A digital clamp meter is a modern extension of the traditional multimeter, in that it combines the principal of the digital multimeter with the practicality of a current sensor, but with the primary overall objective of making the process much safer.
What is a digital clamp meter?
A digital clamp meter is an electrical test instrument which has integrated hinged jaws, these enable the user to clamp the instrument around a wire or cable – or any other conductor – in an electrical system to measure the current in a circuit, but crucially, this is able to be done without disconnecting the circuit.
How does a digital clamp meter work?
The jaws of the digital clamp meter are engineered to detect and measure the magnetic field which is generated by the current as it flows through a conductor. These jaws provide a significant safety factor and essentially bypass the traditional method of current testing which required the user to cut into the wire or cable and insert test leads into the circuit. With this obsolete method the user was required to shut off the circuit carrying the current, but the jaws mean you don’t now have to do this. Bypassing this part of the testing process improves efficiency for the tester, and perhaps also for a manufacturing process or whatever operation is being tested.
What are digital clamp meters used for?
Essentially a digital clamp meter will be used for:
- Servicing and repairs of circuits
- Installations – particularly for final circuit testing
- Maintenance – both preventative and scheduled
What should you look for in a good digital clamp meter?
The range of digital clamp meters supplied by TIS vary in sensitivity, range and accuracy and have multi-measurement functions to measure voltage, continuity and resistance. But the basic requirements of a digital clamp meter include:
- Integrated jaws for detecting the current
- A form of safety barrier/insulation to prevent current shock being transferred to the body
- A hold button to freeze the display
- A rotating dial switch
- An LED display and backlight button
- A min/max button for showing minimum input and then average input
- A zero button – removes the DC offset from the DC current measurements
- Jaw releasing mechanism
- Input jacks for volts/ohms and flexible current probes
TIS range of digital clamp meters
The TIS range of digital clamp meters includes nine instruments designed to suit all user requirements and applications. There are two earth leakage clamp meters, the TIS560, a pocket-sized clamp meter which will measure earth leakage in mamps on RCD-protected circuits, and the TIS570 which enables the user to measure earth leakage in AC and DC.
TIS also stock four ‘Elite’ models, the TIS E257, TIS E247, TIS E237 and TIS 438, these all measure using TRMS for greater accuracy and offer a capacitance range which makes them suitable for testing start and run motor capacitors.
You can find the best digital clamp meter for your needs and applications if you speak to our sales team at TIS. We have the specialist industry knowledge you need and can apply your requirements for speed, accuracy, and practicality to find the most suitable and affordable digital clamp meter for you, so get in touch today.