Klein CL490 AC/DC Clamp Meter with TRMS Dual Display

A multimeter tells you voltage and resistance. It does not tell you how much current a circuit is actually pulling, and that is the number that finds a shorted shift solenoid, a dragging pump motor, or a control module that will not go to sleep. The CL490 clamps around the conductor and reads it inline-free, and unlike the cheap clamp meters it does DC amps, not just AC, which is the only part that matters on a vehicle.

Typical bench and driveway uses: clamp the battery negative cable to measure parasitic draw on a truck that goes dead over a weekend, clamp a solenoid feed to see whether the TCM is actually commanding current or just sitting there, and clamp a starter or cooling fan lead to confirm a motor is dragging before you condemn it. True-RMS and auto-ranging means a pulsed, PWM-driven load reads correctly instead of the low nonsense an averaging meter reports.

Through the test leads it also does AC/DC voltage, resistance, continuity, DC microamps, frequency and duty cycle, capacitance, and diode test, plus temperature with a thermocouple, so it replaces the second meter you would otherwise have on the bench. The dual display lets you see current on the main screen and a second reading from the bottom screen when the clamp is up under a dash or behind an engine and you cannot get your head in line with it. Built-in NCVT detection, backlit reverse-contrast LCD, and a lead holder on the back. Ships from the USA.