On Sat, 8 Nov 2008 04:11:19 +0000 (UTC), David Lesher
wrote:

writes:


For occasional shop use, HF has a clamp-on digital at a price that
can't be beat, frequently around $8 on sale in the stores. AC-only on
the clamp-on, if you want DC, go get a Fluke. You WILL want the
single loop break-out for in-line appliance measurements, it plugs
into the wall and the appliance plugs into it, Fluke is the only place
I've seen that recently. If you want to measure BIG currents, you'll
need the 100:1 transformer, too.

Making a breakout is trivial. Use an extension cord; break the two
conductors so you can clamp around one, and that's it.

Clamping around both is what a GFI does; the two currents SHOULD be
exactly equal. If not, it's leaking to ground somehow, maybe through
you..


If your meter is insensitive, then use 2 loops of the one conductor;
5 amps actual will indicate as 10, etc.
I made a ten turn coil for low current. Junior used it to determine
his requirements for a UPS then within a week he became the resident
expert in the computer store where he worked and sold 17 units to one
customer because he knew what he was talking about.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada