Question 1

Are Display counts better higher than 2000 or lower than 2000? I see many other meters @ 4000 & 6000 counts

Accepted Answer

Higher display counts give you a wider range of measement within a given measurement range.  For example a 2000 display count  meter will have ranges 0.000-2.000 volts, 00.00-20.00 volts, 0.000-200.0 volts, etc.  A 6000 count meter will have similar ranges available, but with a higher upper limit within each range.  0.000-6.000 volts, 00.00-60.00 volts, 000.0-600.0 volts, etc. The benefit is you can measure with higher accuracy over a greater range.  For example if you had to measure 5 volts with three decimal points of accuracy you would need a 6000 count meter using the 0.000-6.000 range, because a 2000 count meter would only be able to measure to two decimal places on the 00.00-20.00 volt range..  The higher count is unnecessary for all but the most precise applications, and the extra expense for a higher count meter is not justified.

Question 2

Does this meter measure dc current in clamp mode (for measuring charging current to a battery)?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  It can only measure current through the clamp.  For AC it reads current accurately right off the bat.  For DC current it (and every other DC clamp on ammeter) is sensitive to magnetic fields: you have to hold it near what you want to measure, hit the zero button, then clamp the wire.

Question 3

It will only read DC amp draw up to 100 amps?

Accepted Answer

AC and DC, up to 100A.  I use the DC amps all the time to check the charge current on my solar panels.

Question 4

Can this be used to measure ac current (say an appliance plugged into a socket) without using an ac line splitter?

Accepted Answer

No.  You need to separate the hot and neutral somehow.  If you clamp around both, they cancel each other out.  A line splitter is the easiest way to do that without opening up the receptacle box or separating the wires in the cord.

Current Clamp Meter VC330; CAT II 600 V, CAT III 300 V, 2000 Counts, Compact and Robust, AC/DC Current Reading, Multimeter Functions, True RMS Readings, Resistance Reading

Details

Details

Description

Common Questions