Product Tester Luke Jones gives his verdict on the CL2300A ‘Tough Meter’ from Klein Tools.
Multimeters are one of the most important staples in any electrician’s tool bag. We rely on them on a day-to-day basis to keep ourselves and those around us working and living safely. There are lots of multimeters available on the market and the functions, aesthetics and practicality varies throughout.
The CL2300A from Klein Tools is a clamp multimeter that measures AC/DC voltage, AC/DC current, resistance, capacitance, frequency, duty cycle and temperature.
“Klein has included a couple of extra features to make life a lot easier for the user. On the side of tester there is a holster clip which the probe can slide into, saving you a hand in those awkward situations when you are short on space and need to steady yourself.”
Durability is always one of my first concerns when handling testing equipment, after all good kit isn’t cheap and a site can be a hostile environment for sensitive instruments. Klein has given the CL2300A their ‘Tough Meter’ badge of approval, a sign that insist the instrument can be dropped from a 2m height with no damage to the tester. So there is no need to feel nervous throwing this in with the rest of your tools.
On display
The tester has a large backlit LCD screen which not only gives you the digital reading but also features a bar chart that shows an approximate analogue representation of a measurement which responds much faster than the digital display. The turn wheel that selects what unit to measure couldn’t be simpler to use. What I thought was really impressive was the amount of applications you can use the CL2300A on. It not only measures voltage up to 750V AC and 1000V DC, insulated to CAT III 1000V, measures 
current to 600A, it will also measure resistance, continuity, frequency, diodes and capacitors. It even measures temperature with a Celsius range of -30° to 400°C and a Fahrenheit range of -22° to 752°F and comes with its own set of probes for this application.
The unit is housed in a bold carry case which I found clips to the side of my tool bag quite nicely. This keeps the tester and leads neat and tidy, keeping them from getting scuffed or caught up with other tools.
Extra features
Klein has included a couple of extra features to make life a lot easier for the user. On the side of tester there is a holster clip which the probe can slide into, saving you a hand in those awkward situations when you are short on space and need to steady yourself. The manufacturer has also built in a non-contact voltage tester at the end of the clamp meter, so all you have to do is simply hold down the NCV (non-contact voltage) button and the instrument will indicate when voltage is present.
The magnet on the back was another simple yet useful touch. When I came to use the tester above a ceiling, on a lighting rose mounted to the trunking, I just stuck it to the side of the trunking with the torch on. It helps you breeze through jobs effortlessly.
The only gripe I’ve got with this tester is that, when testing voltage, you have to select either AC or DC where testers I’ve used in the past just auto-select the voltage, but it’s only a small gripe.
All in all another fine specimen from Klein and a tester I’m glad to have in my tool bag.
