Harbor Freight CM1000A Ames Instruments AC/DC Clamp Meter Review & how to use! New Tool Day Tuesday

[@LegendaryJim_YT]

Purchased that same meter about 2 months ago because my expensive Mac tools meter couldn't check capacitors. I've since placed my Mac tools meter to the back of the toolbox. Absolute best meter I've had so far.

[@fvrrljr]

*EXACT-A-MUNDO* my Klein and Fluke don't have *uF* feature (microfarad) the CEN-TECH 9-Function Digital Multimeter with Audible Continuity does and is $19.99 AMES INSTRUMENTS CM400A 400A AC Clamp Meter $39.99 my recommendation would be this puppy since it has a lot more features and only $89.99

[@Laowai007]

Love these new tool day Tuesday video's, always looking forward to the next one. Keep them coming. 👍

[@RollinHomies]

I thought my clamp meter was broken for the longest time. Didn’t realize you had to separate the ac lines😜

[@hammerrt3185]

I just purchased one of these M myself, they are great for industrial use. You forgot to mention what makes them great for industrial use. They are capable of 1000 volts DC for voltage measurement. This is highly important because DC bus voltages on frequency drives is usually 672 v. A regular multimeter that only goes up to 600 volts will not measure this voltage and becomes unsafe in this situation that is why this meter is the Preferred Choice from Harbor Freight for industrial use. It is the only one they have that goes to 1000 V.

[@gabrieldgful]

So it does do DC amps on the clamp? I can't seem to get a straight answer if it's a hall sensor

[@hammerrt3185]

I can assure you that it does do DC on the clamp. I own one and use it frequently at work.

[@MrOscar442cutlass]

@@hammerrt3185 i cant get mine to show dc amps could you make a video please would be greatly apreciated

[@douglasbattjes3991]

Do more on this unit and uses. Don't need this high end one and see they have less expensive units, any info on them. Not something I use every day but very handy to check DC and AC in my shop . Really enjoyed the video 👍👍👍👍

[@v0rt3x86]

My cheap CenTech from back in the day passed milspec so I'd say you can get whatever and it'll be close enough for hobby use

[@manuelsalgado8510]

The leads on mine seem to short, can you adjust them?

[@dknollRX7]

Do these work well for testing very low DC current? I work in the automotive field, and would use it up to maybe 250A DC for starter circuits, but my main reason to get one would to easily perform parasitic draw tests, which are usually an amp or less…somewhere in the milliamp range 100-800mA typically.

[@erichill7560]

I'm in the market for the exact same reason and indeed not all specs call out the meter's resolution.

[@dknollRX7]

@ from what I’ve been able to discern from my cursory research: the amp clamps that are rated for higher amperage are usually not very accurate on the lower mA scales. You alarmist need to find a low amperage amp clamp (I think MAC has one rated at 30A), and they’ve give you better accuracy for parasitic draw tests. The one drawback with these style amp clamps is they usually plug into your meter, so you can’t have your amp clamp on the circuit AND use your meter to run a mv voltage drop across a fuse, at the same time. I guess I do have one of those Amp Hound meters that would work, but it would be nice to have a standalone amp clamp that you could put on there and leave it alone while you do your other testing with your meter.

[@ROBERTLUCIAn]

Can you review the CM600? Nobody on youtube has a vid on that.

[@d6c10k4]

I bought this same meter and am using it to test max cranking amps on vehicles. Works on my pickup with 12v system but when I try it on an old Jeep with a 6v system I don't get a reading at all. Is it not capable of reading current at 6v? Otherwise it seems ok....only thing that's not quire right is the leads are so loose that they can fall out of the socket. Makes me wonder if they'll make consistent contact.

[@805ROADKING]

Not bad for 100 bucks!! Great review Bud!!☺

[@semimba]

Good bang for the buck. One of the few good buys for test instruments at Harbor Freight

[@danburch9989]

Good review. I looked at the specs from HF on this meter. The operating temperaure range is 64.4F to 82.4F (basically room temperaure). That is a major concern to me. It's very easy to be in an environment where I could be using this meter outside these temperatures.

[@Jcool2018]

It’s been a year and I know you don’t care anymore but I have one and my manual says 32-104f. Now the cold side is worrisome to me. But I try my best to not be anywhere over 100f so the high limit isn’t a problem for me. Edit because I just realized I have the 600a not the 1000a so idk about that one.

[@islandsnow]

Does it matter where you plug in the black or red probe or is that interchangeable

[@ScoutCrafter]

Awesome review and a nice meter!

[@SEEMERIDECOM]

Just picked one of these today. Needed a somewhat basic meter. Love the backlight, but mine only stays on for like 6-8 seconds. The manual says 30 seconds. Can someone confirm if theirs works as the manual says or maybe I have a defective unit.

[@ahmadph3577]

How to check car battery if its healthy or need replacing? Thanks

[@matthewschroebel421]

You need a load tester to see if the battery voltage stays up under load. HF sells this: CEN-TECH 100 Amp, 6/12V Battery Load Tester

[@scottymcneill6516]

Will this meter run up to 1000V, and check megohms, for insulation test??????

[@1D10CRACY]

I'm not sure, but here is a link to the manual: manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/64000-64999/64017.pdf

[@dougjones4538]

Would have been good if you had pointed out that the extension cord conductors were split and you clamped just a single conductor.

[@1D10CRACY]

Maybe some day I'll do a video on how to use a meter. This was just a review of the product.

[@fatherjason]

this really messed me up. I thought my meter was defective because it wouldn't measure amps over the whole cord like this

[@ssh__778]

This meter looks identical to the mastech MS2115A clamp meter

[@xnova5]

you should compare it to the IDEAL clamp meter, it is a little more money but from a well known brand.

[@1D10CRACY]

I may, I also own a fluke clamp I could compare it too.

[@oliverbrooks5789]

Don’t ever use a volt pen to clarify if a circuit is dead or not these are simply to unreliable for you life to potentially depend on .

[@1D10CRACY]

Yup! Very true! Albeit they are pretty accurate, even the manufacturer recommends further testing before assuming the wires are dead.

[@cutweldngrind]

I bought a $38 DC Clamp meter and 4 days later I walk in the shed and it's beeping. I guess cheap tools are missing functions and it's also blue tooth.

[@417Keto]

Does it do dc amp too?

[@1D10CRACY]

Yup

[@fstarockaburns425]

I JUST took delivery of a klein tools CL800 (ac/dc) - how does this compare? ruined packaging- not sure if the klein one has the beep feature? Would have returned if i knew HF had such good ones!

[@geoeconomics5629]

This clamp meter is made by Mastech which means this meter is not bad

[@mixalis11111]

Over 90% of tools (especially electronics) sold at HFT are cheap and not worth even at low prices. This is a double risk: it is sold at HFT and is quite expensive!

[@1D10CRACY]

I think there is some confusion over the quality at harbor freight mainly due to consumer ignorance. If you go into Harbor Freight and buy the "cheapest" tool they have, it's probably not going to be worth much. A good example is the Pittsburgh wire strippers, they are not very good, made in China and cost $5.99. Most people who buy them complain that Harbor Freight is just a cheap tool company that sells crappy Chinese products. However, if you buy the Doyle strippers, they are going to cost $18.99, are made in the USA and you'll never need to use the lifetime warranty. The Ames brands by what I can tell, seem to be pretty legit for the price.

[@frediefarmer]

👍🏽👍🏽

[@davidscott1340]

All amp clamps do ac. Why not measure SC with this one? I am having an issue and was wanti g to see someone else with this measure DC amps. This video is literally a waste of time.

[@1D10CRACY]

You are complaining about a literal waste of time, yet you are commenting? LOL

[@johnd9279]

I'm interested in this exclusively for the DC amp clamp function. So it says it can read up to 1000 amps, but I want to know if it can read a few milliamps. I want be able to measure parasitic drains on a car with an clamp on meter