Kyoritsu is a world-leading brand when it comes to electrical test and measurement, offering an extensive range of high quality instruments from both analogue and digital multimeters to high-end power quality analysers that are widely used and trusted by engineers, electricians and maintenance technicians.
Kyoritsu was founded in 1940 in Japan and since then, the company’s wide line of testers has contributed to technological developments and industrial infrastructures around the world. You can find Kyoritsu meters Australia retailers offer, including clamp meters, multimeters, voltage testers, earth testers, RCD testers, LOOP/PFC/PSC testers, power quality analyser, power meters, clamp sensors, loggers, phase indicators and more.
Clamp Meter vs. Multimeter: Which One to Choose?
With so many tools at the disposal of technicians and other personnel in the electrical field, selecting the one that’s most suitable for your needs can be a challenging task at times. You can choose from a variety of Kyoristu meters Australia experts recommend, but most often, the selection comes down to clamp meters vs. multimeters. So, which one to buy?
It’s difficult for users to decide between the two electrical testers because they are both quite useful and serve the same purpose, depending on your individual needs. They are both used to measure current, voltage, resistance and many other electrical measurement and probes, however, there are some differences in the ease of use and the accuracy of the meters.
Clamp Meters
These are electrical devices or testers used to probe for electrical faults and for measuring current, too. A clamp meter has a basic digital multimeter and a current sensor attached to it. Primarily, a clamp meter is used to measure current, but it can be used to make other measurements as well.
A clamp meter is convenient to use as it includes a clamp that can help you hold the conductor. Using a clamp meter to measure current is quite safe since there is no need to break the circuit. It’s used to troubleshoot electrical equipment to detect why it is not functioning properly.
There are two types of clamp meters – analogue and digital clamp meters. The analogue ones use a needle pointer to present their readings, while the digital clamp meters display readings clearly on an LCD screen and allow you to take reading more conveniently and accurately. They are a great choice for dual purposes like a current drawn and machine speed.
Multimeters
As the name suggests, multimeters are multipurpose. Electricians use multimeters to measure voltage, current and resistance through a circuit. These electrical devices are hand-held, which makes them easy and convenient to use. There are two types of multimeters – analogue multimeters (AMM) and digital multimeters (DMM). The latter is the most commonly used type as it allows you to conveniently take readings from its LCD screen and it gives more accurate results compared to an analogue multimeter.
Multimeters can be used for many electrical purposes and can measure different electrical field. Some of them may require additional attachments to make measurement such as temperature, frequency, etc. To measure current using a multimeter, you will have to break the circuit, which doesn’t have to be done if you’re using a clamp meter. A clamp meter is built with a clamp to hold the conductor, while a multimeter is not, and that’s why you need to break the circuit to measure for current.
Clamp meters are the most versatile diagnostic tools for electricians, but multimeters give better accuracy and resolution than clamp meters, mainly on functions such as resistance, voltage and frequency. Sometimes, an industrial troubleshooter can take advantage of a separate clamp mater and multimeter. To help you narrow down your choices, here are some basic things you should know about different tools.
- A basic clamp meter is a good choice if you need only basic current measurements
- Logging clamp meter can help you when you need to resolve intermittent breaker tips
- A basic multimeter can be quite useful if the task requires only continuity measurements and basic voltage
- A high-end multimeter is your best choice if the task requires power quality work and you need the advanced features and high resolution it provides, which are not available on a clamp meter
- A clamp meter or multimeter is recommended when you need to take remote measurements with a great deal of safety and without the help of a coworker
In the end, choosing between a clamp meter or a multimeter comes down to your personal preferences and needs. If you only need to measure current, a clamp meter is ideal, but for other measurements, such as voltage, frequency and resistance, a multimeter is a preferred choice as it provides better accuracy and resolution, as previously mentioned.
Having both is a good idea as they encourage effective measurement and troubleshooting. Make sure to consider the kind of service you are providing and always carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions about the tool you are buying. You can have a multimeter for voltage and a clamp meter for current, so you can do your job with ease.
