Clamp amp meters

[George Szontagh]

Its none of my business but I got this from another site and it might be worth considering:

RLA: Acronym for "rated load amps". The maximum current a compressor should draw under any operating conditions. Often mistakenly called running load amps which leads people to believe, incorrectly, that the compressor should always pull these amps. You should never use the listed RLA to determine if the compressor is running properly or to condemn a compressor. The running amps of a compressor are determined by the evaporator temperature, condensing temperature and the line voltage.

FLA - Full Load Amps: Changed in 1976 to "RLA - Rated Load Amps".

Here's a link to more definitions.

http://www.hvacrinfo.com/glossary.htm


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Originally Posted by wthacker

It can be used to check running load amps (RLA) of the outside A/C unit. RLA info is typically on the nameplate data.

[George P. Wells, CMI]

Originally Posted by dmacy

I would like to ask if you use an clamp meter what type do you use.

Amprobe RS-3, RS-3A, and RS-1000

[Russell J. Hensel]

Originally Posted by George Szontagh

Its none of my business but I got this from another site and it might be worth considering:

RLA: Acronym for "rated load amps". The maximum current a compressor should draw under any operating conditions. Often mistakenly called running load amps which leads people to believe, incorrectly, that the compressor should always pull these amps. You should never use the listed RLA to determine if the compressor is running properly or to condemn a compressor. The running amps of a compressor are determined by the evaporator temperature, condensing temperature and the line voltage.

FLA - Full Load Amps: Changed in 1976 to "RLA - Rated Load Amps".

Here's a link to more definitions.


http://www.hvacrinfo.com/glossary.htm


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Huh?....I thought FLA stood for the Fan load amps. Look at an AC data plate and you will still see FLA and RLA...I was always taught with the system running you would take the RLA and the FLA and add them together for the max rated load amps and I agree with Mr. Pope and it should be running about 75% or less of that. IE the Fla is about 1.9 and the RLA is about 14.7 which means max amps is 16.6....Hopefully this is correct

[Dan Bowers, CMI]

Standard Amprobe

[George Szontagh]

Originally Posted by rhensel

Huh?....I thought FLA stood for the Fan load amps. Look at an AC data plate and you will still see FLA and RLA...I was always taught with the system running you would take the RLA and the FLA and add them together for the max rated load amps and I agree with Mr. Pope and it should be running about 75% or less of that. IE the Fla is about 1.9 and the RLA is about 14.7 which means max amps is 16.6....Hopefully this is correct

Looks like there is an old FLA and a new FLA. Agreed that FLA can be found on most plates and refers to fan amps.

Whether inspectors should be checking amps is another matter. Too much info for too little money IMHO.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Personally....my view is I dont see a real reason for any HI's to take on the increased liability. Even at the neglect of the installer who did it, it is beyond the scope to venture into this level of detail. However, this is only my opinion and does not in any way mean I am right or wrong...only that I am opininionated.

[Frank P. Newman]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

Personally....my view is I dont see a real reason for any HI's to take on the increased liability. Even at the neglect of the installer who did it, it is beyond the scope to venture into this level of detail.

I agree - I almost never check the actual load on any appliance during a home inspection unless I run across something really unusual - then I normally do it only to satisfy my own curiousity. On the other hand, if the client would like me to perform an engineering evaluation of the electrical system, I can do that, but at substantailly higher cost.