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Post Info TOPIC: Amp meter
gollymolly


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I want to buy Rod an amp meter, any suggestions please



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Cruising Cruze


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Hi Sue

Have a look here

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/60V100A-Digital-LCD-Watt-Meter-Battery-Balance-DC-RC-Volt-Ammeter-Amp-Analyzer-/161608050799?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item25a097286f

got one myself  no complains

 

Cheers John



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gollymolly


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Thanks John

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hako


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Some people call multimeters amp meters so it really depends on exactly what Rod wants to measure. John's suggestion is good - I have one fitted to my solar panel, but if you want something portable and not fixed then possibly a 'digital clamp meter' like the one in the link would fit the bill and be both portable and multipurpose.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MS2108A-Digital-Clamp-Meter-Multimeter-AC-DC-Current-Volt-Tester-/171769093025?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item27fe3c5ba1



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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
Phil C


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Hi all, I would strongly suggest a clamp meter as with a normal meter you have to break the wire you want to messure current on. That creates a major issue when you have to join the wire up again (sticky tape and glue just don't hack it). With a clamp meter no damage is don't to the wiring. Also as an added danger when you measure current the wire is live.

Just my twopeneth worth

Cheers

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deverall11


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Phil C wrote:

Hi all, I would strongly suggest a clamp meter as with a normal meter you have to break the wire you want to messure current on. That creates a major issue when you have to join the wire up again (sticky tape and glue just don't hack it). With a clamp meter no damage is don't to the wiring. Also as an added danger when you measure current the wire is live.

Just my twopeneth worth

Cheers

 Ditto. Much safer and easier to use.



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jetj


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Cruising Cruze wrote:

Hi Sue

Have a look here

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/60V100A-Digital-LCD-Watt-Meter-Battery-Balance-DC-RC-Volt-Ammeter-Amp-Analyzer-/161608050799?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item25a097286f

got one myself  no complains

 

Cheers John

 I have a couple of these as well and they seem good. I always have a multimeter with me as well.



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Janette
Baz421


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hako wrote:

Some people call multimeters amp meters so it really depends on exactly what Rod wants to measure. John's suggestion is good - I have one fitted to my solar panel, but if you want something portable and not fixed then possibly a 'digital clamp meter' like the one in the link would fit the bill and be both portable and multipurpose.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MS2108A-Digital-Clamp-Meter-Multimeter-AC-DC-Current-Volt-Tester-/171769093025?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item27fe3c5ba1

Not much use for 12V with amp range 40-400 amps IMHO. Too high for general 12v current in automotive industry except alt output, and not high enough for cranking amps.



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hako


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Baz421 wrote:
hako wrote:

Some people call multimeters amp meters so it really depends on exactly what Rod wants to measure. John's suggestion is good - I have one fitted to my solar panel, but if you want something portable and not fixed then possibly a 'digital clamp meter' like the one in the link would fit the bill and be both portable and multipurpose.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MS2108A-Digital-Clamp-Meter-Multimeter-AC-DC-Current-Volt-Tester-/171769093025?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item27fe3c5ba1

Not much use for 12V with amp range 40-400 amps IMHO. Too high for general 12v current in automotive industry except alt output, and not high enough for cranking amps.

 I have one of these and it will even measure the current that my computers cooling fan consumes - 0.08 on low   0.13 on med and 0.24 on high - I just checked it! 

These units will measure all currents experienced in cars or caravans...leds - incandescent bulbs, refrigerators, solar panels etc both in DC and AC.  They are not toys.

Regards  



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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
DeBe


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I wouldn't be too put off using an AC/DC clamp meter with 40A/400A. I use this a lot & on 40A scale is quite reasonable for small currents. These were measuring currents on 12Vdc.



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Ontos45


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Thanks hako and DeBe, just brought one. Cheap.



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aussie_paul


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Can you measure DC current with a clamp meter?

Aussie Paul. 



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DeBe


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The meter in my pictures is an AC/DC clamp meter & in the pics its measuring 12V DC current.



-- Edited by DeBe on Monday 4th of May 2015 01:00:29 PM

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hako


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You can get units for under $30 that only measure AC current but the one suggested measures DC as well.

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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
03_Troopy


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You can with a DC current capable one. There are quite a few around that only have AC current clamp capability, especially in the better brands at the lower end of their price range, if that makes sense.



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Baz421


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hako wrote:
Baz421 wrote:
hako wrote:

Some people call multimeters amp meters so it really depends on exactly what Rod wants to measure. John's suggestion is good - I have one fitted to my solar panel, but if you want something portable and not fixed then possibly a 'digital clamp meter' like the one in the link would fit the bill and be both portable and multipurpose.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MS2108A-Digital-Clamp-Meter-Multimeter-AC-DC-Current-Volt-Tester-/171769093025?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item27fe3c5ba1

Not much use for 12V with amp range 40-400 amps IMHO. Too high for general 12v current in automotive industry except alt output, and not high enough for cranking amps.

 I have one of these and it will even measure the current that my computers cooling fan consumes - 0.08 on low   0.13 on med and 0.24 on high - I just checked it! 

These units will measure all currents experienced in cars or caravans...leds - incandescent bulbs, refrigerators, solar panels etc both in DC and AC.  They are not toys.

Regards  

OK I bow to practical results. Thanks for the info. 



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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
03_Troopy


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Yes, it's not 40 to 400 amps, but a 40A max and a 400A max range.. but I have found the cheaper meters usually fail within a year or two anyway. You get problems with switches not working well and probe sockets not having a decent contact.

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Baz421


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03_Troopy wrote:

Yes, it's not 40 to 400 amps, but a 40A max and a 400A max range.. but I have found the cheaper meters usually fail within a year or two anyway. You get problems with switches not working well and probe sockets not having a decent contact.

Yeh understand now thanks Bob, misread it "again".



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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
Phil C


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aussie_paul wrote:

Can you measure DC current with a clamp meter?

Aussie Paul. 

 Sure can, my fluke is set up to do just that. 

Cheers



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Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.

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Ontos45


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My meter turned up today, looks great, can't wait to play with it.biggrinbiggrinbiggrin



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Cheers Peter and Sue

"If I agree with you we'll both be wrong"

No, I'm not busy, I did it right the first time.

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PeterD


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aussie_paul wrote:

Can you measure DC current with a clamp meter?

 Some you can, some you can't. Check the specifications before lashing out.



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Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 
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