With the sea of options out there, choosing the right clamp meter can be an overwhelming task. It doesn’t help that these little devices are one of the most important tools for an electrician, so choosing the meter that works for your specific needs is crucial. If you’ve researched these devices, you’ll notice that every meter comes with its own unique advantages and disadvantages, and the meter you choose will ultimately depend on the type of job you’re looking to do. To make things easier, we’ve done the research for you to offer this list of the best 6 clamp meters currently on the market in 2020. While any of these clamp meters are a great option, take a look through our reviews to find the meter that best fits your needs. These are the 6 best clamp meters for electricians in 2020.
Fluke 323 Clamp Meter
The Fluke 323 Clamp Meter is an easy and reliable option for electricians who do both commercial and residential work. This digital clamp meter is a crowd favourite, receiving rave reviews online for its convenient design, high-quality build, and reliability. You can use this unite to measure AC current up to 400amp, AC and DC voltage up to 600v, and resistance up to 4 kilohms. This meter also senses using True Root Mean Square (TRMS), which is a much more accurate form of measuring AC currents than instruments that only use Root Mean Square (RMS). Electricians can use this meter to measure everything from voltage, to amperage, and resistance. The wide jaws on this unit can measure conductors that are up to 30mm without ever touching the circuit, so you can get accurate readings on vitals without ever interrupting the circuit. With the audible continuity sensor “beeper” function of this meter, electricians can troubleshoot without even needing to look at the meter. This unit meets IEC safety standard 61010 1, and is rated for use of CAT IV installations of up to 300C and CAT III installations of up to 600V.
PROS
- Uses True Root Mean Square (TRMS) to provide highly accurate readings.
- Certified by IEC as a safe tool.
- Features an audible continuity sensor function.
- Small and convenient size.
- Highly durable for year over year use.
- The leads don’t need to be moved in order to take measurements.
- Can measure AC current up to 400amp.
- Measures AC and DC voltage up to 600v
- Measures resistance up to 4 kilohms.
- Rave reviews from other electricians online.
- Rated for use of CAT IV installations of up to 300C
- Rated for use of CAT III installations of up to 600V.
Cons
- Does not measure DC current
- The range of this meter only functions between 400 and 4kiloohms.
- The lead port of this meter isn’t conveniently located.
Klein Tools CL800 Digital Clamp Meter
This digital clamp meter is another extremely high quality and reliable unit that gets consistently high reviews from electricians online. Like the Fluke 323, this meter uses True Root Mean Square (TRMS), which allows you to measure currents with much greater accuracy than meters using simple RMS. It also has some features that you won’t find on the Fluke 323, such as the ability to measure both AC and DC voltage, as well as frequency, resistance, capacitance, and diodes through test leads. These capacities make the Klein CL800 a fantastic device that can be used by both commercial and residential electricians. This clamp meter also comes with a number of useful features such as a flashlight built in for added convenience in low light conditions, a voltage detector, and low impedance mode that allows you to identify ghost or stray voltages and eliminate them. It’s recommended that you also invest in the magnetic attachment, which makes for much easier handling. This meter also comes with a bright and large LED backlit display screen for easy reading in both low light and extremely bright conditions.
PROS
- This meter can measure both AC and DC voltage.
- Measures both AC and DC amperage.
- Comes with a built in flashlight.
- Durably built to withstand wear and tear and last year-after-year of use.
- LED backlit display for dark (and extremely bright) conditions.
- Low impedance mode for detecting and eliminating stray and ghost voltages.
- Uses True Root Mean Square (TRMS) for super accurate readings.
- Measures AC/DC voltage, resistance, frequency, capacitance, and diodes.
- Great for both commercial and residential electricians.
CONS
- Can take its time in giving readings
- Screen may wash out when held at a certain angle.
Fluke T5600 clamp meter
This clamp meter is known for its versatility—you can use this unit to accomplish everything from checking voltage and continuity, to current testing. It’s an impressive instruments especially given its small and compact size, which electricians love. Like the other instruments on this list, the T5600 gets consistent rave reviews from electricians online, and has even been named an “Amazon’s Choice” pick product. The wide jaw tester on this unit allows you to measure up to 100 amperes without breaking or interrupting the circuit. This meter comes with an optional holster that can attach to your belt for even easier access and convenience. It’s also extremely easy to use—simply select either ohms, currents, or volts, and the meter will do the rest. The SlimReach test probes (which are conveniently detachable) are also custom built to meet national electrical standards. The Fluke T5600 also features impressive durability and can withstand drops of up to 10 feet, so if it accidentally slips while you’re on a ladder, there’s no reason for concern. Last but not least, the auto-off mode on this device is a great battery saver that will let you get the maximum number of uses out of this meter without needing to change the batteries.
PROS
- Extremely durably built; can withstand drops of up to 10 feet high.
- Built to last year-over-year use.
- Features a continuity beeper.
- The auto-off mode preserves battery power for longer than ever before.
- Small and compact design lets you take this device anywhere.
- Useful for all sorts of tasks, from checking voltage and continuity, to current testing.
- Consistently good online reviews.
- Amazon’s Choice pick.
- Optional holster that makes for easy attachment to your belt.
- Wide jaw tester lets you measure up to 100 amperes without breaking the circuit.
CONS
- Somewhat shaky sensor zone.
Klein Tools CL110KIT
This meter is brought to you by one of the most trusted names in the industry, and the CL110KIT does not disappoint. This device can measure AC current with its clamp, and AC/DC voltage, continuity, and resistance using its test leads. Electricians can reliably use the CL110KIT to detect some of the most common wiring problems that exist in GFCI and standard receptacles like reverse polarity, open ground, open hot, open neutral, and hot/ground reversed. The line splitter on this device is also highly convenient as it allows you to measure current draw of up to 15A without splitting the load’s power cord. As is expected from Klein’s high level of quality and trust among those in the industry, this meter is certified with a CAT III 600V, Class two, double insulation safety rating. The display on this device is backlit and easy to read in low light conditions. When you buy this product, you’ll also receive a carrying case, batteries, and test leads so that you’re ready to go right off the bat.
PROS
- Equipped with an AC auto-ranging 400amp meter.
- Can measure both AC and DC voltages.
- Measures continuity and resistance using its test leads.
- Line splitter allows you to measure current draws of up to 15A without splitting the power cord of your load.
- High-quality make.
- Certified with a CAT III 600V, Class two, double insulation safety rating.
- Backlit screen for easy reading.
- Comes with batteries, test leads, and a convenient carrying case.
CONS
- May not withstand drops from greater heights.
Fluke 324 True-RMS Clamp Meter
Many claim that this is the #1 clamp meter on the market. If you’re a professional electrician, whether you’re servicing residential or commercial sites, the Fluke 324 is going to give you all the features and reliability you need to get the job done well, every time. That’s because, unlike the Fluke 323, this device can measure both temperature and capacitance (up to 1000 µF). This is an essential feature for electricians who often work with HVACs. Aside from this unique feature, the Fluke 324 has the same high-quality build and long-lasting durability that the Fluke 323 has. This meter measures currents using True Root Mean Square (TRMS), which makes it much more accurate than competing meters that just use Root Mean Square (RMS). It’s also certified with a CAT IV 300V and CAT III 600V safety rating, and meets IEC safety standards (61010 1). The jaw opening of this device can be used to measure currents in a conductor of up to 30mm without breaking the circuit. More generally, the compact, ergonomically designed shape of this device feels good in the hand—an important factor for a frequently used tool that’s often overlooked.
PROS
- Extremely high quality make; industry standard.
- Capable of measuring both capacitance (up to 1000 µF) and temperature.
- Long-lasting durability for year-over-year use.
- Measures currents using True Root Mean Square (TRMS), making for extremely accurate readings.
- CAT IV 300V and CAT III 600V safety rating
- Meets IEC safety standards 61010 1.
- Jaw opening measures currents in a conductor up to 30 millimetres without interrupting the circuit.
- Slim, compact, and ergonomically designed.
- Backlit screen makes this meter easy to use in low light conditions.
CONS
- Does not have sufficient space for test leads.
- Cannot measure DC.
Amprobe AMP-330 Clamp Meter
The Amprobe clamp meter is another high-quality, and extremely accurate device due to its use of True Root Mean Square (TRMS). As we’ve mentioned before, using TRMS makes this meter much more accurate than other devices that use simple RMS. This unit can be used to measure capacitance for both start and run motor capacitors. It’s certified and safety rated for CAT III up to 600 volts (AMP-310, AMP-320), as well as CAT IV up to 600V, and CAT III up to 1000V (Amp-330). The Amprobe AMP-210 comes with features such as low pass filters, fast response processors (for fasted measurements), and an Amp-Tip function that lets you measure currents down to a tenth of an AMP for increased accuracy.
PROS
- Uses True Root Mean Square (TRMS) for more accurate measurements.
- Safety rated and certified for CAT III up to 600 volts (AMP-310, AMP-320), as well as CAT IV up to 600V, and CAT III up to 1000V (Amp-330)
- Measures capacitance for both start and run motor capacitors.
- Amp-Tip feature lets you measure down to a tenth of an AMP.
- Low pass filter.
- Fast response processor.
CONS
- Users must change this device from DC volts to AC volts when testing AC.
What clamp meter is right for you?
Every clamp meter on this list is a solid choice that any electrician can feel confident buying. The clamp meter that you ultimately decide on will be the one that most suits your needs, depending on the type of work you do. What voltage and amp measurement values do you need? How important is the durability of your device if you accidentally drop it from a high distance? Do you work in dark light conditions often, and need a device with a bright backlit LED screen? These are the sorts of questions that should help determine your decision when choosing a clamp meter. Just remember—buying a meter that will last you in the long run is more important than saving a few dollars in the short run. If you find a high-quality meter that you like, make the investment. You’ll thank yourself later.
For a final round up, here is a list of all our favorite clamp meters sorted by price:
Image Credit: “Conical screw compressor Storm, 21 bar, 51A, 612W” by Oleg Dmitriev is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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