that pre dates the historical structure. The clamp on is next to useless. ON an open circuit, the clamp on will most likely read full voltage on the feed and open neutral side. Its great with modern wiring. my Volt tick has saved my life a few times. Laying against a live AC duct, my body became evergized and my volt tick in my pocket sounded off, telling me that my body could discharge a shock. I have repaired many knob and tube systems with just a volt tick, and a pigtail lamp.
I subscribed because the description of use is easy to understand
Great vid thanks, I had no idea of their functionally.
Cheap current clamps are great if you're not too bothered about accuracy. This one is 2% of reading plus 10 counts. So 400 amps could be anywhere between 382A and 418A. That's not including where the wire sits in the clamp, which also has a huge bearing on the measurement.
Nice video. If you monkey with RV’s, solar, trailer/automotive, get the model a couple steps up that does AC and DC amps.
🙋♂️ THANKS SCOTT, I JUST REPLACED MY Broken multi meter with this tool about a week ago😁NOW I AM LEARNING HOW TO USE IT 🤗👍💚💚💚
Great minds think alike 😁
@@EverydayHomeRepairs 🤗👍
Helpful information, thank you for sharing !!
My favorite Klein tool. The DC clamp ammeter makes it as useful under the hood as in the house electrical.
My voltage tickler is still more convenient to check quickly for hot wires.
Pretty sure clamp meters don't work for DC because they rely on the changing field of AC. This unit doesn't measure DC amps and therefore isn't ideal for automotive applications.
I took a job in a manufacturing lab in 2019 where we had three Klein multimeters. After two years all of them were broken. They wouldn't go to the correct mode, or they just gave incredibly inaccurate readings, especially if equipment was operating near them. When I asked if someone was abusing them, I was told "no they just break a lot, that's why we have three of them." I also needed to take them completely apart to change the batteries.
For DIYers who might use them 3-4 times a year, yes, they're great meters. But if you're a Pro, spend the money for a serious meter. There are plenty of Fluke models under $300 made for technicians.
I ordered a Fluke AC/DC Clamp meter for $150 and yesterday found a Fluke AC clamp meter for $70 in a pawn shop so I grabbed it. This will really help me watch my solar system and inverter closer. I fried two alternators in a row so now I’ve turned off the DC-DC Victron charger until I can measure how many amps I’m drawing off the alternator(Think I’ll try adding a second alternator).
For professional uses, I only recommend Fluke. And I even bought one by myself in my home.
Fluke is the best!
Fantastic video! Thanks for sharing this!
Very informative video but I must admit that one of the things that surprised me the most out of this video is that I learn that the testing probes have a little cap I've always been using them with the caps on and wondering why is the metal contact part so short! Im such a noob
You can make a splitter for 1/4 the price or less of the ready made one by getting a cord plug and socket and wiring a short piece of insulated wire from the the hot and neutral connections on the plug and socket,. Then just clamp your meter around the hot wire to test (with it connected between the power source and the load, of course).
i have the same fluke meter, thanks for the tips
as the owner of an travel trailer, i wish there was an easy way to measure dc current as well
Informative video. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent video!
I recently purchased the Fluke T6 1000. Definitely worth the money but a NCV tester at the tip would've been a nice feature. Thank you for the video!
Man, I used Fluke for years and they are definitely the top brand on the market. Just hard to justify the cost of Fluke as a homeowner / DIYer.
Thank you. Another insightful video as always.
Thanks and I appreciate the support 👍
This is one awesome video, needed to change my multimeter, get a clamp meter after this, cheers! 👍🏿
Nice, thanks for the feedback!
I would recommend a Clamp meter with DC current test. This would give you the very important feature for checking drain current on a cars electrical system without having to disconnect cables. Thank you for your video.
I don't have DC just ac so what i do ? I checked battery for my car with AC it said 0.004 its good or not?
Love these new tools!
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!
You bet!
Nice video, thanks for some great info
❤ Great explanation 😊😊
GREAT VID SCOTT!
Suggest considering a Kaiweets HT206D clamp meter as a lower cost alternative with temperature, capacitance and freq measurement functuons. True RMS meter.
Great info!! Thank you.
Great video as always, But a quick clarification about something that confused me for a long time, a residential panel is Single Phase, technically "split phase", because the single phase is spilt into 2 legs. Power plants produce 3 phase power and your house is feed by ONE of those phases. It feeds a transformer that has two 120V outputs and a center tap, the Neutral. [a center tap gives half power] Your panel is fed with 2 120v LEGS of a Single PHASE, and the center tap, N. Any circuit between the 2 legs has 240v potential, any circuit between one leg and the N has 120v potential.
Apparently there were some very early systems that were 2 phase, but once things were standardized, we only have Single Phase and Three Phase. Three Phase gets even more complex because there are various ways to utilize the multiple phases, but generally it available only to industrial or large commercial buildings, anywhere large electric motors are used. Most electric motors above 3hp are 3 phase. A single phase motor has one "push" per cycle to rotate it, while a 3 phase motor has 3 evenly spaced "pushes" per cycle.. so much more powerful and efficient.
Really nice educational video. Thanks
You bet!
The number if times i needed three hands when using my multimeter.... one for each wire, and a third to look at the display.... clamping it to the car hood (3:19) was enough to convince me.
Thanks again Scotty. 👍 Now I need to compare which Klein Clamp Meter is right for me.
There are a ton of options and here are a few of the different meters and packages from Klein Tools www.kleintools.com/catalog/test-measurement/clamp-meters
Any of the Klein Clamp on meters are fine EXCEPT the one that he is using in this video as it is not a True-RMS meter.
As such it will not give correct readings for certain things like LED fixtures or switched power supplies.
Good basic Information for the home owner.
Thanks!
Very good tutorial thanks
Thank you 🙏🏼
It’s very useful
Excellent video.... Great product.
Thanks!
Great vídeo. Thanks.
Some multimeters (no clamp) have a voltage tester built in. I have a Craftsman meter that has a voltage tester built in. The current clamp is a nice feature though I will admit.
thanks! video saved me! i thought clamps were for power lines only, ha.....
I'm pretty handy around the house but I keep learning new tips and about new tools, thanks to your videos. Keep up the great work!
Will do and thanks for the support 🙌
You just taught a 71 y.o. electrician new functions that I never knew existed. eg the ncv function. and dc. clamp and adjusting to the earths magnetic field. just blows my mind how far we have come since the 60s.
It would be nice to directly link the device you are showing in the video along with the amazon store.
Dang... if only we'd had a clamp-on ammeter back in the mid '80s! My friends and I used to go through hours and hours of troubleshooting whenever we installed a car alarm or sound system in our cars back then. All we had was the trusty old multi-meter. Which was fine for volts, ohms, and amps, but it wasn't much help at finding current leaks. I still have and use the same $125 multi-meter from 1985, too. But once you've learned how to use a clamp-on ammeter correctly, chasing down current issues becomes ridiculously easy! I rarely need the multi-meter anymore.
Thanks for the great episode. Now I know what that bump on the end of my clamp multimeters is for!
I have a Fluke digital multimeter with an AC Ammeter clamp accessory, a Fluke clamp ammeter/multimeter, and a Chinese brand clamp ammeter/multimeter. For DIY work both the mid-priced (around $200?) Fluke and the $65 Chinese brand clamp ammeters work extremely well, and are flexible enough to do almost anything around the house. One of the MAIN differences that people should look for is whether the clamp meter will read current load (amps) in both AC and DC. Many standard DIY units will only read AC, but if you're a DIY person working on both standard 120/240 volt AC and any low-voltage DC systems like a doorbell, sprinkler controls, or maybe even fancy zoned-heating ducting controls in a house, or on just about any 6/12/24/48 volt DC vehicle then being able to read DC amps is EXTREMELY useful as a troubleshooting tool. For electronics and smaller scale DC volts and continuity testing my regular digital multimeter is the king, but for house or vehicle the AC/DC clamp multimeters are a far better ticket to success.
5:20 Thank you. I was wondering why it showed 0 to me. Now I know :)
UNI-T UT210D is probably the only one I would used or need!
o well i have another brand of clamp multi meter but i like the tip testing on that one and ability to hold a probe also have that klein 3 piece kit and neither meter does capacitance which i might need for my ac unit capacitor
you 100% correct.
I picked up a micronta analog clamp meter with a break out adapter. It has a 1x and 10x slot. Super cool and very useful.
The other thing to look for is a DC amps clamp meter. Those are really useful for diagnosing DC systems in vehicles. I work with a lot of people transport systems that have heavy charging systems and heavy loads, and the DC amp clamp meters are indispensable.
DMM's are for bench testing.
I have this very same meter. I am an electrical contractor and fully endorse this video.
By the way, the best feature of the clamp ammeter is you can hang the damn thing and read it while using!
I just used my DMM today in my car, tracing down an electronics issue.
Have you ever had to replace a complete window where you replace the outside framing it. Do you ever need to have a way to test from a plug or switch to the according circuit breaker.
One electrical code that no handiman talks about is arch fault. It is the most important residential code, preventing fires for the past 23 years. It's in article 210.12 in the NEC code book.
This would be a better meter to use for measuring alternating current as it has a LOZ function that is a must for measuring voltage as it puts a load on the circuit to see if it actually measuring the correct voltage or ghost voltage.Klein Tools CL800 I actually prefer a Fluke meter that has a LOZ function. I have seen a lot of Electrician get fooled by this as a Appliance Technician.Some of them don't even know what a LOZ terminology is.
Helpful! Thank you
You bet!
Well done good sir.
Subscribed sir!!
Do you know the purpose of the 10x multiplier for current using the line splitter?
Didn’t know the meter was also a tester for voltage holding down sel in any mode. Thanks!
Would be nice if it had InRush Amp (for like measuring start power on a motor or HVAC system) Only one I've seen is on a FieldPiece meter.
I'd love for a review of stud finders. I have 3 and none of them seem to work properly and I tried banging my hand on the wall but it doesn't help.
Which one you recommend fluke 325 or fluke T6 1000 i do comercial and residential worl plus hvac
Good video.
Looking forward to your video. 👍
Thx man 🙌
What would be a good tool to measure the direction of current?
I use Uni-T 204+ Clamp meter for 4 years..Very satisfied use this brand. Cheap but have quality.. no have any problem/ faulty until now. still like new. If i want get very accuarate reading for electronic work, i use digital manual range multimeter... this more accuarate reading than clamp meter
Is there something like the ac splitter but instead of the clamp you could use the leads?