Clamp meters
A stated category, or DC current?
One of these publishes a full measurement category — one of two instruments on this site that do. The other reads direct current, which an AC-only clamp reports as zero rather than as an error. Both facts matter, and not on the same job.
| Compared on | CAT III 600 V clamp meter | AC/DC clamp meter, 800 A |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement category | CAT III 600 V AC/DC | Not published |
| DC current | Stated AC/DC | 800 A AC and DC |
| Current range | Not published | 800 A |
| True RMS | Stated | Stated |
| Counts | 4000 | 6000 |
| Contactless voltage detection | Built in | Not published |
| Measuring functions | Eight, including temperature and capacitance | Five-in-one with multimeter functions |
| Jaw opening | Not published | Not published |
| Listed on amazon.com | No | Yes |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these products answer different questions.
No amazon.com listing was found for this one. We hold references for other markets but none for the United States, so it may not be buyable here — which is the first thing to weigh against anything below.
Buy the Voltcraft for installation work. A complete CAT III 600 V rating is what distribution boards and control cabinets require, and it is the specification almost nothing else in the hub publishes.
Buy the Proster for solar and battery work. An AC-only clamp reads a photovoltaic string as zero and gives no warning, and this one is explicitly positioned for that job.
It works by transformer action, which needs a changing magnetic field. Direct current has none, so the clamp reads nothing — not an error message, just zero.
Yes. It decides whether the clamp physically fits around your cable, and it is missing from both listings. Measure the cable before ordering either.
CAT III 600 V AC/DC · True RMS · 4000 points · 8 functions · NCV
The only clamp meter in this hub that publishes a complete safety rating: CAT III 600 V AC/DC, with true-RMS, eight measuring functions and a non-contact voltage detector.
Best for: Distribution boards and control cabinets — the work a stated CAT III rating exists for.
800 A AC and DC · True RMS · 6000 counts · 5-in-1
An 800 A AC and DC clamp with true-RMS and 6000 counts, positioned by its maker for solar and balcony photovoltaic work — which is where the DC capability earns its keep.
Best for: Solar and battery work, where the current is direct and an AC-only clamp reads nothing at all.
≈ $34
