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Only a Hall-effect clamp reads direct current

The best DC clamp meters for 2026

Most clamp meters measure alternating current by induction, and induction needs a changing field: on a battery cable carrying steady direct current, such a meter reads zero. Reading DC needs a Hall-effect sensor, and that is the first specification to confirm on this shelf, because a clamp sold as a multimeter with a clamp is often AC-only. Hall sensors drift, so every DC clamp has a zero button and the useful figure is how much it drifts between zeroings and with temperature — the quiet difference between a meter that is right after ten minutes and one that is not. Range and accuracy are published per range, and the low ranges are where an installation is actually measured: a fridge drawing four amps on a 600 A range is at the very bottom of the scale. The jaw opening decides whether the clamp closes around a 35 mm² battery cable at all. Safety category and voltage rating matter as soon as the same meter touches mains wiring, and true RMS matters on the AC side of an inverter, whose output is not always a clean sine. We compare DC range and accuracy, zero drift, jaw opening, safety category, true RMS and extra functions.

Every part on this shelf, side by side

  1. Proster digital clamp meter with a large jaw and a backlit display

    Proster 800 A AC/DC, TRMS, 6000 counts, five functions in one

    A true RMS clamp meter measuring up to 800 A in both AC and DC with 6000 counts, adding capacitance, frequency and resistance measurement.

    DC range
    Up to 800 A DC as well as AC, third bullet — the highest DC range in this family
    Accuracy
    Not published as a figure; 6000 counts is stated, second bullet
    Zero drift
    Nowhere in the listing — no zero function is described
    Jaw opening
    Described as a large jaw opening, third bullet; no dimension is published
    Safety category
    Nowhere in the listing — a stable housing, an overload warning and automatic shutdown are named, fifth bullet
    True RMS
    Yes, and explained: it delivers correct readings on the distorted current waveforms inverters commonly produce, second bullet
    Extra functions
    Capacitance, frequency and resistance, described as combining a multimeter with a clamp — five functions in one, fourth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B075Z1GH5L (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0757347418813
    • 800 A in DC, which covers a battery bank feed with margin
    • True RMS explained rather than just claimed — inverter waveforms are named as the reason
    • No safety category, which decides what circuits it may be used on

    Best for: Checking a solar string or a battery feed without disconnecting anything.

    ≈ £30 / €29
    Check price on Amazon
  2. KAIWEETS HT206D clamp meter with a 31 mm jaw and backlit display

    KAIWEETS 600 A AC/DC, 31 mm jaw, ZERO function, LoZ and LPF, double insulated

    A true RMS auto-ranging clamp meter measuring 0 to 600 A AC and DC through a 31 mm jaw, with a DC zero function, low impedance mode and a low-pass filter.

    DC range
    0 to 600 A AC and DC, without breaking into the conductor, first bullet
    Accuracy
    Not published as a figure; 6000 counts with automatic range selection, from the title
    Zero drift
    A ZERO function for direct current, first bullet — THE ONLY CLAMP METER IN THIS FAMILY TO NAME ONE
    Jaw opening
    31 mm, first bullet — the only jaw dimension published in this family
    Safety category
    Nowhere in the listing; double insulation is stated in the fifth bullet, with 36 months of after-sales service
    True RMS
    Yes, stated alongside a voltage range extended to 600 V, second bullet
    Extra functions
    Voltage, frequency, capacitance, continuity, resistance and temperature with auto-ranging; low input impedance against ghost voltages and a low-pass filter for motor measurements; non-contact voltage detection, third and fourth bullets
    Amazon reference
    B07Z398YWF (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0808281631032
    • A zero function for DC, which is what makes a Hall-effect clamp trustworthy on small currents
    • The jaw opening is published — 31 mm — so you know what cable it will go round
    • No safety category

    Best for: Fault-finding on a DC installation where the small readings have to be right.

    ≈ $48 / £42 / €50
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  3. BSIDE ACM91 compact clamp meter with a belt clip

    BSIDE AC/DC to 1 mA resolution, mini body, NCV, belt clip

    A compact true RMS clamp meter reading AC and DC currents down to 1 mA for leakage and parasitic drain, with NCV, temperature and capacitance measurement.

    DC range
    Direct current is measured, second bullet; the upper limit is not published
    Accuracy
    Not published as a figure; 1 mA sensitivity with 6000 counts and auto-ranging, first bullet and title
    Zero drift
    Nowhere in the listing — no zero function is described, on a meter whose whole purpose is small currents
    Jaw opening
    Nowhere in the listing
    Safety category
    Nowhere in the listing
    True RMS
    Yes, from the title
    Extra functions
    Temperature, capacitance, frequency, resistance, continuity, millivolts, AC and DC voltage and live-wire detection; low impedance against phantom voltage, NCV from any function, a rear belt clip and a side probe holder, third, fourth and fifth bullets
    Amazon reference
    B0CB5WYBWK (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    6933540316055
    • 1 mA resolution in DC, which is what finds a parasitic drain on a vehicle battery
    • A rear clip and a side probe holder, so it works one-handed up a ladder
    • No zero function described, which on a milliamp DC clamp is the critical omission

    Best for: Finding what is flattening a vehicle battery overnight.

    ≈ £50 / €60
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  4. EITAI leakage current clamp meter with a backlit LCD

    EITAI Leakage clamp, 1 µA resolution, AC 0.001 mA to 60 A, 210 g

    A leakage current clamp meter with 1 µA resolution measuring alternating current from 0.001 mA to 60 A, with peak capture, data hold and a 99-reading memory.

    DC range
    NOWHERE IN THE LISTING — the published measuring range is AC 0.001 mA to 60.0 A, first bullet. This listing publishes no direct-current range at all
    Accuracy
    Not published as a figure; the resolution is 1 µA, first bullet — the finest in this family by three orders of magnitude
    Zero drift
    Nowhere in the listing
    Jaw opening
    Nowhere in the listing
    Safety category
    Nowhere in the listing
    True RMS
    Nowhere in the listing
    Extra functions
    Peak capture, data hold and a 99-reading memory, with a backlit LCD; non-contact measurement without breaking the cable; 210 g, second and third bullets
    Amazon reference
    B0DB7YQXC9 (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0085353388418
    • 1 µA resolution, which is a different class of instrument from the rest of this family
    • A 99-reading memory and peak capture, so a survey can be taken and read back later
    • No direct-current range is published, in a family named for it

    Best for: Hunting earth leakage on an AC installation, at microamp resolution.

    ≈ $85 / £79 / €85
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  5. Bosch Professional GMC 600-15 clamp meter in blue with test leads

    Bosch Professional GMC 600-15, true RMS, 600 A AC, 600 V AC/DC, IP54

    A true RMS professional clamp meter measuring AC current to 600 A and voltage to 600 V in AC and DC, rated IP54 and supplied with leads and a bag.

    DC range
    ABSENT for current — the second bullet gives AC current to 600 A and voltage to 600 V in AC and DC. Direct-current measurement is published for voltage only
    Accuracy
    True RMS precision is claimed in the first bullet; no accuracy figure is published
    Zero drift
    Nowhere in the listing
    Jaw opening
    Nowhere in the listing
    Safety category
    Nowhere in the listing; IP54 certification against drops and harsh conditions is stated, third bullet
    True RMS
    Yes, from the first bullet
    Extra functions
    Compact ergonomic build for one-handed and hands-free use; supplied with the meter, two 1.5 V LR06 cells, MS 90 test leads and a bag, fourth and fifth bullets
    Amazon reference
    B0F2N8BLCZ (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4053423330656
    • IP54, the only ingress rating published by a clamp meter in this catalogue
    • Supplied complete — cells, test leads and a bag, all named
    • No DC current range is published, at five times the price of the meter that offers 800 A of it

    Best for: AC work on a site where the instrument gets dropped.

    ≈ $181 / £170 / €150
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A price quoted in the text of a PowerVerdict page dates from the day that page was written; the live figure beside each product is fetched while you read and replaces it.