The clamp meter is a device, which is used for measuring the current in the power line without breaking the circuit. It makes use of the hall effect to achieve the same. The device is used for measuring the magnetic field around the induced conducting wire. Since there is no need for any breaking of circuits to be done, it aids in quicker and safe testing. Let us now take a brief look at the importance of AC and DC clamp meters.
Features and Importance of AC and DC clamp meters
AC and DC clamp meters are crucial for high powered circuits as this device works as a standalone unit. As the name denotes, the clamp meters have two “Jaws” that close and open around the electrical conductor. The main objective of the meter is to measure the attributes of the current. These clamp meters are mainly applied in large industrial complex areas. It is because, in these areas, a steady supply of power is used to maintain a ventilation system. Current meters can measure and evaluate a wide variety of metrics within a conductor.
Some of the most common measurements include:
- Alternating current (AC)
- Direct current (DC)
- Resistance
- Continuity
- Temperature and Capacitance are available in only some models
There are different types of clam meters available in the market, some of them are used for measuring AC current, some for DC and some are used for measuring AC and DC. The latter ones are known as AC DC clamp meters.
They are of the following types:
- Iron Vane
- Hall effect
The iron vane is one variety of the current clamp. In this type, the measured electric current varies in the internal magnetic core of the device. This variation causes movement in the iron vane that is fixed to the pointer on the analog dial. This clamp meter is used to measure both AC and DC.
Another type of current clamp that measures AC and DC is the Hall Effect type. Hall Effect refers to the power a magnetic field has on the surge of electrons in a conductor. These ac dc clamp meters are highly sensitive and are most commonly used with computerized voltmeters. Since they are small to be hand-held, it can easily run on a 9w battery. These clamps can also work with a wide range of AC frequencies, which can range up to 400Hz.
What is the use?
An AC DC clamp meters are used to mainly detect the inrush of current. Inrush is an electric term that refers to the burst of current. Certain machines require extensive electricity to start. This is common in industrial areas. While the machine itself requires a massive current, the surge protectors used for it must have the power to be able to handle its capacity. An AC DC clamp meters will be able to track this load easily and provide an accurate reading of characteristics implicated in this event.
Usually, electricians carry 2 meters. One is to measure the current and another is to decide on the voltage within the conductor. An AC DC clamp meter can use to measure both these variables. Therefore, they tend to be easier to use and also help to complete the job quicker. As the flexibility and popularity of the AC DC clamp meters are increasing, it is expected to play a vital role in the industrial and electrical trades in the future.
Conclusion
Earlier, the clamp meters were a single-purpose tool; however, with some major transformation, they are now used for measurement, finer accuracy, and in some cases of specialized measures. The modern-day clamp meter has the features of digital multimeter or DMM, which enable it to measure voltage, resistance, and continuity. These are safe and easy to use, thus making them a popular choice.
