Clamp Meter Reading

[m4tty]

Hi,

After reading a post on here re clamp meters I went and bought one from Maplin for a tenner. Well pleased with it but whilst playing with it clamping it on the tails etc on the 20amp range i was reading 0.98amps for each tail when clamped seperately. But when i clamped it around the bare earth wire going from the incommer sheath to the MET (TNS) i got a reading of 0.56amp. Is this normal ??

Cheers in advance

Is 1 amp a correct reading for a few lights,tv, laptop, fridge & Freezer. Thanks

 

[Riggy]

Looks like either you've got a dud, or your doing something wrong to me!

Shouldn't be anything (measurable with a

 

[paul b b]

i would say its a dud, what you have on should say more than 1 amp.

try clamping it on the tails and take a reading, switch kettle on, run back and the reading should jump about 1.5-2Kw (depending on kettle)

paul

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Hi,After reading a post on here re clamp meters I went and bought one from Maplin for a tenner. Well pleased with it but whilst playing with it clamping it on the tails etc on the 20amp range i was reading 0.98amps for each tail when clamped seperately. But when i clamped it around the bare earth wire going from the incommer sheath to the MET (TNS) i got a reading of 0.56amp. Is this normal ??

Cheers in advance

Is 1 amp a correct reading for a few lights,tv, laptop, fridge & Freezer. Thanks

Hello Matty...

I have the

 

[roys]

Also make sure the HOLD button is off and the min max button is off (if fitted).

 

[a1]

If I was a betting man I would put

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

He was chewing Gum at the time. ]

Applaud SmileyApplaud SmileyROTFWLROTFWLROTFWLROTFWL

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Also make sure the HOLD button is off and the min max button is off (if fitted).

Good point there Roys.

No max/min button on the Maplin jobbie....

But there is a Hold button....

AND it is possible to press the hold button whilst the meter is switching on

(twisting the dial) and you can get the display to stick at a low value.

That said, In this particular case I think m4tty said he got Two different readings, that would imply Hold is "Off".

Even so, always good to double check your Hold button IMHO!

 

[m4tty]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes it is the same one as SL's got (I bought it from SL's and others recommendation) I am well pleased with the meter and i did do the kettle trick with the immersion heater and it jumped from 1amp to 14amps so know its working fine.

Just checked again and the tails are pulling 14.07amps but the immersion heater is on so 13a for the immersion and 1amp for the tv, computer etc. Thought the TV would be pulling more than an amp??

Also just checked the piece of wire which is sweated onto the sheath to the met and its reading 0.37a???

Not reading any voltage. And the jaws on the clamp are fully closed.

Overall well pleased with the meter and have been playing with it since so thanks for all who recommended it cheers

Thanks

 

[m4tty]

One last stupid question: The cable being measured or 'tail' has to be inside the loop with jaws closed around it (so its free to move about) and not inside the jaws itself. If you can understand what im trying to say. Ta

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

One last stupid question: The cable being measured or 'tail' has to be inside the loop with jaws closed around it (so its free to move about) and not inside the jaws itself. If you can understand what im trying to say. Ta

tut tut!

I thought we had told you... :_|

There are NO stupid questions!!:|B-) :x

(I may have to ring the Don to get the boys to pop round and remind you! ] ROTFWL )

You are quite correct m4tty!

You should be able to slide your clamp meter along the cable, the Jaws of the clamp meter have to make a loop as part of a transformer.

Where the cable you have on test is single winding of one side of the transformer. Thats why you must only read a single cable because otherwise the mag field from the return (e.g. Neutral) leg will cancel out the testing (e.g. Live) leg!

{scientific playing around bit:-}

If you were that way inclined & the cable was small enough, you could wrap two loops of the test cable through your meter & you will get Double the current value!

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes it is the same one as SL's got (I bought it from SL's and others recommendation) I am well pleased with the meter and i did do the kettle trick with the immersion heater and it jumped from 1amp to 14amps so know its working fine. Just checked again and the tails are pulling 14.07amps but the immersion heater is on so 13a for the immersion and 1amp for the tv, computer etc. Thought the TV would be pulling more than an amp??

TV's, HiFi, PC's, Entertainment systems don't draw a fat lot of current.....

Check how much you get when on standby....

and consider those OTT claims about how much you "waste" on standby! X( :_|

Far better saving IMHO if you ban Joe Public sticking up 500watt garden floodlights!!!! :coat

Also just checked the piece of wire which is sweated onto the sheath to the met and its reading 0.37a???

Not reading any voltage. And the jaws on the clamp are fully closed.

Overall well pleased with the meter and have been playing with it since so thanks for all who recommended it cheers

Thanks

You could always buy a "second" meter...

put one on Line(Phase) tail and the other on the Neutral tail..

compare the two values you read.? ] ; \ ; )B-) :coat