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Multimeter | Clamp meter | Insulation Resistance Tester | Panel Meter | Oscilloscopes | Test leads & Accessories | Software Updates => AC/DC clamp meters => Topic started by: Kiriakos GR on June 29, 2014, 07:24:06 PM

Title: Beware when shopping for Low-cost mA Process Clamp Meter
Post by: Kiriakos GR on June 29, 2014, 07:24:06 PM
In Greece we say that cheap meat is good only for feeding your dogs.
But here we have a different story, up to date (June 2014) only too Asian manufacturers are offering similar and low performing products at high price.

mA Process Clamp Meter or Process control Clamp Meter, the point is that the most wanted range is the 4-20mA, unfortunately all products below has the same problem, which is poor sampling rate at 2 time per second, which makes them not usable for demanding applications.
 
For Process control, today there is need for fast Clamp Meter or multimeter which are capable for a sampling rate of five to seven times per second.

Currently I do not have a best buy suggestion for a cheap Process control clamp meter,
But instead wasting your money in the products below, you better donate them instead, so to assist a fellow man in need, or keep researching in the branded solutions so to find the right one for the job.

These links of products below are from their source regarding manufacturer, but there are also rebranded identical products in Europe and USA.


Centertek – Taiwan

CENTER 223 - High Resolution Clamp Meter (AC/DC)
http://www.centertek.com/products_con.aspx?cid=C_00000008&cpid=C_00000001&pid=P_00000026&pn=proE (http://www.centertek.com/products_con.aspx?cid=C_00000008&cpid=C_00000001&pid=P_00000026&pn=proE)

CENTER 260 - mA High Resolution Clamp Meter (AC/DC, TRMS)
http://www.centertek.com/products_con.aspx?cid=C_00000008&cpid=C_00000001&pid=P_00000085&pn=proE

CEM - China
Mini AC/DC Clamp Meter  DT-337/338/339
http://www.cem-instruments.com/en/pro/pro-519.html (http://www.cem-instruments.com/en/pro/pro-519.html)


Title: Re: Beware when shopping for Low-cost mA Process Clamp Meter
Post by: plouf on April 20, 2015, 09:37:13 PM
hello

Are the above meters tested and failed or guessing ?

is there any suggestion for some decades mAh measure for DC ?
Title: Re: Beware when shopping for Low-cost mA Process Clamp Meter
Post by: Kiriakos GR on April 21, 2015, 08:01:06 AM
When a vendor makes known to the world of his own product specifications, the readers simply compare them with other vendors product solutions.

Process control is an application which ultimate accuracy and speed are very important.
When controlling water valves for example, the change is instant.
When controlling multiple water valves at the same time, all of them must operate in synchronization.

For low importance applications as for example to measure electronics circuit consumption which is expected to be the same all the time, as for example LED lights, possibly and the cheapest tools can do that.

About a solid recommendation for such a tool which will do a good job in demanding electronics applications, currently i have none.
Few Japanese vendors who seem specialized in such products, never answered my emails.