T&T: Fw: Multimeter, General Purpose for Boat, Advice Please

[Albin43SDtr]

'Lo All,

I use both analog and digital multimeters. The most used one is an 
Extech digital AC/DC clamp-on ammeter with voltage leads. It is a 
great little meter. Mine is now an older model and is not currently 
sold. When working on any of the charging circuits, a clamp-on DC 
ammeter is extremely useful. Mine will measure up to 1000 Amps AC or 
DC in two scales (400 and 1000 A), so it will even measure engine 
cranking amps (Cummins engines) as well as alternator output. It is 
also useful when checking on equipment power consumption. The meter 
is about the same size as my other digital meters, has true RMS 
voltage or P-P voltage, and a temperature thermocouple (however; I 
prefer the IR meter for temp measurements). It even has Peak Reading 
Hold, so I can tell what the max current or voltage was.

The URL for Extech is:

http://www.extech.com/instrument/categories/clampon/clampon.html

I always have a meter in my RV and one in the Celestial, the AC/DC 
clamp-on meter goes with me whenever I travel in either. It has 
helped troubleshoot problems for me and for me to help others.

What is surprising - to me anyway - is how often my $3.00 analog 
meter will suffice. But, there are times when you need a meter with a 
high input impedance so as not to load a circuit or to measure 
current without putting an ammeter in series. The Extech clamp-on 
multimeter has worked flawlessly whenever I have used it.

No connections......yada, yada and of course, YMMVG. (Your Mileage 
May Vary Greatly - to the "acronymously" challenged. :)


Take care and be safe.

Wayne
M/V Celestial
Albin43 Sundeck