Comments on: Dealmonger: A Clamp-Style Multimeter for $12 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/23/dealmonger-a-clamp-style-multimeter-for-12/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:13:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Myself http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/23/dealmonger-a-clamp-style-multimeter-for-12/#comment-38926 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:15:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/23/dealmonger-a-clamp-style-multimeter-for-12/#comment-38926 These, by the way, are probably the fuseless cheapies that db warned about last time we had a multimeter post: http://www.esasafe.com/fe/pdf/Multi-meter_Accident_Prevention_Plan.pdf These, by the way, are probably the fuseless cheapies that db warned about last time we had a multimeter post: http://www.esasafe.com/fe/pdf/Multi-meter_Accident_Prevention_Plan.pdf

]]> by: theminor http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/23/dealmonger-a-clamp-style-multimeter-for-12/#comment-38883 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 19:00:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/23/dealmonger-a-clamp-style-multimeter-for-12/#comment-38883 Here is one for $10: http://www.homier.com/detail.asp?sku=04392 Here is one for $10:
http://www.homier.com/detail.asp?sku=04392

]]> by: Myself http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/23/dealmonger-a-clamp-style-multimeter-for-12/#comment-38844 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:21:43 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/23/dealmonger-a-clamp-style-multimeter-for-12/#comment-38844 After playing with an AC clamp meter for a week, you'll want one that does DC too, for car work. Unfortunately, measuring DC amperage with a clamp is considerably more complex than AC amperage, and the meters that do it are fairly expensive, usually in the $200 range, though I've seen them as low as $60 at Sears. I'm skeptical of this thing, not just because of the low price, but the 1000A capacity. That's fine if you're working regularly with giant loads, but most of the time you'll be so near the bottom of its range, it won't be very accurate. One way to work around the low-range problem is by multiplying the input signal. Wrap the wire you're measuring around the jaw a few times, then divide the reading by that number. For about $10, you can get an "AC line splitter" which plugs inline between an appliance and an outlet. Not only does it save you from having to slice open an extension cord, it also has 1x and 10x holes to clamp through, for exactly this reason. After playing with an AC clamp meter for a week, you’ll want one that does DC too, for car work. Unfortunately, measuring DC amperage with a clamp is considerably more complex than AC amperage, and the meters that do it are fairly expensive, usually in the $200 range, though I’ve seen them as low as $60 at Sears.

I’m skeptical of this thing, not just because of the low price, but the 1000A capacity. That’s fine if you’re working regularly with giant loads, but most of the time you’ll be so near the bottom of its range, it won’t be very accurate.

One way to work around the low-range problem is by multiplying the input signal. Wrap the wire you’re measuring around the jaw a few times, then divide the reading by that number. For about $10, you can get an “AC line splitter” which plugs inline between an appliance and an outlet. Not only does it save you from having to slice open an extension cord, it also has 1x and 10x holes to clamp through, for exactly this reason.

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