Clamps meters with miliampere (mA) resolution

[jancelot]

There are clamp meters that can read current in the miliamps scale to measure low currents. Look in the internet for the specifications and price of each one:

• GTC CM100
• CEM DT-337
• CEM DT-338
• CEM DT-339
• BK PRECISION 316
• ESI 687
• UNI-T UT 210E
• UNI-T UT 211A
• UNI-T UT 211B
• BEHA AMPROBE AMP-25
• KYORITSU KEW 2500

I think the best buy is the UNI-T UT 211B, unless you require very high precision and resolution, then go for the Kyoritsu KEW 2500.

[joeqsmith]

I like that UT210E.  It gets a fair amount of use.   

[gblades]

I second the vote for the UT210E. I use it far more than I thought I would and the clamp is still very useful for low DC current readings as long as you don't move it after zeroing.

[jancelot]

Bought today the UT 211B at dealextreme for 68€. It's the UNI-T clamp meter with the highest resolution and accuracy. Let's see when it arrives how it performs.

[djQUAN]

My UT210E also gets a bit of use.

The only things I don't like about it is that when going into the V and A modes, they always default in AC mode. I often work on DC.

The backlight is worthless. You can't keep it on long enough to make readings then it turns off when you need to look.

[jancelot]

Finally my UNI-T UT 211B arrived within a month or so and been using it for a long time. Very happy with it, although you have to zero it quite often because the earth's magnetic field gives some readings if you twist it. Speaking of more brands:

- Kyoritsu has very good miliamp clamp meters down to 1mA or 0.1mA resolution, depending if it's AD or DC. Some of them even have filters for harmonics and neat things like that (high end clamp meters).
Website: http://www.kew-ltd.co.jp/en/products/002/

- BEHA Amprobe, which is the second brand of Fluke, also has several clamps in the miliamp range, the best I've seen has a resolution of 10mA so don't know.
Example: AMP-25-EUR
Website: https://www.beha-amprobe.com/en/products/clamp-meters

Related thread:
Low Current DC Clamp Meter

[LaurentR]

If looking for AC currents only (and in general, house/commercial AC electrical installations), those two seem to be the top specced:

* Hioki 3283 "CLAMP ON LEAK HiTESTER". 10uA resolution. It can also output either the unfiltered AC sensed current so that you can measure it with a DMM or scope. It can also output the measured current. Great when doing remote sensing.
http://www.tequipment.net/Hioki3283.html

* Fluke 360 "AC Leakage Current Clamp Meter". 1uA resolution. Also the newer Fluke 368/369FC which seem to be the same clamps with Fluke Connect.
Looks like a rebadged Yokogawa 30032A (or vice-versa)
http://en-us.fluke.com/products/clamp-meters/fluke-360-clamp-meter.html

[noidea]

If looking for AC currents only (and in general, house/commercial AC electrical installations), those two seem to be the top specced:

* Hioki 3283 "CLAMP ON LEAK HiTESTER". 10uA resolution. It can also output either the unfiltered AC sensed current so that you can measure it with a DMM or scope. It can also output the measured current. Great when doing remote sensing.
http://www.tequipment.net/Hioki3283.html

* Fluke 360 "AC Leakage Current Clamp Meter". 1uA resolution. Also the newer Fluke 368/369FC which seem to be the same clamps with Fluke Connect.
Looks like a rebadged Yokogawa 30032A (or vice-versa)
http://en-us.fluke.com/products/clamp-meters/fluke-360-clamp-meter.html

I'm in the market for something like this but it's going to be a one off rather than something that's going to be used a lot. I need to measure the leakage current on a single phase device that's supposed to be connected to a 30mA RCD but the customer is complaining that it is nuisance tripping a 30mA RCD.
Has anyone had any experience with some of the units that are at the lower end of the price scale?

Or as an alternative I saw a reference to a Chauvin Arnoux C-173 current clamp with switch able measuring ranges that could go down to 1mA on it's lowest settings. I could plug it into my DMM or scopemeter if I want to record it and potentially use it for other things
http://www.marcspages.co.uk/pq/4318.htm

[ralphrmartin]

I've got and SE-07, e.g. see
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SE-07-AC-DC-Clamp-Meter-0-1mA-sensitivity-/111565918694
and find it works quite well, for the price.

[macboy]

My UT210E also gets a bit of use.

The only things I don't like about it is that when going into the V and A modes, they always default in AC mode. I often work on DC.

The backlight is worthless. You can't keep it on long enough to make readings then it turns off when you need to look.

Both problems are easily fixed by changing a few bytes in an internal EEPROM. I know that not everyone wants to modify their equipment, but it's possible. See this thread https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/a-look-at-the-uni-t-ut210e/

[metrologist]

Thanks for this posting...I've wanted a clamp meter and am now deciding between UNI-T UT210E or UNI-T UT210B.

edit: duh, the E model with DC...

[serggio]

Chinese meters this is good, because this is cheap, but if you considering serious tools for long time using, probably something else can be interesting. http://store.aemc.com/Clamp-on-Meter-Model-CM605--100A_p_678.html

[Friedy]

I know it's been a while but I found some more clamp meters with milliampere resolution:

PCE-DC3
PCE-DC41

Both can be purchased here https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/measuring-instruments/test-meters/clamp-meter-kat_40102_1.htm at fairly affordable prices.

Any experience with these to share with me, anyone?

[jancelot]

I know it's been a while but I found some more clamp meters with milliampere resolution:

PCE-DC3
PCE-DC41

Both can be purchased here https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/measuring-instruments/test-meters/clamp-meter-kat_40102_1.htm at fairly affordable prices.

Any experience with these to share with me, anyone?

Thanks very useful, although none of them has a wide range,  for example can measure 2mA on one setting and 600A on another, thing which the UNI-T can do so with one meter you can measure both small and big values.

[Hydron]

The UNI-T is iffy above 100A (it's normal maximum before hacking), and even after measuring only 100A a de-gauss might be a good idea.

[jancelot]

The UNI-T is iffy above 100A (it's normal maximum before hacking), and even after measuring only 100A a de-gauss might be a good idea.

Whay is a de-gauss?