How can a clamp meter be used to measure the amperage of a wire or cable from the phase and neutral of two strands?

Reloadron

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• May 9, 2024

• #2

If we call phase L1 and Neutral N you simply use the clamp on meter on a single line. Clamping on both L1 and N will cancel resulting in zero current. Most clamp on meters should cover use in the manual. Most include illustrations.

Ron

 

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crutschow

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Most Helpful Member

• May 9, 2024

• #3

The clamp measures the net current going through the opening, so you must have only one wire (can be either hot or neutral) going through the clamp.
To measure the current in a cable with both hot and neutral, you can make a breakout cable with a plug and socket, that has the wires separated, which you can then plug in series with the cable being measured.

 

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Reloadron

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• May 9, 2024

• #4

Maybe this cartoon will help...



This is what we are getting at using only a single wire.

Ron

 

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ronsimpson

Well-Known Member

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• May 9, 2024

• #5

My clamp meter came with one of these. It separates the two wires so you can get a clamp meter connected.

 

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S

schmitt trigger

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• May 9, 2024

• #6

The other day, browsing thru some e-commerce websites, I stumbled upon one of those.

There were even some which multiplied the current readings 10X, for those small appliances.

 

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Nigel Goodwin

Super Moderator

Most Helpful Member

• May 10, 2024

• #7

ronsimpson said:

My clamp meter came with one of these. It separates the two wires so you can get a clamp meter connected.
View attachment 145683

Click to expand...

Nice - but rather depends what country you're in

 

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