Clamp Meters Vs. Multimeters? When to use a Clamp Meter?

An Introduction

A release lever helps open the clamp so the technician can place the clamp around a conductor, such as a wire or a cable. Through this method, you can measure the current without disconnecting the circuit. Best Clamp Meters have a lot of standard features with digital multimeters. And after knowing the differences between the two, it will be easy for you to help you understand when it's required to use one over the other.

How does Multimeters Help?

Multimeters help in measuring several things: voltage, capacitance, continuity, resistance, and current. Most multimeters allow you to measure up to 10 amps of current, whereas Clamp meters, on the other hand, allow you to measure a much higher number of amps. The lowest measure is up to 100 amps, but it can also measure up to 2,500 amps.

Uses of Multimeters

• Troubleshooting: A clamp meter is an important tool for testing equipment.

• Electrical installations: Measuring and monitoring electrical current is vital in electrical work.

• Supervise apprentice electricians: When a new electrician is in training, he must be aware of all conditions on the job site.

• Repairs and maintenance: It's widespread to find a clamp meter in an HVAC technician's toolbox as these people spend lots of their time carrying out regular maintenance and checkups on HVAC systems.

Working of Clamp Meters

Besides reading the current, modern clamp meters provide many other features like those in a multimeter. Many are also valuable for measuring resistance, voltage, and continuity. In addition to their convenience, Clamp meters are preferred by many electricians because of their flexibility. Since they're safer to use — and can read a higher range of currents — they bring a lot to the table. Clamp meters are quite handy, so any time they can be used to check a circuit's current.