Best Milliamp Clamp
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A milliamp clamp is a clamp meter that reads very small currents through its jaw, so you can measure leakage or a signal loop without opening the circuit. The word covers three different tools: AC leakage clamps, low-current DC clamps for electronics and cars, and process clamps for 4-20 mA control loops. This page compares six listings across those groups. Specifications come from the Amazon listings, checked 2026-10-17. The groups are not interchangeable, so the first step is deciding which kind of milliamp reading you need.
Quick answer
For a 4-20 mA control loop, the Fluke 771 and Fluke 773 are the two that name that job. For AC leakage down to the microamp, the TEMPO CMA-360B lists 0.001 mA resolution and the Armada Pro95i lists readings down to .001 milliamps. For low DC current in cars and electronics, the UNI-T UT210D lists 0.1mA to 100A (100 amps) and the VIVANTECH lists 1mA to 60A (60 amps).
Three kinds of milliamp clamp
Leakage clamps measure AC current that escapes to ground. The TEMPO listing describes a “leakage” true-RMS clamp, and the Pro95i listing calls itself a Milliamp Clamp Leakage Meter. Low DC clamps measure small DC currents such as a parked car’s battery draw, which is what the VIVANTECH listing names. Process clamps, the two Fluke listings, read a 4-20 mA signal without breaking the loop.
An ordinary clamp meter is built for amps and may not resolve milliamps. If your reading is a few milliamps, check the lowest range and resolution on the listing before you buy.
Six milliamp clamps compared
- TEMPO CMA-360B (B082QXM43S): true RMS, 6.000 mA to 60.00 A AC ranges, 0.001 mA resolution, wideband to 100 kHz.
- Armada Pro95i (B0CYTW212N): AC current down to .001 milliamps, true RMS, 1 inch inside diameter.
- UNI-T UT210D (B0BJPH1WB5): AC/DC, DC current from 0.1mA to 100A, 18mm jaw, CAT III 600V.
- VIVANTECH low current clamp (B0FRMKT79S): AC/DC, 1mA resolution, 60A range, 16mm x 18mm jaw.
- Fluke 771 (B000R81ARM): 4-20 mA loops, 0.01 mA resolution, 0.2% accuracy.
- Fluke 773 (B002EL4LIU): 4-20 mA loops, detachable clamp, 0.2% accuracy, spot light.
The six in detail
1. TEMPO CMA-360B: best for AC leakage and 2-wire irrigation
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-17): true RMS; AC ranges 6.000 mA, 60.00 mA, 600.0 mA, 6.000 A and 60.00 A; 0.001 mA (1 microamp) resolution; wideband response to 100 kHz with a selectable low-pass filter; peak hold; auto power off; AC and DC voltage up to 600 volts (600.0V); resistance to 600 kilohms; continuity test below 45 ohms. The listing names mA measurement in 2-wire irrigation and checking for nuisance tripping on GFCI or RCD circuits.
Pros: the finest listed resolution here, with a top AC range of 60 amps (60.00 A), and a wide set of ranges. Cons: the listing describes AC current ranges, so look elsewhere for a DC milliamp job.
Best for: leakage checks and irrigation wiring. Skip if: you need DC current.
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2. Armada Pro95i: best for a leakage clamp with alligator clips
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-17): measures AC line current down to .001 milliamps; AC or DC voltage, AC current and resistance; true RMS; auto-ranging; backlit digital screen; alligator clips; 2.25 inch outside and 1 inch inside diameter clamp; auto-off.
Pros: leakage resolution, auto-ranging, the clamp opening is stated. Cons: the listing says AC current, not DC current, and it does not state a maximum amp range.
Best for: a technician who wants a dedicated leakage meter. Skip if: you need to know the top current range from the listing.
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3. UNI-T UT210D: best for low DC current with a category rating
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-17): AC/DC current; DC current from 0.1mA to 100 amps (title); 18mm jaw; true RMS; peak hold and data hold; non-contact voltage; AC/DC voltage, resistance, capacitance, frequency and diode; CAT III 600V. The kit includes test leads, a K-type temperature probe, batteries and a manual.
Pros: DC milliamps, a stated category rating and a full multimeter. Cons: the 0.1mA figure is the low end, and the listing gives no accuracy figure in the text we read.
Best for: electronics and motor work with small DC currents. Skip if: you need microamp resolution.
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4. VIVANTECH Low Current Clamp Meter: best for car battery draw
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-17): AC and DC current from 1mA up to 60A with 1mA resolution; automatic AC/DC recognition with manual switching; 16mm x 18mm jaw; one-button zero adjustment; data hold; 99-group memory recall; backlit LCD; auto shut-off after 5 minutes.
Pros: the listing names parasitic draw, fuse circuits and battery leak current as uses. Cons: 1mA resolution is coarser than the leakage clamps, and the listing states no category rating.
Best for: automotive diagnosis. Skip if: you need to see below 1mA.
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5. Fluke 771: best for 4-20 mA loops
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-17): measures 4 to 20 mA signals without breaking the loop; 0.01 mA resolution and sensitivity; best in class 0.2% accuracy (listing wording); dual backlit display showing mA and percent of the 4-20 mA span; used for PLC and control system analog I/O.
Pros: a percent-of-span readout, good resolution for loop work. Cons: built for process signals, so the listing does not describe AC leakage or amps-level readings.
Best for: instrument and control technicians. Skip if: you need a leakage or high-current meter.
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6. Fluke 773: best for 4-20 mA loops in tight enclosures
Specs (from the listing, checked 2026-10-17): measures 4-20 mA signals without breaking the loop; detachable clamp with an extension cable for tight locations; built-in spot light for dark enclosures; best in class accuracy of 0.2% (listing wording); for PLC and control systems analog I/O.
Pros: the detachable clamp and spot light. Cons: the listing does not state a resolution.
Best for: cramped control cabinets. Skip if: you need the 0.01 mA resolution that the 771 listing states.
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How to choose: a worked example
Take a technician checking a 4-20 mA transmitter. The span is 16 mA wide (20 minus 4). A reading of 12 mA is 8 mA above the 4 mA zero, so it sits at 50% of span, and that is the number the Fluke 771 shows on its second display line. With 0.01 mA resolution, one step is 0.0625% of the 16 mA span. A leakage clamp like the TEMPO would read the AC current to ground, which is a different measurement. A car owner chasing a 50mA battery draw can use the VIVANTECH or UT210D, since both list DC current down to 1mA or 0.1mA.
Safety note
OSHA’s electrical work practices standard, 29 CFR 1910.333, says only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been de-energized. It also says live parts an employee may be exposed to shall be de-energized before work on or near them, unless the employer can show that doing so creates added hazards or is infeasible. A clamp is often used on energized conductors, so follow your employer’s procedure and use a meter whose rating covers the circuit. Only the UNI-T listing states a category rating (CAT III 600V).
Sources
The safety statements come from OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.333, selection and use of work practices. Product specifications come from the Amazon listings named above, checked 2026-10-17.
Related guides
- Milliamp meter covers meters for milliamp readings.
- Amp clamp covers clamp meters for higher currents.
- AC/DC current clamp meter covers clamps that read AC and DC current.
FAQ
What is a milliamp clamp?
A clamp meter with a low current range, so it can read thousandths of an amp through its jaw without opening the circuit. The listings here resolve from 0.001 mA to 1mA.
Can a clamp meter read 4-20 mA?
Only a clamp built for it. The Fluke 771 and 773 listings say they measure 4-20 mA signals without breaking the loop. An ordinary clamp may not resolve that range.
Which clamp reads DC milliamps?
The UNI-T UT210D (from 0.1mA) and the VIVANTECH (from 1mA) list DC current. The TEMPO and Pro95i listings describe AC current.
Do these clamps list a CAT rating?
Only the UNI-T UT210D lists one, CAT III 600V. The other listings do not state a category.
Conclusion
Match the clamp to the kind of milliamp reading: Fluke for 4-20 mA loops, TEMPO or Pro95i for AC leakage, and UNI-T or VIVANTECH for small DC currents. The UT210D is the only one with a listed category rating. Check current pricing on each product page.
