Extech 480172 AC Line Splitter

This item works great.Unlike some other reviewers, I’ve not had problems connecting anything. Assembly of my unit seems fine (see picture); there should be no problem retaining any 2-wire plug with blades longer than about 12 mm. But the different experiences of some others suggest there may be some quality control issues.The Need for a Line SplitterJudging from instructions for clamp meters and accessory current clamps, many folks don’t seem to realize that one cannot measure current in a multiconductor flexible cord with a clamp meter, because the magnetic fields cancel. I’ve seen more than a few people—including a former boss—tripped up by this. The easy solution is a line splitter. Interestingly, none of my Fluke instructions suggest that.Make Your Own?It’s possible to make your own splitter, as I did (picture with black and white coils). It works fine, but it’s a bit awkward to carry. It’s much easier—and less expensive—to use a commercial splitter. Commercial splitters are also more compact (see the homemade, Extech, and Klein side by side) . The homemade splitter has one advantage, though: it’s made with #10 AWG wire, so it should safely handle 30 A, far more than I’d ever want to see on a 20 A circuit, but perhaps useful for a device with some serious problems—as at least one reviewer has suggested. I’ve never had the need for it, though.Inline MeasurementIt’s also possible to do direct measurements using a multimeter’s current inputs, but connecting everything can be a chore. I have a device that connects directly to a meter’s current inputs, simplifying the process (see the picture with the red and black meter leads). But it’s dicey when trying to measure more than 10 A on most meters without blowing a fuse.Always Use the ×10 Section?None of the several splitters that I had would accept 3-wire (or even polarized) plugs. I got the Extech splitter because it has both ×1 and ×10 sections, like my other splitters. But the 1× section is more a curiosity than anything else, and the extra section makes it longer. There’s really no reason to not use the 10× multiplier, which effectively provides an extra digit of resolution—often a big deal when measuring small currents. The Extech splitter includes voltage test points, so it’s possible to measure voltage and current when the device is operating—useful if the device is drawing enough current to cause noticeable voltage drop.Another Good OptionI also have a Klein 69409 splitter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B7RTNSO/), which only has a ×10 section and no voltage test points. As suggested above, these aren’t serious drawbacks for me—and the Klein is more compact (see the side-by-side picture).There are other splitters, like the Triplett ET200 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YT6LQBH) and FLIR TA55 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMVR2DM)—and probably many others—that will probably also do the job. I can only comment on the Extech and Klein; I would recommend either one.Just Use a Kill A Watt?At least one reviewer has suggested using a power meter (I have the P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009MDBU). Though it’s more expensive than most line splitters, it’s very easy to use and doesn’t require a meter. And it’s easy to measure both current and voltage under load. It doesn’t have quite the cachet of a clamp meter and splitter, and I can’t imagine an electrician showing up with one, but for someone who only needs occasional measurements, this could be a good option—and it provides much additional information. I doubt it’s on a par with using a good meter with a splitter, but the difference may not matter to many folks. There are other, less expensive power meters, some of which have more features; I’ve not tried them. As a substitute for a clamp meter and splitter, the P4400 seems to provide the most-needed information most easily.

works as it should. Makes life easy for all the plug in devices.

This works ok but is not as well built as I would expect from this brand. The outlet on the input side is kinda flakey at times, does not seem to connect well. The splitter does do the job so gets some stars, but just a bit disappointed with the quality. Price is reasonable, be more reasonable if the quality were up a little.

Works great with a clamp-on ammeter to troubleshoot home electrical circuits without having to cut the wiring of the device your checking for current flow. Just plug the current splitter into the outlet, then plug in the device your checking as if you were plugging it into the normal wall outlet. Attach the clamp-on ammeter and take your current flow reading after you turn on the device that's drawing current. Simple and easy.

If you are using a clamp meter, this is a MUST HAVE.

At a discount, this device is worth $10-12 delivered. All it does is split the hot and neutral line paths so you can clip a clamp meter into one of the legs and measure current draw. There is also a probe hole to check Vac with your DMM. The device is made of durable ABS plastic and feels tough, and should serve to make quick measurements of current draw from plug in appliances.There are complaints of defects, but if you get a cheap unit, its very easy to fix. The HOT line of my unit is solid copper, while the neutral line is a black insulated wire. The ground line uses red wire, all the wrong colors per NEMA but it works, and you don't see the wires anyway inside. The male and female sockets are anchored security into the body, and won't pull loose.I confirmed this unit is UL listed.Depending on the type of current draw, the accuracy tends to vary. Placed in series with a Fluke 87V, the clamp meter tended to be at most 10% off when the draw was continuous, and it did not matter which leg of device you used. When the draw was heavily pulsed, the clamp meter did not read the peak current but averaged them, while the Fluke could show the peak draw, and if set to MIN-MAX mode, one could measure MIN, AVE and MAX current.

It worked great. I was confused at first bc I didn't see and amps. I had to close(turn on the lamp) the circuit on the thing I was measuring. I think it was worth the money. I bought one for two of my sons. They were impressed. Bf this I didn't know how to measure amps on 120v single phase

x10 feaature