Part 1 of Testing the Kaiweets HT208D Current Clamp Meter

[@Patriottoo2]

Sure be nice to see how to test current with probes.

[@three-phase562]

Hi, this Kaiweets clamp meter doesn't have the facility to measure current directly using the probes. If you placed a resistor in the circuit you could then measure the volt drop across using the probes with the meter on a voltage range.

[@Patriottoo2]

@@three-phase562Thanks for info.

[@HYDROMAXplus]

What suxs is you can't check starter amp draw on a car because when the meter is out by battery and your in car turning key. So no way to find out what draw was. Unfortunately I already ordered the 208f and will now have to order this one which records and saves last 10 measurements FNIRSI DMC-100 Just wont have much use for the 208f on trucks or Boats or tractors. No saved measurements

[@three-phase562]

Not sure about the HT208F as mine is the HT208D, but with that you can measure inrush and have a min/max option. Both will record the value and save it to screen for you to read, but there is no memory function to recall at a later date. As long as you don't change the function or restart the reading, you should be able to measure a start-up current for a car etc.

[@HYDROMAXplus]

If u are in the car start it u need a person to hit the hold while its displaying? It should hold till u walk back out to front of vehicle?

[@three-phase562]

@@HYDROMAXplus If you set the meter to measure inrush using the function button and clamp it around the wire then it will measure and hold the initial current surge for you to read when you go back to the meter. If you use the max function, then it will measure and hold each successive increase in current. You may have to set the meter to the manual range before starting the max function, as it cannot auto adjust the range in the max function.

[@HYDROMAXplus]

@@three-phase562 but they told me Inrush is only AC

[@solidsnake1089]

Could you tell me the brand of gold plate probes and where to buy it. Thank you

[@three-phase562]

They are Probemaster Leads available from their own website probemaster.com/dmm-multimeter-test-leads/

[@solidsnake1089]

There is a big problem with the clamp multimeter is NCV detection. It's seems too sensitive. It detect the hight voltage line about 50cm. And the Live detection work as not as right in manual guide. When the low voltage is detected the L character is not display insteed show Live and did not beep sound.

[@three-phase562]

I agree, the NCV is not the best in this instrument and can be awkward to utilise. Thanks for watching.

[@WvMnts]

Thanks think I’m gonna get this for a backup

[@three-phase562]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@jonsteiger440]

Is this suitable for testing thermocouples in the 20-30mV range?

[@three-phase562]

I have to say that it wouldn't be the best. It is only capable of measuring a k-type thermocouple and there is no manual control over the cold junction temperature setting, so is quite slow. It will give you an indication that the thermocouple is somewhere near and is working, but not suitable for calibration purposes in m opinion.

[@jonsteiger440]

@@three-phase562 thanks! I was curious if it could reliably measure the output of a hot water tank pilot thermocouple or flame sensor which only put out 20-30mV

[@three-phase562]

@@jonsteiger440 Sorry, my mistake, I thought you were looking for specific temperature values. If you are testing pilot thermocouples, then the meter has a DC mV range, that will accomplish that, so you should be okay.

[@MrJoeAllert]

I own one of these multimeters but I tried to test an electric fence energizer with it and now the screen doesn't work. Does anyone know how to fix this? Is there a fuse or a rest? Thank you

[@three-phase562]

It depends on what you have done with the testing. If you have tried to measure the voltage output of the fence energiser with the probes, then that is likely a 6kV pulse and will damage the instrument. Usually the input protection gets damaged, but if the screen is dead that suggest the voltage spike has got passed the protection and damaged deeper into the meter. Sorry not good news for you.

[@tceng9449]

Running in to issues with current tests on a clamp meter doesn't sound too promising given that's arguably why you'd buy one! Is the display particularly any better than a regular LCD? The whole thing looks a bit tacky to me.

[@three-phase562]

No its not the best really is it. Not sure if I am just unlucky, or if it is an issue. Not really seen anyone else test it against calibrated high amperage. I might drop Kaiweets a line to see if they will respond / assist. The display is quite nice for use indoors, I would prefer it over an LCD then. Outdoors use can be a bit tricky, it does get washed out by strong light, probably worse than an LCD does.

[@gitarmac]

@@three-phase562 did kaweets ever get back to you?

[@three-phase562]

@@gitarmac No never had any response from them. So can't provide any update unfortunately.