Which uni-t clamp meter is everyone using?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 06:09:45 pm
content: Just been through a few days of studying of all subjects on DMM's bang for buck and brought the UT139c. I'm not a professional or even a enthusiastic hobbyist, getting there thou. I wanted to use something for fault finding on my car, electrical appliances and high power LEDS, so wanted something with a bit of user protection.Now i really can see the appeal of a clamp meter as a even safer option for high amperage, again i wont be using it lots but just the occasional times where i don't have to break the circuit. Once such time is going to be for when i relabel my AC stick welder as the amp indicator has moved, so i want to be able to zero that in, plus also i want to add a full bridge rectifier to it to go DC. So around the 200 Amps max.Narrowed it down to two, UNI-T UT210D and the UNI-T UT204, just want to see if other guys have brought.A big thank you to Dave and his videos on DMM's wow can you imagine being his apprentice, my head would explode after a days work so much info from one guy and i'm not even to sure his videos are cut and edited.Regards

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 07:26:43 pm
content: UT210E is nice and small, and quite cheap as well. Bought one recently, and am getting to like it, and using it a bit as an outdoor meter, and like the low current DC ranges ( though it also makes a pretty good compass though because of that) plus it is really small, so fits in easily in a small pouch.

author: farzadb82
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 09:16:14 pm
content: Same as SeanB, I have the UT210E. I bought it because it was the only reasonably priced one (that I could find) that could reliably do passive DC current measurement.Since buying it I've grown to really like it. It's small and portable and easy to work with. Function dial seems a little cheap, but it held up well in the 3 odd months I've had it.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 09:27:08 pm
content: One morefor UT210E..Reasonably accurate, very handy.. It has non contact voltage detection too... Useful little thing.

author: Muxr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 09:29:18 pm
content: I have the UNI-T UT210E.. nice build quality for the price. Near field stuff is hit or miss or I don't know how to use it properly. Clamp seamed to work well but I haven't really thoroughly tested it.

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 10:23:19 pm
content: So how come you lot went with the E as it only goes to 100A where the D goes to 200A? Cheers for all the quick responses too, good forum!!

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 10:39:40 pm
content: Quote from: chefslot on March 28, 2017, 10:23:19 pmI couldn't care less for +100A.... I bought it for 2A range.. THAT is rare... I don't do high power stuff.. even 20A would be ok for me..But that depends on use.. If you need higher currents, you need something else..

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 11:50:16 pm
content: Am i missing something, here's the specs on bothhttp://www.uni-trend.com/productsdetail_1190_915_915.htmlhttp://www.uni-trend.com/productsdetail_1189_915_915.htmlRegards

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2017, 11:59:27 pm
content: Another vote for the UT210E. I have one kicking around for quick low current measurements.The main advantage of the UT210E over the UT210D (at least for me) is the addition of a low current range with 2A DC full scale.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2017, 12:14:33 am
content: Quote from: chefslot on March 28, 2017, 11:50:16 pmMaybe, the D can't resolve 1mADC which was the whole reason I bought one, er two now. I have yet to plug the leads into mine. Mostly use it for DCA. Hack the EEPROM and you turn a good meter into something really nice. Hack the hardware and well....

author: Falkra
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2017, 02:09:53 am
content: And one more using UT210E, for the exact same reason : the 2A DC amp range.It is really useful to be able to measure amps on DC lines with the clamp, and get some precision on low values. When you are using a classical clamp it is rated for 400A but when checking for 250 mA... it's not the right tool.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2017, 07:10:51 am
content: Quote from: chefslot on March 28, 2017, 11:50:16 pmWell, specs for 210E are wrong, but take a look at the photo.. :-)

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2017, 09:52:35 pm
content: Kind of in between a rock and a hard place for this, as i only need 200a measurement once or twice and it seems a waste to then miss out on the low amperage measurements that the 'D' is missing, and to add insult to injury my multi meter has a symbol saying i can connect a amp clamp to it, which then would be great for the low current stuff, but can i find this product from UNI-T any where, nope!!

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 12:15:19 am
content: Quote from: chefslot on March 29, 2017, 09:52:35 pmThe UNI-T UT210E is able to measure DC current, and is it an extremely low cost device. Which other clamp meter can measure DC at a comparable cost?There is a thread about the UT210E;https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/a-look-at-the-uni-t-ut210e

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 10:25:24 pm
content: Think i will get a 'E' then beg borrow or buy a cheap meter for measuring 200 amps. Cheers all

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2017, 10:47:39 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on March 29, 2017, 12:14:33 amThere is most peoples hack and YOUR version of hack. Kinda like saying Picasso dabbled in painting.

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2017, 12:23:20 am
content: Just one last question, to clarifySo the 'D' will auto range for 20a or 200a with a 10ma or 100ma resolution, so if it auto ranges at 20a i could measure something at .01 amps? (10ma = .01a) Because for me this is close enough for anything i will be doing.Thank you for your patients.

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 09:43:29 pm
content: That last post wasn't a mic take, i'm just wanting to check my decimals points are correct.

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 01:57:13 am
content: Quote from: chefslot on April 01, 2017, 09:43:29 pmThe lack of response could be explained by "everyone is usingan UT210E"But, for the UT210D, it seems that the resolution is 10mA on the 20.00 A range.You can download the UT210D User Manual from the Uni-T websitehttp://www.uni-trend.com/productsdetail_1189_915_915.html

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 08:58:12 am
content: Used mine to check charging current in a 12V battery, and while it was sitting at about the correct float voltage, it was not able to supply the current to drive the gate motor. Now to buy a new battery this wek when i get a chance to go to the better supplier, looks like a lead crystal instead of the deep cycle energiser is going to be the thing, currently running off a 9Ah UPS battery, but we really want at least a 24 hour backup ability which a 9Ah will not give. S olooking for the smallest lead crystal over 15Ah.

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 04:00:55 pm
content: Quote from: SkyMaster on April 02, 2017, 01:57:13 amHi yes i have been on their page, i didn't look at the download as the picture and the specs on the webpage where wrong. So just to clarify the UT210D would be able to read something at 0.01 amps, the only reason i ask this is because to be able to read something that is 0.001 amps (to me) is a little hardcore isn't it? What do you need to find out that amount of low current for? Regards

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 04:10:04 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on April 02, 2017, 08:58:12 amThats gone over my head buddy, so i take it you needed the ultra low 1ma resolution to see if the (logic?) gate was opening or closing, but couldn't you have used a normal DMM for this and broke the circuit? Only asking as i brought a UT139c that would go down lower then 1ma.Regards

author: SkyMaster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 04:50:16 pm
content: Quote from: chefslot on April 02, 2017, 04:10:04 pmChefslot,Yes, your UT139C has a resolution as low as 0.1µA, but as you wrote; you need to break into the circuit. You cannot always easily break into a circuit (think about chasing a parasitic battery drain in car). And there is the burden voltage when you measure the current with a DMM. It seems that the burden voltage of the UT139C is not published (did not see it in the manual), but it exists. A Clamp Meter requires no set up time; you just clamp it.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 04:58:02 pm
content: Quote from: SkyMaster on April 02, 2017, 04:50:16 pmThis was exactly why I decided to spare the UT210E.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 05:03:18 pm
content: I was using the 20A range, but all I needed was accuracy to tell me charge, roughly what, discharge, roughly what, and not add any extra voltage drop in there. No lead resistance to worry about, no shunt resistance and no fuse resistance either, so it is almost invisible in reading current ( at least at DC as the core will have a very small added impedance with AC) and you can read current without cutting cables or pulling them out of connectors, so you can read under load.I wanted to see the battery current, not the logic, which in any case is being supported by the charger anyway, and the battery is float charging till the motor draws a current pulse from it. Great for alarms and such, as disconnecting the battery will set a fault code within a few seconds with the increased float voltage and dropped float charge current.

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 09:40:09 pm
content: Cheers all, i'm learning loads on this forum and all to do with multimeters. To be honest when looking for a multimeter i thought there couldn't be much difference between them, and after watching Dave's video i spent more hours researching. In fact i don't think i have researched something with so many variables

author: supercilious
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2017, 12:53:57 pm
content: I ended up replacing my UT-210Es with a pair of UT-211B. They are identical in form factor but they are much less prone to drifting around when using them for low current DC measurement (which is 90% of what I do with them). The UT-210E impressed me enough to give these a try and they are worth the extra cost IMO. Aside from being 6000 counts, they are much more stable and less susceptible to straying away from the zero point, most of the time I don't even need to manually zero them, but when I do, they stay put unlike my 210E.I don't really use the AC mode much, but its capable of 100uA accuracy and when I tested an RCD breaker it seemed to be spot on. Other than that, its basically identical to the 210E and come with really terrible probes (not that I've ever used it with probes). Much smaller and more handy than my other clamps, so these are now my favourites.

author: chefslot
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2017, 08:37:46 pm
content: In the end i brought the ut210e as apart from the one time i want to check the amperage from my welder it will be used for dc work. Thanks again to everyone who helped out on the forum.

author: RAVC
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 03, 2017, 12:50:30 am
content: What do owners do if their inexpensive UT21E needs calibration service or other repairs?

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 01:56:14 am
content: Quote from: RAVC on May 03, 2017, 12:50:30 amI have only been using it as a clamp so risk is pretty low that I would damage it. At the $30, it's disposable. If I damage the one I modified, I would just strip the parts and start over. Maybe try and squeak a MHz out of it. Seems fairly well made for the price and honestly, can't see having any problems with it.

author: P90
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 08:02:40 am
content: Quote from: RAVC on May 03, 2017, 12:50:30 amthey make a "UT21E"?

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 11:48:10 am
content: Quote from: P90 on May 04, 2017, 08:02:40 amUnpleaseant and uncalled for remarks removed by moderator