Can anybody Recommend a good clampmeter?

[LlandrilloSpark]

As above can anybody recommend a good clamp meter?, does not have to measure DC, but would like it to read earth leakage , my old one has packed in.

 

[scotsparky]

Megger DCM300E High Resolution AC Earth Leakage Clampmeter

My company issue us with these

 

[Silly Sausage]

Try micro amps!!! Certainly LESS than 1mA!!! .....A ramp test gives a far better indication of leakage than 5 mA mate!!!

Yes, I agree. I was referring to a non-earth leakage meter, which people think are expensive (EL meters that is)!

How accurately would you want to measure leakage anyway?
With a 0.1mA meter I bet you'd get all sorts of calibration errors anyway, after some monkey's calibrated it and you've dropped it a few times!

+/- 1mA would do me just fine.
We're not talking (eg Pharmaceutical plant) 4-20mA measurements loops here.

 

[Engineer54]

Yes, I agree. I was referring to a non-earth leakage meter, which people think are expensive (EL meters that is)!

How accurately would you want to measure leakage anyway?
With a 0.1mA meter I bet you'd get all sorts of calibration errors anyway, after some monkey's calibrated it and you've dropped it a few times!

+/- 1mA would do me just fine.
We're not talking (eg Pharmaceutical plant) 4-20mA measurements loops here.

The better the resolution, the better the accuracy, across the whole range. You NEED a good or decent resolution to be confident of what your reading is as near as dam it correct, otherwise, ....why bother testing!!! +/- 1mA, is pointless on a leakage clamp meter!!!

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Got the TIS550 that nick recommended, very pleased with it, very very light and seems accurate

 

[Engineer54]

This is the Di-Log leakage clamp, and seems to be a pretty good budget model too... i'd certainly be happy with it...

Dilog DL6507 10uA to 60A AC Leakage Clamp meter. Buy online or call

 

[Silly Sausage]

The better the resolution, the better the accuracy, across the whole range. You NEED a good or decent resolution to be confident of what your reading is as near as dam it correct, otherwise, ....why bother testing!!! +/- 1mA, is pointless on a leakage clamp meter!!!

We'd all love high res instruments, but unfortunately they come at a price.

I thought the OP was after a cheap general purpose meter with which he could measure leakage currents with.
Having looked at the suggestions posted it looks like they're readily available!

As for this scenario of general installation testing, surely it's just being used as a diagnostic tool to show up any leakage problems, +/- a few mA is neither here nor there, no measurements are being recorded, eg testing a cct where you're expecting zero leakage, clamp your meter on, 'Ah yes, we're getting 15 or 20mA here, this isn't right!' Good enough for me!
In my instrument calibration days we definitely needed hi-res equipment, <<0.16mA...

Anyway, let's agree to differ, I'm stopping smoking tonight so I'm getting myself all wound up!!!
I'm off to drink large quantities of cold strong lager now. :54:arty::54:

 

[Engineer54]

Archy,

I think your missing the point, ...you Need the resolution to be of a decent level in order to know that what your reading off the test meter is near enough to it's true value. ... A resolution of 1mA on say a 5 mA range is nigh on useless to anyone, when you then add on the instruments % accuracy.

I wouldn't say 100 to 120 quid is an expensive bit of test kit, these clamps pay for themselves in no time when you have a leakage problems, that are difficult to pin point, especially when that leakage current is getting close to an RCDs tripping value. Remember, that leakage may not all be coming from a single point, but it still accumulates....

Oh, and the best of luck with your non smoking, ....that can be a real ball breaker!!!

 

[Engineer54]

Pat testers will use em......dodgy fridges and freezers. Cookers can be guilty n all....

A decent PAT tester will indicate total mA leakage on completion the load test...
Normally, fridges and fridge freezers and the like, are not classified as ''Portable Equipment'' and therefore wouldn't come under Pat testing criteria....

 

[Silly Sausage]

Normally, fridges and fridge freezers and the like, are not classified as ''Portable Equipment'' and therefore wouldn't come under Pat testing criteria....

Stop winding me up!

That Cyprus sun's just frying your brains now.

Over here in England we've got the rain to cool our brains down so we can talk sense.:wink_smile::reddevil::smiley2::smiley2::smiley2:

 

[Engineer54]

So you must be having an extended heat wave there, in the UK then!!!....