What Is a Current Clamp?
Current clamps are devices that detect and measure the small amount of current that leaks from wires and other sources.
It is one of the clamp meters used to check whether current is flowing in the completed circuit itself, and the current value is checked by clamping the wire of the circuit to be checked. Although it was necessary to disconnect the circuit once to check the current, the clamp meter allows measurement without disconnecting the circuit.
Usage of Current Clamps
Current clamps are used in places where a current is flowing, and the device to be used depends on whether the circuit to be tested is a direct current or alternating current.
Because it can safely measure high-voltage currents as well as those in the home without disconnecting the circuit, it is also useful at the start of electrical work.
Principle of Current Clamps
Normally, when electricity is flowing through a wire, magnetic field lines are generated around the wire, even if the amount of current is slight. These magnetic field lines are picked up by the iron core, which is the core of the clamp meter, and the amount of current in the coil wound around the iron core is measured.
It is quite accurate because it can detect even the slightest amount of current, but clamp meters need to be used in different ways depending on the type of circuit.
Measuring different types of circuits will not give an accurate value and will make it impossible to determine the presence or absence of leakage current. So if the type is unknown, a DC clamp meter that can measure either circuit should be used.