Amprobe Ac68C User manual

AC68C

True RMS AC/DC Clamp Multimeter

Users Manual

PN 2729051

July 2006

For detailed specifications and ordering info go to www.TestEquipmentDepot.com

AC68C

AC/DC TRUE RMS

AC68C

True RMS AC/DC Clamp

Multimeter

Users Manual

English

Limited Warranty and Limitation of Liability

Your Amprobe®product will be free from defects in material and

workmanship for 1 year from the date of purchase. This warranty

does not cover fuses, disposable batteries or damage from

accident, neglect, misuse, alteration, contamination, or abnormal

conditions of operation or handling. Resellers are not authorized

to extend any other warranty on Amprobe®’s behalf. To obtain

service during the warranty period, return the product with proof

of purchase to an authorized Amprobe®Test Tools Service

Center or to a Amprobe®dealer or distributor. See Repair

Section above for details. THIS WARRANTY IS YOUR ONLY

REMEDY. ALL OTHER WARRANTIES - WHETHER EXPRESS,

IMPLIED OR STAUTORY - INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES

OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR

MERCHANTABILITY, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED.

MANUFACTURER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL,

INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR

LOSSES, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY. Since some

states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of an

implied warranty or of incidental or consequential damages, this

limitation of liability may not apply to you.

True RMS AC/DC Clamp Multimeter

Contents

Symbols................................................................................. 1

Introduction........................................................................... 1

Warnings and Precautions..................................................... 2

Unpacking and Inspection ..................................................... 2

Instrument Familiarization (See inside front cover)............... 2

Measuring Procedures........................................................... 3

Specifications ........................................................................ 6

Troubleshooting .................................................................... 8

Battery Replacement.............................................................. 9

Repair .................................................................................... 10

Symbols

W Refer to the manual X Dangerous Voltage

T Double insulated

Battery

F Direct Current J Earth Ground

B Alternating Current R Audible tone

P Complies with EU

directives >Underwriters

Laboratories, Inc.

Introduction

The AC68C is a true rms digital clampmeter that measures both

AC and DC current as well as AC and DC voltage, Resistance,

Frequency, Continuity and Diode Test.

Warnings and Precautions

The AC68C Digital Clampmeter conforms to EN61010-2-032,

EN61010-1, CAT III- 600V, class 2 and pollution deg. 2; and

UL3111-1. It is recommended for use with local level power

distribution, appliances, portable equipment, etc., where only

smaller transient overvoltages may occur, and not for primary

supply lines, overhead lines, and cable systems.

•Do not exceed the maximum overload limits per function

(see specifications) nor the limits marked on the

instrument itself. Never apply more than 600 V dc / ac

rms between the test lead and earth ground.

•Inspect the DMM, test leads and accessories before

every use. Do not use any damaged part.

•Never ground yourself when taking measurements. Do

not touch exposed circuit elements or test probe tips.

•Do not operate the instrument in an explosive

atmosphere.

•Exercise extreme caution when: measuring voltage

>20 V // current >10 mA // AC power line with inductive

loads // AC power line during electrical storms //

current, when the fuse blows in a circuit with open

circuit voltage >600 V // servicing CRT equipment.

•Always measure current in series with the load – NEVER

ACROSS a voltage source. Check fuse first. Never

replace a fuse with one of a different rating.

•Remove test leads before opening the case.

Unpacking and Inspection

Your shipping carton should include:

Digital clamp meter 1

Carrying case 1

Test lead set (one black, one red) 1

One 9V battery (installed) 1

Manual 1

If any of the items are damaged or missing, return the complete

package to the place of purchase for an exchange.

Instrument Familiarization (See inside front cover)

Transformer Jaws: Designed to pick up the current flowing

through the conductor.

Jaw Opening Lever: Press lever to open transformer jaws.

Release pressure to close the jaws.

Digital Display: 3-3/4 digit LCD (max. reading 3999), with

decimal point, AC/DC, polarity, unit and low battery (

)

indicators.

Function/Range Selector: Selects the desired function and range.

Changing position turns instrument back on after Auto-OFF.

Peak Hold Button: Toggles on and off. Captures the maximum

peak value of a current or voltage surge (motor start-up). “PEAK”

is shown on LCD.

Data Hold Button: Toggles on and off. Holds reading for all

functions and ranges. Always release HOLD before taking a new

measurement. “HOLD” is shown on LCD.

DCA ZERO Button: Push this button to zero the display before

measuring DC current.

Input Terminals: Always connect black test lead (negative) to

black COM input jack and red test lead to red “VΩ” input jack for

voltage, frequency, resistance, continuity, and diode

measurements

Measuring Procedures

General

1. Make sure that the selected function and range are

suitable for the measurement to be taken.

2. If the measured current is higher than the selected range

for a longer period of time, overheating may occur,

compromising the safety and operation of inner circuits.

3. Do not measure currents on high voltage conductors

(> 600 V) to avoid risks of discharge and/or incorrect

readings.

4. When measuring current, make sure that the test leads are

removed from the meter terminals.

5. The most accurate current reading will be obtained by

placing the conductor in the center of the jaws (aligned

with the centering marks on the transformer jaws).

DC Current Measurement

1. Set the function/range selector to the appropriate A F

position (400 or 600 A).

2. Press the DCA ZERO button to make sure that the display

is zero-reading.

3. Open spring-loaded clamp by pressing the lever on left

side of meter.

4. Position clamp around one wire or conductor and release

the clamp lever. Make sure that the clamp is entirely

closed. The clamp must be positioned around only one

conductor. If it is placed around two or more current

carrying conductors, the reading is FALSE.

5. Read the displayed value. The direction of the current

corresponds to the indication of the pointer on the jaw.

Polarity inversion is indicated by a ’-‘ (minus) symbol on

the display.

AC Current Measurement

1. Set the function/range selector to the appropriate A B

position (400 or 600 A).

2. Open spring-loaded clamp by pressing the lever on left

side of meter.

3. Position clamp around one wire or conductor and release

the clamp lever. Make sure that the clamp is entirely

closed. The clamp must be positioned around only one

conductor. If it is placed around two or more current

carrying conductors, the reading is FALSE.

4. Read the displayed value.

DC and AC Voltage Measurement

WWarning

The maximum input voltage for DC or AC Volts is 600 Vrms. Do

not attempt to take any voltage measurement that exceeds

600 Vrms to avoid electrical shock hazard or damage to the

instrument.

1. Set the function/range selector to the appropriate V F

(600 V) or V B(400 or 600 V) position.

2. Connect the black test lead to the “COM” terminal and the

red test lead to the “VΩ’’ terminal. Connect probe tips to

the circuit and read the value.

Frequency Measurement

Note: Both ammeter and voltmeter can be used for frequency

measurement. The clamp-on Ammeter detects the frequency of

the current circulating in the cable or bus-bar under test (the

current must be greater than 1 A in the 400 A range and greater

than 15 A in the 600 A range). The Voltmeter detects the

frequency of the voltage applied to the leads.

1. In either set-up (current or voltage measurement), set the

function/range switch to the Hz position.

2. Read the frequency value on the display.

Resistance Measurement

WWarning

Before taking any in-circuit resistance measurement, remove

power from the circuit being tested and discharge all

capacitors.

1. Set the function/range selector to the 4 kΩposition.

2. Connect the black lead to the COM terminal and red lead to

the “VΩ” terminal.

3. Connect the test leads to the resistance or circuit to be

measured and read the value on the display.

Continuity Measurement

WWarning

Before taking any in-circuit continuity measurement, remove

power from the circuit being tested and discharge all

capacitors.

1. Set the function/range selector to the Rposition.

2. Connect the black lead to the COM terminal and red lead to

the “VΩ” terminal.

3. Connect the test leads to the circuit to be tested.

Continuity (resistance ≤40 Ω) is indicated by a continuous

beep tone.

Diode Test

1. Set the function/range selector to the Gposition.

2. Connect the black lead to the COM terminal and red lead to

the “VΩ” terminal.

3. Connect the red test lead to the anode, and the black test

lead to the cathode of the diode to be tested.

4. Read the forward voltage value on the display (approx.

0.6 V for a silicon diode or 0.4 V for a germanium diode).

An open diode is indicated by “OL”.

5. Reverse test lead connections to the diode to perform a

reverse bias test. “OL” indicates a good diode.

Notes: “OL” for both reverse and forward bias tests indicates an

open diode. A low voltage reading for both bias tests indicates a

shorted diode. If the diode is shunted by a resistor of 1000 ohms

or less, it must be removed from the circuit before taking the

measurement. Bipolar transistor junctions may be tested in the

same manner described above as emitter-base and base-

collector junctions are diode junctions.

Peak Hold Measurement

Proceed as for voltage or current measurement (AC or DC).

Before actually taking the measurement, press the PEAK button.

“PEAK” is shown on the display. After taking a measurement, the

displayed reading is the maximum peak value of a surge in the

voltage or current.

Data Hold

Proceed as for voltage or current measurement (AC or DC).

While taking a measurement, press the HOLD button. “HOLD” is

shown on the display and the current meter reading is

maintained, even after disconnecting the test leads from the

circuit or removing the conductor from the clamp. Press HOLD

again to deactivate before taking a new measurement.

Specifications

General Specifications

Display: 3-3/4 Digit LCD, max. reading of 3999. Function and

unit indication.

Overrange indication: “OL” indicated.

Polarity indication: automatic; positive implied; negative

indicated.

Zero adjustment: automatic for all functions and ranges except

DC current (Zero adjustment button).

Ranging: manual function and range selection with rotary

selector switch. Autoranging for frequency measurement.

Special functions: Data Hold, Peak Hold

Operating principle: dual slope integration

Sampling rate: 2 /sec, nominal.

Maximum voltage between any terminal and earth ground: 600 V

Low Battery Indication:

when battery voltage drops below

operating voltage.

Auto Power Off: Approx. 30 minutes after no function change.

Environmental Conditions

Operating temperature: 0 °C to +40 °C, <80 % R.H., non-

condensing

Storage temperature: -10 °C to +60 °C, <70 % R.H., battery

removed.

Power source: Single 9 V battery (NEDA 1604,1EC 6F22)

Battery life: Alkaline 200 hours.

Maximum jaw opening: 40 mm (1.57 inches)

Pollution degree: Level II

Altitude: < 2000 meters

Size (WxLxH): 76x228x39 mm (3”x9”x1.5”)

Weight: 465 gr (incl. battery)

Accessories: Test leads, battery, manual and carrying case.

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