The Crenova 6016A is one of many current clamp multimeters on the market today. It is both an amp clamp and a multimeter and is one of the cheapest of its kind available, at around the $20 mark. It can measure AC amperage to 600A and will also test voltage, resistance, continuity and temperature. Good for general purpose work, from DIY to light industry.
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Main Features
- Measures AC current (2A – 600A)
- Measures AC/DC voltage (200mV – 600V)
- Measures resistance
- Continuity and diode tests
- Temperature input (°C and °F)
- Auto-off
- Screen hold
Ships With…
- Test leads
- Temperature probe
- x2 AAA batteries
- Basic instruction booklet
In-depth Review of the Crenova 6016A
As with most amp clamp meters, the Crenova 6016A is easy to use: simply clamp it around a conductor and measure the AC amperage. The jaw allows for conductors up to 30mm. The advantage in measuring amperage with a clamp being that you don’t need to break into the circuit.
Note: You won’t get a reading if you clip it over a cord, since the neutral will cancel out the measure of flow of current.
It also doesn’t measure DC amperage, which some of the more expensive meters will do. It will, however, measure voltage (both AC and DC) up to 600V. You achieve this via the leads as with a traditional multimeter.
It is pretty versatile and also measures resistance and can perform continuity and diode checks. The beeper is nice and loud and is disabled when measuring resistance. There is a range button, although it auto ranges as standard to pick out the right scale automatically. This makes it easier for newcomers to use.
A handy extra on the Crenova 6016A clamp meter is the temperature input, which can measure both Celsius and Fahrenheit. It is quite accurate (most testers are nowadays) and is good for most low demand electrical testing work. The jaws also make for a handy hanging loop when in use. This is perfect for working under vehicles.
Although no Fluke, the Crenova 6016A does the job and is ideal for testing at home or in the workshop, and could be used as a quick backup to a standard multimeter. Comes included with AA batteries and a clear, though small, display.
SPECS
| Range | accuracy | |
|---|---|---|
| AC current | 2A / 600A | ±(3.0%+10) |
| DC voltage | 200mV / 600V | ±(0.5%+4) |
| AC voltage | 200mV / 600V | ±(0.8%+10) |
| Resistance | 200Ω / 20MΩ | ±(0.8%+4) @ 2kΩ-2MΩ |
| Temperature °C | 20-700°C | ±(1.0%+5) |
| Temperature °F | -4 to 1292°F | ±(1.0%+5) |
Build Quality
You can’t go expecting super rugged construction for $20, but the Crenova clamp is well built and strong. The dial and buttons (Select, Range, Hold, Max) are straightforward and easy to operate. The leads are sharp, albeit un-shrouded, and the battery compartment is accessed by a single screw.
Protection: It is double insulated, comes with overvoltage protection and is protected to CAT-III at 300V. This pertains to the multimeter circuitry, where testing voltage with the leads is okay for direct mains exposure, such as socket outlets, circuit breakers and wires carrying mains voltage.
Display: The low cost brings a fairly standard display, which is on the small side though is clear enough to show readings. It has on it all the units and icons, but is without a backlight.
Functions
Auto shut down: The Crenova will turn itself off if it hasn’t been used for 15 minutes. Great battery saving feature, since when in a rush it is so easy to leave them switched on.
Low battery indicator: Lo-Bat pops up on screen when it’s time to change out the batteries. This should be heeded since multimeters tend to lose their accuracy when the batteries run low.
Hold: Pressing the hold button will freeze the present reading on screen.
Max: Using this feature when testing will seek out the highest value during the test period and display it.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Measures current safely
- Multimeter features
- Measures temperature
- CAT-III rated (test mains voltage)
- Sharp leads
- Pretty accurate
- Cheap
CONS
- Cannot measure DC current
- No paper manual
- Display doesn’t have a backlight
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a cheap, basic multimeter and also require the ability to measure high amperage, you can’t go wrong with the Crenova 6016A. It is a two in one tester with handy features to include temperature measurements, auto power-off and data hold. Ideal as an entry level test clamp meter and backup tool.
Alternatives: The Etekcity MSR-C600 is similar and has a carry pouch. For better build, perhaps look to Klein Tools (such as the CL800) or one of the Flukes (323 amp clamp), though you’ll pay a lot more for the quality and branding.