I bought one of these when I first got my house and started stocking up on tools for around the house. Definitely glad I picked it up, but nice to watch videos like this to make sure I'm doing it right and getting the best use out of it. Thanks for the info and upload!

Always something new to learn. When I retired I had to leave my Flukes (87 & T-600) as my govt. employer owned them. I used an old Amprobe at home. I recently upgraded to a Klein CL 700 and hadn't noticed the NCV feature yet. Cool! I still will use my NCV/IR and the monkey eyes because they are so portable. Your videos are interesting and useful.

Sir: May I compliment you on your excellent video ! You speak at a constant level, speaking at a rate easy to understand, & you have good articulation. Your descriptions are absolutely correct, & for a home owner DIY person, it was a delight to see. I have a number of "amp clamps" (all high end") & a selection of DMMs , which I absolutely MUST have ( I am not working on home electrics except my own, but the Klein unit is very good, & I can't disagree that the Klein would satisfy the requirement for the DYI. Your video eclipses many that I have seen on the internet by a wide margin. Thank you.

Great video. Thank you for posting. I could also hear you LOUD & Clear through my headphones, without even having them on, and excellent through the P.C. Speakers too ! Usually I am partial to Klein Tools but when you showed the "IDEAL" one, that seemed ideal for me, though I can't do all this work anymore I still love to have all the tools. Videos like this are invaluable and you're doing a great service, sharing your knowledge with people.

Been using one for years. Still keep one in my tool bag now that I'm retired, only mine is a EXTECH EX623. That model probably been upgraded by now. Just went through the house to check all the outlets, found many needing the terminals tightened. All good now.

I agree with you completely, my Kaiweets HT208D (bought as the Habotest brand) clamp meter is very useful as a DIY device, even including capacitor testing. For line splitter use I bought a short, flat "appliance" extension cord and split the wires near each end. This gives you options for measuring inrush current, etc. for refrigerators and airconditioners in tight places. One detail in the video- testing car battery voltages stopped vs running can have one wrinkle. If you have a "smart" alternator the voltage at idle may not immediately go up to 14 volts. I found this out accidently when I got a plug-in temp & voltage monitor and noticed that sometimes the voltage would stay at 12.2-12.4 (under load, engine running) before the alternator would cut in.

Thanks, good to know. Functional consolidation is always happening and it's nice to pack fewer tools.

I bought my first clamp meter, a Sperry Snap 6, almost 50 years ago and I still use it regularly!

I bought one of those Klein clamp meters recently and like it, although I do like having a DMM also and use both. I have the Klein in my electrical tool bucket right now.

Great video, you have a nice way of explaining things. I would like a deeper dive into all the features of the Cl390. The Klein meter I just purchased to test Microfarads on a HVAC capacitor. I picked the 390 due to being a new home owner and needing something for the future.

I just purchased a Klein Tools CL220 meter and didn't know it had the non-contact voltage tester integrated into the clamp jaw. I also didn't know the test leads could take the extra sleeves off so one can insert the leads into an outlet. (This was the one thing that really bothered me, and now I know I can take this off and make the leads like I am use to.) Thanks again for a great video!

I have the Ideal 61-747 400A AC/DC clamp meter and that's my everyday meter while in the field. The diode & capacitance functions are particularly useful for troubleshooting specific pieces of equipment.

Thanks. I bought a clamp meter not long ago to use it as a clamp meter. Now I saw you using the non-contact function. I checked my Brymen BM037 and I discovered it also has EF-Detection functions. Good to know.

FYI... You can buy a Triplett brand ET200 combination line splitter (for the clamp meter current tester loop) and GFCI outlet/receptacle tester ($20-ish). The outlet tester is just a basic 3 light tester.

What a great video, thank you so much for all the great info!

Thank you for explaining this Meter so thoroughly. I really enjoyed hearing and watching it.

This excellent video will prevent me, a homeowner with basic handyman skills, from burning up some expensive appliance, or burning my house down or me laying on a stainless steel table in the Pinellas County medical officers lab. I cannot thank you enuf! Thx E.H.R.

I am a 40 year HVAC Fridge Tech. I own expensive Fluke and Fieldpiece but the Klien CL800 is my daily meter for years with great results.

I had before now thought the clamp meter was optimized for the current side of measurement and a rather useful tool for those in the "HVAC" line of work only... I was so wrong... Nice content 👍

Picked up the Klein CL120 based on your review. Couldn't be happier. Thanks for sharing your insights!👌

Last week my 35 year old Fluke gave up. I was going to buy a tester like you suggested here, but I reconsidered and bought a Klein multimeter, mm700. Oh and I still have and use the other testers too.

I absolute love my DC clamp meter. I do a lot of work with electronics, so DC functionality is great for me. It still isn’t my go to for everything else but for measuring current it is extremely handy to not have to break circuits, worry about burden voltages, blown fuses, or mistakes when measuring current.

DIYers can make their own splitter from a short pigtail with male and female AC connectors thus saving some money. I put a 10 turn coil of #14 wire in series with one lead so small currents can be measured by dividing by 10.

I think the frequency check feature would be useful for adjusting your (emergency power) generator for power outages, to set the generator's frequency to 60 Hz.

Exactly what I needed. THANK YOU!!!

If you don't already have one, and if you have the time, would you mind doing a tutorial video about digital multimeters? You seem to explain things really well and that would be awesome!

Amazing video. Thank you for your time on this

Definitely going to watch this. I've been looking at these for awhile

Excellent video! I learned something...the clamp being used as a non-contact tester! Thanks!

My favorite Klein tool. The DC clamp ammeter makes it as useful under the hood as in the house electrical. My voltage tickler is still more convenient to check quickly for hot wires.

Great vid thanks, I had no idea of their functionally.

You videos are always fabulous. Thank you.

Nice video, thanks for some great info

Helpful information, thank you for sharing !!

I have a combination non-contact voltage tester with a receptacle+gfci tester. It is fantastic for basic jobs. You can check for voltage, confirm polarity, grounding and test gfci functionality. Though for trickier troubleshooting issues, I still bring out the multimeter.

You can push bad battery to the 12,7 V area, but it will drop to about 10 V when small load is applied = you have one dead cell. As for alternator "charging", increase the load and observe the drops - then you can judge if it's OK/NOK.

Thanks for your video, it kicked me into buying one despite the price. I was looking for a amp meter for DIY car work and I don't like using multimeter in circuit to check the drain ammount, I pulled the trigger on a Klein CL390. Thank to your video I figured it would be worth the price when I become a homeowner, I can only hope Klein name brand will last a very long time!

🙋‍♂️ THANKS SCOTT, I JUST REPLACED MY Broken multi meter with this tool about a week ago😁NOW I AM LEARNING HOW TO USE IT 🤗👍💚💚💚

you 100% correct.

Another model to consider is the Uni-T UT210E clamp meter. It includes all the usual voltage, current, resistance, clamp, NCV, as well as capacitance - and it sells for ~$55. I consider Uni-T to be a lower quality brand than Klein, but I've had the UT210E for a couple years now, and it has worked great.

Cheap current clamps are great if you're not too bothered about accuracy. This one is 2% of reading plus 10 counts. So 400 amps could be anywhere between 382A and 418A. That's not including where the wire sits in the clamp, which also has a huge bearing on the measurement.

Thank you 🙏🏼 It’s very useful

I would recommend a Clamp meter with DC current test. This would give you the very important feature for checking drain current on a cars electrical system without having to disconnect cables. Thank you for your video.

In my 40yrs of electrical work. When I work in a national historical registry home, tracing knob and tube wiring that the customer cannot afford to rewire, that pre dates the historical structure. The clamp on is next to useless. ON an open circuit, the clamp on will most likely read full voltage on the feed and open neutral side. Its great with modern wiring. my Volt tick has saved my life a few times. Laying against a live AC duct, my body became evergized and my volt tick in my pocket sounded off, telling me that my body could discharge a shock. I have repaired many knob and tube systems with just a volt tick, and a pigtail lamp.

i have the same fluke meter, thanks for the tips as the owner of an travel trailer, i wish there was an easy way to measure dc current as well

Fantastic video! Thanks for sharing this!

Thank you. Another insightful video as always.

This is one awesome video, needed to change my multimeter, get a clamp meter after this, cheers! 👍🏿

❤ Great explanation 😊😊

I'd add one to the list of must-haves... a circuit tracer. Plug the remote into a receptacle or lamp socket and use the tracer to identify the breaker. BTW... I agree on the usefulness of a clamp meter, but would recommend the CL390 over the CL120. For just a bit more (~$20), you get TRMS and several of the missing functions you mention.

Nice video. If you monkey with RV’s, solar, trailer/automotive, get the model a couple steps up that does AC and DC amps.

I recently purchased the Fluke T6 1000. Definitely worth the money but a NCV tester at the tip would've been a nice feature. Thank you for the video!

Love these new tools!

I took a job in a manufacturing lab in 2019 where we had three Klein multimeters. After two years all of them were broken. They wouldn't go to the correct mode, or they just gave incredibly inaccurate readings, especially if equipment was operating near them. When I asked if someone was abusing them, I was told "no they just break a lot, that's why we have three of them." I also needed to take them completely apart to change the batteries. For DIYers who might use them 3-4 times a year, yes, they're great meters. But if you're a Pro, spend the money for a serious meter. There are plenty of Fluke models under $300 made for technicians.

Multimeter is a great tool, but a good voltage tester is super useful too. They seem to get lots of hate but are really good a diagnosing wiring problems in a home or commercial space.

GREAT VID SCOTT!

Excellent video!

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!

Great info!! Thank you.

The number if times i needed three hands when using my multimeter.... one for each wire, and a third to look at the display.... clamping it to the car hood (3:19) was enough to convince me.

Great vídeo. Thanks.

UNI-T UT210D is probably the only one I would used or need!

Very good tutorial thanks

Thanks again Scotty. 👍 Now I need to compare which Klein Clamp Meter is right for me.

What would be a good tool to measure the direction of current?

I have always wondered how a line splitter multiplies the amps? If it just coils both the hot and neutral around in a loop ten times each then they would still just cancel each others emf out and you would still get no reading? I would like to see someone taking one apart.

o well i have another brand of clamp multi meter but i like the tip testing on that one and ability to hold a probe also have that klein 3 piece kit and neither meter does capacitance which i might need for my ac unit capacitor

Excellent video.... Great product.

I'd love for a review of stud finders. I have 3 and none of them seem to work properly and I tried banging my hand on the wall but it doesn't help.

5:20 Thank you. I was wondering why it showed 0 to me. Now I know :)

Suggest considering a Kaiweets HT206D clamp meter as a lower cost alternative with temperature, capacitance and freq measurement functuons. True RMS meter.

DMM's are for bench testing. I have this very same meter. I am an electrical contractor and fully endorse this video. By the way, the best feature of the clamp ammeter is you can hang the damn thing and read it while using!

Some multimeters (no clamp) have a voltage tester built in. I have a Craftsman meter that has a voltage tester built in. The current clamp is a nice feature though I will admit.

Well done good sir.

You can make a splitter for 1/4 the price or less of the ready made one by getting a cord plug and socket and wiring a short piece of insulated wire from the the hot and neutral connections on the plug and socket,. Then just clamp your meter around the hot wire to test (with it connected between the power source and the load, of course).

Good basic Information for the home owner.

Great video

I'm pretty handy around the house but I keep learning new tips and about new tools, thanks to your videos. Keep up the great work!

Very informative video but I must admit that one of the things that surprised me the most out of this video is that I learn that the testing probes have a little cap I've always been using them with the caps on and wondering why is the metal contact part so short! Im such a noob

Helpful! Thank you

The HT206D (Habotest or Kaiweets) is a affordable and accurate Clampmeter with DC current too, beside many other features. The cheap ones with only AC-current arent complete, many will regret when they bought a clampmeter without DC-current measurement. This important fact you didnt poin out.....and its much more useful than a second display ; )

One electrical code that no handiman talks about is arch fault. It is the most important residential code, preventing fires for the past 23 years. It's in article 210.12 in the NEC code book.

I was ready to destroy your advertisement but then you addressed every smsrtass comment I had prepared. Looks like a good tool. Use those leads!!!

Looking forward to your video. 👍

Knowing how various tools measure or detect can be very helpful, even improving safety. Voltage is analogous to pressure, amperage is akin to volume. Direct contact meters can measure the "pressure drop" between a hot and neutral or ground, while NCV sticks rely on inductive fields around conductors, which may not always work as anticipated. A surprising result shows when a stick detector is run along a cord; power is on, a complete circuit is operating, yet the stick will usually only alert along the "hot" side of the wires. Even in the breaker panel, the large neutral will usually not trigger the stick detector, though all the 120 V. current is carried back to the transformer along it. Why? The analogy that fits is the hot leads are like the water pipes coming in to a place, under pressure, while the neutral and grounds are akin to the drains, where there is very little pressure. You might get away with handling a neutral in a live circuit, because its resistance is much lower than your body; if you disconnect it, though, suddenly current will seek ground through you, going to either the neutral in your other hand, grounded surface in contact with you, etc. This is why modern tools have mandatory ground wires; old metal ones could have a neutral wear, and contact with the shell could make you the path of lower resistance. An uncle had that occur, and he survived by shoving the drill into the dirt. Not an ideal option.

Looking for a new meter and wondering if this will test Uf or micro farads on a capacitor?

Good video.

Dang... if only we'd had a clamp-on ammeter back in the mid '80s! My friends and I used to go through hours and hours of troubleshooting whenever we installed a car alarm or sound system in our cars back then. All we had was the trusty old multi-meter. Which was fine for volts, ohms, and amps, but it wasn't much help at finding current leaks. I still have and use the same $125 multi-meter from 1985, too. But once you've learned how to use a clamp-on ammeter correctly, chasing down current issues becomes ridiculously easy! I rarely need the multi-meter anymore.

It would be nice to directly link the device you are showing in the video along with the amazon store.

Subscribed sir!!

My multimeter has the ability to do non contact voltage detection. So I never had to manually buy one.

Thanks for the great episode. Now I know what that bump on the end of my clamp multimeters is for! I have a Fluke digital multimeter with an AC Ammeter clamp accessory, a Fluke clamp ammeter/multimeter, and a Chinese brand clamp ammeter/multimeter. For DIY work both the mid-priced (around $200?) Fluke and the $65 Chinese brand clamp ammeters work extremely well, and are flexible enough to do almost anything around the house. One of the MAIN differences that people should look for is whether the clamp meter will read current load (amps) in both AC and DC. Many standard DIY units will only read AC, but if you're a DIY person working on both standard 120/240 volt AC and any low-voltage DC systems like a doorbell, sprinkler controls, or maybe even fancy zoned-heating ducting controls in a house, or on just about any 6/12/24/48 volt DC vehicle then being able to read DC amps is EXTREMELY useful as a troubleshooting tool. For electronics and smaller scale DC volts and continuity testing my regular digital multimeter is the king, but for house or vehicle the AC/DC clamp multimeters are a far better ticket to success.

I couldn't find your link to the more expensive clamp meter that does temp and capacitance on your linked list?

I picked up a micronta analog clamp meter with a break out adapter. It has a 1x and 10x slot. Super cool and very useful. The other thing to look for is a DC amps clamp meter. Those are really useful for diagnosing DC systems in vehicles. I work with a lot of people transport systems that have heavy charging systems and heavy loads, and the DC amp clamp meters are indispensable.

Didn’t know the meter was also a tester for voltage holding down sel in any mode. Thanks!

wiggys are the best. It tests true power. Can trip a GFI as well.

Have you ever had to replace a complete window where you replace the outside framing it. Do you ever need to have a way to test from a plug or switch to the according circuit breaker.

I need one

Only the more expensive clamp meters have DC Amp readings and NCV. I prefer the smal NCV tester to get into toght spaces.

Would be nice if it had InRush Amp (for like measuring start power on a motor or HVAC system) Only one I've seen is on a FieldPiece meter.