How to measure high current draw?

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Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=75813
Printed Date: May 24, 2024 at 8:38 AM

Topic: How to measure high current draw?

Posted By: mini14
Subject: How to measure high current draw?
Date Posted: April 06, 2006 at 9:59 PM

I'm working on a project that involves some 12 volt car batteries and it will pull about 150 amps. We don't know for sure, but this contraption is pulling a lot of current. What is the best way to measure the exact or best approximation of the current draw? I thought a voltmeter wouldn't hold up so I wanted to ask before zapping one.

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Replies:

Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: April 06, 2006 at 10:06 PM

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-35,GGLG:en&q=ammeter

https://omnicontrols.com/lists/fluke4et.html

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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: April 06, 2006 at 10:51 PM

I use a clamp-on ammeter. THIS is the one I currently have; there are many different ones available. You want one that can detect DC amps. Oh, and NO, don't try to use a multimeter to measure high current! Most common multimeters can handle about 10 amps max (and even then require you to wire them in series which can be very dangerous.)

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Posted By: nett
Date Posted: April 07, 2006 at 1:30 PM

Sorry about the above formating issues.

You will need a clamp on Hall Effect probe that goes into you Multimeter. The Multimeter has to be compatible with this clamp.

Most inexpensive clamp on ammeter probes only measure AC, you need a Hall Effect one to measure DC current.

A good setup is the Fluke model 177 VOM with a Fluke Amp Current Clamp model I410.

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