Forum Index > Search: clamp and meter and harding

That DC <span class="highlight">clamp</span> <span class="highlight">meter</span> from E-bay - report.

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 10:40

ThreadID: 61382 Views:3119 Replies:9 FollowUps:7

This Thread has been Archived

Mike Harding

I’ve performed a more detailed test on it; results as follow:
All tests performed at 22C (I’ll try and do a few at 55C over the next week or so)

DC voltage – accurate to better than 0.7% over the range 100mV to 100V
Resistance – accurate to better than 1% over the range 10R to 5M
Frequency – spotcheck at 1KHz, accurate to better than 2Hz
Duty cycle – spot check at 50%, meter displayed 50%
DC current (40A range) – accurate to better than 2%
DC current (400A range) – spot check at 50A, meter displayed 50.8A

NB. reversing the DC current flow direction through the clamp cause the reading to change by a small amount but I do not consider this to be a significant problem given the likely applications for which this meter will be used.

At ~A$55 delivered to Oz it’s excellent value for money as a general purpose automotive/caravan/camping meter.

Mike Harding

mike_harding@fastmail.fm

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - Ed. C. (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 10:51

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 10:51

Mike, Thanks for taking the time to do this!

(think I might go and get me one;-))

Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 323772

Follow Up By: Trevor W(Brisbane) - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 11:21

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 11:21

I would also like to buy one but have never bought anything on E bay
Ed. as your address is Qld and I live southside of Brisbnae I was hoping you would like to buy 2 and I will send you the Cash up front if you are near Brisbane. my mobile is 0438 602533
Thanks

FollowupID: 590847

Follow Up By: Shaker - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 18:50

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 18:50

Just register on ebay, do a search & buy one ... easy!

FollowupID: 590879

Follow Up By: Member - Ed. C. (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 19:02

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 19:02

G'day Trevor,
I'm in Toowoomba, but I'm sure we can work something out:)

Will probably get a couple of these anyway (one for daughter & SIL who are planning a 12 month working holiday 'round & across Oz w/- a caravan), so one more will be easy enough..

Having said that, as Shaker says, it's easy enough to register on ebay if ya choose to go that way... Will be in touch..

Regards, Ed C

Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 590885

Reply By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 10:57

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 10:57

Hi Mike, What is the link for the product plse..?

AnswerID: 323775

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 11:11

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 11:11

This is a current auction Link
showing the model of meter I bought.

Otherwise do an E-bay search on "clamp meter" and that should turn a few up.

Mike Harding

FollowupID: 590846

Reply By: Best Off Road - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 11:24

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 11:24

Thanks Mike,

On your recommendation I'm gonna snag one of these, sounds like great value.

Jim.

AnswerID: 323777

Reply By: Geoff43 - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 14:00

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 14:00

Bought mine from Hong Kong exactly the same model,downloaded English version operating manual (45 pages!) just typed into google UT203/204

Geoff43.

AnswerID: 323788

Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 14:20

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 14:20

Thanks Mike, decided that I would finally buy one as well. Been procxrastinating - mainly because of the local price! Anyway, time will tell how good they are.

Kind regards

Theo

AnswerID: 323790

Reply By: deserter - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 15:03

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 15:03

What do I use it for - can I measure what amps that implements are using ?

AnswerID: 323793

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 16:30

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 16:30

Good Mike, how about others that are sold in the Australian market? I say that as the one you have selected to test may be a good one but where do other readily available one sit in comparison? Is it branded, is it easly replacable with the same brand and manufacturer?

So may people EO people I mean could be advantaged if you provided information as the Jaycar one and DSE if it was available. Then the information would be more useful to compare. I could even drop my Jaycar one in for you to test when I go through Melbourne if you would.

I guess then you would charge like Choice?

AnswerID: 323801

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 16:55

Thursday, Sep 04, 2008 at 16:55

Hi John

Frankly John I doubt there is a great deal of difference when it comes to accuracy between these sorts of cheap meters.

>the one you have selected to test may be a good one

Indeed it may but it was simply a random sample bought from E-bay so, equally, it may be a bad one?

To gain much more than I have recorded above one would have to test a random sample of (say) five meters from different manufacturing batches and perform the tests over the full temperature range of the meter (0 - 50C).

Although the companies who make these meters will try to maintain their quality they won't try as hard as someone such as Fluke so even if we did a batch test on the Chinese meter tomorrow the one they produce in 12 months time may be different in performance whereas the Fluke unit would be the same or better.

"Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer chances" :) but the above results should give people confidence to invest $55.

Mike Harding

FollowupID: 590865