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A.  INTRODUCTION

1. Congratulations!!

Thank you for purchasing TPI products. The

Amp Plus

is easy to use and is built to last.

It is backed by a 3 year limited warranty.
Please remember to complete and return
your product warranty registration card.

2. Product Description

The 296 is a clamp-on plus DMM with True RMS and
Harmonics capabilities. The 296 offers measurements in
all basic electrical functions, plus: 

True RMS

Provides accurate and dependable

readings of non-linear loads.

HDR Mode

Determines if a signal is clean or 

distorted.

Bar Graph

When measuring frequency, bar

graph indicates current level.

TRIM Mode

Smooths out unstable readings.

Peak Mode

For start-up and inrush currents.

Sleep Mode

Preserves battery life.

Data Hold 

Holds the reading on the display for

easy viewing.

The 296 comes complete with the following accessories:

Carrying Pouch

Instruction Manual

Test Lead Set

Battery

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION

1.

Congratulations ..........................3

2.

Product Description ....................3

3.

Declaration of Conformity ..........4

B. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

..............5

C. TECHNICAL DATA

1.

Features and Benefits..................7

2.

Product Applications ..................8

3.

Specifications..............................9

D. MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES

1.

Controls and Functions ............12

2.

Step by Step Procedures: ........15

E.

ACCESSORIES

................................28

F.

MAINTENANCE

................................29

G. TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE

..........30

www.

.com

[email protected]

1.800.561.8187

Summary of Contents for 296

Page 1: ...296 Digital Clamp on Meter Amp Plus Instruction Manual www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 2: ...ormity 4 B SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS 5 C TECHNICAL DATA 1 Features and Benefits 7 2 Product Applications 8 3 Specifications 9 D MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES 1 Controls and Functions 12 2 Step by Step Procedures 15 E ACCESSORIES 28 F MAINTENANCE 29 G TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE 30 www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 3: ... electrical functions plus True RMS Provides accurate and dependable readings of non linear loads HDR Mode Determines if a signal is clean or distorted Bar Graph When measuring frequency bar graph indicates current level TRIM Mode Smooths out unstable readings Peak Mode For start up and inrush currents Sleep Mode Preserves battery life Data Hold Holds the reading on the display for easy viewing Th...

Page 4: ...th the instruc tions and specifications given in this manual CAUTION Even though this instrument complies with the immunity standards it s accuracy can be affected by strong radio emissions not covered in the above standards Sources such as hand held radio trans ceivers radio and TV transmitters vehicle radios and cellular phones generate electromagnetic radiation that could be induced into the te...

Page 5: ... Double check all connections before testing Have someone check on you periodically if working alone Have a complete understanding of the circuit being measured Disconnect power to circuit then connect test leads to the 296 then to circuit being measured NEVER Attempt to measure unknown high voltages Attempt to measure current with the meter in parallel to the circuit Connect the test leads to a l...

Page 6: ...ERNATIONAL SYMBOLS CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK AC ALTERNATION CURRENT DC DIRECT CURRENT REFER TO INSTRUCTION MANUAL GROUND DOUBLE INSULATION EITHER DC OR AC C 1 www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 7: ...ions and ranges Data Hold Maintains the reading on the display for hard to reads areas Peak Mode Measure the inrush current of motors relays and solenoids Trim Mode Averages the readings for more stable out put on LCD Record Mode Records Min Max and Average value of the function being measured Sleep Mode Automatically powers down after 10 minutes of inactivity Frequency Measures the frequency of t...

Page 8: ...rt up current OHMS Continuity of wiring Hz FREQ Frequency on control and line voltages REC Record min max voltage of controls and line voltages ALL Bar graph to indicate rapid fluctuations ELECTRICAL ACV Measure line voltage ACA Measure line current OHMS Continuity of circuit breakers DCV Voltage of direct drive DC motors DCA Current of direct drive DC motors ACA Start up current of motors relays ...

Page 9: ...0Mohm 400V 0 1V 3 digits 600V 1V b1 ACV 45Hz to 60Hz Range Resolution Accuracy Impedance 40V 0 01V 1 0 of reading 10Mohm 400V 0 1V 3 digits 600V 1V b2 ACV 20Hz to 45Hz 60Hz to 1KHz Range Resolution Accuracy Impedance 40V 0 01V 2 5 of reading 10Mohm 400V 0 1V 3 digits 600V 1V UL 3111 1 ith ats ity nt ges ons s ses www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 10: ...ts 30Hz to 45Hz 5 of reading 10 digits 60Hz to 1KHz d DCA Range Resolution Accuracy 400A 0 1A 2 of reading 10 digits 700A 1A 2 of reading 15 digits e OHM Resistance Range Res Accuracy Overload Protection 400 0 1 1 of reading 10 digits 600V DC or 4k 0 001k 1 of reading 3 digits AC Peak 40k 0 01k f Continuity Buzzer Test Voltage Threshold Over Load Protection 3V 100 ohm 100 digits 600 V DC or Peak A...

Page 11: ...s Max Volt between 600V any Input and Ground Display Type 4 000 Count 4 times per second update Operating Temp 10 to 45 C 14 to 113 F Storage Temp 20 to 55 C 4 to 131 F Relative Humidity 0 to 80 0 35 C 32 95 F 0 to 70 35 50 C 95 122 F Power Supply 9 Volt Battery Battery Life 80 hrs Alkaline Size H x L x W 40mm x 190mm x 65mm 1 5in x 7 25in x 2 5in Weight 315g 11 1oz onse 0Hz 5Hz KHz 0Hz 5Hz KHz r ...

Page 12: ...ncy Range FUNC Toggles between AC and DC volts amps and or functions RNG Activates manual ranging Hold in for 2 seconds to return to autorange HOLD Holds the reading on the display until the button is pushed a second time REC Activates the Min Max Record mode Except on Frequency Range www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 13: ...easure diodes FRQ Used to measure the frequency of the current through the jaws A Used to measure AC amps OFF Turns the 296 completely off Input Jacks COM Black test lead connection for ACV DCV Continuity Buzzer and Diode Test functions V Ω Red test lead connection for all ACV DCV Continuity Buzzer and Diode Test functions R y olts d in ay www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 14: ...accomplish this follow steps 1 through 4 shown on page 15 and the following with the battery in holder and device turned on Connect the red test lead from the meter to the positive terminal of the battery Connect the black test lead to the negative terminal of the battery Reconnect power to the circuit and read the voltage on the 296 www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 15: ...2 Plug black test lead into the COM input jack 3 Plug red test lead into the V Ω input jack 4 Set rotary switch to the V range 5 Push FUNC button so AC does not show on LCD 6 Connect test leads to circuit to be measured 7 Reconnect power to circuit to be measured 8 Read the voltage on the 296 Optional Modes TRIM Push TRIM button to stabilize reading HOLD Freezes the reading on the LCD RANGE Manual...

Page 16: ... the red test lead to the hot side of the block and the black lead to the neutral side of the block Reconnect power to the block and read the voltage on the meter The reading should be approximately 110V to 130V Disconnect power from the block and move the red wire to ground Reconnect power to the block and read the voltage on the meter Typically less than 20V should exist from neutral to ground I...

Page 17: ... into V Ω input jack 4 Set the rotary switch to the V function 5 Press the FUNC button until AC is on LCD 6 Connect test leads to circuit to be measured 7 Reconnect power to circuit to be measured 8 Read the voltage on the 296 Optional Modes TRIM Push TRIM button to stabilize reading HOLD Freezes the reading on the LCD RANGE Manually ranges the instrument PEAK Measures the peak voltage REC Record ...

Page 18: ...0 1A 700A Measurement Procedure 1 Disconnect power to circuit to be measured 2 Set rotary switch to A function 3 Press the FUNC button to set to measure DCA 4 Press and hold the HOLD button until LCD zero s 5 Clamp the jaws around one conductor of the circuit to be measured 6 Reconnect power to circuit to be measured 7 Read the current on the 296 Optional Modes HOLD Freezes the reading on the LCD ...

Page 19: ...easurement Procedure on page 18 and then proceed with the following Clamp the meter around a single wire and reconnect power to the device Read the current displayed on the meter This is the running current of the motor Disconnect power to the motor and put the meter in PEAK HOLD mode Reconnect the power and read the current displayed on the meter This is the in rush or start up current of the mot...

Page 20: ...D NOT USED 0 01A 700A Measurement Procedure 1 Disconnect power to circuit to be measured 2 Set rotary switch to A function 3 Clamp the jaws around one conductor of the circuit to be measured 4 Reconnect power to circuit to be measured 5 Read the current on the 296 Optional Modes TRIM Push TRIM button to stabilize reading HOLD Freezes the reading on the LCD RANGE Manually ranges the instrument PEAK...

Page 21: ...nder Measurement Procedure on page 20 and then proceed with the following Clamp the meter around a single wire and reconnect power to the device Read the current displayed on the meter This is the running current of the motor Disconnect power to the motor and put the meter in PEAK HOLD mode Reconnect the power and read the current displayed on the meter This is the in rush or start up current of t...

Page 22: ...llowing Connect the red test lead to one power input line of the motor and the black test lead to the other power input line of the motor In most applications if the reading is OFL the motor winding is open Connect the red test lead to the frame of the motor and the black test lead to the winding In most applications if a reading of 0 Ohms is displayed the winding is shorted to the motor frame gro...

Page 23: ...BLACK RED MIN MAX TEST LEAD TEST LEAD READING READING Ω COM V Ω 0 1Ω 39 99KΩ Measurement Procedure 1 Disconnect power to circuit to be measured 2 Plug black test lead into the COM input jack 3 Plug red test lead into V Ω input jack 4 Set the rotary switch to the Ω function 5 Connect test leads to circuit to be measured 6 Read the resistance value on the 296 Optional Modes HOLD Freezes the reading ...

Page 24: ...ure 1 Disconnect power to circuit to be measured 2 Plug black test lead into the COM input jack 3 Plug red test lead into V Ω input jack 4 Set the rotary switch to the Ω function 5 Press the FUNC button until is on the LCD 6 Connect test leads to circuit to be measured 7 Listen for the buzzer to confirm continuity Optional Modes HOLD Freezes the reading on the LCD TRIM Push TRIM button to stabaliz...

Page 25: ...easured 2 Plug the black test lead into COM input jack 3 Plug red test lead into the V input jack 4 Set the rotary switch to the function 5 Connect the black test lead to the banded end of the diode and the red test lead to the non banded end of the diode 6 Reading on the display should be between 0 5 and 0 8 volts 7 Reverse test lead connections in 5 above 8 Reading on the display should be OFL O...

Page 26: ...EST LEAD READING READING FREQ NOT USED NOT USED 0 5Hz 10KHz Measurement Procedure 1 Disconnect power to circuit to be measured 2 Set the rotary switch to the FREQ function 3 Clamp the jaws around one conductor of the circuit to be measured 4 Reconnect power to circuit to be measured 5 Read the frequency on the 296 Note The current of the frequency being measured is displayed on the bar graph Optio...

Page 27: ...ll aver age the measured value approximately every 1 25 seconds to obtain a clearer picture of the current or voltage being measured k Peak Mode 1 Set the 296 to the ACA function 2 Push the RNG button and select the desired measurement range 3 Push the TRIM button until PEAK shows on LCD 4 Allow the LCD to stabilize to zero 5 Clamp the jaws around a single conductor to the device to be measured 6 ...

Page 28: ...sh the HOLD button to deactivate the DATA HOLD mode 5 Sleep mode is now deactivated Standard Accessories Part No 9 Volt Alkaline Battery A009A Test Lead Set A040 Soft Carrying Pouch A200 Optional Accessories Part No Deluxe Test Lead Set SDK1C IEC 1010 Deluxe Test Lead Kit TLS2000BC Hard Carrying Case A201 These accessories have not been evaluated by UL and are not considered as part of the UL List...

Page 29: ...rcuits and from the 296 b Loosen the screw from the back of the 296 battery cover c Remove the battery compartment cover d Remove old battery and replace with new battery observing the correct polarity e Reassemble the instrument in reverse order from above 2 Cleaning your 296 Use a mild detergent and slightly damp cloth to clean the surfaces of the 296 n D No No 00BC not www com information itm c...

Page 30: ... from battery snap to PCB Won t display current readings Open fuse Open test lead Improperly connected to circuit under test All functions except ohms read high Very weak battery that will not turn on the low battery indicator on the LCD AC Volts do not read Very weak battery that will not turn on the low battery indicator on the LCD www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 31: ...r www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

Page 32: ...A 400A 0 1A 700A 1A OHM 400 0 1 4k 0 001k 40k 0 01k Frequency 1KHz 0 1Hz 10KHz 0 001KHz Continuity Test Voltage Max Test Current 3V 100 100 digits Diode Test Test Voltage Threshold 3V Approx 2 5mA 296 SPECIFICATIONS 0 75 Basic DCV Accuracy Test Products International Inc www com information itm com 1 800 561 8187 ...

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