Advice on Earth Leakage Clamp Meters

[RogertheBodger]

Hi Everybody,

Been looking to get an earth leakage clamp meter for some time, and I have been reading up on them on the forum.

After a thread last week Telectrix posted a link to an Ebay site for an Alphatec TEK 633. and I have since bought one, just got it and I must say It looks the Buisness for the money - so Thanks for the tip Tel!

In the instructions it shows the correct method of use is to clamp the cpc. and not to clamp the L&N to obtain an earth leakage reading - OK with that but the question is, on some posts members have shown these clamp meters being clamped around the live pair - and I,m OK with that but this must mean that there are two types of clamp meter out there?

If any of you who have one of these (types) could shed some light on this I would appreciate it.

 

[pushrod]

So that's 0.000001A, ie one micro Amp.

Yep as i said -far more sensitivity than i could ever use.
I didn't pay anything like they cost now but tbh i would have preferred the cheaper models as their ranges are more appropriate but test-meter didn't have them when i was buying

One that has one of the ranges to read accurately up to 100mA would be my choice, now that i have a bit of experience with them.

 

[topquark]

Yep as i said -far more sensitivity than i could ever use.
I didn't pay anything like they cost now but tbh i would have preferred the cheaper models as their ranges are more appropriate but test-meter didn't have them when i was buying

One that has one of the ranges to read accurately up to 100mA would be my choice, now that i have a bit of experience with them.

Yep, that's about what I'm after as mine has gone awol. Just having a nose around for one now.

 

[pushrod]

Yep, that's about what I'm after as mine has gone awol. Just having a nose around for one now.

couple of other useful features to look for are "peak-hold" and "data-hold". The first one means you can see what the highest reading is over a certain time interval as you often find the earth leakage is not steady. The 2nd allows you to hold a value while you take the meter off the wire - it is amazing how often you are grovelling about in the semi-dark with it lol

 

[telectrix]

just bought the alphatek TEK633, data hold, but not got peak hold. it does however have a non-contact voltage detector, so now perhaps i can throw away my neon criver. LOL.

 

[topquark]

just bought the alphatek TEK633, data hold, but not got peak hold. it does however have a non-contact voltage detector, so now perhaps i can throw away my neon criver. LOL.

So now anywhere you go near a cable to measure the current flow, you'll end up condeming the wiring due to "voltage leaking" pmsl

 

[pushrod]

just bought the alphatek TEK633, data hold, but not got peak hold. it does however have a non-contact voltage detector, so now perhaps i can throw away my neon criver. LOL.

That looks to be a sensible choice at a sensible price - like the sound of the built in light in the jaws as well

Still haven't got a non-contact detector P&P makes the ones i fancy expensive even if they are on offer. Probs wait til i need something more expensive as well