DMM VS Electric Clamp Meter – Which Is Better

One thing is for sure, how well you equip yourself in the field you work, plays a great role in how successful you are. When it comes to electrical test equipment, are you confident that you have the right tools for your job?

Digital multimeters (DMM) are commonly considered as direct contact instruments and clamp meters as inductive ones. This leads to the wrong conclusion that the only difference between them is the input method. Nevertheless, a clamp meter is definitely not a DMM with a set of inductive jaws replacing the test leads. These two are two separate and different instruments and each one has their own advantages.

Digital Multimeters

These are voltage measuring tools that have some current abilities.

Because of their high resolution, digital multimeters enable you to do electronic work – they measure in milliunits (for example, milliamps ,millivolts, and milliohms). Moreover, they also make it possible for you to do electrical measurements, except for current. If you are looking to do electrical current measurements with a digital multimeter, you will need to use a current clamp accessory.

Electrical Clamp Meters

An electric clamp meter measures different properties in a particular current. More advanced and more expensive clamp meters are able to measure more properties. However, for a clamp meter to be useful, it is essential that it measures voltage, current, crest factor, and continuity.

Clamp meters are also known as clamp-on meters or clamp-on ammeters, and what they actually do is test electrical currents with the help of a brace or jaws. They can be used around a conductor in order to detect its magnetic field and measure electrical currents without interrupting a circuit or cutting the wires of electrical devices and appliances. These meters measure AC currents through transformer action. Once the jaws are clamped around the conductor, the current is coupled through them and into a secondary winding. This secondary winding is directed into the input’s meter, which is afterwards read by the meter.

Where to Buy and Electric Clamp Meter and DMM?

Buying clamp meters in mortar and brick stores can be a simple task provided that you shop at the right type of stores. These are special pieces of equipment and may only be able to be purchased from home improvement stores. However, even if you are shopping at these types of stores, sometimes you may have troubles finding the type of clamp meter you need.

For that reason, the best thing to do is visit some of the best online sites for this type of equipment where you can find the widest variety of clamp meters available on the market today.