Products > Test Equipment
Inexpensive low current DC current clamp
BeBuLamar:
I need a recommendation for a low current DC clamp. Either a stand alone or one to be used with a DMM. What I use it for is to trace a short. Generally I would have a machine powered by a 24VDC power supply that powers a lot of circuits. If there is a short in one of the wire it will kill the output of the power supply. What I want to do is to remove the power supply and substitute it for one with current limiting and limit the current to a relative low current. Then with an amp clamp I can check the current flow thru the whole bunch of wires that attached to the DC bus one by one. The one that draws a lot of current would be the one. So the clamp should have relative small jaw as there wires are small, 20 or 18 AWG. Accuracy isn't important. I need resolution but not accuracy and I don't want to pay big buck.
nctnico:
A thermal camera is likely more suitable as this will also show the point where the short is (literally a hotspot in most cases).
BeBuLamar:
Not enough current to produce enough heat for that. Generally the normal power supply when it got such a short would shut it down on over current so there is no chance to detect the heat. When I power it up with a power supply with current limiting but not shutting down on dead short I have relatively low current and not much heat.
RAPo:
Does the fit your requirements and price bracket?
aluminumfoilteslacoil:
Wow, that Owon seems like a great value. Under $40 from what I'm seeing. A Fluke that does DC current is well over $300.
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