Amperage breakout cord

[OccupantRJ]

I had an electrical cord and plug doing nothing so decided to make an amperage breakout cord for testing amp draw on 120 volt devices. These devices are sold commercially, but what else is a guy supposed to do with a shop full of tools and equipment?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Another view. My ipad will only allow me to post one pic per post.

 

[Cmreschke]

Neat.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I use one of these:

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I use one of these:

Me too, also has contacts for measuring voltage, and it is 1X and 10X so if you have very small loads you can measure them using the 10X.

Charles

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I use one of these:

Me too, also has contacts for measuring voltage, and it is 1X and 10X so if you have very small loads you can measure them using the 10X.

Charles

Me three...

Tommy

 

[malibu101]

I too have a breakout cord like that and have used it often.

I have seen the store-bought units like shown above but have not splurged as my cord works fine.

 

[bczygan]

Tell us more.

How to make.

How it works.

Why we need.

Bill

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Tell us more.

How to make.

How it works.

Why we need.

Bill

Its for measuring amperage of equipment with a cord and plug.

It separates the line and neutral wires, which would cancel each other out if u simply put a clamp meter around both of them.

Its eqsier than opening up a j box or panel to measure current.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I didn't understand it either until I saw the close up of it.

 

[bczygan]

So you use 3 wires of the same size as what you are measuring, or larger?

And you place it between source and fixture using power?

And you put the clamp meter around the red or black wires?

What reasons would you do this?

 

[dave*99]

So you use 3 wires of the same size as what you are measuring, or larger?

And you place it between source and fixture using power?

And you put the clamp meter around the red or black wires?

What reasons would you do this?

Wire size is not dependent on what you are are measuring. But it should be sized to carry the current needed by the load.

Yes it goes inline with the load you want to measure.

The clamp meter can be placed on the line or neutral conductor. But not the ground conductor.

You would do this to measure the current draw from a load. Let's say you wanted to know how much your freezer draws. This is a way to measure it.

 

[nadogail]

I use individual conductors, the ground and neutral are the same length (typically 18"), the hot leg, or Black usually about 30" long will have a loop for the clamp on to clamp too.

Picture tomorrow.