Electrical multimeter

awheelterd

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Location
Kenly, NC
Anyone know of a affordable multimeter or just an amp clamp that will record for a reasonable period of time? I have instances at work where I will blow a fuse or trip an overload, but aren't standing there with my meter on the line at the time it trips, so I don't know exactly when it occurred or whether the amps built up or just spiked before a trip.
 
Current meter, data logger and cheap dont typically go together.

Is this one circuit in particular or is it happening in multiple places?
 
Ron said:
Current meter, data logger and cheap dont typically go together.

Is this one circuit in particular or is it happening in multiple places?
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Yeah I know :lol: that's why I was asking here. I was hoping someone had found something that I hadn't!

Not really one thing in particular. I have equipment strowed over 20 acres and 4 plants so something I can move around would be great. It's not really a great need, but I'm a tools whore and any chance I get to buy a new tool I jump on it ha. I had a technician come a few weeks ago that had a snap-on amp clamp that connected blue tooth to his phone. I think he said it was north of a grand though. Little steep for something that I don't "need need".
 
I think we all know that Fluke makes a great product, but they are proud of their product and they price them accordingly. An alternative that I found when I did HVAC and building maintenance was UEI. They are not cheap, but they are less expensive than Fluke and still very good quality. My meter of choice when I was doing HVAC was the UEI DL250 because it truly embodied the "multimeter" aspect. Looks like that is an out of date model though and it has been replaced by the DL379B. Here is the link to get one if you so choose to go this route.

https://www.amazon.com/UEi-Test-Ins...ld=1&keywords=uei+dl250&qid=1601926591&sr=8-1
 
superman27344 said:
I think we all know that Fluke makes a great product, but they are proud of their product and they price them accordingly. An alternative that I found when I did HVAC and building maintenance was UEI. They are not cheap, but they are less expensive than Fluke and still very good quality. My meter of choice when I was doing HVAC was the UEI DL250 because it truly embodied the "multimeter" aspect. Looks like that is an out of date model though and it has been replaced by the DL379B. Here is the link to get one if you so choose to go this route.

https://www.amazon.com/UEi-Test-Ins...ld=1&keywords=uei+dl250&qid=1601926591&sr=8-1
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Thanks. I have the nicer southwire from Lowe's and it works fine for what I do. Having an amp clamp is a must. I'd really like some sort of logger but like @Ron said, they aren't cheap. I was hoping someone had found a knockoff Chinese unit that worked ok ha.
 
So I don't
16019286903325195935986558173087.jpg
have to sit here and do this ha
 
Buy my Fluke 435.
It will do everything you need. Ive used it 3 times. All paperwork and original boxes included and 2 sets of leads.
Ill sell it for 50% of new
 
Ron said:
Buy my Fluke 435.
It will do everything you need. Ive used it 3 times. All paperwork and original boxes included and 2 sets of leads.
Ill sell it for 50% of new
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Fuuu... I can sit on a bucket and watch my meter for a lonnnggg time before I can swing that one!
 
Its a really nice meter...
 
Buy a current sensor, an arduino, and some wire. Build a data logger for like $40.
 
rockcity said:
Use a go pro. We have done that before in a pinch.
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a WYZE cam is $25, connect to wifi load the app on your phone watch from the front porch or Bojangles drive thru
 
AC power. @Blkvoodoo and @rockcity I am being a Nancy :lol:. I don't want to have to watch it anywhere. I want a nice little graph to look at that tells me amp draw every second or so not have to scan the whole recording haha
 
awheelterd said:
AC power. @Blkvoodoo and @rockcity I am being a Nancy :lol:. I don't want to have to watch it anywhere. I want a nice little graph to look at that tells me amp draw every second or so not have to scan the whole recording haha
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while it may not seem like a need, it certainly would be a want in that it helps diagnose the issue. I doubt this is the first time you've had similar, and certainly won't be the last. Its justifiable, not the gold plated one, just something that does what you want. in the grand scheme, its cheaper than down time.
 
Blkvoodoo said:
while it may not seem like a need, it certainly would be a want in that it helps diagnose the issue. I doubt this is the first time you've had similar, and certainly won't be the last. Its justifiable, not the gold plated one, just something that does what you want. in the grand scheme, its cheaper than down time.
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Exactly! I just have to find IT!
 
awheelterd said:
AC power. @Blkvoodoo and @rockcity I am being a Nancy :lol:. I don't want to have to watch it anywhere. I want a nice little graph to look at that tells me amp draw every second or so not have to scan the whole recording haha
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Whats your budget and access to a laptop, and willingness to program (or run one)?
I was serious about a DIY solution. You can use something like this that outputs a mV voltage intended to go into a voltmeter, but instead hook the leads right up to an Arduino.
https://www.amazon.com/allsun-Handh...EDB9BD1WQWN&psc=1&refRID=DTS8NKBSKEDB9BD1WQWN

plug arduino into laptop. Write a 5 line script to log the voltage.
Plot yourslef a nice looking graph. Do some math to convert samples to time. Drink beer feeling cool.

Then later you still have the clamp to use for other stuff w/ a meter.
 
Basically you can do it cheap w/ some DIY work, or you can pay a lot of $$ for something that does it for you. I doubt there is a magical device that does data logging and graphing that is also inexpensive.
 
Where in Johnston County are you located or are you with NCSU? If you're on Smithfield, Selma or Benson's electric grid I can do that for you & leave the logger there as long as you'd like. It can be clamped around the main feed or individual circuits.

EDIT: can leave it there until someone else requests it. The last time we used it was 2017, so it may take me a while to remember how to set-it up!
 
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RatLabGuy said:
Whats your budget and access to a laptop, and willingness to program (or run one)?
I was serious about a DIY solution. You can use something like this that outputs a mV voltage intended to go into a voltmeter, but instead hook the leads right up to an Arduino.
https://www.amazon.com/allsun-Handh...EDB9BD1WQWN&psc=1&refRID=DTS8NKBSKEDB9BD1WQWN

plug arduino into laptop. Write a 5 line script to log the voltage.
Plot yourslef a nice looking graph. Do some math to convert samples to time. Drink beer feeling cool.

Then later you still have the clamp to use for other stuff w/ a meter.
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Nerd. But usefull nerd. Definately beyond my ability.

I too need to up my meter game. I'm tuned in for the learning.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Nerd. But usefull nerd. Definately beyond my ability.

I too need to up my meter game. I'm tuned in for the learning.
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I know this may sound scary but it really isn't that hard. Like, my teenage son could do this.
I'd even be willing to set up the code so all you have to do is run it.
 
RatLabGuy said:
I know this may sound scary but it really isn't that hard. Like, my teenage son could do this.
I'd even be willing to set up the code so all you have to do is run it.
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Budget is a couple hundred, no real number though. I googled a little better and found
rockcity said:
and BTW, that cabinet is a mess!

:lol:
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Ha I was tracing some control wires the other day and got pulled away before I got them stuffed back in and covered back up..

Ok so maybe it was 6 mos ago.. :lol:

I think this is what I'm looking for Redfish iDVM 550 Wireless Power Clamp Meter

@RatLabGuy Im sure I could do it, but I don't have the time. I would rather spend $300 and have something I can watch on my phone.

@Lurch830 I'm in Johnston County, between Clayton and Wilson on 42. I haven't been at NC State since 2011, maybe I should update that lol! I appreciate the offer! This isn't something that I need for an ongoing issue moreso just another tool to make troubleshooting easier.
 
awheelterd said:
Budget is a couple hundred, no real number though. I googled a little better and found

...

I think this is what I'm looking for Redfish iDVM 550 Wireless Power Clamp Meter

@RatLabGuy Im sure I could do it, but I don't have the time. I would rather spend $300 and have something I can watch on my phone.
Click to expand...

Even though it should be possible, if you're really not into tinkering you better make sure that the app that goes with that thing actually has a logging feature. I don't see that mentioned anywhere.
I mean you could definitely just write one to nab the BT signal but you've already ruled that amount of work out ;-)

For less money you could buy the clamp I posted above, plus this thing
https://www.amazon.com/Lascar-EL-US...N8J9RMHX7PH&psc=1&refRID=KNS9VC151N8J9RMHX7PH

for a total of only $171. Then you'd have a seperate data logger to use for other stuff later. And it would be all plug and play.
 
Some of the home energy monitoring products might be a good fit, depending on what you need for sample rate. They'll probably work fine if you just need general current monitoring. There are lots on the market, and some are much better than others for actual electrical data.

Curb, Eyedro, Neurio are all worth looking into. They come with current transformers and they all have internet connectivity by default (because smartphone apps and remote management rule the world). Most are meant to be installed directly into a breaker box, etc.
 
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