Fluke 381 Clamp Meter

Table of contents

The road test for the Fluke 381 will follow a different format than usual. Here’s how you can participate:


 

  • Tell us how you would use the Fluke 381 Clamp Meter.  What kind of situations would you use it in?  How would you use the removable display and flexible current probe (iFlex)?  Would these new features change the way you work? Post a few sentences about how you would use the new meter.


    • Fluke will evaluate all the submissions and select the best responses


    • The selected winners will receive the new Fluke 381


     

    Fluke 381 Clamp Meter

    The Fluke 381 is the first clamp meter with a detachable, remote display and iFlex™ flexible current probe for easier, faster, safer measurements.


    The new Fluke 381 does everything you would expect from a clamp meter, and then lets you remove the display for even more flexibility. Now one technician can do jobs that used to require two people. Clamp the Fluke 381 around a conductor, remove the display and walk across the room to operate controls or remove protective equipment, all while watching real-time readings.


    The new iFlex flexible current probe (included) expands the measurement range to 2500 A ac while providing increased display flexibility, ability to measure awkward sized conductors and improved wire access.  Review the specs here.


     


    Have a Question About Test and Measurements
    jim_newell_exp.gif

    Jim Newell

    Jim has worked for Fluke for a little over 31 years working in Manufacturing production and Quality assurance for the first 15 years. In the last 15 years he has focused on technical support as a Application Engineer for all of the Electrical Industrial products such as Handheld Oscilloscopes, Digital Mulitmeters and Power Quality Analyzers.  He enjoys the challenge of helping people and the famous saying the only dumb question is the one you didn’t ask are often joked about among his customers.

    Ask Jim a Question Here!

    RoadTest Reviews
    Comment List
    Anonymous
    • Thank you to Everyone who submitted a road test application. Each application was carefully reviewed by a Fluke panel. It was difficult to narrow down the finalists because there were so many interesting and enthusiastic entries.

       

      The finalist were selected because of how they would apply the 381's unique features to their day to day jobs.

      The work environments they described would be situations where the 381 would make a difference in how they could make measurements easier, faster, and safer because of the remote display, iFlex, and other features such as Inrush.

       

      The 381 Road Test Winners are:

      Sdotremo, WarrenW,  K5HJ, hambone2040 and Pack Rat.

       

      For the Road Test recipients, we're very interested in hearing your evaluation.

       

      Thank you to everyone who participated, we appreciate the time you took to submit an entry.

       

      Jim Newell

    • Hi Ally,

       

      That's all ok. However I do not see who is going to do the reviews? Are they listed anywhere?

      Cheers

      Warren.

    • Hi Warren,


      Sorry about that, it wasn't Fluke's fault. We had to extend it a few more days to take account of  some marketing. The RoadTest will finish today


      Apologies again,

       

      Ally

    • Hi Allister,

      If it was extended to the 8th why is it now showing the 14th as a close date. Are Fluke serious about this or not?

      Cheers

      Warren.

    • I had no use for this meter at work - but I would give the Fluke 381 to  the local Hackerspace and show everybody how a clamp meter works. Then I  would probably give a detailed session by taking the meter apart and  explaining the dfferent components. (As far as this is possible, but  when this meter looks like some of the multimeters I've opened, it  should be fairly easy to find out how it works.)

    • I work in the Mechanical/HVAC field and this meter would be the ULTIMATE  tool for my toolbag. The uses for this would be endless. I would use  the iflex around the compressor and fan motors of hvac systems and close  the entire system up (whether it being a rooftop (especially a rooftop)  and split hvac systems) and use the remote screen to check operation.  No more having to clamp the meter on the wires and try closing panels  and peeking in with a flashlight. This would give the ABSOLUTE accurate  measurement. I would use the iflex and remote screen when doing maintenances and troubleshooting backup generator circuits.  It would save me unbeliveable amounts of time and labor! I would use  this meter in every single electrical panel I come across? How could you  not with how safe it is. The least amount of time your body has contact  with anything in that panel the safer you are. This tool is definitely  essential and most likely would see action everyday. (unless it's a sick  day like today) I LOVE IT!!!!!

    • I think this would work great in my profession. I work at a coal prep plant as an electrician I currently use the FLUKE 179 TRUE RMS with the FLUKE i1010 attachment. I think this device would replace both.. To check phase leads or when troubleshooting in those small metal cabinets having to clamp on then look back outside to see the reading, whereas with the FLUKE 381 I can take the magnetic faceplate put inside to check everything and it will be alot safer and smarter. This is definately the ideal tool!!

    • Hello,

      I see three applications I could use this great test gear for!

       

      Application one: I work for a K-12 school in rockford, mI. I  can use the Fluke 381 Clamp Meter in the high school electrical car  class where they have to measure current draw of the DC motor to  determine how long the battery would last.

      Other uses in this application would be voltage measurements while trouble shooting why the car does not go.

       

      Application two: Alternative energy management and  troubleshooting. I am planning on installing wind generators at my house  and and the remote display will allow easy measurements of voltage and  current while the wind generator is running. Other uses in this  application is testing batteries to determine if there is any bad unit  in the pack.

       

      Application three: While I am volunteering for red  cross deployments at emergency shelters, the Fluke 381 would be a great  asset in the to go bag for troubleshooting emergency power issues.

       

      thanks

      stephen

    • I sometimes deal with electric motor drives used for moving large heavy mechanisms. The older installations have little space between the phase cables. So the flexible current probe would make readings possible without having to rearrange old cables. The remote display would be most usefull
      when the motor is remote but needs to be operated from a control cabinet, which is some distance away.

    • I work for myself doing both automotive work and stereo installs.  I've had to troubleshoot numerous problems  resulting from bad installaions of equipment to just plain old age  failures.  The places I have to put leads sometimes are much too small  for me to be able to fit the whole meter in to be able to view and read  the information from the screen.  I've also had areas that were too  tight for the larger clamp which has essentially rendered that piece  useless to me altogether.  But I feel the detachable face will be the  biggest feature I would enjoy testing out and seeing how it operates.   It would allow me to attach the leads to say an alternator output and  sit in the vehicle and see what the readings were safely without having  to try to hold leads and the meter in place while belts spin inches from  my hands.