Earth leakage meter

[peteelecs]

Does it matter from which way the cable enters the clamp by that I mean should meter front be facing towards load or towards the plug socket?

 

[davels]

If your talking about a clampmeter mate it dont matter but try to keep it central and at rite angles to cable
Cheers

 

[pushrod]

To use an earth leakage clamp meter you need a bit of flex you can plug in between the socket and the appliance with the outer sheath stripped off for 10-15 cm so that you can clamp just around N and L. If you are clamping around L,N and E then any leakage from live to earth ( or N to earth) will not show because the total in and out will be the same .

 

[peteelecs]

Are you saying that i clamp the L and N together or the L and E together?

 

[pushrod]

Are you saying that i clamp the L and N together or the L and E together?

You put your earth leakage clamp meter (set to mA) around the L and N, with the Earth outside the jaws. This will show any difference between L and N. If it is just leaking into the earth wire - then clamping just the earth should show a similar reading.

 

[m4tty]

I thought that if you clamped the Line/Neutral at same time it would read zero as they cancel eachother out. Im prob wrong tho

 

[pushrod]

I thought that if you clamped the Line/Neutral at same time it would read zero as they cancel eachother out. Im prob wrong tho

that's is the point - if there is a difference that is your earth leakage. If it does read zero there is no earth leakage and that appliance is not contributing to an rcd tripping. It is perfectly normal for appliances to have a very small earth leakage.

 

[gaffer]

Theres a good article in febs electrical times about this and clamp meters in general,will try and find a link.

 

[peteelecs]

ok thanks