FLIR CM78-PV CAT III 1500V Solar Clamp Meter | TRMS

FLIR CM78-PV CAT III 1500V Solar Clamp Meter with True RMS and METERLiNK

Working on Modern Solar Strings? Your Old Clamp Meter Isn’t Rated for It.

Today’s commercial solar arrays routinely operate at string voltages above 1,000V DC. Utility-scale and large commercial systems push further still — many reaching the 1,500V DC ceiling that represents the current practical limit for standard silicon inverter technology. For solar electricians and maintenance technicians working on these systems, a clamp meter that isn’t explicitly rated for 1,500V DC is not just inadequate — it’s a safety hazard.

The voltage and current characteristics of high-voltage DC solar strings differ meaningfully from the AC circuits that most general-purpose clamp meters are designed around. DC arcs are harder to extinguish, fault energies are higher, and the consequences of using under-rated equipment on live systems are severe. The right tool for this environment carries the right rating, clearly stated on the instrument.

Designed End-to-End for Solar PV Electrical Testing

The FLIR CM78-PV is a clamp meter built from the ground up for high-voltage photovoltaic environments — not a general electrical meter with a solar mode added as an afterthought. Every specification, from the safety rating to the included accessories, reflects the demands of commercial and industrial solar work.

1,500V DC Measurement via Test Leads The CM78-PV measures PV DC voltage up to 1,500V via its included CAT III-rated test leads — with the full CAT III 1500V rating that modern commercial string configurations require. Whether you’re measuring open-circuit string voltage on a 1,000V system or verifying combiner box voltages on a 1,500V utility installation, the CM78-PV has the range and the rating.

1,000A AC/DC via Clamp Jaw The clamp jaw handles up to 1,000A AC or DC, making it equally capable across solar string current measurements, combiner box DC feeds, inverter AC output circuits, and grid connection points. A 1.7-inch jaw opening accommodates the larger conductor sizes found in commercial and industrial installations.

True RMS for Accurate AC-Side Measurements On the AC side of the inverter — grid connection circuits, transformer primaries, switchboard feeds — the CM78-PV’s True RMS measurement engine delivers accurate readings regardless of waveform distortion. This matters when working in commercial buildings where non-linear loads create harmonic-rich waveforms that fool average-responding meters into incorrect readings.

VFD Mode for Inverter Output Verification Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) mode filters out the high-frequency switching noise present on inverter output waveforms, giving clean, accurate voltage and frequency readings without noise-induced errors. This is directly relevant when verifying AC output parameters of solar inverters during commissioning or fault diagnosis.

Low Impedance (LoZ) Mode for Ghost Voltage Elimination LoZ mode suppresses capacitively-induced ghost voltages on de-energised circuits — a practical safeguard when isolating and testing circuits in complex commercial electrical installations where induced voltages can mislead fault-finding without LoZ enabled.

Built-in Non-Contact IR Thermometer with Laser Pointer Here’s where the CM78-PV goes beyond being an electrical meter. The integrated non-contact infrared thermometer lets technicians scan panel surfaces, combiner boxes, cable conduits, junction boxes, and inverter components for thermal anomalies — without touching live equipment or reaching into energised enclosures. Spot a hot junction box terminal or an overheating panel from a safe distance, then confirm with contact measurement before opening anything up. The laser pointer ensures accurate targeting in the field.

Datalogging for Intermittent Fault Capture Solar systems can exhibit intermittent faults — a loose MC4 connector that only drops out under thermal expansion, or a bypass diode that triggers only under specific irradiance conditions. The CM78-PV’s datalogging function allows you to set the meter up to record measurements over time, capturing transient events that would be missed by a single-point measurement. This is particularly valuable for fault investigation work where the fault isn’t reproducible on demand.

METERLiNK® Bluetooth — Stay Off the Roof When You Don’t Need to Be There The CM78-PV’s METERLiNK Bluetooth connectivity is a genuine safety and workflow feature for solar electrical work. Connect the meter via the METERLiNK app on your iOS or Android device and monitor live readings from ground level while the meter remains at the panel. For measurements in difficult or elevated positions, this keeps technicians safer and speeds up multi-point testing workflows. Data can be logged, shared, and incorporated into job reports without manual transcription.

Trade Applications for Australian Solar Electricians

Commercial rooftop installation commissioning: Verify string open-circuit voltages and short-circuit currents on each MPPT input before inverter energisation. Confirm AC output voltage, frequency, and current after grid connection. Use LoZ to safely test isolated circuits and the IR thermometer to scan terminations before final sign-off.

Industrial PPA and large commercial O&M: Carry out scheduled electrical testing across combiner boxes, string fusing, and inverter AC connections. Use datalogging to capture performance over time and build maintenance records. The METERLiNK app provides a digital log for each test point without paper-based site records.

Fault investigation on 1,500V systems: Safely measure DC string voltages up to the 1,500V limit, locate thermal anomalies with the IR thermometer, and use datalogging to capture intermittent faults that aren’t present at the time of arrival.

Inverter AC output verification and recommissioning: After a string inverter replacement, use True RMS and VFD mode to verify AC output parameters match inverter datasheet specifications before reconnecting to the grid supply.

Technical Specifications