Clamp meter,safe,reliable,and under $200 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 05:59:56 pm
content: hey guys/gals.... I AM NEW,so sorry if I'm doing something wrong. I tried to search first,but didnt find what I'm looking for.ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED..... I'm looking for a clamp meter under $200. Things I'm looking for are....: SAFE/RELIABLE: AC/DC current clamp: fairly accurate both AC/DC from clamp from .25amps(250milliamp - 100amps): continuity: max/min: inrush would be a plus but not a mustANY AND ALL HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! I'm a beginner when it comes to meters but TRULY wanting to learn. My 1st QUALITY multimeter I just got the eevlog brymen bm235 now need the clamp meter! Again if I'm post in wrong place or unapropaly IM SOOOO SORRY... by the way I was looking at the Klein cl800,but was told it's not accurate down to .25 amps and theres better options but wasnt offered any...lol

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 06:32:36 pm
content: I use a Mastech 2108Ahttps://www.ebay.com/itm/New-MS2108A-Digital-Clamp-Meter-Multimeter-AC-DC-Current-Volt-Tester/171901109389

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 07:40:00 pm
content: Thank you for your help. Does it seem fairly accurate through the clamp down to .5 amps

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 08:05:55 pm
content: I use some antiques, but people around here like the UT210E a lot - it has a good construction but the jaw is not huge.https://www.uni-trend.com/html/product/General_Meters/digitalclampmeters/UT210_Series/UT210E.htmlHowever, at this price range you can look at a meter with a bit more counts (10000) and it has also some good reviews such as the GTC CM100.https://gtc.ca/product/cm100-milliamp-clamp-meter/The manual does not say it, but its FAQ says that, when measuring current, the probe terminals have an output of 10m/A, thus allowing it to act as a current probe.There is also a more featured Amprobe AMP-320 with 10mA resolution and AC+DC, etc.https://www.amprobe.com/product/amp-320/

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 08:12:06 pm
content: The UT-210E that I have gets used a lot, because the clamp is convenient in many situations.Its inherently a safe meter because its non-invasive and also it has a nifty NCV sensor that has proven to be super useful in warning where voltage is present in any device. You really cant go wrong for $35. Accuracy is much better than I expected.Is it 1ma on current, 1 pf for capacitance?Yes if you understand its limitationswhich any other meter of the same kind would also share.You should have some means of degaussing it periodically but that is easy to make.

author: threephase
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 10:31:47 pm
content: A bit above the $200, is the Flir CM46, which I use and have found it to be reliable and accurate. You may be able to shop around and get it cheaper.https://www.flir.com/products/cm46/

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 18, 2020, 10:36:27 pm
content: Brymen BM037 or BM035. Specs:https://brymen.eu/wp-content/uploads/biall/102194/102194.KARTA_EN..2020-05-22.1.pdf

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 04:06:20 am
content: The AMP-2xx/3xx series meters have similarities to the Brymen clamp meters. Not sure of the history there. All appear to have the same minor annoyance where they can only measure down to 0.1V. Just something to keep in mind.I picked up the AMP-330 with NIST calibration+data for a good price a while back. I've found it to be pretty accurate in most cases, generally within 0.05A. But a lot of that depends on conditions. Values below 0.25A start to wander a bit.Here is the calibration data:Setpoint As Left19.00A 19.18A (small conductor position)58.00A 58.43A (small conductor position)58.00A 58.75A580.0A 582.2A975A 980AI just did a quick test between 0.5A to 40.0A and found it to be fully spot on to the tenth of an amp the entire way.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 11:18:52 am
content: Quote from: Neeko on December 18, 2020, 07:40:00 pmIt has 400A and 40A ranges for both AC and DC. In 40A range the resolution is 10mA, and seems well within its specs of +/- 2% + 6 digits, indeed when nulled carefully using the REL button, the LSD is spot on, compared against a 1% shunt combined with a 0.05% DMM.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 12:05:55 pm
content: Quote from: Neeko on December 18, 2020, 05:59:56 pmNone of suggested besides brymen have Crest function AFAIK.

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 03:06:08 pm
content: Yea for the money I am looking at the brymen 035 and 037, Klein cl800, or the cheaper uni-t something 210e I think...... IVE ONLY BEEN PART OF THIS GROUP FOR 2 DAY AND ITS GREAT TO SEE THE HELP I CAN RECEIVE!!!! ITS A GREAT PLACE...... THANK YOU

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 03:07:27 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on December 19, 2020, 12:05:55 pmIt is a bit hard to figure out this because most of the manufacturers call it "inrush" instead of crest. All the models I mentioned above have this ability - at least they mention this or were tested by others.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 03:10:55 pm
content: Quote from: Neeko on December 19, 2020, 03:06:08 pmJust one bit. Klein's CL900 has inrush, but apparently not the CL800.https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/clamp-meters/digital-clamp-meter-ac-auto-range-trms-low-impedance-loz-2000-amp

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 03:39:29 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on December 19, 2020, 03:07:27 pmI don't see UT210E manual mentioning inrush capability.

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 04:14:19 pm
content: Yea it does not have inrush feature,but inrush is not a must for me. It would be nice though. I bought the Klein cl900 and returned it because for some reason the clamp was NOT working. It was reading 3 amps on a line that was pulling 8 amps and other times it wouldn't read ANYTHING.... THE MAIN THINGS I NEED ARESAFERELIABLEDEFINITELY FAIRLY ACCURATE FOR AC AND DC FROM CLAMP down to 250 or 500 milliampsMax minBuzzer for continuity (hopefully fairly fast detection)And definitely true rmsTheese are the only things I really need... and 50-200 dollars at mostAGAIN....THANK YOU,AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HELPS

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 05:14:07 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on December 19, 2020, 03:39:29 pmYeah, you are right. One more reason the UT210E is cheaper than the others. Not to detract from it, but it just fits different requirements.To the OP: a discussion about other Uni-T clamps. Apparently the UT216C is also good.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/which-uni-t-clamp-meter-to-buy/

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 05:22:16 pm
content: Yea I was just looking at 3 clamp meters the Klein cl800, Brymen BM037, and the uni-t 216D with the nice old display,but dont think it's worth spending 200 for the display but the uni-t 216c for 100 looks like good. Think I'm gonna try and find some opinions on the Klein cl800,brymen bm037,and the uni-t 216c. there all around 100 dollars! And should be good enough for me to learn worth! AGAIN..... I CANT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HELP IM GETTING HERE!!!

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 05:32:07 pm
content: For a cheap clamp meter the UT210E is one of the best, like most clamp meters it is not perfect at low DC current, but it is better than many other. Do not expect clamp meters to be precise, they are not. DC clamps will often change reading when you change orientation of the clamp (Due to Earths magnetic field).If you want to measure DC mA with a clamp, take a look at Benning CM11, I have recently bought one and it looks to be the best low current DC clamp I have seen.Measuring DC below 1A (or thereabout) is not something many clamp meters do well, most works much better with a couple of amps or more. I.e. I would not use the same clamp for higher current as I would for low current, especially when talking DC.

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 06:19:59 pm
content: Yea looks like a great clamp meter but twice what I'm looking to spend. I TRULY believe you get what you pay for. Most of the time. But this is my 1st clamp meter and trying to stay under 200

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 08:03:53 pm
content: Quote from: Neeko on December 19, 2020, 06:19:59 pmIf you believe much of you usage is below 1A, get the UT210E, for higher current it is not nearly as important what meter you get.I have reviewed a couple of clamp meters, being an electronic guy I am very interested in the low DC current behavior and not as much in how the meter handles 1000A AC.As a general meter I would never recommend a clamp meter, they are nice for measuring current, but fairly limited for everything else (They work, but a $20 DMM is often better).

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 08:21:13 pm
content: Quote from: cdev on December 19, 2020, 08:05:05 pmThe UT210E is not anywhere near 1mA accuracy, but you can easily detect 10mA DC with it (But not measure it accurately). To measure low currents you need to use the zero button, then clamp it around the wire and then check again outside the wire to see how much it has drifted.To check if a car uses to much standby current from the battery I would say it is adequate, but measuring current consumption from a low power circuit it is not.

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 08:26:11 pm
content: Yea I'm mostly useing this for small dc current working on my car,high power electric scooter(like wiring lights)and for around the house checking load on breakers,checking current for generator use....ect definitely 20amps or less and never over 100 amp or even close to that. Think I'm going to pick up the uni-t 210e for low current and look for something reasonable for higher stuff like a brymen BM037 or uni-t 216c or the Klein cl800..... between the 2 I should be ok. I just bought my 1st decent multimeter meter and got scammed. Was told it was a new up to date eevlog brymen bm235 but turned out to be the oldest 1st edition

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 09:12:55 pm
content: Quote from: Neeko on December 19, 2020, 08:26:11 pmYou may be scammed, but you still got a very good meter.

author: Neeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2020, 10:04:16 pm
content: Yes from what I've been told..... it might be the oldest version but still a QUALITY multimeter that I got for 100 bucks. It last me years!

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2020, 02:48:14 am
content: Be careful about the "Inrush" feature as in many cases it is only for AC amperage. For example, the AMP-25 is this way.

author: pasik
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 12, 2024, 09:06:41 am
content: Quote from: HKJ on December 19, 2020, 05:32:07 pmI was thinking about buying benning cm11 clamp meter, but can you say something about bugs in this meter like showed in this video: