The Greenlee 10-Inch Flex Clamp Meter takes all the measurements your hard-jawed meter can’t take. It’s pulled me out of more than one bind so far, and I expect it will do it again. Here’s how it works that magic.
Pros
- Coil reaches around cables in crowded and tight spaces where a hard-jawed clamp meter won’t fit
- True RMS
- Also measures AC voltage, resistance, frequency, and inrush
- Inclusion of test leads makes it a full hard-jawed substitute
- Reasonably priced for its functionality and less expensive than hard-jawed meters with optional coil accessories
Cons
- May want the 18-inch model for many applications
Recommendation
If a tight space or a mess of wires has prevented your hard-jawed meter from taking a measurement, you’ll see the utility of the Greenlee CMF-110. It allows you to maintain service and diagnose problems by offering more measurement functions than other flexible clamp meters. It’s also less expensive than hard-jawed meters with optional coil accessories. My hard-jawed meter has stayed in the truck since I picked up the Greenlee—and that’s a fine endorsement for any tool.
Performance
Stayin’ Flexible
I reviewed the Klein CL150 clamp meter a while back and quickly learned the usefulness of a flexible coil in tight spaces. The Greenlee 10-inch Flex Clamp Meter offers the same flexibility in a slightly smaller package. When my hard-jawed meter couldn’t get around a cable, I fished the Greenlee’s coil around it, connected it to the “ear”, and got the measurement I needed.
Hertz So Good
But that’s not the only advantage of the Greenlee 10-inch Flex Clamp Meter. My Klein meter only measured amps, but the Greenlee has test leads and can also measure voltage and frequency (Hz). In doing so, it’s an adequate hard-jawed meter substitute for many intents and purposes. In fact, I haven’t had my hard-jawed meter out of the truck since I picked up the CMF-110.
Short On Coil?
One relative shortcoming of the 10″ version of the Flex Clamp Meter is its shorter coil. The coil on my competing model measures 18-inches long. This makes about an 8-inch jaw when connected. The FLIR CM57—which also only measures current—also has an 18-inch flexible coil. The Fluke iFlex current probe, an optional accessory for its hard-jawed meters, comes in both 10-inch and 18-inch lengths. It takes the same types of measurements as the Greenlee Flex Clamp Meter.
The bottom line here would be to consider grabbing the Greenlee CMF-118 Flex Meter with 18-inch coil. You’ll pay a slight premium, but it could save you some hassle down the road.
Price
The Greenlee CMF-110 clamp meter will set you back about $199. That’s certainly a big premium over the Klein CL150 at $84.20. The Greenlee does much more, however. Compare that to the amp-probe-only, Bluetooth-capable Flir CM57 at $232.13. A comparable Fluke 375FC hard-jawed meter with 10-inch iFlex probe would run about $315.49.
The Bottom Line
The Greenlee 10-inch Flex Clamp Meter offers robust functionality in a simple-to-use form. I might prefer a hard-jawed meter if I only encountered cables that the jaws could fit around easily. But I don’t think that’s any electrician’s reality. A flexible coil makes a way for measurements when no other way exists. I use the CMF-110 all the time now, and I’m on to the next job more quickly because of it.
Greenlee 10-inch Flex Clamp Meter Specifications
- Model Number: CMF-110
- Standard Compliance: CE, CETLUS
- Voltage Rating 6V/60V/600V
- Amperage Rating 30A/300A/3000A
- Frequency Rating 20 – 30kHz
- Accuracy Voltage ±1.2% + 300mV
- Display LCD
- Operating Temperature 0 to 50°C
- Coil Diameter 10 in. (25.4 cm)
- Resistance 60.0MΩ
- Inrush Current 80ms, minimum: 3.0A
- Safety Category Rating CAT IV 600V
- Accessories Included Leads, Carrying Case, 3 AAA Batteries
- Replacements Test Lead Replacement Kit (CMF-LK) and Replacement Carrying Case (CMF-B) also available.
- Price: $199
