Hioki HiTester 3286-20 Power Clamp-Meter, 1,000A AC, Conductors to 55mm, Voltage, Frequency, and Power Measurement

The Hioki 3286-20 digital clamp-meter is a true RMS sensing, manual- and auto-ranging multimeter for measuring current, voltage, frequency, and power in electrical testing applications. It has a clamp that measures AC (alternating current) to 1,000A (amperes). The clamp has two jaws that can close around an electrical conductor up to 55mm (2.17 inches) in diameter or a busbar up to 80 x 20mm to measure current without touching or interrupting the circuit. A voltage cord with alligator clips is included for measuring AC voltage to 600V, frequency up to 1,000Hz (hertz), single-phase power to 600kW (kilowatts), and three-phase power to 1,200kW. Frequency can also be measured with the clamp. For power monitoring and analysis, the meter detects phase rotation, measures THD (total harmonic distortion) which can degrade the quality of the power being supplied by the system, analyzes individual harmonics to the 20th order, and calculates power factor up to 1.00 to determine how efficiently an installation uses power.

The meter has push buttons to select the property to measure, and a 6,000-count LCD. To enable readings of rapidly fluctuating current and voltage, the slow function reduces the display update rate from four times per second to once every three seconds. The record function captures the maximum, minimum, and average readings for a property. To aid documentation of readings and capture readings in tight spaces, the data hold function keeps the most recent reading on the display after disconnecting from the circuit. The unit operates on a single 9V battery, and turns off automatically after 10 minutes of non-use to conserve battery life. It has a low-battery indicator that signals when the battery needs to be replaced.

This true RMS (root mean square) sensing meter provides accurate readings when measuring linear or non-linear loads, regardless of the waveform. It has two ranging modes: manual, which allows the user to select the operating range, and auto, which automatically selects the appropriate operating range. Accuracy and resolution specifications vary according to the range being measured. The meter meets IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) safety standard 61010 and is rated for CAT (category) III installations to 600V, which covers equipment in fixed installations, such as switches in the fixed installation and some industrial equipment that is permanently connected to the fixed installation. It has CE (European Conformity) marking. The unit comes with a carrying case.

Specifications

H is height, the vertical distance from lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.

Clamp-meters, also called clamp-on meters, have two jaws that fit around a conductor to measure electrical current without cutting through wires, or touching or interrupting the electrical circuit. Available in handheld or benchtop models, clamp-meters diagnose problems in electrical equipment, wiring, and power supplies. All clamp-meters test for current. Some come with test leads and inputs for measuring voltage, capacitance, and resistance. They display information either in analog or digital form. Factors that influence meter choice include the electrical properties to be measured, the anticipated range of results, and the desired level of protection against transient voltage. Safety ratings are based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for low-voltage test equipment. IEC 61010 delineates four overvoltage installation categories. In general, a meter with a category IV rating will provide more protection against transient voltages than a meter with a lower category rating.

Hioki manufactures memory recorders, automatic test equipment, and electronic testing and measurement instruments. The company, founded in 1935, is headquartered in Japan and has a U.S. office in Cranbury, NJ.

What's in the Box?

• Hioki 3286-20 digital clamp-meter
• Voltage cord with alligator clips
• 9V battery
• Hand strap
• Instructions