Is it better to have a multimeter with or without a clamp? Which one is better?

This is the focus of work. For example, the special clamp meter for electrical equipment maintenance of power transmission lines is very powerful, and the multimeter for those who are engaged in home appliance maintenance or weak current installation is very powerful. The special clamp meter can detect the line current and is highly accurate. Although the function is single, it is enough to achieve the current detection of the line. Simply put, the clamp meter is composed of a voltage transformer and an ammeter. During the measurement process, the gear must be changed, and the gear must be separated from the measured transmission line before the gear change can be carried out. Because when the gear is changed, the secondary side of the voltage transformer will be temporarily disconnected. If the measured current is large, a momentary high voltage will be generated on the secondary side of the voltage transformer, and the clamp meter is likely to be damaged.

The clamp meter was originally used to test the current of an AC circuit and measure the current of the circuit in operation. It is not difficult to see that the current test can be carried out under the condition of continuous power supply, and it is specialized in testing large AC currents. Today, the functions of the clamp meter are no longer single, and the clamp meter also has the functions that the digital multimeter has.

Therefore, each has its own advantages. If you want to test the current of a running circuit, the clamp meter is undoubtedly more powerful. You don't need to disconnect the line to test the current directly. With a digital multimeter, you need to disconnect the line to measure accurately. If the equipment cannot be turned off at will during the continuous production process, the digital multimeter is not very useful at this time. Today's clamp meter is no longer the clamp meter of decades ago. It uses the principle of Hall element induction. It can not only measure AC and DC currents; plug in a DC ammeter to become a digital multimeter, and can also measure parameters such as voltage, resistance, capacitance, and frequency. For accuracy, it is the same as a digital multimeter. There is no difference. Their differences If you have to say which one is better, the clamp meter and the digital multimeter, their experience in the use process may be somewhat different. 1. The clamp meter can continuously measure current, which the digital multimeter cannot do. If you need to measure AC and DC currents frequently, it is recommended to buy a clamp meter; if you don't need to measure current frequently, buy a digital multimeter. 2. In order to continuously measure the current, the clamp meter must have a shaft, so it is relatively slender. Since there is no support on the back of the clamp meter, I think the clamp meter is more likely to be held in the hand for measurement; the digital multimeter has a support on the back, and is more likely to be placed on the table for measurement. So if you often sit at the table for maintenance, or buy a digital multimeter for convenience, it will be uncomfortable to stretch your neck to see the display of the clamp meter. 3. In terms of price, the clamp meter not only has most of the functions of the digital multimeter, but also has a voltage transformer, so the price is relatively more expensive.