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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: Shredhead on December 22, 2021, 08:13:06 pm

Title: Amp Clamp Overload - Is it Possible?
Post by: Shredhead on December 22, 2021, 08:13:06 pm

Got this https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/clamp-meters/acdc-digital-clamp-meter-auto-ranging-400-amp (https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/clamp-meters/acdc-digital-clamp-meter-auto-ranging-400-amp) meter to measure DC current on automobile as it's a pain to worry about the fuse popping on a regular multimeter inline. 

Is it possible to damage/destroy an amp clamp meter by measuring too high of a current in a setting?  I'm not quite sure how Hall effect sensors are designed. 

I'm going to do a 10 turn wrap cord around the clamp to increase it's accuracy in it's lower ranges to measure parasitic drain but don't want to run into any problems as I plug fuses back in because the current can spike. 

Title: Re: Amp Clamp Overload - Is it Possible?
Post by: Fungus on December 22, 2021, 09:09:40 pm

I don't think you can damage the sensor with a magnetic field but you can certainly magnetize the clamp and it will need degaussing afterwards.

Title: Re: Amp Clamp Overload - Is it Possible?
Post by: GerryR on December 22, 2021, 11:07:43 pm

With most of the clamp-meters I have used, when measuring DC current you have to zero the meter because of residual magnetism in the clamp after a reading.  The zero function is part of the meter.