A hooker gave me the clamp :(

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

What's the difference between a dmm and a clamp meter?

I was at lowes today to pick up a dmm, and now my purchase is on hold, because these things range in price from $20 to $300, and range from dmm's to clamp meters.

What does a clamp meter do that a dmm cannot do? There isn't exaclty a 'rundown comparison' sheet at lowes to look at, i suppose it's more expected you know what you need.

Can the 'clamp' measure voltage and amperage without tapping a line?

Thanks a bunch. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

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[KaeZoo 10+ year member]

A "clamp" meter can measure amperage without breaking the circuit. A standard DMM has to be installed in series with the circuit to measure the current, which adds additional resistance through the test leads and limits the amount of current that can be measured at 10 amps in most cases. Not all clamp meters will measure DC voltage, though; some only work on AC.

 

[kingpin_jeffie 10+ year member]

You dont need an amp clamp but if the price was right then it wouldnt be a bad thing to have.

They only measure current flow(at least in the models i have seen from fluke)

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

oh, ok

i saw some that were combo dmm/clamp meters, so i guess you still have to use the probes to measure the voltage, and the clamp is for amperage.

My only real need for one is to measure voltage, test fuses, and measure resistance for stereo and car maintainance.

In all reality i don't need a clamp, and really don't even need that accurate of a dmm (i use an o-scope for gains, i just wanted something smaller for oddjobs) so i'm just gonna go with a decent quality dmm with a wriststrap and call it a day.

It's just so tempting when you see all those knobs and lights and gadgets!!!!

I hate tools, they're more addicting than heroin.

 

[blue93corsica 10+ year member]

I hate tools, they're more addicting than heroin.

thats sig worthy right there, i have the same problem, and i dont always necassarily need that tool but for some reason i wont be happy with myself until i get it