There’s nothing so annoying as a breaker that keeps tripping, usually at the most inconvenient times. More annoying still is not being able to figure out why. Clamp meters help electricians, HVAC engineers and inspectors to solve many load problems quickly. The meters commonly measure circuit loading, but with a bit of ingenuity you can also use them to tell you which breaker controls which outlets, and measure individual loads for any load or ground currents.

Our application note discusses how to use all the capabilities of your clamp meter: it outlines how they work, why they are often the single most important tool to take with you, and why you should use a true-rms model.