Getting a Grip on Current: Danisense Intros Clamp-On Sensor

Danisense has introduced the MK500ID, a high-precision clamp-on current transducer designed for AC and DC measurements up to 500 A. The company showcased the transducer at APEC 2026, where EEPower spoke with Loic Moreau, Sales & Marketing Director. 

“All of our previous products had a closed loop, making it difficult to add to or remove from a system,” Moreau said.

Since EV current sensing does not support integrating a fixed sensor, Danisense set out to develop a clamp-on sensor with improved accuracy and bandwidth to address this market. The MK500ID combines lab-grade measurement performance with a portable, non-intrusive design. That makes it useful in applications where accuracy matters, but physically disconnecting the system is either impractical or not an option.

The MK500ID can provide ±0.1% accuracy, bandwidth up to 1 MHz, and very low phase shift, all in a clamp-on form factor that allows measurement without breaking the circuit.

The high-precision clamp-on current transducer at APEC 2026. 

High-Accuracy Measurement with Fluxgate Technology

The MK500ID is built on Danisense’s closed-loop fluxgate technology, which is typically used in high-end current transducers where stability and precision are critical. That shows up directly in the numbers. The device delivers ±0.1% measurement accuracy and a linearity error of just 20 ppm, putting it in the range of instrumentation-grade sensors rather than general-purpose probes.

Danisense MK500ID clamp-on current transducer designed for high-accuracy, non-intrusive AC and DC current measurement up to 500 A. Image used courtesy of Danisense

Phase performance is another area where it stands out. The specified phase shift is as low as 0.05° at frequencies below 100 Hz, which is significantly tighter than typically seen with clamp-on solutions. For applications such as inverter testing or power analysis, this can directly affect the measurement of power and system efficiency.

Bandwidth and Signal Performance

Danisense has designed the MK500ID to handle a wide frequency range. It supports bandwidth up to 1 MHz, which allows it to capture fast switching behavior in modern power electronics systems. This is particularly relevant for SiC and GaN-based designs, where switching frequencies continue to increase, and measurement tools need to keep up.

The MK500ID’s 1 MHz bandwidth, combined with low phase shift, allows it to capture both steady-state signals and fast-switching events without losing accuracy, which is useful for tasks like switching loss measurements, harmonic analysis, and control loop verification.

Key electrical and mechanical specifications of the MK500ID include 500 A current range, 1 MHz bandwidth, and 39 mm aperture. Image used courtesy of Danisense

Mechanical Design and Integration

The MK500ID’s clamp-on design uses a Ø39 mm aperture, allowing it to measure a wide range of conductor sizes while supporting non-intrusive testing up to 500 A without disconnecting the circuit, and is rated for use between -40°C and +85 °C.

The unit also includes a 4-meter cable and provides current output through a D-sub-9 connector, with optional voltage-output accessories available for different system configurations.

Application Focus

The MK500id is geared toward power electronics and energy systems, such as EV battery testing, inverter efficiency work, and power measurement in solar and wind systems.

The MK500ID will also fit into transmission and distribution work where stable, repeatable measurements are needed for diagnostics or validation, and its clamp-on design makes it practical for field use, as it can take measurements without opening the system, which is useful for retrofits or maintenance where adding inline sensors isn’t practical.

The MK500ID is a clamp-on current transducer built for high-accuracy AC and DC measurements up to 500 A, with ±0.1% accuracy, 1 MHz bandwidth, and very low phase shift. It combines that level of performance with a clamp-on form factor, so measurements can be taken without opening the circuit, which is really where it becomes useful in real-world testing and validation.