tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
I've disconnected the alternator thanks.Iv had bad diodes in an alternator ,But that drains battery's in hours
That one doesn't do DC current - and I could be wrong, I am not sure any clamp meter does DC current at all...
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
I've got two clamp meters and neither do dc.
Wazzajnr
Well-Known Member
Not all clamp meters do dc but there are plenty that do.
However, for the sorts of currents you want to measure, an inline ammeter is better as long as you don't inadvertently switch something on that will overload it.
Clamp meters with dc tend to be more expensive generally
myfirstl322
Well-Known Member
I think Alan is like me, a visual learner, stop with the words.......
Thats probably why I have not seen one....I am cheap
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
For the amount of times I would use one so am IThats probably why I have not seen one....I am cheap
I ordered one off the bay for a tenner and it arrived with a broken temperature probe, they replaced everything which is why I've got two.
I have an AC & DC clamp meter with a range that will measure up to 450Amps; not so good in his application as they are not sensitive enough to read down to the milliamp range you are looking for.
Better to use the DC 10A meters and make sure you don't blow its fuse by overloading it.
Better to use the DC 10A meters and make sure you don't blow its fuse by overloading it.
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
Thanks Dan, we've lost some posts on this thread due to gremlins I believe. I borrowed this meter from my neighbour and connected it between the earth clamp and the -ve post. Do I have it set to the correct range? Ta.
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Pete The Biker
Active Member
In the photo you posted before you had the red lead plugged into the left-hand socket (marked 20A?). So you should set the dial to point to 20A too (not 200mA where it is in the photo). This will give you a reading in Amps.
Pete
Pete
Your pic only shows the top part of the meter, could you pop another picture up with the whole thing showing and the reading on he display?
The reason I ask is that many Multi-meters have a dual-range for DC-AMPS (fused and unfused) and it depends what sockets you have the lead plugged into. Mine is slightly different to the one you have there.
In the 2 pictures below the first picture shows the meter set to 200m and the display shows (mA) "milliAmps" as its range so the meter will measure up to 200mA before showing an overload.
On my meter using the socket marked mA (in the red-plastic casing) the meter is only good for up to 200mA and any higher current will blow the internal fuse.
In the Second picture I have the dial on a different setting and the display now shows that we will be measuring in Amps (A) and not milliAmps (mA). As I would be measuring anything up to 20A with this setting the red lead MUST be placed in the socket marked "20A MAX" in the grey plastic moulding of the case. This is what I would use for doing what you are doing. 0.01 would be 100millamps. If the scale isn't low enough for the levels of current I was looking for then turning the dial to where it says 200m and this will drop the range down to a maximum of 200milliamps.
Hope this helps. Pop a pic of your meter showing the lead holes and the dial and face and perhaps we can work out what your needs to be.
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
Thanks againYour pic only shows the top part of the meter, could you pop another picture up with the whole thing showing and the reading on he display?
The reason I ask is that many Multi-meters have a dual-range for DC-AMPS (fused and unfused) and it depends what sockets you have the lead plugged into. Mine is slightly different to the one you have there.
In the 2 pictures below the first picture shows the meter set to 200m and the display shows (mA) "milliAmps" as its range so the meter will measure up to 200mA before showing an overload.
On my meter using the socket marked mA (in the red-plastic casing) the meter is only good for up to 200mA and any higher current will blow the internal fuse.
In the Second picture I have the dial on a different setting and the display now shows that we will be measuring in Amps (A) and not milliAmps (mA). As I would be measuring anything up to 20A with this setting the red lead MUST be placed in the socket marked "20A MAX" in the grey plastic moulding of the case. This is what I would use for doing what you are doing. 0.01 would be 100millamps. If the scale isn't low enough for the levels of current I was looking for then turning the dial to where it says 200m and this will drop the range down to a maximum of 200milliamps.
Hope this helps. Pop a pic of your meter showing the lead holes and the dial and face and perhaps we can work out what your needs to be.
Thanks
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OK, I would put your Black lead in the socket marked COM and your red lead in the yellow coloured one marked "A" (That's a 20Amp unfused connection!!!!) so it can measure up to 20A of current with no fuse to blow.
However, they are actually using a "shunt" inside the meter that can get VERY hot with high currents so they recommend 20A for only 10 seconds in every 15 mins (to allow it to cool down again).
Now, you are only expecting 2amps max while the BeCM is awake and nothing else is on and then just 0.1 or so of an amp when it is asleep so it should be OK, but if the leads feel warm to the touch, disconnect.
I attach a guide to all this (found it on my PC).
Best of luck!
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
I'm sure it won't come to that. Keep us all posted on your progress.....please.Thanks Dan, if it gets hot I have a gallon of unleaded to hand.
I will have to do mine too soon.
Opps, posted wrong link. This is the clamp meter I have, and DC Current definitely works. Amazon product
On 2A range the sensitivity is definitely good enough to check that everything goes to sleep properly, plus it can do all the full running currents without disconnecting any cables.
