Sorry it isn't woodworking stuff but I thought some might find this pic interesting. I'm comparing the reading of my brand new $17.99 (usually $44.99) Clamp Meter I got this weekend at Harbor Freight with a $274 Fluke True RMS Clamp Meter from work. I'm checking current draw on my home AC unit with them both at once.
Bruce
Interesting! Thanks for the comparison.
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Dean Bielanowski Editor, Online Tool Reviews
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Need to watch the sales at Harbor Freight VERY closely. Sale prices vary every month. I bought the exact same model for $9.99. The 7 function DVM sell for as cheap as $2.99, or as high as $12.99
Darn it :-) That is a hell of a deal. But, like you said, it is a bargain at $18.
They have two models. The other one doesn't have a display back light
This may be a real stupid question to something that is very obvious, but the downside "potential" for me is too great: This type of meter is what one can use to see if a wire is hot before cutting it? I need the most basic tool for that function.
BTW, about random prices at HF -- it seems that one set of numbers is the item and the other is for the catalog, at least when I shop on-line at HF (don't have a brick store near me). At any one time for a single item on their site you can get many different prices depending on if you simply search their site for an item or if you enter numbers from a catalog, and then depending on which catalog.
Using an amp probe for this is a good way to have a shocking experience. It is possible to have voltage present but no current flowing. In my picture, if the AC wasn't running, and I was upstream of the relay, it would show 0.0 amps but there is 220 volts AC waiting for me to snip it with my side-cutters.
I would tend to probe the wire at a termination if possible. If not, the only safe way I know of is to pierce the insulation with a probe on a volt meter and measure voltage. You will have to have a ground also, so you'll probably be piercing 2 wires. If you sharpen the tips of your probes, it isn't a big deal usually. There are also test lights that do the same thing. Make sure you have the right voltage type and value.
I've seen a small pen type device that you can hold on a wire and it will light up but that must be from induction, just like the amp probe so it wouldn't work unless current was flowing.
If you use 35761-1VGA, you can get it for $9.99 even when it is not on sale
Digger
Well, as I said, the downside was too great if I was wrong. Thanks. There are some romex wires in my basement that I think are orphaned and I'd like to clean things up, so it looks like I have to go back to Plan A -- throw the main disconnect first.
For $10 you can get a voltage sensor that tells you if a wire is hot, just by being near it. There doesn't have to be any current flowing; if you have an open circuit, it can tell the difference between the hot and the neutral. (If there is current, then they are both hot; duh)
You guys are off track. I'm talking about a CLAMP meter, not a VOM. Here:
Bruce
Always a smart idea to turn off the power first. Try to trace back the wires to the source though before you start snipping.
Well, that's a bit different than what Bruce posted. What's this thing called? Do you know who makes it? Any webstore address? Thanks.
Bruce -- do you have any thoughts on this?
-- at least w/o stripping it.
Well, this one says it can do it. I'll admit that I didn't know about it before:
seem strange that this item claims to detect "AC voltage range 110~600V" w/o any mention of current flowing. It would be easy enough to test if I got one -- run it along a lamp cord with the lamp on and with it off. $8.50 S&H charge. I suppose I can give them a call. If I can get some info, I'll post more.
RE: The Subject
HF doesn't offer "Quality" IMHO; however, they do provide a place for all the bottom feeders to shop.
Think it was John Ruskin who said something like, "You can always find someone with a lower price."
LOL!
It was Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983) that said this:
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."
He's referring to inductance meters and you can buy them at almost any electric supply store. I bought mine at Home Depot for about $10-$15. It will detect an AC voltage when you get it near the wire.
Lance
Yes, but even w/ no current flowing -- i.e., nothing is operating on the circuit at the time?
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