Key considerations for using a clamp ammeter in brief
Clamp meter (clamp meter) is an instrument that integrates a current transformer and an ammeter. It is an important branch of a digital multimeter. Its working principle is the same as that of a current transformer for measuring current. A clamp meter is a combination of a current transformer and an ammeter. The iron core of the current transformer can be opened when the wrench is tightened; the wire through which the measured current passes can pass through the gap opened by the iron core without being cut off, and the iron core is closed when the wrench is released. The measured circuit wire passing through the iron core becomes the primary coil of the current transformer, and the current is induced in the secondary coil by passing the current. So that the ammeter connected to the secondary coil has an indication ----- measure the current of the line under test.
The clamp meter can be changed to different ranges by changing the gear of the switch. But it is not allowed to operate with electricity when shifting gears. The clamp meter is generally not high in accuracy, usually in the range of 2.5 to 5. For the convenience of use, there are switches of different ranges in the meter for the function of measuring different levels of current and measuring voltage.
The clamp meter z was originally used to measure AC current, but now it also has some functions of the multimeter, which can measure AC and DC voltage, current, capacitance, diode, transistor, resistance, temperature, frequency and so on.
A clamp meter is a meter used to measure the magnitude of the current in a running electrical circuit, and it can measure the current without interruption of power supply. It is an electrical instrument specially designed for measuring AC large current.
Clamp ammeter is also called clamp meter, Taiwan is more called hook meter.
The clamp ammeter is a convenient test instrument (also known as non-destructive measurement) that clamps the wire and detects the current without cutting off the circuit.
Analog pointer multimeters and digital multimeters cut off the circuit to detect the current, while the clamp ammeter is only clamped on the sheath of the energized wire to detect the current. The operation is simple, and it can safely detect large currents without directly connecting the circuit.
There are two types of clamp meters, multimeters and insulation resistance meters, analog pointer and digital.
The detection range of the standard type: AC and DC are around 2A to 200A or 400A, and there are also products that can detect high currents of 2000A;
There are also leakage detection products that can detect small currents of several mA, and products that can detect the true effective value (True RMS) of non-sine waves other than sine waves such as transformer power supplies and switching power supplies.
Clamp Meter Essentials
1: detection object
Choose the model according to different detection objects, AC current, DC current, or leakage current;
2: Detectable z largest conductor specification
According to the testing site, there are different specifications from 21mm diameter to 53mm diameter.
3: Is true value detection necessary?
The clamp ammeter using the average value mode cannot correctly detect the non-sinusoidal circuit such as the motor and the circuit of the transformer. The clamp ammeter of the true effective value mode should be used to detect this circuit.
4: Other functions
Not only can detect the current, but also a model that integrates the detection function and record output.
