No excuses, you need one of these.

[merl]

Yes, we need a knowing person to do a video for us clueless plebs, just for MoHo stuff.

I've read be some of your posts Kev so Im not falling for the 'clueless plep' thing, you're pretty clued up. Ultimately IF anyone is in doubt they can post the problem and ask what to set the meter to, where to connect it and what to look for, that IMHO would be better than trying to cover a wealth of potential MH related issues in a lengthy video and ultimately failing, BUT people need to own the equipment first

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Not by me Marie, I'm as dumb as a really dumb thing on the sparky stuff

 

[merl]

Looking on Amazon, there's a couple that look suitable, one of them appears to be a bargain! And of course you don't have to wait 6.weeks for it to come from China.
CAMWAY Clamp Meter AC/DC Current Multimeter - Digital TRMS 4000 Counts Circuit Troubleshoot Detection Amp Meter 600A DC/AC Current Voltage, NCV Continuity Resistance Capacitance Temperature Diode Test https://amzn.eu/d/a4fUGIM
This next one is very cheap indeed at the moment, less than £15 AND it comes with batteries!!!
Maximum current is 100A which will be fine for everything except high inverter loads over 1200W ISH. Blinking bargain
Clamp Meter,COCZOW Voltage Current Tester Non-Contact Multimeter for Measuring Resistance,Frequency with Storage Bag Test Measurement https://amzn.eu/d/28jyCMO

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I've read be some of your posts Kev so Im not falling for the 'clueless plep' thing, you're pretty clued up. Ultimately IF anyone is in doubt they can post the problem and ask what to set the meter to, where to connect it and what to look for, that IMHO would be better than trying to cover a wealth of potential MH related issues in a lengthy video and ultimately failing, BUT people need to own the equipment first

I'm okay with what I know Melrin but there is an awful lot I am clueless about, with 240 it's all pretty obvious with anything "I" would ever work on, I can even work on 3 phase if pushed, but 12/24v stuff is a nightmare, all cable and fuse sizes which you can work out online, but a meter is "for me" work of the devil, Continuity And voltage testing is my limit.

For instance I bought a pretty grotty mobility scooter last week and I am planning on converting it from Lead acid to Lithium, it came with two new batteries but the set up is a bodge, mine will be less so, if only in appearance, I can only see 3 wires, not sure what there is on the used battery holder as it hasn't arrived yet, I have two batteries to fit it already.

 

[merl]

Continuity And voltage testing is my limit.

That'll be the case with most people because measuring current without a clamp meter you'd need an to break the circuit and insert the current meter 'in line' which is a right faff TBF. However with a clamp meter you just put the meter around the cable and no read off the current, it's just dead simple.
For instance, remember when you questioned whether your solar charge controller was MPPT or not? Well.a clamp meter on the SCC input and output would let you know in a few seconds.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I did once test for ohms on a Truma heaters gas valves, but I dunno how to do it now or test for resistance, well I say that but I've tested Liz and she has loads

 

[st3v3]

Looking on Amazon, there's a couple that look suitable, one of them appears to be a bargain! And of course you don't have to wait 6.weeks for it to come from China.
CAMWAY Clamp Meter AC/DC Current Multimeter - Digital TRMS 4000 Counts Circuit Troubleshoot Detection Amp Meter 600A DC/AC Current Voltage, NCV Continuity Resistance Capacitance Temperature Diode Test https://amzn.eu/d/a4fUGIM
This next one is very cheap indeed at the moment, less than £15 AND it comes with batteries!!!
Maximum current is 100A which will be fine for everything except high inverter loads over 1200W ISH. Blinking bargain
Clamp Meter,COCZOW Voltage Current Tester Non-Contact Multimeter for Measuring Resistance,Frequency with Storage Bag Test Measurement https://amzn.eu/d/28jyCMO

I bought the COCZOW and it doesn't work

Reading 8A AC when the inverter was pulling over 70A. So that's going back lol.

Interesting to see if you still get your referral fee...

 

[merl]

I bought the COCZOW and it doesn't work

View attachment 136888

Reading 8A AC when the inverter was pulling over 70A. So that's going back lol.

Interesting to see if you still get your referral fee...

Well I dunno anyfin about a Coczow OR referral fees officer BUT I did notice that the Mustool doesn't display DC current correctly IF you use the Auto function, it auto selects DC current correctly BUT the reading is inaccurate. To read DC current correctly you have toggle through the options and manually select DC current.
Serves you right anyway.....I mean ....COCZOW! The clue was reading the brand backwards.
"I bought a Coc-zow but it Woz-Coc.

Try manually selecting DC current Steve and see if that does the trick

 

[st3v3]

Well I dunno anyfin about a Coczow OR referral fees officer BUT I did notice that the Mustool doesn't display DC current correctly IF you use the Auto function, it auto selects DC current correctly BUT the reading is inaccurate. To read DC current correctly you have toggle through the options and manually select DC current.
Serves you right anyway.....I mean ....COCZOW! The clue was reading the brand backwards.
"I bought a Coc-zow but it Woz-Coc.

Try manually selecting DC current Steve and see if that does the trick

LOL. I didn't see any way of turning the auto off, it's gone back anyway. I should just get a proper one

 

[st3v3]

@merl Which model of UNI-t?

 

[merl]

LOL. I didn't see any way of turning the auto off, it's gone back anyway. I should just get a proper one

Going by the feedback it's a common criticism, you don't appear to be able to manually select .
Well done for being the Guinea pig though mate

 

[merl]

@merl Which model of UNI-t?

This one, UT210E. I've had it for a few years now so I'm not sure if they still do the exact same model. As mentioned it only goes to 100A which was high enough until I went lithium/inverter/ leccy cooker. It's very sensitive on the 2A range, if you're careful you can detect down to a few milliamps, it's obviously not particularly accurate at these tiny currents but it'll pick up low parasitic loads which is very handy.

 

[merl]

Looking on Amazon, there's a couple that look suitable, one of them appears to be a bargain! And of course you don't have to wait 6.weeks for it to come from China.
CAMWAY Clamp Meter AC/DC Current Multimeter - Digital TRMS 4000 Counts Circuit Troubleshoot Detection Amp Meter 600A DC/AC Current Voltage, NCV Continuity Resistance Capacitance Temperature Diode Test https://amzn.eu/d/a4fUGIM
This next one is very cheap indeed at the moment, less than £15 AND it comes with batteries!!!
Maximum current is 100A which will be fine for everything except high inverter loads over 1200W ISH. Blinking bargain
Clamp Meter,COCZOW Voltage Current Tester Non-Contact Multimeter for Measuring Resistance,Frequency with Storage Bag Test Measurement https://amzn.eu/d/28jyCMO

SO. AVOID THE LATTER AMAZON METER!

 

[st3v3]

OK. 210D is 200A apparently for 5 quid extra:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BJPH1WB5?smid=AQRCDXP805DZS&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp&th=1

Lets see how that is

 

[Thistle]

I’ve owned a Kewtech KT203 for a few years now, great for fault finding parasitic loads and can do up to 400A DC
A great educational tool as well very easy to use to teach people how to correctly size a fuse in a circuit

KT203 - Kewtech

Popular AC/DC clamp meter with 0.01A resolution. Measures Current up to 400A AC/DC and Voltage up to 600V AC/DC.

www.kewtechcorp.com

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The https://m.banggood.com/MUSTOOL-C21-...d=37498677&sc_lid=104858042&sc_uid=ayj9GTwuz2

It arrived a couple of days ago and it's way OTT for me really so I'm letting it go, it's as new and if anyone wants it for what I paid I'll suffer the postage and include the batteries.

I'm more in favour of the normal dial control type and I have three of them which don't requite as many brain cells to use.

So PM me if you'd like it or I'll put it on eBay next month.

 

[merl]

The https://m.banggood.com/MUSTOOL-C21-...d=37498677&sc_lid=104858042&sc_uid=ayj9GTwuz2

It arrived a couple of days ago and it's way OTT for me really so I'm letting it go, it's as new and if anyone wants it for what I paid I'll suffer the postage and include the batteries.

I'm more in favour of the normal dial control type and I have three of them which don't requite as many brain cells to use.

So PM me if you'd like it or I'll put it on eBay next month.

Don't do it Kev, you bought it to measure DC current, just keep it and use it for that purpose. If you feel more comfortable using your other meters for measuring other stuff then that's great but unless you already have a DC clamp meter keep it, you'll need it at some point in time.
If you need a quick tutorial just ask.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The instructions don't really inform you.

 

[merl]

The instructions don't really inform you.

Yeah but don't worry about that. When you're ready we can do a WhatsApp video call and I'll run you through it. Just like everything in life it looks difficult until you understand it and then things get easier. It's a piece of cake Kev

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Why would I actually use the clamp any way?