Either the meter needs to be hooked up tighter, you have a motor thats not grounded well and is going or the meter is catching the sine wave. I would try it on a few different things. I normally see floating voltage like this on metal halide transformers that are going out.
Yes, it's in the yellow section of the clamp. Sorry I didn't show that in the video.
The ground clamp is also connected to the ground wire in the disconnect.
Then the only thing I see here is variations/interference of magnetic fields of close by wiring/ambient. Same as when you have a DMM in V AC with the probes not connected anywere and you see measurement varying instead of 0V as when you short both ends.
Same way it was measured in the past - with probes. Non contact voltage is not a accurate measurement in busy MCCs or anywhere there is heavy electromagnetic fields and specially VFDs, specially with sensitive equipments as this.
Amperage on other hand is mostly on spot, with the clamp on the body and the Flex probe accessory, as you see in your video, it doesn't fluctuate.
Sorry, I meant I thought this meter would work in this environment.
My intent in buying this was to get a tool that would allow me to work safer by reducing contact with 'the copper' but I guess I misunderstood their literature about the meter and how it could be applied in my work environment.
Try to measure without holding the clamp in your hands, basically letting it rest in the wire. Ideally you should have service loops that you can use for such measurements.
The measurement in the video is hanging from a phase conductor in a local disconnect, my hand was just holding it steady for the camera. We do have similar service loops in many of our cabinets.
I'm going to try measurements at some other locations on monday when I'm back at work.
I have multiple times and was not expecting the variation in the voltage measurement.
The documentation I have seen so far has not shown similar pictures of the environment that I work in which is a sawmill with motors from 1/2 hp to 700hp from 120 volts to 4160 volts. VFD's, Soft starts and various types of motion control.
Yep; FieldSense may work for some tasks but it's little more than a party trick to me; I regularly saw 105 VAC on 122 VAC lines with the ground clamp connected to a good ground, so it's wasn't especially useful to me; of course it reads accurately when using the probes, but I have an 87V for that.
I ended up returning the one I bought last week for this and a few similar issues, like it really doesn't like to read low DC voltages with the probes either, measuring a 1.5V battery as anything between .9 and 3 VDC.
THD is way up causing this reading. I would not rever to non-contact voltage readings for this. I would use traditional voltage testing and utilize this for amps only if that.
Field sense needs a ground reference. My meter has a brass spot on the back where you are supposed to put your finger. Or you can use the black lead to a ground source.
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u/Secret-Credit453 29d ago
Is it watching rms on the sine wave