A clamp meter is one of the common devices used to measure the current flowing in a circuit. The best advantage of this device is, it need not be brought in contact with the circuit. We need to clamp the ports around the wire and it will measure the current flowing through the wire. Unlike a multimeter, where it needs to be connected to the circuit, this meter can measure current without getting in touch with the circuit itself. It can be used to measure both AC and DC currents. It can even measure currents up to 100 A. It is very commonly found in industrial, laboratory applications where it is frequently used for measurement of current. It’s a substitute for a multimeter. It can measure current without interrupting the circuit itself.
What is a Clamp Meter?
It is a device used for the measurement of currents, without interrupting the circuit itself. It can measure both AC and DC currents flowing through the wire. It even distinguishes the direction of current flowing in a particular circuit. If we clamp the leads in the opposite way, then it will be shown a negative symbol before the magnitude of the circuit on the display.
Clamp Meter
Meters measuring AC and DC are different from each other. The meter can measure current up to various levels. It can even measure the current of milliampere range. The meter comes with an even high resolution of 0.1 mA. In terms of accuracy, a clamp meter is slightly less accurate than the conventional multimeter.
Clamp Meter Construction
The meter diagram is shown above. As indicated, 1 indicates the clamps which are used to put on the wire. Also called as leads, when kept around the wires, it indicates the current flowing in the particular wire. 2. Acts as support to 1. The windings are placed in 2. 3 represent the clamps push-type hinge, when pressed the clamps will be opened.
When the current is needed to be measured, the first 3 is pressed, the clamps or leads are opened, they are kept around the wire in which the current to measured is flowing, and then the magnitude of current appears on 4. 4 is four display.
Clamp Meter Diagram
Generally, it’s a LED display with up to 4 digits accuracy. 5 is the mode in which the clamp meter needs to be set. If we want to measure, AC or DC current, that setting can be done at 5. Some clamp meters even have external leads and they can be also used to measure current by interrupting the circuit. But by using the clamps, we need not interrupt the circuit.
Clamp Meter Principle
To measure the required current, the wire in which the current is flowing acts as the primary winding. When the primary winding is placed near to the core, it induces emf, and secondary emf is obtained on the secondary side. Now to measure the current, a small amount of shunt resistance is used in the secondary.
The current which is to be measured is allowed to flow through the shunt resistance. And a voltage drop appears on the shunt winding resistance. By knowing the value of shunt resistance and by knowing the value of the drop, the current flowing through the shunt resistance can easily be known by using Ohms Law. Generally, the value of shunt resistance is very low as compared to the value of meter resistance.
AC Clamp Meter
An AC meter is used to measure the AC currents. Whenever the AC current flowing through the wires is placed in between the clamps, the current is measured and its value is displayed. AC clamp meter working is discussed below.
Clamp Meter Working
The working of AC meter is fundamentally the faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. Whenever there is a relative displacement between the coil and magnetic field, an emf is induced in the coil. For the generator, the relative displacement is because the conductors are moving and the coil is constant. But in the case of transformers, induction motors, and meters, the relative displacement is due to the alternating nature of current flowing in the circuit.
The clamps of the clamp meter, act as the core of the transformer. The current in the primary winding is the current that is to be measured or the current flowing in the leads. When the current in the primary winding is kept near to the core, i.e. clamps, the flux passes through the core and induces an emf in the secondary winding. The secondary winding of the clamp is placed inside the core. It is shown by point 2 in the clamp meter diagram.
So the measured current to be measured is displayed. It can be noted that the current which is to be measured, form only one turn of the primary winding. The rest turns would be found on the secondary winding. Since we need not step up or down the current, the required turns on secondary would be one.
DC Clamp Meter
A DC clamp meter is used to measure the DC currents. Whenever the DC current flowing through the wires is placed in between the clamps, the current is measured and its value is displayed.
DC Clamp Meter Working
The working of DC meter is different than AC meter. In the DC meter, the electromagnetic induction principle will now work. Since the current is static in nature, and the coil is also static in nature, so there is no relative displacement between the coil and the magnetic field. Therefore the no emf would be induced on the secondary winding. But since the primary winding consists of current, a primary emf of static in nature is induced in the primary core.
A constant magnetic field is present in the core. This constant magnetic field is measured by using Hall effect sensors. A hall effect probe is connected at the secondary winding of the core. This hall effect based probe measures the static or constant magnetic field present in the core. And based on the magnitude of static emf, it measures the current. Hence this way, the DC meter can measure both AC and DC currents.
Clamp Meter Specifications
The meter specifications generally involve how much current it can measure in both AC and DC mode. Generally, it can measure up to 100 A at the higher end, and it can measure milliamperes at the lower end. Voltage specifications are generally 230 V, and power ratings depend on the current to be measured.
How to use a Clamp Meter?
The meter is generally used to measure currents. It is used without interrupting the circuit. Whenever the current which is to be measured is flowing in the leads, those leads are placed between the clamps. And the clamps need to be closed. On closing the clamps, the core is now closed, and the primary current starts inducing emf in the secondary winding and the value of current can now be checked.
When we measure DC current we need to be careful, because DC current is measured based on Hall effect sensors. When the hall effect sensors measure the magnetic field, equivalent DC current is calculated and displayed. The hall effect measures the constant magnetic field flowing in the core.
Now in the absence of any primary winding also, the DC current will be displayed on the display. It is because of the earth’s magnetic field. Hence care must be taken to reset the device before measuring the DC current. Even the magnitude of DC current would vary as we move or rotate the clamp meter.
Types of Clamp Meters
There are basically three types of clamp meter such as
- Current transformer clamp meter- It measures only AC current
- Hall effect clamp meter- It measures both AC and DC currents
- Flexible clamp meter- It measures only AC current using Rogowski coil
Clamp Meters Versus Multimeter
In multi meter apart from current, we can also measure voltage, resistance, inductance, and capacitance. A clamp meter is used only to measure current.
Clamp Meters Use
Ranging from all industrial applications to laboratory applications, these meters are used widely.
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Hence we have seen the working principle of clamp meter and its types. The best part of this meter is it does not interrupt the circuit. It is interesting to think that can clamp meters measure voltages? If yes then how?