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g/tools • Posted by u/fluke_fanatic •

Fluke 393 CE vs 376 FC for solar and DC work — is the premium worth it?

Looking to upgrade my clamp meter specifically for solar and battery storage installs. Currently have a Fluke 376 FC (1000V CAT III) which works but the DC accuracy is underwhelming below 10A.

The 393 CE is 1500V CAT III and has better DC accuracy specs. The price difference is about $170.

For professionals doing regular solar and storage work — is the 393 CE a daily driver or more of a specialty tool?

💬 3 replies

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u/solar_steve •

The 393 CE is my daily driver for solar work and worth every cent. The 1500V rating matters for modern string systems — SolarEdge and SMA have configurations that push string voltages above 1000V. The DC accuracy at low amperages is genuinely better than the 376 when you're trying to identify a degraded panel by string current comparison.

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u/milwaukee_mark •

For regular electrical work the 376 FC is fine. For dedicated solar and storage, the 393 CE is a purpose-built tool. If solar is more than 20% of your work, get the 393. If it's occasional, use the 376 carefully and know its limits.

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u/snap_on_stan •

Personal opinion: don't cheap out on test equipment you use for DC high voltage work. The difference between a tool that's properly CAT-rated and one that isn't is the difference between a near-miss and a fatality. Buy the right tool.

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