Welding plays an important role in our daily life. We rely on welding in one way or another. A good welding process guarantees a good product.
To weld two or more materials (iron, steel, or thermosetting plastic) perfectly, we need a proper amount of voltage and current determined by a clamp meter.
For the sake of information, the amount of voltage controls the length of the arc while the amount of current controls the deepness and quality of welding.
Hence, it is our quest to get the best clamp meter for welding to create a quality product by measuring voltage and current through a non-invasive method.
However, picking the best clamp meter for welding is not an easy task. There are bundles of options available in the market.
Then, how are we going to pick the best?
Well, we will tell you everything you need to know about a clamp meter for welding.
Moreover, to give our users relief, we suggest the best clamp meter based on different factors. These factors are duly discussed.
So stay with us till the end…
Choosing the best clamp meter for welding
No matter how complicated welding is on our list, once we have the best clamp meter, we are not concerned about the oddness of the task.
After careful observation, we found that UEi DL-429B is the best clamp meter for welding. This clamp meter is compatible with the application. When we talk about safety, the option of remote reading through smartphones is available besides its basic safety. Besides all these things, this model is durable and sustainable.
However, there are other options available in the market. For that purpose, we listed a few important factors to observe in a clamp meter for welding.
These factors are discussed below:
a. Ratings
As mentioned earlier the level of current and voltage are important for a welding process. We need a clamp meter with a suitable voltage and current range.
For the value of current, the clamp meter already provides enough protection. However, for high voltage, every clamp meter is not able to work properly because of arc damage.
The rating of a clamp meter should be as high as possible. Because we will be dealing with maximum voltage and current.
b. Safety
We are talking about high voltage and high current(comparatively high). Hence our safety should not be compromised.
Commonly, CAT-III and CAT-IV safety are enough for welding. This will make us safe from shock and keep the clamp meter protected.
Be aware of voltage levels in the safety categories. One must look carefully at the voltage level for welding purposes.
We are going to tell you about the clamp meter with proper safety. So keep scrolling…
c. NCVT
The NCVT (Non-contact Voltage testing) is a crucial factor for welding. That is why we made a separate slot for it in our blog.
During welding, often the connectivity fails, but there is a huge amount of voltage. This act confuses users, and they are shocked by the high voltage.
For this purpose, a clamp meter must have an NCVT function for testing the presence of voltage.
d. Temperature
As we are dealing with high temperatures, the presence of differential temperature measurement is very important.
Every best clamp meter is installed with this function. However, some dedicated clamp meters do not have this function.
We also witnessed faulty or nominal functions of differential temperature measurement. Hence we suggest properly checking the function before getting one.
e. Durability and Sustainability
Welding deals with high electric power. We need the best clamp meter that sustains itself for a long time while giving accurate results.
A good clamp meter is always durable and sustainable. We cannot test these factors while buying a clamp meter. For this purpose, we need to contact experts.
f. User Friendliness
A good clamp meter always functions in a simpler and much easier way. It reduces the extra work of the user and performs efficiently.
It plays a vital role in the selection of clamp meters. As welding is scarcely performed by electronics fellows, a much simpler clamp meter is in high demand.
We go through different factors to counter user-friendliness like dimension, weight, grip, knob placement, comfort, display, duration of active operation, and portability.
List of top welding clamp meter
Based on the above factors, we have listed a few best clamp meters for you.
Let’s delve into our selection.
1. Our Selected: UEi DL-429B
We need a proper clamp meter that completes any task related to welding. In this regard, UEi DL-429B(Amazon link) is one of the top clamp meters.
This model shows good results for high-voltage AC and current up to 600 Amps. These values are quite promising for welding purposes.
Additionally, there are other good features in this clamp meter. Let’s take a look at it.
The Good
Its ratings are suitable for welding. As mentioned, it is suggested for HVAC and high current. Thus we found it helpful for welding with measuring up to 600 Amps of current. These ratings are more than enough for the application.
Differential temperature can easily be measured. Measurement of temperature is crucial for a clamp meter used for welding. We found this clamp meter quite efficient in measuring temperature.
Remoteness in reading through smartphones helps to reduce task effort. Amazingly, we can connect our smartphones through a free app with this clamp meter to get reading. This facility not only reduces our workload but also makes us safe.
Not only high DC but also micro-current DC can be measured. It can be measured up to 2000 µA. This is the lowest value for a clamp meter that we can get. Commonly, we use Digital Multimeter for the same purpose.
We can take a hands-free reading. The remoteness of taking readings is ensured by an additional magnet that pastes our clamp meter with a metal object. Hence we can look, record, and let someone else monitor the readings through smartphones.
NCVT and other important features can be smoothly run by this clamp meter. We can test the diode, check the connectivity of wires, measure frequency, measure resistance, and measure capacitance.
The safety of CAT-III (600V) makes us confident to perform our tasks. We do not have to worry about the safety while using this model. Besides remoteness, we can boldly perform different tasks through CAT-III safety.
User-friendliness and workspace-friendliness are uncompromised. Welding is often performed in tough environments. The best clamp meter should be user-friendly and durable in our workspace. We found both of these qualities in this model.
The Bad
We miss a knob in this clamp meter which is a signature style of a clamp meter with other brands.
We have to push buttons to toggle different functions. Unlikewise, other clamp meters with a knob reduced our effort to a single holding hand.
Now we have to use the other hand to push buttons.
The Downright Ugly
The clamp jaw of this clamp meter is relatively small in size. There is a small uncomfortable feeling while attaching the jaw to a wire with a big diameter.
As we know the wire of the welding machine is thick due to high insulation. This makes us extra careful while connecting it around the wire.
This awkwardness reduces our careless nature in taking readings. We have to be extra careful and extra focused while connecting it. However, once we get it connected, we can remotely take readings.
2. Also Great: Klein Tools CL-150
Klein Tools is one of the best brands in designing instruments. This model helps us to tackle the problem of a small clamp jaw.
Instead, it replaces a mechanical jaw with 18 inches of wire. In this regard, we can easily take reading with high accuracy and durability.
Let’s see what else it has for us…
Salient Features:
- Our access has been extended to congested and wired areas through this clamp meter.
- This clamp meter is dedicated to only AC.
- CAT-III (1000V) and CAT-IV (600V) support the safety of users. These values are promising for the welding process.
- We get True RMS values on display. This increases accuracy and is helpful for non-sinusoidal signals.
- It can sustain a drop of 2 m. We can boldly rely on its durability.
- The display works very efficiently for reading.
- After idleness of 15 minutes, it shuts down to save power.
We suggest Klein Tools CL-150(Amazon link) for users who are welding technicians. We can use this accurate and durable clamp meter for our daily tasks.
Neglecting the clamp wire, the size of this clamp meter is small enough to carry in a pocket. Likewise, it helps us to increase our level of portability.
This model is available at a reasonable price at the given link.
3. Also Great: Fluke 902 FC
Fluke is widely known for its durable instruments. We can say the same for the Fluke 902 FC.
This model is durable, accurate, and remote. We can use it for its durable nature. Like every other product of Fluke, this model is also durable.
When it comes to accuracy, there is no compromise on it. Moreover, we can connect this clamp meter to smartphones through Bluetooth for remoteness.
Let’s study more about this clamp meter.
Salient Features:
- This clamp meter is widely suggested for HVAC applications. We can say this is our good pick.
- We can connect smartphones with it through Bluetooth to take reading remotely.
- This clamp meter allows us to measure a high current of up to 600 Amps.
- The readings are provided in True RMS values, good for both sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal signals.
- For the sake of portability, it weighs only 419 grams.
- We can toggle reading to maximum and minimum by just pressing a button.
- We can also measure up to 60k-Ohms of resistance.
We are confident enough to say that Fluke 902 FC (Amazon link) is a smooth-running clamp meter for a welding operator.
It not only measures a high current value but also measures current accurately. We perform different tasks through this clamp meter.
We can also measure differential temperature with ease. This clamp meter is available at the given link at a reasonable price.
Conclusion
Long story short, the best clamp meter is one that fulfills the needs of technicians or other users. Hence, an ideal clamp meter for welding must have the following qualities:
- High voltage and current ratings
- Extended safety
- Facilitated with NCVT
- Installed with measuring differential temperature
- Durable and sustainable in the workplace
- Smooth to use by layman
With the above-mentioned factors, we summed up that UEi DL-429B (Amazon link) is the suitable clamp meter for the welding process.
It is more suitable for the workplace of a welding operator than any other clamp meter. The level of compatibility and safety is more advanced than its competitor.
Moreover, we can rely on its durability and sustainability for the said purpose. Amazingly, the remoteness in reading measures its acute level of safety.
We hope we helped you enough to get the proper knowledge of clamp meters for welding purposes.
Stay with us for our more incredible research…
Good luck
Questions
After reading our blog, we hope that your confusion might have been minimized. However, we are answering some frequently asked questions in this section.
Q1: Why should we use a clamp meter instead of a multimeter for welding applications?
This question is repeated many times on different platforms. However, we are also going to answer it here.
The working process of both instruments is quite similar. But when it comes to an operating procedure, a clamp meter makes us comfortable in reading.
A clamp meter, unlike a multimeter, measures current through a non-invasive method. We do not break the main circuit to connect the clamp meter in series.
This level of comfort makes a clamp meter the best option for users.
Q2: What is specific to a clamp meter used for welding?
A common clamp meter measures high currents and voltages. However, when it comes to welding, the range for current and voltage must be high.
Besides range, safety, and remoteness also play a vital role for a welding operator. Hence, this specific clamp meter must be extra safe.
To enhance safety, our selected clamp meter is installed with a remote reading facility. It can be connected to a smartphone for quick readings.
Q3: What is a commonly used welding process?
Generally, we use Arc welding for our daily processes. For this purpose, a transformer is used. However, there are smart welding instruments equipped with processors.
The above blog has considered Arc welding due to its wide use. We can also use the same clamp meter for other processes.
More importantly, we must keep the level of safety in check before using any clamp meter.
Q4: Does temperature matter in welding?
Of course yes. Different materials have different melting points. We should commence the welding process before counting on the melting points.
For this purpose, we chose a clamp meter with the quality of measuring differential temperature. This makes us able to reckon the outcome of our welding.
Additionally, the electrical resistance of a material also plays an important role. As current passes through highly resistant material, it produces more heat.
This phenomenon is also used in a special type of welding. There, the importance of measuring temperature increases.
Q5: What is the difference between soldering and welding?
Soldering helps us connect electronic components to a circuit board. It uses a soft metal for this process.
Click here to learn everything about soldering.
Meanwhile welding connects two metals to fuse both. This process needs a lot of safety than soldering.
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