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Recommendations for a DMM

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mzincali

Wed Jan 04 2012, 06:26PM

Registered Member #4127 Joined: Fri Oct 07 2011, 05:40PM
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Posts: 22

One thing I love, when experimenting with my flyback driver circuits, is to pipe their power through a "Watt meter" that I normally use for my electric RC plane hobby. At a glance I can see Ams and Voltage, at the same time, plus accumulated current and watt used since plugging in.

I bet I have saved my hands from countless HV/arc burns by having these instead of reaching into my circuit with test leads, or having extra alligator clips and leads to and from a DMM.

There are a few of them out there. The first two I own, and the others look good too:

Whattmeter
Watt's Up
PowerMeter
WindyNation

A clamp meter that could show voltage at the same time as ams could do the same thing and it would be more ideal. You would clip the voltage leads, and clamp one Vin wire and should be able to get the same info. I don't know of any clamp meters that do so.

mzincali

Wed Jan 04 2012, 06:50PM

Registered Member #4127 Joined: Fri Oct 07 2011, 05:40PM
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Posts: 22

I may have found a clamp meter with dual displays for simultaneous current and voltage measurement:

Phoenix DL389

Anyone have any experience with this one?

radiotech

Wed Jan 04 2012, 08:07PM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
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Posts: 1546

I read the .pdf for the dual display meter, but I could not find out if two readings
for amps and volts could be processed at the same time.

Where would you set the selector switch for that?

mzincali

Thu Jan 05 2012, 08:52AM

Registered Member #4127 Joined: Fri Oct 07 2011, 05:40PM
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Posts: 22

radiotech wrote ...

I read the .pdf for the dual display meter, but I could not find out if two readings
for amps and volts could be processed at the same time.

Where would you set the selector switch for that?

I'm thinking that you don't need to set the selector and that the top line of the display always displays what the clamp measures. This is what leads me to believe this:

Item 12, page 2:

Upper Display: Used to display current when used with UEi clamp or hook adapter. Displays output from other accessories when connected to the UEi meter.

As this is the top contender right now, I may be getting it and will report back.

radiotech

Thu Jan 05 2012, 07:30PM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
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Posts: 1546

This is a meter that may be use to me too. Are you getting the pro version?

Steve Conner

Thu Jan 05 2012, 08:38PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

Don't forget that most clamp meters can only measure power frequency AC current with the clamp, as it's basically just a transformer. The AC/DC ones also have a Hall effect sensor.

It's not a problem for most users, but people here are talking about flyback drivers and RC planes, and I don't see any mention of a DC capability in the DL389 manual.

Nicko

Thu Jan 05 2012, 09:48PM

Registered Member #1334 Joined: Tue Feb 19 2008, 04:37PM
Location: Nr. London, UK
Posts: 615

Lets not forget the need for "true RMS" readings if you are dealing with anything that isn't a good quality sine wave.

True RMS is very very useful, and not generally available on cheapo meters...

radiotech

Thu Jan 05 2012, 09:52PM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
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Posts: 1546

The Phoenix DMMs, according to the local distributor are sold in the HVAC trade.

I don't what your pricing is, but the clamp section is rated 45-400 Hz, 40 and 400 Amps
ranges and crest factor of 3:1.

They do mention calibration interval of one year. It would be interesting know
how to get it calibrated and re-stickered.

The particular field use probably is for licensed HVAC technicians who would be
capable of doing measurements on systems up to 600 volts.

mzincali

Fri Jan 06 2012, 08:32AM

Registered Member #4127 Joined: Fri Oct 07 2011, 05:40PM
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Posts: 22

Steve Conner wrote ...

Don't forget that most clamp meters can only measure power frequency AC current with the clamp, as it's basically just a transformer. The AC/DC ones also have a Hall effect sensor.

It's not a problem for most users, but people here are talking about flyback drivers and RC planes, and I don't see any mention of a DC capability in the DL389 manual.

Yes, that's right. I was so impressed that it could display two measurements that I ignored the fact that the top one is always going to be amperes *AC*.

I think I might have to just be happy with my "watt meters" for dual measurements, and then have a nice DMM that just measures one thing at a time, but does it well.

mzincali

Fri Jan 06 2012, 09:02AM

Registered Member #4127 Joined: Fri Oct 07 2011, 05:40PM
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Posts: 22

Does anyone have feelings for whether cap and inductance measurements should be done with the test leads or with a socket on the device?

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