Extech Instruments MA160 User manual

USERGUIDE

TrueRMS200AAC/DCOpenJawClampMeter 

ModelMA160



MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

TableofContents

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. SAFETYINFORMATION 4

3. DESCRIPTIONS 6

4. OPERATION 9

PoweringtheMeter 9

DisplayBacklight 9

WorkLight 9

DataHold 9

TestLeadConsiderations 9

VoltageMeasurements 10

ACVoltageMeasurements 10

DCVoltageMeasurements 11

CurrentMeasurementsUsingtheClamp 12

Non‐ContactVoltageDetector 13

ResistanceMeasurements 14

ContinuityMeasurements 15

CapacitanceMeasurements 16

DiodeTest 17

5. MAINTENANCE 18

6. SPECIFICATIONS 19

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1. Introduction

ThankyouforselectingtheExtechMA160ClampMeter.



TheMA160isafeature‐packedOpenJawTrueRMSdigitalClampmeter.



MeasureAC/DCvoltage,ACcurrent,DCcurrent,Resistance,Diode,Continuity,andCapacitance.

TheMA160alsoincludesaNon‐ContactVoltageDetectionfeature.



OtherfunctionsincludeDataHold,Relativemode,Worklight,Backlight,andAutopower‐off.



Thisdeviceisshippedfullytestedandcalibratedand,withproperuse,willprovideyearsof

reliableservice.Pleasevisitourwebsite(www.extech.com)tocheckforthelatestversionofthis

UserGuide,ProductUpdates,ProductRegistration,andCustomerSupport.



Features

 6000countdigitaldisplay

 LargebacklitLEDdisplay

 TrueRMSACmeasurements

 0.8%DCVaccuracy

 DataHold

 Relativemode

 AutoPowerOFF(APO)

 200AACcurrentmeasurements

 200ADCCurrentMeasurements

 Non‐ContactVoltageDetector

 Visualandaudiblecontinuitymeasurement

alert

 Lowbatteryindicator

 CATIII600V/CATII1000V

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MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

2. SafetyInformation

Toensurethesafeoperationandserviceofthemeter,followtheseinstructionsclosely.Failureto

observewarningscanresultinsevereinjury.

WARNINGS

WARNINGSidentifyhazardousconditionsandactionsthatcouldcauseBODILYHARMorDEATH.

 Whenhandlingtestleadsorprobes,keephandsandfingersbehindthefingerguardsatalltimes.To

avoidelectricalshockdonottouchexposedelectricalwire,connectors,unusedinputterminals,or

circuitsundertest.

 Removetestleadsfromthemeterbeforeopeningthebatterycompartmentormeterhousing.



 UsethemeteronlyasspecifiedinthisUserGuideoraccompanyingQuickStarttoavoidcompromising

theprotectionsprovidedbythemeter.

 Besuretousetheproperterminals,switchpositions,andrangeswhentakingmeasurements.

 Verifythemeter’soperationbymeasuringaknownvoltage.Have

themeterservicedifthemeter

respondsunusuallyoriftherearequestionsregardingthemeter’sfunctionalintegrity.

 Donotapplymorethantheratedvoltage,asmarkedonthemeter,betweenterminalsorbetweenany

terminalandearthground.

 Donotmeasurevoltagesabove1000VDCor600VAC

betweenterminalandgroundtopreventelectrical

shockanddamagetotheClampmeter.

 Usecautionworkingwithvoltagesabove30VACRMS,42VACpeak,or60VDC.Thesevoltagesposea

shockhazard.

 Toavoidmisleadingreadingsthatcouldleadtoelectricshockandinjury,replace

thebatteriesassoonas

thelowbatteryindicatorisdisplayed.

 Disconnectpowertothecircuitunde rtestanddischargeallhigh‐voltagecapacitorsbeforetesting

resistance,continuity,diodes,orcapacitance.

 Donotusethemeterinthepresenceofexplosivegasorvapor.

 Toreduceriskof

fireorelectricshock,donotusethemeterifitiswetanddonotexposethemeterto

moisture.

 IndividualprotectiveequipmentshouldbeusedifHAZARDOUSLIVEpartsintheinstallationwhere

measurementsaretobecarriedoutcouldbeaccessible.



CAUTIONS

CAUTIONSidentifyconditionsandactionsthatcouldcauseDAMAGEtothemeterorequipment

undertest.Donotexposethemetertoextremesintemperatureorhighhumidity.

 Disconnectthetestleadsfromthetestpointsbeforechangingthepositionofthefunction(rotary)

switch.

 Donotexposethemetertoextremesintemperatureortohighhumidity.

 Neversetthemetertotheresistance,diode,capacitance,micro‐amp,orampfunctionswhen

measuringthevoltageofapowersupplycircuit;thiscouldresultinmeterdamageanddamagetothe

equipmentundertest.

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

SafetySymbolsthataretypicallymarkedonmetersandinstructions



Thissymbol,adjacenttoanothersymbol,indicatestheusermustrefertothe

manualoruserguideforfurtherinformation.



Riskofelectricalshock



Equipmentprotectedbydoubleorreinforcedinsulation



LowBatterysymbol



ConformstoEUdirectives



Donotdiscardthisproductinhouseholdtrash.



ACmeasurement

DCmeasurement



Earthground



PERIEC1010OVERVOLTAGEINSTALLATIONCATEGORY

OVERVOLTAGECATEGORYI

EquipmentofOVERVOLTAGECATEGORYIisequipmentforconnectiontocircuitsinwhichmeasuresare

takentolimitthetransientover‐voltagestoanappropriatelowlevel.

Note–Examplesincludeprotectedelectroniccircuits.

OVERVOLTAGECATEGORYII

EquipmentofOVERVOLTAGECATEGORYIIisenergy‐consumingequipmentto

besuppliedfromthefixed

installation.

Note–Examplesincludehousehold,office,andlaboratoryappliances.

OVERVOLTAGECATEGORYIII

EquipmentofOVERVOLTAGECATEGORYIIIisequipmentinfixedinstallations.

Note–Examplesincludeswitchesinthefixedinstallationandsomeequipmentforindustrialusewith

permanentconnectiontothefixedinstallation.

OVERVOLTAGECATEGORYIV

EquipmentofOVERVOLTAGECATEGORYIVisforuseattheoriginoftheinstallation.

Note–Examplesincludeelectricitymetersandprimaryover‐currentprotectionequipment

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3. Descriptions



MeterDescription

1. Non‐ContactVoltageDetector

2. Openjaw

3. WorkLight

4. NCValertLEDlamp

5. WorkLightswitch

6. Rotaryfunctionswitch

7. Mode(M)button

8. Relative

,DCAZerobutton

9. HOLDandBacklightbutton

10. Display

11. Testleadjacks

Note:Batterycompartmentonbackofmeter



Fig3‐1METERDESCRIPTION

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

DisplayIconDescriptionsforMA160



Fig3‐2MA160METERDISPLAY



1. Unitsofmeasure

2. DCAZero

3. Relativemode

4. Datahold

5. AlternatingCurrent

6. DirectCurrent

7. Automaticrange

8. Continuity

9. Diode

10. Capacitance

11. Non‐ContactVoltageDetector

12. Autopoweroff

13. Batterystatus

14. LCDdisplay



MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

Push‐ButtonDescriptions

MomentarypressesoftheMode(M)buttonperformthefunctionsshowninthetable

below.



Fig.3‐4Mode(M)ButtonFunctionTable

SwitchPosition Mode(M)ButtonFunction



ACDC



AC DC

Ω



 

Momentarilypresstoaccess/exittheRelativemode.Thismodeofoperationisonly

availableforAC/DCvoltage,ACCurrent,andCapacitance.

InDCAmode,presstozerothedisplay;pressandholdtoexitthezero.

Pressandholdthisbuttontoactivate/deactivatetheLCDbacklight.Momentary

pressesswitchDATAHOLDONorOFF.

FunctionSwitchDescription

1. MeterPOWEROFFposition

2. AC/DCCurrentmode(useMbuttontochooseACorDC)

3. AC/DCVoltagemode(useMbuttontochooseACorDC)

4. Capacitance,Continuity,Diode,Resistancemodes

(useMbuttontochoosemode)

5. Non‐ContactVoltageDetectpositionwithalertLED



Fig3‐3MA160FunctionSwitch

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

4. Operation

CAUTION:ReadandunderstandalloftheSafetystatementslistedinthesafetysection

ofthismanualpriortouse.

PoweringtheMeter

1. Turntherotaryfunctionswitchtoanypositiontopowerthemeter.Checkthebatteriesifthe

unitfailstopowerON.RefertotheMaintenancesectionforbatteryreplacement.

2. TurnthefunctionswitchtotheOFFpositiontopowerOFFthemeter.

3. ThemeterhasanAuto

PowerOFFfeature(APO)wherethemeterswitchesOFFafter15

minutesofinactivity.WhenAPOisenabled,theAPOiconwillshowonthedisplaywhenthe

meterispoweredON,

Thelowbatterysymbol

appearsonthedisplaywhenthebatteryvoltageweakensbelowthe

threshold.

DisplayBacklight

WiththemeterpoweredON,pressandholdthebacklightbutton toswitchthebacklightONor

OFF.Notethatexcessiveuseofthebacklightwillshortenthebatterylife.

WorkLight

WiththemeterpoweredON,presstheWorkLightbuttonontherightsideofthemeter.A

momentarypresswillswitchtheWorkLightoff.TheWorkLightlampislocatedonthebackofthe

unittowardthebottomoftheclampjaw.Notethatexcessiveuseofthe

backlightwillshortenthe

batterylife.

DataHold

TofreezetheLCDmeterreading,presstheDataHold(H)button.Whiledataholdisactive,theH

displayiconappearsontheLCD.Pressthe(H)buttontoreturntonormaloperation.TheHiconwill

switchOFF.

TestLeadConsiderations

TestleadprobecoverscanberemovedforCATII1000Vinstallations.Usethetestleadprobe

coversforCATIII1000Vinstallations.Donotmeasurevoltages>1000VDCor600VAC.Remove

thestoragecapsfromthemeterendoftestleadsbeforeconnectingleadstothemeter.

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

VoltageMeasurements

WARNING:

RemovethetestleadprobecoversforCATII1000Vinstallations.Usethetestleadprobecovers

forCATIII600Vinstallations.

Donotmeasurevoltagesgreaterthan600VACor1000VDC.

CAUTION:Whenconnectingthetestleadstothecircuitordeviceundertest,connectthe

blackleadbeforethered;whenremovingthetestleads,removetheredbeforetheblacklead.

Disconnectprobesandcircuitundertestafterallmeasurementsarecompleted.

ACVoltageMeasurements

1. Inserttheblacktestleadbananaplugintothenegative(COM)jackandtheredtestlead

bananaplugintothepositive(V/Ω)jack.

2. Turnthefunctionswitchtothe

position.UsetheMbuttontoselectAC.

3. ReadtheWarningandCautionstatementsabovetodeterminewhetherornottousethe

testleadprobecovers.

4. Touchthetestprobetipstothecircuitundertest.

5. Readthedigitalvalueshownonthedisplay.Themeter

isAutoRangingandtherefore

selectstheproperdecimalpointposition.Themeteralsodisplaysthemeasurement

type,unitsymbols,andotherrelevantmultifunctionicons.

6. ThemeteriscapableofdetectingACvoltagesto600V.



Fig4‐1ACVOLTAGEMEASUREMENTS



MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

DCVoltageMeasurements

1. Inserttheblacktestleadbananaplugintothenegative(COM)jackandtheredtestlead

bananaplugintothepositive(V/Ω)jack.

2. MovetheFunctionSwitchtothe position.

3. UsetheMbuttontoselectDC.

4. ReadtheWarningandCautionstatementsatthebeginningoftheVoltageMeasurement

sectiontodeterminewhetherornottousethetestleadprobecovers.

5. Touchthetestprobetipstothecircuitundertest.Besureto

observethecorrectpolarity

(redleadtopositive,blackleadtonegative).

6. Readthedigitalvalueofthemeasurementinthedisplay.Thedisplaywillalsoindicate

theproperdecimalpoint(AutoRange)andmeasurementtype/unitssymbols.Ifthe

polarityisreversed,thedisplaywillshow(‐)minus

beforethevalue.

7. ThemeteriscapableofdetectingDCvoltagesto1000V.



Fig4‐2DCVOLTAGEMEASUREMENTS



MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

CurrentMeasurementsUsingtheClamp

WARNING:Donotmeasurethecurrentonacircuitwhenthevoltageincreasestomore

than750VACor1000VDC.Thiscancausedamagetotheinstrumentandcancauseinjuryto

persons.



Fig.4‐3CorrectandIncorrectClamping

1. Ensurethattheprobeleadsaredisconnectedfromthemeter.

2. Setthefunctionswitchtothe

position.

3. UsetheMbuttontoselectACorDC.ForDCpressZEROtoremoveanyresidual

magnetismandtonullthedisplaybeforeclampingontoaconductor.

4. Placethemetersoonlyoneconductorislocatedatthebaseofthejaws.Foroptimum

results,center

theconductorinthejaws.

5. Readthecurrentmeasurementinthedisplay.Thedisplaywillindicatetheproperdecimal

pointandvalue.InDC,whenthepolarityisreversed,thedisplaywillshow(‐)minus

beforethevalue.

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

Non‐ContactVoltageDetector

WARNING:Itispossibleforvoltagetobepresentinacircuitevenifthemeterdoesnot

beeporflashtheNCVLEDlamp.AlwaysverifymeteroperationonaknownliveACcurrent

circuitandverifythatthebatteriesarefreshbeforeuse.



WhenthemetersensesanACVoltageorelectromagneticfield>100VAC,thefollowingoccurs:

 TheaudiblebeepersoundsONandOFF

 TheLEDlampflashesONandOFF

 Thedisplayshows1,2,3,or4dashes

Thegreatertheelectricalfieldstrength,thefastertherate

oftheaudiblebeeper,theflashingof

theLEDlamp,andthenumberofdashesdisplayed.Ifthemeterdoesnotemitatoneorflash

theLEDinthismode,thereisstillthepossibilitythatvoltageispresent;pleaseusecaution.

1. Turnthefunctionswitchtothe

NCVpositiontoselectNon‐ContactVoltageDetect mode.

2. NotethatEFisdisplayedwheninthismode.IftheEFdoesnotdisplaywhenthefunction

switchisturnedtotheNCVposition,checkthebatteriesanddonotusethemeteruntilEF

isdisplayed.

3. To

test,placethemeternearasourceofelectricalenergy.Notethatthetipofthemeter

offersthehighestsensitivity.

4. Notetheaudiblebeeping,theflashingLED,andthedisplayeddasheswhena sourceof

electricalenergyisdetected.



Fig4‐4NON‐CONTACTVOLTAGEDETECTOR

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

ResistanceMeasurements

CAUTION:SwitchOFFpowertothedeviceundertestbeforemeasuring.Donotteston

circuitsordeviceswhere60VDCor30VACispresent.

1. Inserttheblacktestleadbananaplugintothenegative(COM)jack.Inserttheredtest

leadbananaplugintothepositive(V/Ω)jack.

2. TurntheFunctionSwitchtotheΩposition.

3. UsetheMbuttontoselecttheΩicononthedisplayindicatingresistanceonly

(without

thecontinuity/diode/capacitanceiconsshowing).

4. Touchthetestprobetipsacrossthecircuitorpartundertest.Itisbesttodisconnectone

sideofthepartundertestsotherestofthecircuitwillnotinterferewiththeresistance

reading.

5. Readtheresistancevalueinthe

display.Thedisplaywillindicatetheproperdecimal

pointandvalue.Ifthereadingisoutofrange,theOLdisplayiconwillappear.



Fig4‐5RESISTANCEMEASUREMENTS

ResistanceMeasurementNotes:

 Thedisplaywillshow“OL”whenanopencircuitisdetectedoriftheresistance>maximum

range.

 Thetestleadsintroduceanerrorofapprox.0.1Ω～0.2Ωforlowresistancemeasurements.

UsetheRelativemodetoobtainaccuratereadings.Shortthetestleadstogether,

pressthe

RELbutton,andthenmeasurealowresistance.Themetersubtractstheshort‐circuitvalue

fromthereading.

 Ifthetestleadresistanceofprobeis>0.5Ωwhenshorted,inspectthetestleadsandthe

connection.

 Itmaytakeseveralsecondsforthereadingto

stabilizewhenmeasuringresistance>1MΩ.

Thisisnormaloperation.

 Forpersonalsafety,donotmeasureacircuitwithvoltages>30VDCorAC.



MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

ContinuityMeasurements

1. InserttheblacktestleadintothenegativeCOMterminalandtheredtestleadintothe

positiveterminal.

2. Setthefunctionswitchtothe  position.

3. UsetheMbuttontoselecttheContinuitymode.LookfortheContinuityicon onthe

display.

4. Touchthetestprobetipsacrossthewireorcircuitundertest.

5. Iftheresistanceis<10Ω,thebeeperwillsoundcontinuously.Ifthe resistanceisbetween

10and100Ωthebeepermayormaynotsound.Foranopencircuitconditionthemeterwill

displayOL.



Fig4‐6CONTINUITYMEASUREMENTS

ContinuityMeasurementNotes:

 Turnoffpowertothecircuitundertestanddischargecapacitorsbeforemeasuring

continuity.

 Open‐circuitvoltageisapprox.‐3.5V

 Disconnecttestleadsandcircuitmeasuredaftermeasurementsarecompleted.

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

CapacitanceMeasurements

WARNING:Toavoidelectricshock,removepowertothecircuitundertestanddischarge

thecapacitorundertestbeforemeasuring.Donottestoncircuitsordeviceswhere60VDCor

30VACispresent.

1. Setthefunctionswitchtothe

capacitanceposition.

2. InserttheblacktestleadbananaplugintothenegativeCOMjack

andtheredtestleadbananaplugintothepositive jack.

3. PresstheMbuttontoselecttheunitofmeasuresymbolF.

4. Touchthetestprobetipsacrossthepartundertest.

5. Forsmallcapacitancevalues,usetheRelativemode

toremovetestleadandprobe

capacitance.

6. Readthecapacitancevalueinthedisplay.

7. Thedisplaywillindicatetheproperdecimalpointandvalue.



Fig4‐7CAPACITANCEMEASUREMENTS

CapacitanceMeasurementNotes:

 Thedisplaywillshow“OL”ifacapacitorisshortcircuitedorifthemeasuredcapacitance>

maximumrangeoftheinstrument.

 Capacitance measurements>600μFmayrequireseveralsecondstoobtainastable

reading.

 Inordertoensuremeasurementaccuracy,dischargeresidualcharges

beforemeasuring

capacitance;Usemaximumsafetywhenworkingwithhighvoltagecapacitorstoprevent

damagetotheinstrumentandrisktopersonalsafety.

 Disconnecttestleadsandcircuitundertestaftermeasurementsarecompleted.

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

DiodeTest

1. InserttheblacktestleadbananaplugintothenegativeCOMjackandtheredtest

leadbananaplugintothepositivejack.

2. Turnthefunctionswitchtoposition.UsetheMbuttontoselectthediodefunction,the

diodeandvoltagesymbolswillappearontheLCD

wheninDiodetestmode.

3. Touchthetestprobetipstothediodeorsemiconductorjunctionundertest.Notethe

meterreading.

4. Reversethetestleadpolaritybyreversingtheredandblackleads.Notethisreading.

5. Thediodeorjunctioncanbeevaluatedasfollows:

 If

onereadingdisplaysavalue(typically0.400Vto0.900V)andreversereadingdisplays

OL,thediodeisgood.

 IfbothreadingsdisplayOLthedeviceisopen.

 Ifbothreadingsareverysmallor‘0’,thedeviceisshorted.



Fig4‐8DIODETESTING

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

5. Maintenance

WARNING:Toavoidelectricalshock,removethetestleads,disconnectthemeterfromany

circuitandturnOFFthemeterbeforeopeningthecase.Donotoperatewithanopencase.

BatteryReplacement

1. Removethetestleadsfromthemeter.

2. RemovethePhillipsheadscrewthatsecuresthebatterycompartmentcoveronthebackof

themeter.

3. OpenthebatterycompartmentandreplacethetwoAAbatteries,observingcorrect

polarity.Re‐assemblethemeterbeforeuse



BatterySafetyNotes:Pleasedisposeofbatteriesresponsibly;neverdisposeofbatteriesinafire,

batteriesmayexplodeorleak.Ifthemeterisnottobeusedfor60daysormore,removethe

batteryandstoreseparately.Donotmixbatterytypesorfreshnesslevels;pleaseuse

batteries

ofthesametypeandofthesamefreshnesslevel.



Neverdisposeofusedbatteriesorrechargeablebatteriesinhouseholdwaste.

Asconsumers,usersarelegallyrequiredtotakeusedbatteriestoappropriatecollection

sites,theretailstorewherethebatterieswerepurchased,orwhereverbatteriesaresold.

Disposal:Donotdisposeofthisinstrumentinhouseholdwaste.Theuseris

obligatedtotakeend‐of‐

lifedevicestoadesignatedcollectionpointforthedisposalofelectricalandelectronicequipment.



CleaningandStorage

Periodicallywipethecasewithadampclothandmilddetergent;donotuseabrasivesorsolvents.

Pleaseremovethebatteriesifthemeterisstoredforalongperiodoftime.



MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

6. Specifications

ELECTRICALSPECIFICATIONS

Accuracyisgivenas±(%ofreading+leastsignificantdigits)at23



C±5



Cwithrelativehumidity

<80%.Accuracyisspecifiedforaperiodofoneyearaftercalibration.



Function Range Resolution Accuracy(reading) ‘OL’Protection

ACCurrent

200.0A 0.1A ±(2.5%+5digits) 200A

TRMS,FrequencyResponse50to60Hz

DCCurrent

200.0A 0.1A ±(2.5%+5digits) 200A

DCZerofunctioninuse

ACVoltage

6.000V 0.001V ±(1.2%+5digits)

1000VDC

750VAC

60.00V 0.01V

±(1.2%+3digits)

600.0V 0.1V

750V 1V ±(1.5%+5digits)

TrueRMSvoltageapplicableto10%~100%oftherange

InputImpedance:≥10MΩ;Frequencyresponse40~400Hz

DCVoltage

6.000V 0.001V

±(0.8%+3digits)

1000VDC

750VAC



60.00V 0.01V

600.0V 0.1V

1000V 1V ±(1.0%+5digits)

InputImpedance:≥10MΩ

Resistance

600.0Ω 0.1Ω ±(1.2%+2digits)

1000VDC

750VAC

6.000kΩ 0.001kΩ

±(1.0%+2digits)

60.00kΩ 0.01kΩ

600.0kΩ 0.1kΩ

6.000MΩ 0.001MΩ

±(1.2%+2digits)

60.00MΩ 0.01MΩ

±(1.5%+5digits)

Continuity

600.0Ω 0.1Ω ‐‐‐‐‐ 1000VDC;750VAC

Lessthan10Ωbeepersounds.10Ωto100Ωundetermined.Greaterthan100Ω

beeperoff(OLdisplayed).Opencircuitvoltageapprox.1.2V

Diode

6.000V 0.001V 0.5to0.8V 1000VDC;750VAC

OpenCircuitVoltage:Approx.3.3V

MA160‐en‐GB_V1.010/15

Function Range Resolution Accuracy(reading) ‘OL’Protection

Capacitance

60.00nF 0.01nF

±(4.0%+20digits)

1000VDC

750VAC

600.0nF 0.1nF

6.000µF 0.001µF

60.00µF 0.01µF

600.0µF 0.1µF

6.000mF 0.001mF ±(10%)

60.00mF 0.01mF Forreferenceonly

Non‐Contact

VoltageDetector

(NCV)



≥100Vrms;≤10mm(LED/Buzzerindication)

Extech Instruments MA160 User manual

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