Current meters

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ScottVesi

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I need a clamp on current meter capable of 600 amps that I can leave engaged in a circuit and unattended for several days. This meter needs to record the peak current reading for this time period and not have an automatic battery shut down feature. Can some one recommend a specific meter that could do this?

Thanks
Scott
 
Re: Current meters

Single phase or three phase?
Purchase or rent?
How about a power meter instead?
 
Re: Current meters

Single phase. I need two meters ( one per phase to measure simultaneously )

Depends on price if I would buy them.

A wattmeter would be fine if it had the coorect features.
 
Re: Current meters

I use the Ideal 800, which records in single or three phase about anything you want to know, and you can download and printout from your PC. The setup comes with 200 amp clamps, and you have to add the 1000 amp clamps to measure more than that. I forget what I paid for the setup, but it was much less that the Fluke 43 (which is the other standard meter for such measurements).
 
Re: Current meters

If you have access to a Grainger catalog they have several different meters to do just xactly what you are asking.

[ June 01, 2005, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: stew ]
 
Re: Current meters

consider buy or investing in a data recorder? are you an electrical contractor? or do you plan on becoming one? you could invest in a unit for about 3k and charge $35.00 a day plus your time to install and remove and down load the data. it would be three phase, but would do single phase too! i would order it with 1000 amp ct's! this will eventually, distance your company from others in the area, and work for engineering firms as well as investigators. i have two 8k data recorders along with ct's up to 4000 amps--they were an investment--but payed for themselves in just a few years doing jobs others were afraid of or unqualified due to improper tools!
 
Re: Current meters

Charlie: PLEASE do not cut the market prices, I own 6 RPM power/disturbance analyzers I get $980.00 a day. $1480.00 a week and $1680.00 a month this includes set up, removal and report are includeed, if I trouble shoot the problems I charge by the hour.

This meter is a bit more than 3K (with all the CT's I own I have about 16K in each meter) but does nicely (with some issues) and writes the report , if you purchase the software.

Mine are always out on rent.
 
Re: Current meters

brian,
i was a service contractor that provided electrical services directly to building owners. the data recording service was used just like our infrared scanning service as a tool to maintain a steady connection with the largest office buildings in the area. both of these services created electrical service work by identifying electrical problems. neither of these services were ever marketed for use other than our present accounts. i have alot of money invested in this equipment -- and if that was all we did(infrared and data recording), i would have to have higher rates to servive! we made our money on repair work and never ran out of work and more important--we picked and choose our customers! they were happy with us and we were happy with them! we provided good customer service and they paid their bills on time! 25 years and had to chase after money three times--that ain't bad!

ps: i had to rent additional meters from g.e. and did not like the rpm units. i had eight units in a hospital switchgear room monitoring emergency power feeders and had to re-run the entire test because two of the rpm units would not download. even sent them back to g.e. and they couldn't get them to download. they didn't charge me for the additional rental time, but we couldn't charge the hospital for the second test period.
 
Re: Current meters

Charlie:

I avoid test with multiple RPM's, always have a download problem with at least one of them. They have given me a headache over the years, but I have sooooo much invested in them, I can't back out now. I have always owned Dranetz and BMI's and had problems with them also.

We also do Ir and the repairs revenues are worth the price of the camera.
 
Re: Current meters

brian,
the rpm units are complex and can cover many areas. i think my inexpirience with them was a problem, but the fact that the factory couldn't get them to download was a real bummer to me. i have two metrosonics units and the only problem i've had were the batteries going bad about every two years. they are user freindly compared to the rpm units....... and i am suprised that not many contractors provide these services?
 
Re: Current meters

To anyone here interested. I located a meter that does what I need. It is an Extech Instruments brand clamp on meter, model number 380975. It cost about $200.00. Thanks for the assistance guys.
 
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