ITTSB.EU Blog Forum
Electrical Test and Measurement instruments => AC/DC clamp meters => Topic started by: Kiriakos GR on September 25, 2026, 03:04:05 PM
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Who needs a clamp meter with thin jaws? THERE IS NO ANSWERS ON THAT.
Clamp meter jaws diameter this never was a matter of choice.
Everything started when a specific AC Current coil, this were adopted as current sensor.
And all industry started replicating this basic design.
Many decades later, a new sensor type shown, and this is flexible loop sensor, this technology came with an strong disadvantage, it cannot measure with precision below 1A AC current.
15 years old innovation, this is the so called as modern design, this having thin jaws.
No one explained from our metrology people, of what might be the strong disadvantage of this sensor?
Only expert eyes, they can conceive the truth, the strong disadvantage, it cannot measure with precision below 1A AC current.
Two Taiwanese industries, showoff at 2026, their own NEW models of clamp meter with thin jaws.
And their motive was adding something at their portfolio, so this to look as complete.
The outcome is the same, an clamp meter at 600A or 1000A, with out any in between current range.
It appears that is not possible having 40/400A ranges with thin jaws. :P
Another product design mistake, the use of thin jaws this driving product design of entire clamp meter, this having and narrow body.
An narrow body, this makes the product fragile, an simple fall over concrete at 1~2m distance, this will be destructive.
Narrow body = smaller battery power storage.
At least at my side of the world, Europe, I have never see electrical distribution box this be tiny.
The theoretical marketing excuse for using thin jaws, this is at junction boxes.
Junction boxes these having LOW CURRENT connections, at 6A to 10A AC.
Why then one expert electrician to use an 400A clamp, so to measure 6A to 10A AC? :P
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Here is a proof, a random find actually, about Hioki CM4375-50 clamp meter.
Someone at HIOKI, he did make one demonstration stand, this presenting an single application in favor of thin jaws design.
This is not any junction box ... this is high current power line, this serving within large factory infrastructure.
Such a single application, its not powerful enough to work as sales point, in favor of these tools.
Its now more than obvious, its a mistake buying tools these made for large factory infrastructure, if you are not an engineer working in them.
This identical advice also apply, and for this fresh fashion, about data center power supply evaluation.