Fluke Product Manager, Jessie Zhang, walks through when it is the right time to use a digital multimeter versus a clamp meter. The two products offer different features and should be used in different situations.
A digital multimeter is a test tool used to measure two or more electrical values—principally voltage (volts), current (amps) and resistance (ohms). It is a standard diagnostic tool for technicians in the electrical/electronic industries.
A clamp meter is an electrical test tool that combines a basic digital multimeter with a current sensor. Clamps measure current. Probes measure voltage. Having a hinged jaw integrated into an electrical meter allows technicians to clamp the jaws around a wire, cable or other conductors at any point in an electrical system, then measure current in that circuit without disconnecting/de-energizing it.