Earth leakage clamp meter

[GBDamo]

Anyone got one they recommend.

Looking to spend upto £120.

Would like micro Amp resolution if possible single digit milli Amp a must.

Ta muchly.

Edit: only looking at testing appliances and 240V circuits.

(did a search but no conclusive answers found)

 

[The Ghost]

Identifying the earth leakage current - DCM305E - https://uk.megger.com/earth-leakage-clampmeter-dcm305e
My weapon of choice. Not within your budget agreed but it's always good to have it on your wish list.

 

[telectrix]

if you can find the 1961 episode of Blue Peter, they made one with a coat hanger hook, a magnet, and a toilet roll middle, coupled to a compass calibrated in mA.

 

[MJPD29]

Honestly your not going to get much in that department for that budget

 

[PEG]

if you can find the 1961 episode of Blue Peter, they made one with a coat hanger hook, a magnet, and a toilet roll middle, coupled to a compass calibrated in mA.

Bloody Blue Peter.... I remember telling me mates dad (a very hard man) that i watched it,and they were burying a "time-capsule"....
"Oh,you like digging,do ya?..."he said...

The following Summer,at age 13,he had us digging in railway crossing timbers,as gate/fence posts....holes dug by hand,3 foot square and the depth of the shovel...sides shaved plumb and the bottom flat,level and clean. Posts punned in every 6",gate posts concreted in...

Yeah,thanks Mr.Noakes...

 

[DT1991]

HandyMAN TEK775 Mini AC Earth Leakage Clamp Meter - https://www.test-meter.co.uk/handyman-tek775-mini-ac-earth-leakage-clamp-meter/

 

[GBDamo]

HandyMAN TEK775 Mini AC Earth Leakage Clamp Meter - https://www.test-meter.co.uk/handyman-tek775-mini-ac-earth-leakage-clamp-meter/

That looks like its worth a punt.

Thanks

 

[suffolkspark]

Cant fault my di log one... Its about 4 years old... But ive read others havnt lasted so well

 

[GBDamo]

Cant fault my di log one... Its about 4 years old... But ive read others havnt lasted so well

They do them at Screwfix, might give that one a whirl, ooh choices.

 

[Loki]

Only problem with cheaper is that they probably wont be adjustable if it goes out of its factory calibration.

 

[GBDamo]

Only problem with cheaper is that they probably wont be adjustable if it goes out of its factory calibration.

You are correct but I could confidence check it against a calibrated MFT when, say, doing an RCD ramp test.

In a way, within reason, the absolute measured value is not important so long as you know by how much it's out.

I'm looking for an indicative diagnostic tool not something to offer a certified figure.

As such paying upwards of £250 is going to offer me little other than probable longevity.

If the cheap and cheerful proves incredibly useful yet wanting then I will have the justification for spending more. If it spends more time on the van than in use, which I suspect, I've made the right choice.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I think you'll find the cheaper ones only test milliamps by clamping across both tails, whereas the megger (bucks) tester will also clamp a single conductor, useful for a test of leakage on an earth wire.
As an aside, I don't have one and fault find with just an IR tester, leakage clamps are by no means essential.

 

[suffolkspark]

I think you'll find the cheaper ones only test milliamps by clamping across both tails, whereas the megger (bucks) tester will also clamp a single conductor, useful for a test of leakage on an earth wire.

Can confirm my cheapish di log does both

 

[davesparks]

I think you'll find the cheaper ones only test milliamps by clamping across both tails, whereas the megger (bucks) tester will also clamp a single conductor, useful for a test of leakage on an earth wire.
As an aside, I don't have one and fault find with just an IR tester, leakage clamps are by no means essential.

Any clamp tester will measure the current in a single conductor you clamp it round or the imbalance in current between any group of conductors you clmap it round.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Any clamp tester will measure the current in a single conductor you clamp it round or the imbalance in current between any group of conductors you clmap it round.

There was an MTI brekkie morning at our CEF a while back and I looked at an ETHOS earth leakage clamp which was around a hundred quid. It would only measure leakage current by clamping both tails,(that was stated in the manual), the guy told me all the cheaper clamps work like that and will not read milliamps from a single conductor. If that is incorrect it was from the horses mouth so to speak.

 

[telectrix]

HandyMAN TEK775 Mini AC Earth Leakage Clamp Meter - https://www.test-meter.co.uk/handyman-tek775-mini-ac-earth-leakage-clamp-meter/

mine is virtuaaly same as this, but has D.C. also. only gripe is jaws too small to get round both tails if 25mm.

 

[davesparks]

There was an MTI brekkie morning at our CEF a while back and I looked at an ETHOS earth leakage clamp which was around a hundred quid. It would only measure leakage current by clamping both tails,(that was stated in the manual), the guy told me all the cheaper clamps work like that and will not read milliamps from a single conductor. If that is incorrect it was from the horses mouth so to speak.

That's two seperate things, the ability to measure milliamps and measuring leakage aren't the same thing.

The ability to measure milliamps simply means that the meter is capable of measuring small currents.

The only way I know of measuring leakage current is by clamping all live conductors of the circuit in question. Clamping the cpc won't tell you the leakage due to the parallel paths involved, plus the leakage may not be to the cpc of the circuit.

 

[static zap]

....... It would only measure leakage current by clamping both tails,

Possibly about un-considered earth parallel paths , where current escapes without involving the MET ?
( That broken T&E running to shed in garden/lighting circuit)