Voltage Meter Tool - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

PLC-Landscape · 02-21-2007, 07:30 PM

What's the best reader for low voltage? Clamp? I'm looking to buy some tools and need one. -

NightScenes · 02-22-2007, 08:59 AM

I use a multi meter by Ideal. You can pick one up at the Home Cheapo. It really is a great meter with clamp-on amp meter as Weill as all of the AC and DC reading that you could ever need.

Lightscapes · 02-26-2007, 10:22 AM

A clamp on ammeter calibrated for low voltage is best. If you use a multimeter that is calibrated for 120V (as most are, for obvious reasons), you could have significant variations at or around 12V. CAST claims their meter is specifically calibrated for 12V.

NightScenes · 02-27-2007, 08:04 AM

I own an Ideal and a Fluke. Fluke is the best meter made and my Ideal reads exactly the same as the Fluke on all settings at about 2/3 the price.

James Solecki · 10-25-2007, 08:11 PM

I use a Greenlee Clamp On ammeter/multimeter that is self switching. CM80 I believe. Make sure you get a good meter! The cheap ones are not very accurate.

randomkiller · 10-25-2007, 08:13 PM

How accurate do you have to be for lawn sprinklers? If you want real accurate buy a true RMS meter.

James Solecki · 10-25-2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomkiller

How accurate do you have to be for lawn sprinklers? If you want real accurate buy a true RMS meter.

Who said anything about lawn sprinklers? I am a lighting systems designer specializing in LV systems. As such, meter accuracy is very important. There is a big difference between delivering 10.8 volts and 11.2 volts to a 12v lamp.

Have a great day.

Billy-Integrity · 10-25-2007, 08:38 PM

exactly what paul said. I got a fluke 88 and an ideal clamp on. Both read out the same both are true RMS and the ideal is a fraction of the price. Makes a HUGE deal when your subjecting it to dirt... moisture or light rainfall and it gets thrown around alot. I do replace my leads a few times a year tho.

Never had a problem with the ideal or the fluke meters or greenlee ones as james uses either. I think my ideal ran me around 50 bucks. the fluke was multiple times that

randomkiller · 10-25-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Solecki

Who said anything about lawn sprinklers? I am a lighting systems designer specializing in LV systems. As such, meter accuracy is very important. There is a big difference between delivering 10.8 volts and 11.2 volts to a 12v lamp.

Have a great day.

Sorry, saw landscape on the side and wasn't thinking of lighting, used to EC's doing landscape lights. Fluke makes a great meter for automotive use (based around 12v). Like I said any True RMS meter will be very accurate.