Which instrument is primarily used for measuring electrical loads?

The instrument primarily used for measuring electrical loads is a clamp meter. A clamp meter is specifically designed to measure the current flowing through a conductor without needing to disconnect it. It has a hinged jaw that can clamp around the wire, making it particularly useful for measuring current in live circuits and for larger electrical loads.

While a multimeter can measure voltage, current, and resistance, it requires either direct contact with the circuit or that the circuit be broken in order to take a reading of the load. This makes the multimeter less convenient for measuring loads in many practical applications compared to a clamp meter, which allows measurements to be taken quickly and safely without disturbing the circuit.

In contrast, an oscilloscope is used primarily for viewing waveforms of electrical signals, a frequency counter measures the frequency of electronic signals, and neither of these tools is directly aimed at measuring electrical load in the same manner as a clamp meter. Therefore, when identifying the instrument specifically designed for measuring electrical loads most effectively, the clamp meter stands out.