Quattrohead
Emperor Of Solar
Lord help us all.
circuit breaker spark
- Thread starter ohmboy
- Start date
I am leaning toward the $100-ish range. It would be easier to get approved.edit - DC inrush - that means it has a high sample rate to catch the leading edge. For Ac it doesn't need the high sample rate - I found several on amazon that do it for around $100ish ... or you can get the Fluke-393 FC meter for $900ishOr the Fluke-375 FC for $350ish much less if you trust aliexpress
NOTE - I love Fluke meters and they are wonderful, but expensive and intended for folks that use them all the time on the job - Bulletproof as mentioned above and they cost it.
But - if you look at the specs on the Fluke and compare it to the $100 version you will see the cheaper meter is good enough for anything a DIY person is going to do. The extra accuracy is only good on a test bench when it matters. In the field it doesn't matter if you are .1 amps off when measuring 100amps.
The higher sample rate means you chops the incoming voltage waveform into more parts and then does averaging so you get a more accurate reading. This is really more important than the number of digits on the screen or the stated ± accuracy.
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 23,157
Have you tried both a "Real" (resistive) load with 1.0 power factor, and a low PF load like LED lamps or VFD?
I may have done something similar once, and I may have needed to replace the fuse in my meter a while back. And, being an analog meter at the time, the needle may have slammed itself momentarily to the far right peg...
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
I am leaning toward the $100-ish range. It would be easier to get approved.
Yeah, I am leaning towards the Fluke-393 meter now and will ask forgivness. Wanna buy a slightly used Fluke 323?
If you aren't interested I'll post it in the for sale area (or if the moderator doesn't like this post I'll withdraw and post there.)
EDIT:
No DC current
Last edited:
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 23,157
"Does not measure DC current"
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 23,157
As for the Fluke 393,
"
"
100 mA resolution.
One of the reasons I bought Harbor Freight Ames 1000A for $100, it has 10 mA resolution.
Better for comparing PV strings.
"
| DC Current | |||
| Range | 999.9 A | ||
| Resolution | 0.1 A | ||
| Accuracy | 2 % RD + 5 digits[1] |
100 mA resolution.
One of the reasons I bought Harbor Freight Ames 1000A for $100, it has 10 mA resolution.
Better for comparing PV strings.
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
I am sorry - not a DC current meter - just AC - very very sad - I really do need a different meter - will post it in for sale.
I use an Ames 1000A AC/DC clamp. Carefully read the instructions before use
www.harborfreight.com
CM1000A 1000A T-RMS AC/DC Clamp Meter
Amazing deals on this 1000A T-Rms Ac/Dc Clamp Meter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com
featherlite
Solar Addict
I bought several of those meters to make gifts to friends. All of the meters were wildly inaccurate when I tried to measure 12v. I tested the meters against my other accurate meters.
Last edited:
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
I use an Ames 1000A AC/DC clamp. Carefully read the instructions before use
CM1000A 1000A T-RMS AC/DC Clamp Meter
Amazing deals on this 1000A T-Rms Ac/Dc Clamp Meter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
How well has it held up over time? Is the case solid? i.e. if you drop it from working height would it break? Is it accurate when checking against another meter?
Seems I am in the market for a new meter and in light of the spendy prize of the Fluke-393. So these are serious questions.
This has been my experince with any of the meters I have gotten from harbor frieght - The freebies/$5 especially but also more expensive ones, I stopped at $30 on one and that was a mistake the first time I dropped it there was no putting it back together again no matter how much bailing wire and duct tape I used.
This 2A, 20A, 100A works for me for it's low current range.
View attachment 215021
. I’ve got one and other ppl tried one liked it too.
The meter works well ….. I’m amazed your meter is not fried. Watch some videos on youtube or better get someone local to hell you. DC will burn the crap out of you. AC will kill you. Zero shame in asking for help. Everyone had to learn. Electricty needs utmost respect you and I - everyone needs to do our best to learn. I’ve been working with electricity since stuck a fork in outlet about 5 yrs old. It tingled so good.
This is the replacement:
You can use min/max for most things we do. Used it for years had all kinds of meters. Leaving battery in and it leaking kills meters loaning out meters mean they never come back too.
With dc amp the should be arrow on clamp it points to the dc source aka battery. Dc current measuring is bit different then ac.
Now after that this is what use …. It works good enough. Other ppl here have 1 too.
True rms cat3
Suggestion if you want to spend more…
They have a decent reputation. I use mine casually for my own projects and have only had it for about 6 months. Its a good affordable clamp meter, you can get them for 89-99 USD (more expensive on amazon).. The klein tools are similar and cost a few bucks more. I didn't do any drop tests, but its well built, the only issue I have experienced is the clamp some times needs slight adjusting when closing. As far as accuracy I'd say it's accurate enough for my needs but I don't have a fluke to test it against. You can find some comparisons on youtube. As with professional equipment, you are supposed to have these calibrated once a year for accuracy.
42OhmsPA
Who likes Electrical Gremlins?
Here's one I melted a while back when some idiot thought it would be a great idea to measure current of the panels hooked up to a 24V 100Ah bank...
Surprisingly the meter still reads voltage accurately, amps don't work...
Edit - this is the clamp. meter I bought. It doesn't have DC inrush.
I've been very happy with this meter, unfortunately it's not available. https://a.co/d/4EP9P5d
Surprisingly the meter still reads voltage accurately, amps don't work...
Edit - this is the clamp. meter I bought. It doesn't have DC inrush.
I've been very happy with this meter, unfortunately it's not available. https://a.co/d/4EP9P5d
Attachments
Last edited:
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
OK, I looked at the specs on at least 50 meters - all the major mfg of quality and the cheap stuff - have come to one inescapable conclusion - only Fluke will stand behind a setting of DC inrush current and put a tolerence on it. Others either don't support it at all OR they claim it but have a disclaimer that the first 300ms is not counted when measuring inrush (WTF to they think people are trying to meassure?) .
I suppose it makes sense if you think about it, they build the circuit for high accuracy and scale for hundreds of amps. Inrush could be 3 to 5 times that or more. They don't build them for that.
The other thing is the frequency of AC the various meters support in AC mode - even the fluke is 5HZ with ±0.1hz - so basically the DC rise time for inrush is hard to measure with anything portable. It seems the DC inrush they are listing as supported is for testing starter caps for motors and is limited to 5amps.
Which means my dreams are dashed and I will just have to settle for a generic meter and it will be much cheaper that way.
If anyone has a DC inrush setting please list the meter vendor and number so I can look it up in case I am wrong.
Found one -
Hioki CM4375
the -50 model doesn't include bluetooth for connecting to the appthe -90 includes the bluetooth adapter - combined with app includes data logging and other features.
Hioki CM4375 AC/DC Clamp Meter
Hioki CM4375 AC/DC Clamp Meter. Great savings PLUS Free Shipping when you order online at GlobalTestSupply.com.
www.globaltestsupply.com
Last edited:
Try to get one that has decently high inrush readings too , as sooner or later you will need that for somthing..Ahh, ok. I will not be doing this again!
Should I replace the circuit breaker?
I will open it up and see if the fuse has blown.
Next purchase will be a clamp on Meter. I have one on the wish list on amazon.
thanks again.
This one is also on my list.
BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
Don't text from phone late at night, point taken
This is a bullet breaker with a Trim breaker panel. Hard core DC. Double hole lugs, never seen one fail, get warm, or any issues.
This sounds very similar to what I did.
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
Parents car keys, outlet, 3 years old...HA HA, I thought I was the only one that did things like that
Just zapped myself with 120 VAC yesterday. Again.
Can only speak for what I have seen, I bought the Klein CL 900…about $180.00
I have used it to verify air conditioning surges which were about as the listed …
I have used it for DC surges on the main battery bank output near the bussbar. which seemed about what would be expected relative to the ac load on the inverter , but I can’t tell you I have any way to verify it’s accuracy ..it just seemed about what I was expecting .
Klein states it is rated to 2000 amps …ac/ dc……
That waaaayyy over anything I have to measure , so that’s all I can offer.
Otherwise it’s been a very good meter for a couple of years.
J.
Inrush ac and dc They behave differently Going from locomotive dc traction motors to ac traction motors and inverters was significant change.
Huge.The “max” plus the “hold button” on my cheap clamp amp meter is basically the same as inrush button. It measures Peak = Hold locked at max. 4000 count trms
They do this on purpose…for the bs…. marketing and ignorance …. Scales are important and counts 4000 above. Speeds… ms Cat 3 rating above. Union label - under writer laboratory is requirement for some. CE listing was good for my “current” pun needs now.
G.E. Locomotive + RailroadS replaced 2 each 1000 amp fuses….with new buss bars and used the CT in place to monitor and cut excitation of main alternator with predicted spike inrush - peak hold monitoring but it was digitized vs real time…. Readings based on flash spiking. 1ms 10ms 100ms. Digital is not actual real time . We have improved big time though.
Edit added: Total 18 fuses removed based on ct monitoring software ala a replacement for the fuses. Cheap Fuse elimination mod = 1/4 million $$$ main alternator sales.
needless to say a lot of $250,000 main alternators plus additional itemS like full bridge rectifier modules - 6 or so cables of 1600 per phase would go up in smoke. TIMING. Perfect world. Fly by wire is amazing too… no?
Video from Klein inrush
The old “amp probe” clamp use to come in 2 separate units years ago 1 for ac and 1 for dc. They came out with module like amp probes later. Then digital.
The garden bender volt - multi- meters they sell advertise trms but they are not … china junk Harbor freight free meter is better.
Hold with voltage
New ppl need to educate themselves before use tools. OP had dc and not ac. Lucky. Ac will kill you dc will burn you. I’ve been shocked several times - shock therapy. = 1 Flew over cuck coo nest …Nurse Ratched Was a hero but cast as a villain.
Oh yeah in old days with analog amp probes they would not read backwards on dc reading Notice negative symbol had to flip them. That is my inverter power up. No major drama no load other then raspberry pi 4 pulling from ac side of inverter. Not changed over to dc converter yet.
In military - commercial …. aviation and locomotive required all meter and torque wrenches be certified ….the certifications…..put a lot of other wise good meters out of service. Some meters degrade over time.
Last edited:
Similar threads
