How To Choose Between A Clamp Meter And Digital Multimeter

[KX]

How to choose between a clamp meter and a DMM in 5 seconds:
If you want to measure high currents >10A of 50-400Hz AC (some meters can do DC too), you need a clamp meter, if not, you're better off with a DMM. Clamp meters are inherently less accurate and designed for work on high power distribution boards, automotive etc. If that's you, get a clamp meter. Simple.

All the meters shown in the video are at the far entry level but good meters get very expensive very fast and even the best clamp meters still aren't particularly accurate and tend to drift over a few minutes and need to be taken away from the current source and zero'd frequently.

[Mrcloc]

0.5V can send 300A easy. 6000V can send 100 microamps. The fact that you're breaking a high current circuit doesn't necessarily mean you're creating danger. Just thought I'd clear that up.

Multimeters can measure DC at a far smaller cost. Clamp meters are usually made to measure AC, 50/60 Hz.

[guywilliams]

I use a Klein CL800 clamp multimeter, a really important feature not made known by virtually all meter makers is "refresh rate" of the screen. I had to ask Klein directly what their refresh rate was and even the person on the phone didn't fully realise what I needed to know. There are two refresh rates on meters 1. Measurement of voltage/current, etc. ("Meter refresh rate") 2. How often measurements taken are passed to the screen ("display refresh rate"). I bought the CL800 because it was the only one I could find that met my other needs as well as provided a high refresh rate. I can't remember what the rate is but it's great. Display refresh rate x Meter refresh rate is very important when measuring quicker changing values. I regularly need to measure triacs that control heating elements on industrial ovens. I need to see full current draw and zero current draw as triacs have a number of failure modes e.g. full on, full off and permanent half on, etc. As your meter is really good at this it would be helpful to do a video on it for visual explanation with numbers for the refresh rates. Fluke are great meters but suck at refresh rates!!

[JViello]

The title is all wrong. This is not a "how to choose" video it's "how each reads amperage". I was looking for a video that would give the pro's and con's of each meter to better determine which would meet my needs. I've always had DMM's but am considering picking up a hall effect clamp meter and still don't know if that's a good idea after watching this video.

Where would a clamp meter fall short vs a DMM?

[ElaBueLoRocKnRoll]

I wonder if the term parallel is used correct here? you can actually check Volts in parallel and with Amps there's no physical contact using the clamp meter.

[AlwaysBeSmart]

He didn’t explain why you buy the digital one instead? Going off this video there would be no reason to buy the digital one since it’s just more difficult to use and can’t read as many amps

[Robert-ughx]

Klein hands tools are excellent, I have lots qnd lots more. Leave the test meters ro well established test equipment manufacturers

[wyattsdad]

Yeah think it’s best to own both. I recently bought a Klein mm720. And I’ve got my clamp meter. The multi meter has a much larger well lit display. It’s just easier to read and use. But you need a clamp meter for all the reasons he described in the video

[hebertglauber]

I would like to know why the klein tools cl2300 was stopped from manufacturing.

[whatfreedom]

I need something to watch my converter battery charger on my RV. Would a amp clamp be the best way to monitor that? It has a 3 stage charger and I need to check to see if it’s stepping down like it should.

[McmM-ckop]

Thanks a lot that was very helpful you guys ay Klein tools are the best.👍

[wt]

With a clamp meter can you still opt to measure current via leads in serie?

[puncheex]

It appears to me that a clamp meter is simply a DMM with an additional function to measure AC amperage using the clamp. I know of no reason why the other functions of the meter should be any less accurate that they could be for an equivalently priced meter. The clamp uses a half of a transformer winding built into the clamp to measure the current draw in the wire
(the other half of the transformer) through it. Other than that, same-ol same-ol.

OK, I just learned there are two kind of clamps: the transformer method and a Hall effect sensor method. The Hall Effect meter differs in that it can measure DC current as well as AC.The Hall Effect meter works on a magnetic field, and is sensitive to local magnetic fields, so it should be zeroed out before a measurements is taken. And, of course, its bound to be more expensive, but what else is new?

[RaviSingh-xomy]

Sir my clamp multimeter DC Current Rang is 0-6000 µA it means i can not measure even 1 amp dc current with this?? and if i do this it can be brunt?

[mariomarionetas]

Seems like a no brainer.... I’m a plumber apprentice I guess I’m going for the clamp one ... I don’t really want to open a circuit when testing for current,

[butzbravo]

How to order cl800 how much give me some link thanks

[Nezello]

You have to seperate wires to measure them with the clamp, say an extension cord...

[Nick-rlpn]

Reading elsewhere I have learned that DMMs typically measure in milliunit resolutions, making them ideal for electronic work, while clamp meters only measure up to tenths of a unit, which is insufficient for electronic work, but fine for electrical work. Is that still true or has current clamp accuracy improved to match DMMs by now?

I've also read that some multimeters come with clamp accessories that you plug in so your DMM can be used like a current clamp. But I don't know if these attachments are considered to be as accurate as clamp meters. If they are it would seem that DMMs are all around superior, provided they come with this accessory.

Can anyone provide further insight on these questions?

[stephenfiore]

Could have explained how to get a current reading better. Why just a 2 minute video when there is so much you can discuss. Does YouTube charge for this vid?

[mohdyazidmahmod]

Clamp for am reading. Multimeter for volt reading.