Clamp Meter

have one of those as well.........seems ok and I have cross checked its display with another brand and accuracy seems ok....the digital readout bounces around at times when turned on but not actually reading.......

bungarra, I find it pretty useful but as you observe the digits bounce around when not reading or as I say open circuit. Good to have one for AC as well as DC clamp reading

did you read the instructions? (-:
I have one too, the instructions say to press the yellow 'zero' button before measuring.
Klaus

Yes, Klaus

The Iron Core will get residual magnetism in it when it's used to measure DC.

That's why you have to press the Zero button.

If you clamp it across a wire carrying high AC current, it will reduce the residual magnetism - or connect it to a DC flow in the opposite direction.

Just read this on the Jaycar site:

It uses a simple hall effect sensor and iron ring core setup, and connects to your digital multimeter. It will measure AC and DC current and has a calibration dial to allow for any magnetising of the core.

Bit more clarifycationing of the magnetising affect

Thanks Mike

I find your contributions on all things electrical very useful and informative........

Thanks for taking the time to give this feedback.

I've spent 35 years working in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, but when it came to small DC power systems, I only had my Engineering Degree theory to work from. I did work in telephone exchanges that had 500 amp busbars that ran up 4 floors !

The tips and practical suggestions I got from the many users of this Forum have been an immeasurable help in getting a realworld understanding of the important issues for travellers living off DC power.

I worry when I look back at how poorly I set up the 12 volts tomy 3-way fridge when we spent 3 months travelling through Central Australia in 1991 ! I've learnt so much since !

I'm still active with communications and engineering help to the Rural Fire Service and Volunteer Rescue Association.

I like to post info about my learnings, as a way of repaying the excellent help I've received here.

Mike, I would say bungarra is spot on too, I know a bit about electrical stuff too, but always interested to see different ways of doing things. Thanx

thanks to you also Richard

between yourself, Mike DD and Derek we members can learn one hell of a lot electrically......(and I have probably forgotten someone else unintentionally..sorry)

I find the more I read many of these post the more I learn how little I know !...in reading these posts hopefully I retain sufficient snippets of info. to get out of trouble "out there" somewhere should the need arise

I've usually found posting information here is quite rewarding - often someone will reply with -
- an even better way to do it.
- a subtle hazard I hadn't thought of.
- problems in certain circumstances.
- a cheaper way to do it

Of course there are certain people here who go ballistic when someone points out that their post was less-than-perfect, but you learn to ignore those :-)

On some issues it is so hard to try and explain to people what you mean and then someone who thinks they know everything takes something out of context and turns it into a big deal.

Some people try get to technical with a reply and the person only wanted a yes or no answer.

The cheap Jaycar clamp meters would do everything you want to do.

When taking current readings take a voltage reading at the same time and point where you have your clamp meter connected, for exemple a product may have an adverised current draw of 10 amps at 13.8 volts but when you test it you may get a reading of 12.5 amps and you may think it is faulty or there is something wrong with it.....but if you check the voltage whilst under load it may only show 11 volts meaning the product is drawing the right current. Fix the voltage drop and bring it upto 13.8 volts and your current meter should show 10 amps...or something like that.

There are so many tricks of the trade that are simple to perform and give better results.

What are you going to use this meter for?

Regards Richard