PCE-DC4 Clamp Meter
Clamp Meter up to 1000 A AC

The PCE-DC4 Clamp Meter can measure contactless currents. The Clamp meter has a solid fire resistant housing with a rubber protection which makes this detector very easy to handle.  Its special shape makes possible to use it in narrow spaces with difficult access. All Clamp meter functions are protected for customer's safety. The Clamp meter can be used with conductors with up to 31 mm diameter. This Clamp meter is a very useful device for technicians, repair shops and laboratories. At this link you will find a general overview of all Clamp meters available at PCE Instruments. If you need a simplier clamp meter, we recommend you the PCE-DC3. We also have another clamp meter with a flexible clamp and distribution bars for the current conductors with diameter up to 170 mm.

- LCD with 3 ¾ positions, 17 mm, max.                 indicator: 3999

- Value maintenance

- Alternating current up to 1000 A

- Voltage up to 600 V AC/DC

- Resistance function, frequency, capacitance     and temperature.

- Diode test and transit control.

- Automatic/hand range selection

- Auto shut-off

- Diameter of the conductor: max. 31 mm 

 PCE-DC4 Clamp meter

Display of the PCE-DC4 Clamp Meter

 - AC DC - Alternating or direct current

 - AUTO - Automatic range selection

 - - Diodes testing mode

 -   - Transit control symbol

 - HOLD - Memory of values

 - ºC, ºF, µ, m, V, A, K,M, Ω - Units

Technical specifications:

DC current

400 mV/4/40/400/600 V
± 0.8 % + 3 St. – 100 μV

Overload protection

600 V DC/AC

AC current

400 mV /4/40/400/600 V
± 1.8 % + 5 St. – 100 μV

Overload protection

600 V DC/AC

ACA

40/400/1000 A
± 2.5 % + 5 St. – 10 mA

Overload protection

1000 A

Ohm

400 Ω/4/40/400 kΩ/4/40 MΩ
± 1.0 % + 4 St. – 100 mΩ

Overload protection

250 V DC/AC

Frequency

5/50/500 Hz/5/50/500 kHz/5/10 MHz
± 1.2 % + 2 St. – 1 mHz

Overload protection

250 V DC/AC

Capacitance

40/400 nF/4/40/100 μF
± 3 % + 5 St. – 10 pF

Overload protection

250 V DC/AC

Temperature

- 50 ... + 1000°C
± 3 % + 5°C – 0.1°C

Overload protection

60 V DC/24 V AC

Warning tone

Yes

Diode test

Yes

Power

 9 V battery

Diameter of the conductor

max. 31 mm 

Dimensions

229 x 80 x 48 mm

Weight

303 g

Security

IEC 1010-1,600 V CAT III

Use of the PCE-DC4 Clamp Meter

 PCE-DC4 Clamp meter measuring current absorbed in connection.

This image shows the LCD screen of the Clamp Meter PCE-DC4 with backlight. 

Ampère Law

Since ancient times, humanity has known about the existence of magnetic field sources such as natural magnets as the stone of magnetite. Throughout the last century, research has helped us understand the origin of magnetic fields. Accidentally, in 1820 it was discovered that an electric current flowing through a wire deflected a compass needle. Later, observations were made and results were published on the measurement of forces acting on a magnetic pole placing a power cable nearby. However, it was André Marie Ampère who then showed that current elements suffer a force in the presence of an external magnetic field and that two closed cables crossed by currents exert forces on each other. These observations led him to conclude that the magnetic field lines were always closed and surrounded the cable, showing experimentally that the field lines around a long straight wire are circles centered on the cable. Then he created the law, which is relatively simple and can be applied to any closed path around a current. Ampere law has the following expression: where I is current and 0 is a constant called the permeability of vacuum. This result is very useful when dealing with high symmetry systems, it is very different from that obtaining the line integral of a static electric field along a closed path, which is always zero.
The steps to apply Ampere law are:

1. Given the current distribution, you have to deduce the direction and sense the magnetic field

2. Choose a suitable closed path, crossed by streams and calculate the movement of the magnetic field

3. Determine the intensity of the current flowing through the closed road

4. Apply Ampere law and clear the magnitude of the magnetic field

The Ampere circuit law (in a form that maybe Ampère did not recognise) says that a stable current, which complies with, induces a magnetic field such as where µ0 is the magnetic constant equal to 4π •10^-7 N• s² • C^-2.

Applying the Stokes' theory to the field

:

And substituting in Ampère law, 

Therefore the current can be calculated from the magnetic field.

Here you will find an overview of all the measuring instruments available at PCE Instruments.

Contact:
PCE Instruments UK Limited
Unit 11 Southpoint Business Park
Ensign Way, Southampton
United Kingdom, SO31 4RF
Phone: +44(0) 23 809 870 30
Fax: +44(0) 23 809 870 39

Contact:
PCE Americas Inc.
1201 Jupiter Park Drive, Suite 8
Jupiter 33458 FL
USA
Phone: +1-410-387-7703
Fax: +1-410-387-7714

Below you will find an overview of the different product groups of measuring instruments