Clamp meter showing AC current reading without measureing anything...

[suntansue]

I recently purchased a clamp meter and have noticed something. When you do your AC amp measurements your meter shows 0.0 and stays there until you measure something. My meter fluctuates and right now shows 3.4-3.4 not testing anything. Is this normal or a sign of malfunction? Thanks for your videos.

[SeanB]

It may have some drift on DC due to the hall sensor, but AC normally uses a coil. Does it zero if you press zero and stay there? If it only started doing this recently but was fine before I would say it is going faulty.

[suntansue]

I just bought it yesterday after watching a boat load of reviews to know what to look for in one. It is supposed to be pretty good.
True RMS, 0–1000 A, 0–600 V, LCD with backlight, auto this auto that, peak, hold yada yada yada. It’s been like this from out of the box. If I set it to DC and zero it it holds ok there. Maybe 0.1-0.2 but that seems ok judging from what I have seen on youtube. I even took it away from the house since I live close to power lines but it still shows a reading. Starts around 2 and climbs up to around 3.3-3.4. So this is not normal for one of these then?

[SeanB]

Should not have the offset on AC, shows there is not a correct adjustment of the zero. Could be adjusted internally, but if you can try another and see.

[suntansue]

When you say "try another" do you mean another setting or another clamp meter? Sorry, i'm new to clamp meters.

[SeanB]

Another range to see if it is on all ranges and if so then another meter of either the same or another type. It is not conforming to specs.

[suntansue]

It acts the same on 40 and 1000 also. Just moves the decimal.
I will return this one. Thank you for your help.