ngc Fluke 335 clamp meter

[gearman]

Any one here have one? I have one and when I put at the ac amp mode the readout says .2amp with nothing being measured.It has true rms. I called Fluke and they said they weren't sure if that was correct.????? The owners manual says nothing about it.I think it ought to read zero but I don't know.Any answers will help.

[Murray]

What are you actually trying to measure?

[gearman]

What are you actually trying to measure?

AC amps

[RinkRat II]

    Accuracy on that meter for ac amps is 2% and should be derated for temperature variables. Also just the act of clamping and unclamping will give readings.

        Paul B

[gearman]

I am not even clamping on anything and get that reading.

[Kiwi_Roy]

The 335 is a nice meter, good for 600 400 Amps, Have you tried zeroing it?
I can't say I know how to use the zero button but its there, must do something, the manual should tell you.

OOPPS
I Goggled a Fluke 335 manual and it showed me one with a zero button, when I tried to find it again of course there was none

I have a lesser model 321 and it goes to zero but not straight away, takes about 5 seconds.

0.2 is not very much on a 600 Amp range

Perhaps try a new battery, sometimes a meter will drift off a little when they start to go flat
I think Fluke owe you an explanation at least.

Are you aware you can wind several turns through the jaws for better resolution?

[RinkRat II]

   Maybe your magnetic personality it's picking up.  Have you tried reading a good 25-30 amps and see if it settles down?

     Paul B

[Kiwi_Roy]

   Maybe your magnetic personality it's picking up.  Have you tried reading a good 25-30 amps and see if it settles down?

     Paul B

As Rinkrat says, check you are not being influenced by heavy currents passing by your property.
The clipons are usually quite immune but something like a VFD might have some influence
Just out of curiosity what do you use it for?

[gearman]

Well I just measured the amp draw on a 30,70,100 incandecent light bulb.At 124.3 vac I got .3,.6,.8 amp readings.Doing the math it came to.241a,.563amp,.804amp.So I guess the meter actually is measuring correctly. I think????Oh well I will move on. BTW I looked on E bay and found similar rated meters for $20. vs.$275 for Fluke.

[Murray]

BTW I looked on E bay and found similar rated meters for $20. vs.$275 for Fluke.

Fluke is considered the Rolls Royce of portable measuring devices and pricing to match. Having said that they seem to have an extrodinary service life (My Fluke 25 has manufactuer date of 1989) and the circuits are well protected agaiinst operator error.

[Kiwi_Roy]

When an industrial electrician needs a meter to safely read the current on a 200 HP motor they are worth their weight in gold, I really don't know why I have one around the house.