Favored Digital Multi-Meter and Clamp Meter

[zuixro]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Santa may just stock your stuffing with this.

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I've had two of those. They were ok for what I needed at the time. I dropped my last one and the screen broke ($3, what do you expect?). Time to move up to a Fluke I guess....

[Nate1714]

Sears has great ones. They are cheaper and VERY reliable and tough thus far. I have the Model 82344. I love it

[cdub260]

Just bear in mind when choosing your meter that this is a device that you're trusting with your life. So be absolutely certain that the meter you buy is designed for use with the equipment you'll be metering.

[Arez]

I chose to go with Ideal's 61-736 Clamp Meter. IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC. - 400AAC Clamp meter, TRMS

So far, I love it, taking it on it's first real road travel tomorrow, we'll see how it holds up.

[epimetheus]

I've had a Fulke 112 DMM since college (only 4 years ago) and I bought a Fluke 902 clampa year or two ago. Both are true RMS. I couldn't be happier with both of them. The only thing I'm missing is a clamp for DC current. I had one for work for a while, but had to turn it back in when I stopped doing field work.

[mstaylor]

I thought the 902 did measure DC.

[epimetheus]

Originally Posted by mstaylor

I thought the 902 did measure DC.

It does, but it's micro-amps DC. The 902 is intended as an HVAC technician's clamp, where micro-amps DC is useful. I design and work with very large DC battery banks, micro-amps doesn't cut it in that department.

[mstaylor]

Gotcha, I knew it did micro-amps but thought it had higher settings.

[epimetheus]

Yeah, the clamp part itself only does AC amps. You have to use the probe leads to measure DC amps.