Can't get current probe working

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I feel like an idiot... but I can't get my ESI 695 current clamp to read. Set meter to ac or DC volts depending on what I'm reading. Set clamp to ac or DC volts. Am I wrong?

 

[Wrench97]

Are you on the DC millivolt scale?

 

[richfinn]

I feel like an idiot... but I can't get my ESI 695 current clamp to read. Set meter to ac or DC volts depending on what I'm reading. Set clamp to ac or DC volts. Am I wrong?

You might need to zero the clamp and bear in mind you need to set the volt meter to the correct scale

Turn off autoranging and select millivolts

scales are typically

1mv per 1amp

10mv per amp

100mv per amp

Depending on the clamp itself

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

This meter https://www.testproductsintl.com/digital-multimeters-dmms/194-digital-multimeter/ (yes on mv)

http://www.esitest.com/695.html

 

[Lightning rod]

Looks like the 20a range uses 100mV/amp so at max range you will get 2v

The 80 a range uses 10 mV/amp so at max range you get 800 mV

Set the meter to mV and pick the range to get best resolution

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I dunno. Maybe I don't understand these particular clamps, I couldn't get it to read. I can't think of anything I could clamp around to test it.

 

[richfinn]

I dunno. Maybe I don't understand these particular clamps, I couldn't get it to read. I can't think of anything I could clamp around to test it.

Put a headlamp bulb and two wires across a 12v battery set the clamp to 20v DCscale, zero the clamp (with the thumbwheel) and then try hooking it over one of the wires and see what the meter reads, it will be a very low voltage like 400mV for a 4 amp draw, set your meter to the lowest DCV setting

 

[texasprd]

Sometimes it's a matter of not being able to get the plugs all the way into the meter. I had that problem a few times - didn't have the plugs all the way down in my scope and had to push pretty hard to get them to make contact.

 

[WheelsNT]

You do know you have to clamp it around only one of the two conductors carrying current, right? If you clamp it around both conductors, they cancel each other and you get zero.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

You do know you have to clamp it around only one of the two conductors carrying current, right? If you clamp it around both conductors, they cancel each other and you get zero.

Correct. I've used them before, I just can't seem to get a reading on this one

 

[Lightning rod]

(1) lets try to do a quasi-known current test scenario

(2)when your car/truck is idling, the alternator provides approx 10-20 amps to the battery
set your multimeter to DC millivolts and connect the clamp over the pos or neg cable

(3)with the clamp set to 80 a dc range , your multimeter should read 100-200 mV

(4)the multimeter setting is (note ; the downloadable manual has different dial config than the picture in the link), so using the downloaded manual from the documentation tab,

is 4 clicks up from the "off" position to mV ac or dc.

(5)using the range button, select DC and 500 mV range

(6)make sure your clamp is plugged into the two right side connectors of the multimeter

(7)see section 2 of manual

(8)you can do something similar to test the AC current functions, but set to AC

(9)don't mean to assume/imply that you don't know how to use the equipment but
trying to set a baseline

(10)it's possible that the clamp is faulty

 

[richfinn]

(1) lets try to do a quasi-known current test scenario

(2)when your car/truck is idling, the alternator provides approx 10-20 amps to the battery
set your multimeter to DC millivolts and connect the clamp over the pos or neg cable

(3)with the clamp set to 80 a dc range , your multimeter should read 100-200 mV

(4)the multimeter setting is (note ; the downloadable manual has different dial config than the picture in the link), so using the downloaded manual from the documentation tab,

is 4 clicks up from the "off" position to mV ac or dc.

(5)using the range button, select DC and 500 mV range

(6)make sure your clamp is plugged into the two right side connectors of the multimeter

(7)see section 2 of manual

(8)you can do something similar to test the AC current functions, but set to AC

(9)don't mean to assume/imply that you don't know how to use the equipment but
trying to set a baseline

(10)it's possible that the clamp is faulty

And is the battery OK in the clamp?

 

[emoze]

i just ordered this 695 probe - useful suggestions above!
- u-tube "help" is all over the map on these tools,

google <how to use esi-695> and there are a couple videos for this one

i just sent back an innova 3347 cuz the 1mV scale was not working - no output at all
(i have a Fluke 88)