Clamp Meters / Clamp Adapters
The clamp meter is a popular piece of basic test equipment, combining a digital multimeter with a built in current clamp. Current is measured by simply placing a conductor in the meter's jaw, with no need to open the circuit. Tests are safe and efficient, with measurements taken quickly, and without contacting exposed wire.
There are several areas to consider when selecting a clamp meter:
- What voltage and current range do you need?
- Do you need a meter to be True RMS?
- What size conductors will you be measuring?
- Do you need to measure inrush current?
- Do you need data logging and PC connectivity?
Clamp meters are available in many shapes and sizes. It is important to know the voltage and current ranges you intend to measure, ensuring you purchase a product which will fit your application. Certain models are also capable of measuring inrush current, which is the initial power surge required by a motor during start up. However, this is not a universal characteristic. It is included on many models, but not all.
Certain clamp meters possess data logging capability, with various connectivity options to upload recorded information. For applications where records must be kept, this is an essential feature which simplifies the entire process.