DC current clamp or Multimeter adaptor advice - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2010, 02:44:24 pm
content: Hi,I would like to buy a good quality AC/DC current clamp or multimeter adaptor. I could buy an add on for my GMC Metrahit xtra but it's going to be very expensive. Can anyone suggest a good quality tool that can measure up to 100A DC and be used in tight spaces (ie in motorcycle wiring looms for instance). I mainly need it for servicing my bike but it would be handy for other uses such as measuring inrush current etc.Any thought.Thanks.David.London,UK

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2010, 04:15:19 pm
content: Beware: some cheap clamp meters are only current transformers and can't measure DC current. You need a real clamp meter which uses a hall effect sensor to measure DC current.Getting one that can measure inrush current might be expensive because it needs a fast responsive maximum peak value setting; I can't remember seeing anything that can do that.

author: nixxon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2012, 09:59:13 pm
content: Old thread, but still relevant. I'm looking for a decent current clamp as well. I have found a $60 Hantek CC-65 (BNC-connector) seems OK and pretty affordable:http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/570734894-AC-DC-Current-Clamp-CC-65-For-DSO3064-kit-Free-shipping-wholesalers.htmlMaybe somone can share their experience with this.Or maybe with a Pico PP264 (also BNC).I am a bit worried that the low voltage output level (1A = only 0,1V up to 20A (or even worse 1A=0,01V up to 65A)) might be a concern with the noisy low voltage levels on my Rigol DS1052E. I have seen that the Fluke equivalent (80i-110s) has the same voltage output levels though.Maybe there is a reasonable way to increase the output from the current clamps, if needed?nixxon

author: pelle.jansen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2012, 10:14:11 pm
content: Maybe I'm thinking too simple but wouldn't a low noise opamp do the trick? Use a male and female BNC connector on a piece of perf board and you have yourself a multifuction BNC signal amp

author: aluck
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2012, 02:33:07 pm
content: Quote from: nixxon on June 27, 2012, 09:59:13 pmI was going to buy this Hantek Clamp, but decided to ask if anyone actually has it. Search turned out this retro-thread.Is it any good? Is it up to spec?

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 02:38:10 pm
content: well, if the thread was old in 2012, it's extra old in 2014, so here we go again:anybody tried out the Hantek CC-65 Current probe?

author: Kohanbash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 03:46:17 pm
content: The Fluke's are pretty good and should be able to capture the inrush current.http://www.fluke.com/fluke/m2en/clamp-meters/Fluke-375.htm?PID=70391

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 05:23:08 pm
content: Quote from: dr_p on January 23, 2014, 02:38:10 pmI have the Hantek CC-65 and it seems pretty good. I will be doing a video review on it very soon.

author: AG6QR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 09:17:32 pm
content: Quote from: dr_p on January 23, 2014, 02:38:10 pmThat device seems to be made with a number of brand names, some terminating in BNC, others terminating in shrouded banana plugs. I don't know if there are internal differences or not. I own this one, labelled as a CA-60:http://www.aeswave.com/Current-Probe-Low-range-Generic-brand-p8486.htmlI've had it for a few years. I've used it for DC and mains AC, and it appears to work well. I've tested it against my Fluke 179 on 10A range placed in-line. At least in the overlapping range where both devices work, it seems to agree within the claimed 2% or so accuracy. Can't say much about how well it works at high frequencies, and I don't have a good way to cross-check its high current capability, but as far as I can tell, it seems to meet its published specs. It does work all the way down to DC.

author: Neverther
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 10:15:56 pm
content: On original old topic:I like my Cem DT-3351. Cheked it against Meterman CT238 with some waveforms and it held true.I don't know the frequency range of it as I bought it mostly to check starters and alternators.Checked it again with DC benchsupply and it seems to work fine on 400A range from 100mA to 6A, under 100mA it still shows the current but it may be off 20mA or more/less depending on zeroing and environment.Haven't tested the inrush mode (as said: DC work), but I got old F-class 3-phase sitting around...I guess current waveform probe is nice and fast, but on sub 10A range its pretty easy to shunt when working with DC if you want the waveforms once or twice a year.

author: Zensei
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 10:19:53 pm
content: Lightages:I would love to see that review, as I'm also in the market for that current clamp.

author: neikalo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2014, 07:23:07 am
content: Quote from: AG6QR on January 23, 2014, 09:17:32 pmThe CA-60 is made in Taiwan, the CC-65 in China. The CA-60 feels solid and the clamp operates smoothly, it's also reasonably accurate. The CC-65 is not identical at all, even though it has the same layout and the odd "1mV/100mA" and "1mv/10mA" nomenclature. It's the same weight, but feels nastier: the clamp is a bit rough opening and closing. It's also inaccurate. Avoid.My Test results:A2.87 Fluke 882.88 CA-602.89 Clamp Meter3.20 CC-65