Author Topic: Current clamp differences? - Pico TA018 - PDI/Tecpel CA-60 - Hantek CC-65 (Read 14637 times)

electricar · « **on:** March 10, 2017, 12:03:20 pm »

Hey folks,

does anybody know if there is a difference between the very similar looking current clamps:

Pico TA018 – 139€
PDI/Tecpel CA-60 – 69€
Hantek CC-65 – 61€

I’m especially interested in the Pico TA018 because it costs twice as much the others.
I already read in a post, that the CA-60 is better than the CC-65. But what about the Pico TA018?

Thank you in advance

Kind regards

MrW0lf · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2017, 12:18:11 pm »

Quote from: electricar on March 10, 2017, 12:03:20 pm

I’m especially interested in the Pico TA018 because it costs twice as much the others.

I have it. There is good quality BNC cable (veeery long) attached compared to CA-60. I bought it long time ago from ELFA or somewhere because was not into eBay/Amazon adventures yet and wanted working warranty. But it's clearly rebrand so probably you will find something similar/noname with BNC also.
Functionality wise - no complaints. Keeper.

Edit: In fact... watch out... Found "BNC" Tecpel on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Minature-Clamp-Meter-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B002IRU3IM
And someone got owned:
"It's not the model shown in the photo. As shown, it's the version with a BNC connector and straight cable (which is what you want if plugging it into a bench oscilloscope). Instead, it's the one with two 4mm banana plugs and a coiled cable. "
So no matter where you buy, make sure what you get, even if it's pictured as BNC version.

electricar · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2017, 12:27:47 am »

Thank you for your feedback. Yes I saw that already but luckily this issue could easily be solved through an adapter

Here is the "right" picture:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X3GDVWM/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_2_w

Unfortunately I haven't found any comparison scope screenshots of the TA018 and the CA-60.
Do you have any problems with the zero button and drifting on your scope reading? That's an issue I read about the CA-60 and CC-65.

MrW0lf · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2017, 02:17:55 pm »

I choose BNC because was afraid regular cable would pick up noise. As seen in my "drift test" it's quite noisy even with BNC. Measurements below reflect noise peaks. Cursors on 1Hz low pass filtered yellow trace reflect DC drift. Conclusions:

- It's 20A/60A DC clamp, so needs attention in mA range with filtering etc
- Unless interested in DC switch scope to AC coupling
- warm it up ~0.5h for precise stuff, zero again
- if zero-button does not cut it, apply channel zero on scope

Note that 16.75mA DC drift recorded is ~0.067% of full range (-5...20A).

nctnico · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2017, 02:25:46 pm »

I have this one (CP-05A 4A / 40A 200kHz) and I'm pretty happy with it after I fitted it with a 9V mains adapter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CP-05A-AC-DC-Clamp-Current-Probe-200KHz-40A-/121825210390

electricar · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2017, 02:49:30 pm »

Thank you MrW0lf for your explanation and the screenshot

And also thank you nctnico for this current clamp, I didn't know about this one. Especially the 200kHZ BW and the rise time of 1,75µs are looking very interesting!
http://www.sedmm.com/product.asp?productid=349

But do you have really a BW of 200kHz? On this post Smokey describes that it is rather 2kHz than 200kHz.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/'cheap'-chinese-current-oscilloscope-probe/msg196120/#msg196120

nctnico · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2017, 06:43:12 pm »

Quote from: electricar on March 12, 2017, 02:49:30 pm

And also thank you nctnico for this current clamp, I didn't know about this one. Especially the 200kHZ BW and the rise time of 1,75µs are looking very interesting!
http://www.sedmm.com/product.asp?productid=349

But do you have really a BW of 200kHz? On this post Smokey describes that it is rather 2kHz than 200kHz.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/'cheap'-chinese-current-oscilloscope-probe/msg196120/#msg196120

It is not very clear where Smokey got the data from. I just tested mine with a sine wave from a function generator into a wire coiled a few times around the clamp. I adjusted the function generator so it reads 2A peak-peak at 1kHz and the -3dB point is over 240kHz in the 4A setting. In the 40A setting it peaks over 200kHz. The amount of noise is similar to what mrW0lf has shown.

electricar · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2017, 06:50:53 pm »

That sounds nice

In this case I think that I'll get a CP-05A soon!

alext · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2017, 08:26:23 am »

hey.im currently looking for a dc current clamp too.where did you find ca-60 for 69 eur? i find it everywhere above 100 usd

electricar · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2017, 06:03:42 pm »

Quote from: alext on March 13, 2017, 08:26:23 am

hey.im currently looking for a dc current clamp too.where did you find ca-60 for 69 eur? i find it everywhere above 100 usd

Hey alext,

you can find it here:
https://www.elv.de/dc-und-ac-zangenadapter-ca-60.html

But it's also the version without the BNC connector.

alext · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2017, 06:29:24 pm »

thanks.did you bought the CP-05A finally? the banana plug version is ok for me,ill just want to use it with my fluke 187

electricar · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2017, 04:24:20 pm »

Not yet, but it's definitely on my list

Electro Fan · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2018, 12:14:31 am »

Kind of an old thread but just checking to see if anyone has any updated recommendations on the following (or other similar meters).

Interested in measuring/monitoring inrush current on a scope. Would like to measure AC and DC. Primarily interested in current below 30A to as low as possible (preferably to milliAmps, or if possible better) accuracy and resolution.

CA-60 and CP-05A seem popular but CP-05 looks interesting too.

PDI CA-60 $87
https://www.amazon.com/PDI-CA-60-Handheld-Current-Clamp/dp/B00X3GDVWM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516665062&sr=8-1&keywords=PDi+Ca-60
https://pdimeters.com/docs/pdf/manuals/CA-60.pdf

CP-05A $110
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CP-05A-AC-DC-Clamp-Current-Probe-200KHz-40A-/121825210390

CP-05 $49
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CP-05-DC-AC-Clamp-Current-Probe-200A-100KHz-Tr-o-75uS-23mm-Jaw-size-/111682240220

Electro Fan · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2018, 12:39:14 am »

Found these on the CP-05:

Looks pretty good if you can live with 100 kHz

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CP-05-DC-AC-Clamp-Current-Probe-200A-100KHz-Tr-o-75uS-23mm-Jaw-size/111682240220?hash=item1a00c7bedc:g:fckAAOxy2E1SHaqs

The Soulman · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2018, 01:13:52 am »

The PDI CA-60 looks to be from the same OEM as the:

Pico TA-018 (BNC) https://www.picotech.com/accessories/current-probes-clamps/60-a-current-probe-bnc
Pico TA-009 (4mm) https://www.picotech.com/accessories/current-probes-clamps/60-a-current-probe-4mm

Peaktech 4250 (4mm) http://www.peaktech.de/productdetail/kategorie/stromzangenadapter/produkt/p-4250.html

More on (my) Peaktech 4250 is here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/peaktech-4250-acdc-current-clamp-teardown-and-repair/

The peaktech really does need the load (oscilloscope) to have an input impedance of at least 1M $\$\Omega\$$ and 1mA resolution seems great
on paper but at that point it is like holding a compass..
Assume the others to have similar characteristics.

Electro Fan · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2018, 07:09:46 pm »

Quote from: The Soulman on January 23, 2018, 01:13:52 am

1mA resolution seems great on paper but at that point it is like holding a compass.
Assume the others to have similar characteristics.

All other specs being equal, does a smaller opening like on the TA-018 provide less of the compass effect than a meter with a larger clamp size, such as this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CP-05-DC-AC-Clamp-Current-Probe-200A-100KHz-Tr-o-75uS-23mm-Jaw-size/111682240220?hash=item1a00c7bedc:g:fckAAOxy2E1SHaqs
- this thing looks like a pretty good deal....?

Thx

Insatman · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2018, 08:12:45 am »

Tests with PDI CA-60 Probe. I tested this probe using a function generator terminated into 50ohms, so the current was pretty low. The scope was terminated into 1M. The noise floor in my lab on the most sensitive CA-60 setting (1mV=10mA) is about 50mV. The probe itself has a lower noise floor, maybe 10-20mV, but I've got a lot of switching noise going on. To get around the noise I used a 1.9MHz low-pass filter (mini-circuits) and waveform averaging. The results are pretty good. The probe response is pretty good up to about 30kHz at which time the amplititude begins to rise and phase begins to shift. It peaks around 80-90kHz in terms of amplititude. At 150kHz the amplitude is below where it was at 30kHz and the phase shift is approaching 180 deg. Waveforms are attached.

myf · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2018, 12:11:57 pm »

Hi,

I discover theses DC current clamps with analog output and without any built-in display.
I was attracted by the uni-t ut210e without analog output and with its display.

Do you know low dc-current clamps with both : AND a display because it's easiest to read, AND a analog or usb output in order to data logging ?
Or is it cheaper to get and a ut-210e and one of theses clamps ?

Have a nice day !

F. (from France)

The Soulman · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2018, 04:53:31 pm »

Insatman, Does your PDI CA-60 have electrolytic capacitors fitted?

Mine (peaktech rebrand) didn't and after fitting those noise dropped considerably.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/peaktech-4250-acdc-current-clamp-teardown-and-repair/

schmitt trigger · « **Reply #19 on:** January 30, 2018, 04:58:54 pm »

Quote from: MrW0lf on March 11, 2017, 02:17:55 pm

I
- Unless interested in DC switch scope to AC coupling
- warm it up ~0.5h for precise stuff, zero again
- if zero-button does not cut it, apply channel zero on scope

Sage advice, which I have personally used.
Hall sensors do have some temperature dependency. Better (more expensive) ones have lower drift, but nevertheless it is a good practice to observe your recommendations.

Insatman · « **Reply #20 on:** January 30, 2018, 10:48:49 pm »

Quote from: The Soulman on January 30, 2018, 04:53:31 pm

Insatman, Does your PDI CA-60 have electrolytic capacitors fitted?

Mine (peaktech rebrand) didn't and after fitting those noise dropped considerably.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/peaktech-4250-acdc-current-clamp-teardown-and-repair/

I opened up the unit and it looks like there are three places for electrolytic capacitors that are not used. Thanks for the tip.

Insatman · « **Reply #21 on:** January 30, 2018, 11:38:26 pm »

Quote from: myf on January 30, 2018, 12:11:57 pm

Hi,

I discover theses DC current clamps with analog output and without any built-in display.
I was attracted by the uni-t ut210e without analog output and with its display.

Do you know low dc-current clamps with both : AND a display because it's easiest to read, AND a analog or usb output in order to data logging ?
Or is it cheaper to get and a ut-210e and one of theses clamps ?

Have a nice day !

I don't know of any clamp-on meters with both display and analog outputs. Another contributor on EEVBlog modified a UT-210E to have a current output. I think it's easier and cheaper overall just to purchase a UT210E for fast easy measurements as they are so cheap. Use the analog output clamp on both your meter and scope when needed. The scope of course gives you the shape of the current assuming it's not DC.

There are many choices of probes. Generally the higher the bandwidth the greater the price. Of course build quality also cost more.

F. (from France)

17_29bis · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2018, 07:48:07 am »

Quote from: Insatman on January 30, 2018, 11:38:26 pm

I don't know of any clamp-on meters with both display and analog outputs. Another contributor on EEVBlog modified a UT-210E to have a current output.

If my memory still serves me the analog output of UT-210E (in case of simple mod.) works more or less acceptably for low frequencies only, we are talking about 1-5kHz max which may no be enough for some applications.

The Soulman · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2018, 08:00:26 am »

Quote from: Insatman on January 30, 2018, 10:48:49 pm

Quote from: The Soulman on January 30, 2018, 04:53:31 pm
Insatman, Does your PDI CA-60 have electrolytic capacitors fitted?

Mine (peaktech rebrand) didn't and after fitting those noise dropped considerably.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/peaktech-4250-acdc-current-clamp-teardown-and-repair/

I opened up the unit and it looks like there are three places for electrolytic capacitors that are not used. Thanks for the tip.

Interesting.....


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Author Topic: Current clamp differences? - Pico TA018 - PDI/Tecpel CA-60 - Hantek CC-65 (Read 14637 times)

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