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  • Field Multimeter

    Getting prepared to do my first solar installation: small 100w DC system with 2 Kyocera panels for lighting and cell phone chargers. Will be in a remote village in Malawi, Africa.

    Seems like a clamp multimeter with DC amp measurement capability might come in handy. Just discovered my old Amprobe only measures AC amps. Oops.

    My search indicated one recommendation for the Extech MA220, for which Amazon distributes for $110. Looks good. Any further thoughts?

    Thanks

  • #2
    Great meter but you can get it for less than $100 if you shop around.
    MSEE, PE

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    • #3
      For 110$ go to the source http://www.extechstore.com/search.aspx?find=ma220

      Russ
      [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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      • #4
        He could also buy a 20 a ampmeter for less than $20.. he is only measuring a few amps,, (100w panel) smaller ,lighter and easier to carry to remote area . and doesnt need a battery to get a reading

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        • #5
          Originally posted by john p View Post
          He could also buy a 20 a ampmeter for less than $20.. he is only measuring a few amps,, (100w panel) smaller ,lighter and easier to carry to remote area . and doesnt need a battery to get a reading
          Hi John, Any brand name or model suggestions?

          Russ
          [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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          • #6
            No as they available at just about any electronics parts store and auto electrical parts stores. They be available anywhere. and are quite ruggard as no electronics or battery, usually about 21/2 " square
            In Australia they cost about $18 from Jaycar.
            another alternative is a shunt about $13 and then read the mv to read amps with a simple multimeter

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            • #7
              In other words - just about any one that reads AC/DC amps with adequate resolution will do?
              [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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              • #8
                simple mechanical amp meters only read DC same for reading MV to get amps using a shunt
                a 20A one has 1a increments on the scale

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                • #9
                  Buy a Klein CL2000, $119) it will do everything that you will ever need to do. The same meter is also sold by Field piece. Clamp on a/c -d/c , capacitors, volts, ohms, & HZ. Max -min.
                  The Elchepo meters usually don't last long, one drop or power in the ohms scale and you can throw them away.
                  Or you can buy a Fluke for about $400.
                  Buying good tools especially meters is money well spent.

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                  • #10
                    A cheap $30 digital multimeter would be ok for him they read 10a on ac or dc

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                    • #11
                      gee luc man why not get a $2600 bench lab standard one for him to lug to some remote part of Africa.. he does not need ,000001 ma accuracy

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                      • #12
                        The Elchepo meters usually don't last long, one drop or power in the ohms scale and you can throw them away.How long is not long ?? I have been using a $9.50 one for about 10 years when doing simple measurements. at work we have over $100,000 worth of test measuring devices but nobody needs their accuracy for anything in solar

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                        • #13
                          There is definitely a difference between what a professional who constantly uses a tool requires and the average home tinker type of guy.

                          In years past I have spent large sums (company money) on test equipment for various departments but would never dream of doing the same for home use.

                          Russ
                          [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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                          • #14
                            Russ that is true
                            At work we can measure resistance down to .00001. and can read microamps down to .001 but to just about everybody such equipment is useless. We also have a 150kv xray machine that can xray a v8 engine block. .cost $350,000 but not needed in most houses .
                            I tell you one of the reasons . to get to those accuracies you need a very controlled testing chamber with temperature maintained to better tan.2 of a deg c , not easy to do at home .
                            Anything to do measuring solar needs nothing more than .1v for voltage or .1a for current, Those measurements can be done easily with cheap test equipment in most cases nothing more than a multimeter and a shunt.
                            The original poster is going to a remote part of africa every ounce counts when travelling to such places, as most likely he be loaded to the limit for overseas plane travel like most of us are. and who wants a expensive item borrowed permanently is places like that?

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                            • #15
                              As for expensive multimeters lasting longer.. mabe they do mabe they dont. We have a big box of top of range Fluke multimeters perfectly destroyed mostly by electrical engineers

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