Which clamp meter for earth leakage AND continuity/voltage?

[HappyHippyDad]

It's one of those tools which you will hardly ever use, but when you do need it, it's priceless.
Bet you spend an hour when you get it testing how much current everything in your house draws....Don't forget to make up your appliance test lead before the Dilog arrives though.

Thanks for the usual professional and sensible advice Guitarist.

When you say you only use it a few times but when you do its pricess, are you talking about the earth leakage capabilities, assuming you are as your MFT does all the other bits?

Also, going to stick my neck out a little and show my inexperience, although I haven't really hidden that fact!! But could you explain a bit about 'making up a test lead', I'm guessing its something to do with avoiding the return current through the neutral but I could just be digging a great big hole.

Yes, I will test everything in the house with great delight

 

[Richard Burns]

But could you explain a bit about 'making up a test lead',

I assume it is something like this photo from Pushrod, though I do not like the idea of LN clamping and would tend to just do the cpc. But that is my preference.

 

[Guitarist]

Thanks for the usual professional and sensible advice Guitarist.

When you say you only use it a few times but when you do its pricess, are you talking about the earth leakage capabilities, assuming you are as your MFT does all the other bits?

Also, going to stick my neck out a little and show my inexperience, although I haven't really hidden that fact!! But could you explain a bit about 'making up a test lead', I'm guessing its something to do with avoiding the return current through the neutral but I could just be digging a great big hole.

Yes, I will test everything in the house with great delight

Basically, it's as Richard has posted, but obviously you should sheathe any live conductors. With one of these leads you can clamp the cpc for measuring earth leakage, and the line conductor for simply measuring current drawn.
I don't use it for anything other than measuring current, as I prefer my MFT for everything else.

 

[bigbaddave]

take a look here Tel...i use one of these...and its OK:

AMECaL Calibration Services Laboratory

Thats what i have.. Not a bad bit of kit and i paid £40 new..

 

[bigbaddave]

I'd disagree with that statement, with the amount of RCD's being used these days for just about everything!!
Far better and easier to fault find with, especially when tracing leakage faults than with an MFT ramp test.
I think every electrician should have one in their testing kit!! ...So long as they know how to use them!! ..lol!!

I agree with this allthough used to rely on the ramp funmction, It wasnt until i was on a job testing a submain board which was fed from a RCD in seperate building 30m away (Not far i know but you get the picture) and having to rest the RCD every time it went was just a joke.. Now clamp it, get your reading and well thats it done..

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I assume it is something like this photo from Pushrod, though I do not like the idea of LN clamping and would tend to just do the cpc. But that is my preference.
View attachment 18274

Thats great Richard. Thankyou.

 

[Guitarist]

Best thing to clamp is a table lamp with an energy saving lamp fitted. Makes you realise just how little power they consume

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Best thing to clamp is a table lamp with an energy saving lamp fitted. Makes you realise just how little power they consume

I love it! Microwave uses 5.7A, kettle 9.8A, oven 10A on grill but only 8A on main oven!, Lighting circuit with ALL lights on 2.7A, energy saving lamp - cant remember - but incredibly low!

I can keep going if anyone wants? :wink_smile:

 

[Guitarist]

I love it! Microwave uses 5.7A, kettle 9.8A, oven 10A on grill but only 8A on main oven!, Lighting circuit with ALL lights on 2.7A, energy saving lamp - cant remember - but incredibly low!

I can keep going if anyone wants? :wink_smile:

:vanish:

The novelty will wear off mate. Have you tested the earth leakage on your installation yet? :vanish:

 

[Ducksy]

Hey sorry my knowage of clamp meters is limited but do you guys have two clamp meters one for earth leakage (range 10 μA to 60a) and one for higher load readings (range 0.1ma to 400a) which I'm guessing you would need for Working out say max demand on EICR's.

I mean this one only reads up to a maximum of 60a....... I guess you could individually test each circuit and add them together to work out max demand.

And also I can see why a earth leakage clamp meter is useful for fault finding but wouldn't IR testing be just as effective for finding faults...apart from working out issues like if there are too many computers on one circuit causing nuisance tripping.

As I only do single phase domestic work (no EICR) would you recommended me getting one.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

:vanish:

The novelty will wear off mate. Have you tested the earth leakage on your installation yet? :vanish:

Not yet Guitarist, at work again now and didn't get home to play with it yesterday until 8pm!

Yes... The novelty always wears off doesn't it, still looking forward to seeing what the shower does though

 

[Guitarist]

Hey sorry my knowage of clamp meters is limited but do you guys have two clamp meters one for earth leakage (range 10 μA to 60a) and one for higher load readings (range 0.1ma to 400a) which I'm guessing you would need for Working out say max demand on EICR's.

I mean this one only reads up to a maximum of 60a....... I guess you could individually test each circuit and add them together to work out max demand.

And also I can see why a earth leakage clamp meter is useful for fault finding but wouldn't IR testing be just as effective for finding faults...apart from working out issues like if there are too many computers on one circuit causing nuisance tripping.

As I only do single phase domestic work (no EICR) would you recommended me getting one.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

The Dilog which many of us own has such a large range that we can use it for everything needed in domestic, including earth leakage.
Get one mate, they're invaluable.
Dilog DL6507

 

[Ducksy]

Sweet il do some research tonight

Thanks guitarist.

 

[telectrix]

ducksy, thy're very useful when fault finding RCD tripping issues. you clamp the main earth cable with all MCBs off, note any reading, then turn breakers on 1 at a time till you see the reading jump. same procedure with appliances. once you've found the circuit responsible, clamp it's own cpc and narrow the fault down.