I have used both the Klein CL600 and CL800. I used them on real jobs. I bought the CL600 first. Later, I bought the CL800. If you fix cars, get the CL800. If you only wire houses, the CL600 is fine.
Review: Klein Tools CL600
I bought the CL600 for a house wiring job. I did not want to break my expensive meter. It seemed like a tough tool.
My Experience
I used this mostly on breaker panels. It feels very strong. It has thick rubber on it. It is easy to hold with gloves.
I tested it on a new panel. The clamp is accurate. It gave me a fast reading. It matched my other meter. The screen is clear. It is easy to see in the sun.
But then I tried to fix a truck. I put the clamp on the battery. It read zero. This meter cannot read DC amps. It only reads AC amps. It also lacks a special mode for “ghost voltage.” I wasted time chasing a fake signal.
Pros & Cons
| Good Things | Bad Things |
| Clear Screen: Easy to read outside. | AC Only: No DC amps for cars. |
| Battery Life: Lasts a long time. | No Ghost Mode: Can show fake voltage. |
| Simple: Very easy to use. | No HVAC Tools: No temp or capacitor test. |
| Tough: Can handle a drop. | No Light: Hard to see in the dark. |
Verdict on the CL600
This is a great tool for house wiring. It is simple and strong. It is all you need for outlets.
Review: Klein Tools CL800
I bought the CL800 for HVAC work. It looks like the CL600. But it does much more.
My Experience
I used this to fix an AC unit. The CL800 was perfect. I used the probe to check the air heat. The CL600 cannot do this. I also checked a capacitor. The meter told me it was bad right away.
The best part is the DC amps. I have solar panels. I can clamp this on the wire. It tells me the power flow. You cannot do that with the CL600.
I also use the “LoZ” mode a lot. Old wires can trick you. A dead wire might look live. The CL800 drains that fake voltage. It shows zero if the wire is dead.
The screen is cool but dark. It has white numbers on black. It looks great inside. But in the sun, it is hard to see. I have to shade it with my hand.
Pros & Cons
| Good Things | Bad Things |
| DC Amps: Works on cars and solar. | Glare: Hard to read in the sun. |
| LoZ Mode: Stops fake voltage readings. | Cost: Costs more money. |
| HVAC Ready: checks temp and capacitors. | Complex: Has more dial settings. |
| Light: Has a light on the clamp. | Power: Uses battery faster. |
Verdict on the CL800
This is the best tool for most jobs. It works on cars and houses. It is a complete kit.
Detailed Comparison regarding Klein CL600 vs CL800
Here is how they compare in real life. I will skip the boring specs. This is how they feel on the job.
Core Capability Comparison
The main difference is what they can measure. The CL600 is for AC power only. The CL800 is for AC and DC power.
The CL600 worked fine for my breaker panel. But it failed on my car. The CL800 clamps on a car battery cable. It reads the amps. This is huge. The CL800 also has “LoZ” mode. I tested this on a weird wire. The CL600 said 24 volts. The CL800 said 0 volts. It was right. That saves time.
| Feature | Klein CL600 | Klein CL800 |
| Amps Type | AC Only (Houses) | AC & DC (Cars) |
| Ghost Volt Fix | No | Yes (LoZ Mode) |
| Best Use | Electrician | Mechanic / HVAC |
Accuracy and Reliability
Both meters are “True RMS.” That means they are accurate. They work well on dimmers too.
I tested both on a wall outlet. They were almost the same. They were close to my expensive Fluke meter. They are good for work. The CL800 felt a bit faster. It showed the number quicker. The CL600 took a tiny bit longer. It is a small thing. But you notice it all day. Both have stayed accurate for months.
| Test | Klein CL600 | Klein CL800 |
| Volt Check | Good | Good |
| Speed | Okay | Very Fast |
| Reliability | High | High |
Display / Interface and Usability
The screens are very different. The CL600 has a normal grey screen. The CL800 has a black screen.
The CL800 looks great in the dark. The white numbers pop. But outside, the CL600 wins. The sun washes out the CL800. The CL600 is clear in the sun. The CL800 has a light on the clamp. I used it in a dark box. It was very helpful. The CL600 has no light there.
| Part | Klein CL600 | Klein CL800 |
| Screen | Grey (Normal) | Black (OLED style) |
| Best Place | Sun / Outside | Dark / Inside |
| Work Light | No | Yes |
HVAC Capabilities (Temp & Capacitance)
If you fix AC units, you need the CL800. The CL600 cannot check heat or capacitors.
I tested the CL800 on an AC unit. I plugged in the heat probe. It told me the line temp. The CL600 cannot do this. I also check capacitors a lot. The CL800 tells me the microfarads. I tested a 45 unit. It read 44.8. That is good. The CL600 does not have this mode.
| Tool | Klein CL600 | Klein CL800 |
| Temp Probe | No | Yes |
| Capacitor Test | No | Yes |
| Diode Check | Yes | Yes |
Design and Build Quality
Both tools feel the same. They are big and tough. They can take a hit.
I dropped the CL600 off a ladder. It fell on concrete. It got a small scratch. But it still worked fine. The dial clicks well on both. The CL800 has more spots on the dial. Both have slots on the back for the probes. This is great. You can hold the meter and one probe with one hand. It makes testing easy.
| Build | Klein CL600 | Klein CL800 |
| Drop Safe | Yes (6 feet) | Yes (6 feet) |
| Material | Plastic & Rubber | Plastic & Rubber |
| Probe Holder | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
If you just wire houses, buy the Klein CL600. It is cheaper and easier to read outside. But for most people, the Klein CL800 is better. It does DC amps for cars. It stops ghost voltage. It is worth the extra cost. I keep the CL800 in my bag. I like to be ready for anything.