Clip type DC current probes??

[Jean Castonguay]

I am a Sunday car mechanic.

What types of probes could I use to measure (to a few percent) the
various currents in a car. I think they vary from about 20 mA (clock,
alarm) to 500 A (starter). A single probe cannot have a 25000 to 1
dynamic range of course.

I already have a Fluke 87 digital multimeter and a shunt. I am
looking for Hall effect probes that I could clip around wires to
measure the current. I neither want to disconnect or, worse, cut
wires.

What are your suggestions?

Thank you very much in advance.
--
Jean Castonguay
lectrocommande Pascal

 

[William P. N. Smith]

"Jean Castonguay" <jcastong@riq.qc.ca> wrote:

What types of probes could I use to measure (to a few percent) the
various currents in a car. I think they vary from about 20 mA (clock,
alarm) to 500 A (starter).

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/AccessoryDetail.htm?cs_id=9319%28FlukeProducts%29&catalog_name=FlukeUnitedStates
isn't bad, though it only goes down to about 1/2 amp, and up to
400A...

 

[JeffM]

probes...to measure...the...various currents in a car ?
I think they vary from about 20 mA (clock, alarm)
to 500 A (starter).
A single probe cannot have a 25000 to 1 dynamic range of course.
Jean Castonguay

If you can wrap the wire thru the clamp several times,
it may allow you to measure lower currents.