How to Measure Current Using a Clamp Meter
- 1). Set a clamp meter to the "Min/Max" setting.
- 2). Open the cover of your home's electrical panel. Make sure all breakers in the panel are on.
- 3). Press one of the two leads protruding from the bottom of the meter on one of the wires entering a breaker. Press the other lead on the second wire entering the breaker. Hold the leads in place for five to 10 seconds.
- 4). The minimum and maximum currents will be displayed on the meter. No extreme change between the lowest and highest numbers designates a stable circuit.
- 5). Turn on an appliance connected to the circuit. Read the current flowing through the breaker for five seconds repeating the steps for doing so above. Read the minimum and maximum currents displayed. Extreme variations in the current readings mean the appliance is overloading the circuit.
- 6). Hook the clamp of the meter over a cord connecting an appliance to an electrical current. Read the display of the clamp meter as you turn the appliance on and off. Evaluate the current readings to determine whether the appliance is responsible for a short circuit.